Advanced Idea Mechanics


A.I.M. is a fictional criminal organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it first appeared in Strange Tales #146. A.I.M. is primarily depicted as a think tank of brilliant scientists dedicated to world domination through technological means.
The organization started as a branch of Hydra founded by Baron Strucker. Its most notable creations include the Cosmic Cube, Super-Adaptoid, and MODOK, who has been depicted as a prominent member of A.I.M. and sometimes the organization's leader.
Since its original introduction in comics, A.I.M. has been featured in various other Marvel-licensed products including video games and television series. The organization made its live action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Iron Man 3, in which it was headed by Aldrich Killian.

Publication history

A.I.M. debuted in Strange Tales #146, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. It is revealed to be a branch of the organization known as THEM in Strange Tales #147. A large organization was mentioned in Strange Tales #142 and depicted in Tales of Suspense #78 a few months earlier. It is later revealed in Strange Tales #149 that THEM is also a parent organization to the Secret Empire and is a new incarnation of the previously dissolved Hydra.

Organization

A.I.M. is described as an organization of scientists and their hirelings dedicated to the acquisition of power and overthrowing of all the world's governments through science and technology. Its leadership traditionally consists of the seven-member Board of Directors with a rotating chairperson. Under the Directors in the hierarchy are various division supervisors, and under them are the technicians and salesmen/dealers.
The organization supplies arms and technology to various terrorist and subversive organizations to foster a violent technological revolution and to generate profit. A.I.M. operatives are usually involved in research, development, manufacturing, and sales of technology. Members of A.I.M. are required to have at least a master's degree, if not a PhD, in an area of science, mathematics, or business.
A.I.M.'s reach is worldwide and it operates various front organizations such as Targo Corporation, International Data Integration and Control, Cadenza Industries, Koenig and Strey, Pacific Vista Laboratories, Allen's Department Store, and Omnitech. It has had a number of bases of operations, including a nuclear submarine in the Atlantic Ocean; bases in the Bronx, New York; Black Mesa, Colorado; West Caldwell, New Jersey; Asia, Canada, Europe, Haiti, India, Sudan and Boca Caliente, an island republic in the Caribbean.

Equipment and technology

The greatest of A.I.M.'s major implements of deadly potential is the Cosmic Cube, a device capable of altering reality. However, A.I.M. does not realize that the cube is merely a containment device, in which the real power is an entity accidentally drawn into their dimension. The Cosmic Cube eventually evolves into Kubik.
Their second achievement is the Super-Adaptoid, an android capable of mimicking the appearance and superpowers of other beings, which is made possible by incorporating a sliver of the Cosmic Cube into its form. When Kubik recovers the sliver after defeating the Adaptoid, the android is rendered inanimate.
A.I.M.'s third major achievement is the creation of MODOK, an artificially mutated human with an enormous head accompanied by a massive computational brain and psionic abilities. MODOK is originally an A.I.M. scientist named George Tarleton, who is selected by A.I.M.'s leader at the time, the Scientist Supreme, to be the subject of the bionic and genetic experiments that turn him into MODOK. After his transformation, MODOK kills the Scientist Supreme and takes control of A.I.M., later taking advantage of the chaos within Hydra following Hydra Island's destruction and the deaths of Baron Strucker and most of Hydra's leading members to sever all of A.I.M.'s ties with Hydra. A.I.M. has remained independent ever since.
A.I.M. has made developments in fields such as advanced weaponry, robots, cyborgs, artificial lifeforms, biological viruses, radio wave-transmitted "broadcast power," and mind control, cloaking, and teleportation technology. Its agents use a variety of submarines, hovercraft, jets, ships, and other vehicles. A.I.M. has also attempted to recreate versions of MODOK, including transforming Katherine Waynesboro into Ms. MODOK and creating SODAM. Since A.I.M's establishment as an exotic arms dealer, members have access to whatever exotic weaponry available in its warehouses.
A.I.M.'s leaders traditionally wear yellow three-piece business suits. Technical supervisors wear yellow jumpsuits, skull-caps, and goggles. The organization is known for the "beekeeper"-like outfits of its underlings since their first appearance.

