A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) 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 (July 1966). A.I.M. is generally depicted as a think tank of brilliant scientists dedicated to world domination through technological means. The organization started as the scientific division of Hydra founded by Baron Strucker, but has since become independent. Some of its most notable creations include the Cosmic Cube, the Super-Adaptoid, and MODOK, who has been depicted as a prominent member of A.I.M. and sometimes as 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 (2013), in which it was headed by Aldrich Killian.
Publication history
A.I.M. debuted in Strange Tales #146 (July 1966), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. It is revealed to be a branch of the organization known as THEM in Strange Tales #147 (August 1966). A large organization was mentioned in Strange Tales #142 (March 1966) and depicted in Tales of Suspense #78 (June 1966) a few months earlier. It is later revealed in Strange Tales #149 (October 1966) 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 (formerly known as the Imperial Council) 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 (also known as A.I.M. Island), 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.John P. Doucet, "Chapter One: On the Design of Mental Organisms", in: Marie Hendry and Jennifer Page, eds., Media, Technology and the Imagination, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars, 2013, , pp. 19–20. 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 (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing), an artificially mutated human with an enormous head accompanied by a massive computational brain and psionic abilities.Tales of Suspense #93–94 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.Captain America #133 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 (plasma blasters, cryo-cannons, anti-charge bazookas, paralyzer rays, q-bombs, sonatrons), robots (synthoids, Adaptoids, robot duplicates, giant robots, etc.), cyborgs, artificial lifeforms, biological viruses (Omega Bacillus, Virus X), 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. MODOKThe Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #190 and creating SODAM.Solo Avengers #14–16
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.Tales of Suspense #79 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.Strange Tales #146 A.I.M. then raids S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York City headquarters.Strange Tales #147 As a result of these events, Royale is discredited, and A.I.M.'s headquarters are destroyed.Strange Tales #149
A.I.M. employs Batroc the Leaper to recover an explosive compound called Inferno 42Tales of Suspense #75–76 and dispatches a chemical android against Nick Fury and Captain America.Tales of Suspense #78 A.I.M. also dispatches their special agent, the Cyborg, against Captain America.Captain America #124 A.I.M. is involved in a skirmish with the Maggia and its "Big M".Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 A.I.M. also captures Iron Man in an attempt to analyze and replicate his armor.Iron Man #1 MODOK and A.I.M. are responsible for transforming Betty Ross briefly into the gamma-irradiated bird-woman called the Harpy.The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #167–168 A.I.M. dispatches their special agent the Destructor to capture Ms. Marvel.Ms. Marvel #1-4
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.Avengers (vol. 5) #35 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.Avengers (vol. 5) #36
Following the fight against Maker, Sunspot meets with the 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.New Avengers (vol. 4) #18
American Intelligence Mechanics The merger between the U.S. government and Avengers Idea Mechanics results in the formation of American Intelligence Mechanics.U.S.Avengers #1 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.Avengers #690
Splinter groups These AIM splinter cells have appeared in various issues:
Advanced Ideas in Destruction (AID)Captain America vol. 5 Michael FriedmanCaptain America (vol. 5) #13 Radically Advanced Ideas in Destruction (RAID)Captain America (vol. 5) #17 – AIM-like company. Designed exoskeleton. Forced to help Captain America track the Cosmic Cube. Advanced Genocide Mechanics (AGM) – Located in the Congo. Led by MODOG (Mental Organism Designed Only for Genocide).Invincible Iron Man #1
Fronts Adarco Corporation (Advanced Robotic Company)The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #27 – Developed Annex and BREW technology. Dr. Hillman BartoThe Amazing Spider-Man Annual #26 – Ally of Annex. Deceased.Annex #4 BraceAnnex #1 – A cyborg. Destroyed by Annex. Cadence IndustriesCaptain America #315 – Entertainment media company that collects the corpse of MODOK. IDIC (International Data Integration and Control)Master of Kung Fu #102 Diadem (Lucieane D'Hiven) Kenjiro TanakaQuasar #5 – 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 StreyIdentity Disc #2 – Based in Manhattan. OmnitechIron Man (vol. 3) #44 Targo CorporationIron Man #207
Members Leaders Alessandro Brannex (Super-Adaptoid)Quasar #9 – Android and chairman of the board. Monica RappacciniAmazing Fantasy (vol. 2) #7 – The Scientist Supreme of A.I.M. and mother of Carmilla Black. George Tarleton a.k.a. MODOK (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing)Tales of Suspense #93 – A former scientist working for A.I.M. who later became Scientist Supreme.
High Council of A.I.M. Andrew Forson – Supreme Leader of the High Council of A.I.M.Secret Avengers (vol. 2) #2Fantastic Four #610 Graviton – Minister of Science. Jude the Entropic Man – Minister of Health. Mentallo – Minister of Public Affairs. Superia – Minister of Education. Taskmaster – Minister of Defense (undercover for the Secret Avengers). 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 MaddenCaptain America (vol. 3) #35 – Former head of A.I.M. and former client of Connie Ferrari. Dr. Lyle Getz – Former Scientist Supreme. Currently deceased. Head Case (Sean Madigan)Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #13 – Long-lost son of MODOK. Maxwell Mordius – Currently deceased. Valdemar TykkioIron Man #201 – Scientist Supreme. Institutes a takeover of Boca Caliente. Brother of Yorgon Tykkio. