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    Illuminati

    Team » Illuminati appears in 362 issues.

    A clandestine organization composed of the world's most influential and important people that guides events in the Marvel Universe.

    Short summary describing this team.

    Illuminati last edited by The_Kidd on 11/08/23 11:59PM View full history

    Origin

    The Illuminati was formed after the Kree-Skrull War, by Iron Man, Namor, Mr. Fantastic, Professor X, Black Bolt, and Doctor Strange. After the Kree-Skrull War, Iron Man realized that if the six had worked together, they could have each used their own respective information and stopped it. Along with Black Panther, he proposed a government of superhumans. However, many of them refused, for individual reasons.

    Namor-Many superheroes are violent, dark, or have criminal streaks.

    Professor X-This will result in public resentment, fear, and hate against heroes like there already is against mutants.

    Doctor Strange-Heroes are anti-establishment-they will never want to work with one.

    However, the group(except Black Panther) formed the Illuminati and agreed to meet often to exchange important information.

    Important Story Arcs

    Civil War

    The Illuminati was responsible for launching Hulk far out into space, which gave him desire for vengeance and which led to the World War Hulk event.

    When Iron Man introduced the Superhuman Registration Act to the group(which triggered Civil War, only Mr. Fantastic agreed with him. They all took their own positions on the event.

    Namor-Originally had no position and didn't care, but eventually sided with Captain America. He sent an Atlantean war party to help him at the end.

    Doctor Strange-Avoided the conflict. He spent the time fasting in the Arctic and praying that whichever side won would cause less pain and death.

    Professor X-Was busy with House of M at the time, but when he returned, took a neutral stance with the rest of the X-Men.

    Black Bolt-Vehemently disagreed and announced cold war between the US and the Inhumans.

    The Civil War disbanded the Illuminati, each member going their own separate way.

    Infinity Gauntlet

    After Civil War ends, it is revealed what the Illuminati were up to between their formation and the team's disbanding. Mr. Fantastic had managed to get the Infinity Gauntlet and a few of the Infinity Gems. He found the rest and proposed to keep it safe so villains like Thanos could never possess it again. When Reed finds he cannot use the Gauntlet to will itself out of existance, he disperses the Gems among the Illuminati for safekeeping. Mr. Fantastic holds onto the Power Gem, Professor X the Mind Gem, Doctor Strange the Soul Gem, Namor the Time Gem, Iron Man the Reality Gem, and Black Bolt the Space Gem, with each of them swearing never to use the gems.

    Secret Wars

    After the Secret Wars, it was brought to the attention through the psychic abilities of Professor Xavier, that the cosmic force known as the Beyonder was actually the result of a mutant/inhuman receiving treatments from the Terrigan Mist. The Illuminati (minus Tony Stark, whose role as Iron Man was presently being filled by Jim Rhodes) decide to confront the Beyonder, but they are struck by his powers and are able to live their greatest fantasies. Despite the Beyonder offering such 'gifts' as allowing Black Bolt the ability to speak normally, they are able to overcome their desires and ask the Beyonder to leave. They convince the Beyonder to quit tampering with the earth when Namor speaks on Black Bolt's behalf as the King of the Inhumans. The Beyonder would disappear into a dust and the Illuminati would leave believing the day was saved...

    Colliding Universes

    The idea of the Illuminati was ultimately abandoned, until one day in the nation of Wakanda, Black Panther and his subjects came across a portal that led to an alternate universe. He conflicted with a woman who self identified as a "Black Swan" as she tried to set up a device that was intended to be used to destroy that other universe. She talked about these Earths being in the middle of an incursion, and that she had to stop it. Realizing that this Earth would collide with his, Black Panther went about capturing Black Swan, but not before she destroyed the Earth she came from.