Fictional organization history

A.I.M.'s origins begin late in World War II with Baron Strucker's creation of Hydra. Under the code name THEM, he creates two Hydra branches called Advanced Idea Mechanics and the Secret Empire. A.I.M.'s purpose is to develop advanced weaponry for Hydra. It is close to developing and attaining nuclear weapons when Hydra Island is invaded by American and Japanese troops. Although Hydra suffers a major setback, it survives and grows in secret over the following decades.
A.I.M. has numerous encounters with various superheroes and supervillains and is the subject of ongoing undercover investigations by S.H.I.E.L.D. It is responsible for reviving the Red Skull from suspended animation. An A.I.M. android factory in a Florida swamp is raided by S.H.I.E.L.D., which also involves Count Bornag Royale due to a weapons deal negotiation. A.I.M. then raids S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York City headquarters. As a result of these events, Royale is discredited, and A.I.M.'s headquarters are destroyed.
A.I.M. employs Batroc the Leaper to recover an explosive compound called Inferno 42 and dispatches a chemical android against Nick Fury and Captain America. A.I.M. also dispatches their special agent, the Cyborg, against Captain America. A.I.M. is involved in a skirmish with the Maggia and its "Big M". A.I.M. also captures Iron Man in an attempt to analyze and replicate his armor. MODOK and A.I.M. are responsible for transforming Betty Ross briefly into the gamma-irradiated bird-woman called the Harpy. A.I.M. dispatches their special agent the Destructor to capture Ms. Marvel.

Heroic offshoots

Avengers Idea Mechanics

During the Time Runs Out storyline, Sunspot reveals that he bought A.I.M and used their resources to investigate incursions threatening reality. Heroes working as part of Avengers Idea Mechanics include Hawkeye, Squirrel Girl, Songbird, Wiccan, Hulkling, White Tiger, Power Man, and Pod. Sunspot reveals he has fired much of higher management. Many heroes working in the primary Avengers team, such as Thor and Hyperion, work side by side with A.I.M. When they create a machine to propel individuals across the multiverse, some of the heroes who were helping A.I.M. offer themselves for a one-way trip to find the origin of the incursions threatening all reality.
Following the fight against Maker, Sunspot meets with the government of the United States|government] and they make plans to merge Avengers Idea Mechanics with the U.S. government. At the same time, Avengers Idea Mechanics defeats A.I.M's splinter groups.

American Intelligence Mechanics

The merger between the U.S. government and Avengers Idea Mechanics results in the formation of American Intelligence Mechanics. Since Sunspot had turned the organization into a force for good, rogue cells exist fighting for A.I.M.'s original goals on behalf of their former leaders, Andrew Forson and Monica Rappaccini. To tackle the nuisances caused by these cells, Sunspot's successor Toni Ho lets them reclaim the organization's acronym, while rebranding her own organization into R.E.S.C.U.E.

Splinter groups

These AIM splinter cells have appeared in various issues:Advanced Ideas in Destruction
  • * Michael FriedmanRadically Advanced Ideas in Destruction – AIM-like company. Designed exoskeleton. Forced to help Captain America track the Cosmic Cube.Advanced Genocide Mechanics – Located in the Congo. Led by MODOG.

Fronts

Adarco Corporation – Developed Annex and BREW technology.
  • * Dr. Hillman Barto – Ally of Annex. Currently deceased.
  • * Brace – A cyborg. Destroyed by Annex.Cadence Industries – Entertainment media company that collects the corpse of MODOK.IDIC
  • * Diadem
  • * Kenjiro Tanaka – Former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who trained alongside Wendell Vaughn. Infiltrates IDIC and stays on as an employee after the break-up of SHIELD. Leaves to join Vaughn Securities and is promoted to partner and eventually CEO due to Vaughan spending less time on Earth.Koenig and Strey – Based in Manhattan. Invaded by Bullseye, Deadpool, Juggernaut, Sabretooth, and The Vulture on behalf of Valeria Jessup.Omnitech
  • '''Targo Corporation'''

Members

Leaders

Alessandro Brannex (Super-Adaptoid) – Android and chairman of the board.Monica Rappaccini – Mother of Carmilla Black, Scientist Supreme, and an Italian national. PhD in biochemistry from the University of Padua. Develops poisons for the Black Orchestra and A.I.M.. Seeks to reestablish contact with her daughter.George Tarleton a.k.a. MODOK (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) – Former A.I.M. scientist and current leader of A.I.M. as Scientist Supreme. Mutated by George Clinton and driven insane by energies present at the creation of Earth's first Cosmic Cube. Was originally supposed to be called MODOC. Father of Head Case.

High Council of A.I.M.

