Comic: Illuminati

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Illuminati
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#1- 5 + secret history
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info

The Illuminati is a group of comic book superheroes who joined forces and secretly work behind the scenes in Marvel Comics' main shared universe. The group was formed very shortly after the Kree-Skrull War. That war was depicted in Avengers #89-97 (1971-1972), however the Illuminati were not established to exist (via story retcon) until their first (published) appearance in New Avengers #7 (July 2005) , written by Brian Michael Bendis. Their history was discussed in the special New Avengers: Illuminati .
plot (spoiler alert)

Creator Bendis says on the group's members, "They each represent a certain something that is very special to the Marvel Universe":

• Namor is a ruler of the oceans and represents the anti-hero mindset.
• Tony Stark represents the Avenger type of hero, one who understands and appreciates that a hero can work with the government, rather than outside of it. He also repesents the common man, as he possesses no natural superhuman abilities.
• Reed Richards represents the science-based part of the superhero community.
• Black Bolt represents the Inhumans, who are an important part of Marvel history and play an important part in events that have not yet come to pass. He also represents a ruler/king archetype, one that has also been filled by Namor.
• Dr. Stephen Strange speaks for the mystical/non-scientific side of the Marvel universe.
• Prof. Charles Xavier is there on behalf of the mutant community.

They all bring with them a unique viewpoint and perspective that isn’t shared by the others."

The group forms at some time in the aftermath of the Kree-Skrull War, and probably after the Avengers/Defenders war. Iron Man realizes that each of the individual members had information about these alien races beforehand, and they could have collectively stopped it. He brings together the Illuminati with the Black Panther in Wakanda, and proposes that they form a government of superhumans. Namor refuses, on the grounds that too many superheroes are violent outsiders (such as Hawkeye and Quicksilver, both former criminals). Xavier refuses on the grounds that mutants are already feared and hated, and if Iron Man thinks he can fight this with iconic superheroes, it'll result in heroes being feared and hated as much as mutants. Dr. Strange refuses on the grounds that too many heroes are anti-establishment and that the group Iron Man has assembled to form a governing body would not be 'anti-establishment', but rather a form of 'counter-establishment'. The group does, however, agree to meet to exchange information regularly. The only individual present who refuses is the Black Panther, who fears the association will end in less than altruistic actions.

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