    Black Panther gathered the Illuminati again, warning them of what he had seen, and that the Black Swan had told him it would happen again. They came up with a plethora of methods of stopping it from happening to their world, the most powerful being the machine Black Swan used to destroy the other Earth. Luckily, they still had the Infinity Gems. They reassembled the Infinity Gauntlet, hoping it would work to buy them more time at the very least. Captain America managed to stop an incursion using this method, but all of the gems but one were destroyed in the process. Realizing the gravity of their situation, the Illuminati realized they may have to prepare to destroy an entire world, but Captain America wanted no part of it. Understanding he would do anything to stop the Illuminati, Tony Stark instructed Dr. Strange to wipe Captain America's memory of everything.

    The remaining members of the Illuminati proceeded with figuring out alternative ways of, if determined to be necessary, destroying another Earth. After figuring out a plethora of methods for this, they decided to test whether they'd be able to evacuate the other Earth before destroying it. They went into an alternate universe where they found the Galactus of that universe consuming one of the Earths to avoid an incursion. They met Terrax, the herald of this Galactus, who they captured and brought back to their Earth.

    After getting back to their Earth, the Illuminati interrogated Black Swan once more, and she revealed the incursions were a result of the birth of what she referred to as "The Great Destroyer". Meanwhile, another incursion had begun, this time in Latveria. The Illuminati rushed to this event, attempting to stop it, but Black Swan pointed out the sky was glowing blue, as opposed to it's usual red when an event of this kind was occurring. This indicated the arrival of beings called the Mapmakers, beings who exist to stop incursions by infecting and remaking one of the Earths after destabilizing one of them. After realizing the other Earth was already dead thanks to these Mapmakers, the Illuminati destroyed it.

    Members and Representing

    Each member of the Illuminati represents a different aspect of society and point of view, which is part of the reason they formed. Each member is also considered to be an unparalleled master of their domain or area of expertise.

    Iron Man (Tony Stark): The master of technology and a founding member of the Avengers. Represents the technological and military/industrial communities. Also represents the Avengers and the type of hero who would work with the government.

    Namor: The master of the oceans. Represents the underwater realms and Atlantis. Also represents the anti-hero.

    Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards): The world's greatest scientific intellect and the leader of the Fantastic Four. Represents the scientific and intellectual community.

    Professor X (Charles Xavier): The world's most powerful mutant mind and the founder of the X-Men. Currently deceased, he represented the mutant population and community.

    Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon): King of the Inhumans. Represented the Inhuman population and community. Also represented royalty. After Black Bolt's death, his widowed wife Medusa, Queen of the Inhumans, took his place in the Illuminati.

    Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange): The master of magic. Represents the mystical/magical community and population, as well as that edge of society.

    Captain America (Steve Rogers): The first true super soldier, an unparalleled leader, and master military strategist. Represents the American ideal. After the crisis involving the Hood obtaining a portion of the Infinity Gems, Captain America was invited to join the Illuminati. He agreed after realizing that some things were meant to be kept secret.

    Beast (Hank McCoy): Current representative of the mutant population and community after the death of Charles Xavier in Avengers vs X-Men.

    Alternate Realities

    Earth-23099

    On Earth-23099; Captain Mar-Vell, Shuri, and Magneto were also members of The Illuminati and were the last heroes to stand against The Black Priests, a group of immensely powerful cosmic beings who have been creating incursions across the Multiverse.

    Other Media

    Planet Hulk

    The original line up of the Illuminati appear as silhouettes in the animated direct-to-video adaptation of Planet Hulk.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

    A variant of the Illuminati appears in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. As Doctor Strange and Ms. America travel through the multiverse, they are eventually captured on Earth-838 to stand judgement in front of the Illuminati. The members include:

    • Mr. Fantastic (played by John Krasinski, who fans have campaigned for)
    • Black Bolt (Anson Mount reprising from the ABC Inhumans show)
    • Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell reprising as a super soldier variant)
    • Captain Marvel (Lashana Lynch reprising as a variant of Maria Rambeau)
    • Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor reprising as a Sorcerer Supreme variant)
    • Professor X (Patrick Stewart reprising as a variant of his X-Men character)
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