Andrew Forson – Supreme Leader of the High Council of A.I.M.Graviton – Minister of Science.Jude the Entropic Man – Minister of Health.Mentallo – Minister of Public Affairs.Superia – Minister of Education.Taskmaster – Minister of Defense.Yelena Belova – Minister of State.

Former

George Clinton – Former Scientist Supreme. Involved in the creation of MODOC/MODOK and the Cosmic Cube. Mind drained by the Red Skull, Arnim Zola, and the Hate-Monger in an attempt to recreate the Cosmic Cube.Chet Madden – Former head of A.I.M. and former client of Connie Ferrari.Dr. Lyle Getz – Former Scientist Supreme. Currently deceased.Head Case – Long-lost son of MODOK.Maxwell Mordius – Currently deceased.Valdemar Tykkio – Scientist Supreme. Institutes a takeover of Boca Caliente. Brother of Yorgon Tykkio.Wolfgang von Strucker – Nazi founder of Hydra.Alvin Tarleton – George Tarleton's father and one of the original founders of A.I.M. Got George a job with the organization as a custodian, then authorized his transformation into MODOK. Driven out by MODOK and forced to hide in the fake suburb of Butterville, Ohio. MODOK begins malfunctioning and experiencing false memories, which Tarleton uses to lure him to his base so he can capture him and reset his brain, hoping to repeat their initial experiment with more successful results. MODOK kills him by activating his Uru phone before the mind wipe can be completed and uploading his consciousness onto the phone so he can "swipe left" on him.

Members and agents

AD-45 Riot-BotsAbu-Jamal RodriguezAlexandre CopernicusAndrew RitterArthur Shaman – Hypnotist. Kidnaps Michael Barnett and attempts to force the Hulk to kill Ms. Marvel.B'Tumba – Wakandan, son of N'Baza, an old friend of T'Challa. Allies with A.I.M. to sell vibranium. Sacrifices his life to save T'Challa from A.I.M.Baron Rolando Samedi – Creates pseudo-zuvembies and fights Brother Voodoo. Not to be confused with the deity of the same name.Bernard Worrell – Member of A.I.M.'s Blue Faction. Former apprentice of George Clinton. Leads the capture of the Cosmic Cube/Kubik, but is unable to control it once it begins its metamorphosis into Kubik.Betty SumitroBetty SwansonBraceBrendon NewtonCache – Artificial intelligence.Carl Alexis Lombardi – Seeks Uni-Power. Kills David Garrett when he has outlived his usefulness. Confesses after being captured by Daredevil.Clete Billups – Infiltrates S.H.I.E.L.D. Kills his "partners" to steal the body of Protocide. Duped by Captain America and Sharon Carter into leading them to A.I.M.'s headquarters.Clytemnestra Erwin – Infiltrates Stark Enterprises to gain revenge on Tony Stark for causing the death of her brother Morley. Killed by an out-of-control A.I.M. missile.Commander Robert Cypher – Seeks technology to take control of nuclear missiles.Count Bornag RoyaleCyborg – Hired assassin.David GarrettCaptain Universe/Hulk #1 – Ally of A.I.M. Funds Gilbert Wiles to monitor his tracking of the Uni-Power. Slain by Lombardi after outliving his usefulness.Destructor – Former premier weapons-maker. Stumbles upon and unleashes the power core of Kree Psyche-Magnitron. Built into the Doomsday Man by A.I.M. technicians and used as its power source. Discovered and freed by Avengers. Requires continued connection to the remnants of the Doomsday Man for life support.Doctor Nemesis (Michael Craig Stockton)Doomsday Man – Virtually indestructible robot created by Dr. Kronton to steal cobalt bombs and blackmail the U.S. Initially defeated by Silver Surfer, later revived by Kree Psyche-Magnitron. Battled and destroyed by Ms. Marvel, rebuilt by A.I.M. and merged with Kerwin Korman, whom it used as a power source. Battles Avengers, seeks Warbird as replacement when Kerwin begins to weaken. Destroyed by Justice, remnants used as life support for Korman.Dr. Cristiano Ryder – Poses as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent to regain control of Android X-4.Dr. Ralph Rider – Brother of Charles Rider, uncle of Richard and Robert Rider. Leading research scientist until killed by Photon.Evelyn Necker – Earth-8410 liaison.Fixer (Paul Norbert Ebersol)Grizzly – A.I.M. agent R-1. Used by MODOK in a plot to capture atomic scientist Paul Fosgrave. Not to be confused with the Spider-Man enemy or Cable's deceased teammate.Harness (Erika Benson) – Mother of Piecemeal. Forced to locate and absorb the energy of Proteus. Wears an armored exo-skeleton.Harold Bainbridge – Agent that Mockingbird impersonates during the Secret Avengers' raid on A.I.M. Island.Highwayman – English criminal. Attempts to steal the Cognium Steel from Oracle INC., but is defeated by Iron Fist.Hyun RahmanIan Fitzpatrick James HendricksonJason RilkerJethro Prufrock – Father of George and Martha Prufock. Perennial right-wing Libertarian candidate for president and a staunch advocate of arms-stockpiling. Slain by a mutated George.Julia Black – Adoptive mother of Carmilla Black. Former ties to Symbionese Liberation Army. Currently deceased.Lifeform – Mutated into a progressively larger carnivorous creature by exposure to an experimental virus developed by his father, Jethro Prufock, at A.I.M.MODAM (Olinka Barankova) – Creation of A.I.M. whose name is an acronym for Mobile Organism Designed for Aggressive Maneuvers. Also operates under the names "Maria Pym" and SODAM. Killed by MODOK.Marc PlanckMentallo (Marvin Flumm)Njeri Damphousse – Currently still with A.I.M.Paul Allen – Infiltrates S.H.I.E.L.D. Current whereabouts are unknown.Peggy ParkProfessor Aaron WhyteRamona Starr – Shoots Ka-Zar in the head and forces him to perform a mission for A.I.M. Also known as Ramona Courtland.Red Skull SeekersSolemne Brannex – Possibly the sister of Allesandro Brannex. Seeks aid from S.H.I.E.L.D. when A.I.M. obtains a Shi'ar vessel.StrykeSuper-Adaptoid – A robot that can copy the appearance and superpowers of anyone.Timekeeper – Scientist and leader of an A.I.M. outpost in Venture Ridge, Wyoming. Attempts to tap into the power of Holly-Ann Ember.Timothy Black – Adoptive father of Carmilla Black. Former ties to Symbionese Liberation Army. Currently deceased.Ultra-Adaptoid – Stronger version of the Super-Adaptoid.Victorius (Victor Conrad)Wakers – A.I.M. deep penetration agents under the leadership of Scorpion and four others. Genetically engineered to resist all chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons,
  • * Lars Branco – Waker agent. Currently deceased.Warbot – A.I.M. weapon. Used by Arthur Shaman to capture the Hulk to use against Ms. Marvel. Destroyed by Ms. Marvel.Yorgon Tykkio – Brother of Valdemar. Becomes a cyborg and leads a revolt against his brother's rule. Controls the body of MODOK and destroys it after he is defeated in battle against Iron Man. Allies with Clytemnestra Erwin against Iron Man. Killed by Clytemnestra when she is attempting to flee from him.

Avengers/American Idea Mechanics members

Roberto da Costa - Supreme Leader following his acquisition and buying out of A.I.M.'s faculties.Rescue and later the third [Iron Patriot">Pepper Potts">Rescue and later the third [Iron Patriot.Red Hulk (Robert Maverick) - A general who uses a Hulk Plug-In to become a version of Red Hulk for one hour at a time.

Reception

Critical response

Screen Rant included A.I.M. in their "Marvel: The 10 Most Powerful Henchmen In The Comics" list. Comic Book Resources ranked A.I.M. 7th in their "10 Most Powerful Secret Organizations In Marvel Comics" list, and 10th in their "10 Most Evil Teams In Marvel" list.

Impact

Both A.I.M. and Hydra first appeared in the 1960s as analogues for the threat of Communism, but are also associated with Nazism and resemble organizations fought by Captain America in World War II. Political science professor Matthew J. Costello has pointed out that this conflation of communism and Nazism removes ambiguity from the threat and thus from America's moral superiority in the comics. In contrast, in the post-9/11 context of Iron Man 3, Pepper says of Extremis' war profiteering, "That's exactly what used to do." Whereas immediately after 9/11 Captain America was concerned with Islamic terrorism, by 2005–2007 he was primarily engaged with homegrown terrorists: A.I.M. and A.I.D.

Other versions

A.I.M. has outposts active in several other universes in the Marvel Multiverse, including the universes for Ultimate Marvel, Marvel 1602, and Age of Apocalypse.

2020 Death's Head Future

A future version of A.I.M is featured heavily in the Marvel UK limited series Death's Head II. This future organisation creates the cyborg Minion, which is later taken over by the personality of Death's Head. A.I.M's representative Evelyn Necker became a popular character in the ongoing series that followed.
In Amazing Fantasy #16–20, set further in the same future, A.I.M is on the verge of making peace with the UN, when a renegade A.I.M. scientist unleashes Death's Head 3.0 on the peace conference.

Heroes Reborn

In the Heroes Reborn reality, A.I.M. is led by Baron Zemo and MODOK as they take on Captain America and the new Bucky, Rebecca Barnes.

House of M

In the House of M reality, A.I.M. is re-imagined as a human resistance movement led by Monica Rappaccini to oppose Exodus, ruler of Australia, and his cohorts.

Marvel Adventures

In the Marvel Adventures continuity, A.I.M., through the use of dummy corporations, acquires Stark International's hover platform and uni-beam technology in their invasion of Madripoor. Gia-Bao Yinsen tries to tell the world about A.I.M.'s terrorist attacks on his country, but his message is dismissed. During Tony Stark's test of his new solar-powered glider, A.I.M. causes him to crash on their artificial island. Stark's heart is damaged, and A.I.M. forces him to build an EMP weapon for A.I.M.'s forces to finish their conquest of Madripoor, in exchange for A.I.M. repairing his heart.

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate X4 mini-series, A.I.M. commissions Mad Thinker to steal Cerebro from the X-Men and frame the Fantastic Four, as seen. The miniseries Ultimate Vision introduces A.I.M. as composed of several directorates spread across the globe, with George Tarleton as an A.I.M. leader on an orbiting research facility. Tarleton and his team attempt to take control of a Gah Lak Tus module that is left behind in orbit after the swarm is driven away. Being unable to do so on their own, they lure Vision to the station to help them by claiming they will use the knowledge to order the Gah Lak Tus swarm to self-destruct.

Ultimate Universe

An alternate universe iteration of A.I.M. appears in the Ultimate Marvel imprint. They were involved in the origin of Sandman when William Baker stumbled upon their facility. A.I.M.'s representative in a meeting with Roxxon CEO Rex Bonhurst was #1983, the Scientist Supreme.

In other media

Television

  • Though they go unnamed, a group of A.I.M. agents make a cameo in a flashback in the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "The X-Men Adventure".
  • A.I.M. appears in Iron Man.
  • A.I.M. appears in Iron Man: Armored Adventures, with the Scientist Supreme, the Controller and MODOC as prominent members.
  • A.I.M. appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
  • A.I.M. appears in Marvel Anime: Wolverine, with the main antagonists Hideki Kurohagi and Shingen Yashida being prominent members.
  • A.I.M. appears in Avengers Assemble.
  • A.I.M. appears in Spider-Man. In the episode "School of Hard Knocks", A.I.M. uses an elite boarding school called the Bilderberg Academy as a front for Monica Rappaccini to experiment on students and grant them the combined powers of the captured Captain America, Captain Marvel, and Hulk. Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel infiltrate Bilderberg Academy and undo Rappaccini's experiments while Iron Man and Black Widow capture the A.I.M. agents present. In the episode "A Troubled Mind", A.I.M. steals three mental projection devices and combines them with their robotics to create MODOK, only for both to be defeated by the Superior Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Ms. Marvel. In the episode "Amazing Friends", A.I.M. collaborates with Baron Mordo to capture Groot and use him as a template for wood golems, only to be stopped by Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Ironheart, Doctor Strange, and the Totally Awesome Hulk.
  • A.I.M. appears in M.O.D.O.K. This version is entirely founded and led by MODOK, although he eventually causes the organization to go bankrupt and allows the rival company GRUMBL to buy it out. Throughout the series, MODOK continually schemes to reclaim his position as A.I.M.'s leader and eliminate GRUMBL CEO Austin Van Der Sleet, although these attempts continually end in failure and lead to him being demoted and replaced by Monica Rappaccini as Scientist Supreme. Meanwhile, Van Der Sleet uses A.I.M.'s resources and technology to further the plans of his superior, Hexus, the Living Corporation. By the end of the first season, MODOK sells his A.I.M. shares to Iron Man, enabling him to buy out A.I.M. from GRUMBL, while MODOK, Rappaccini, and A.I.M. subordinate Gary go on to establish A-I-M-2 independently.

Film

Video games

Live performance

A.I.M. appears in the arena show Marvel Universe: LIVE!.

Miscellaneous

Members of A.I.M. appear in issue #5 of The Avengers: United They Stand comic book series.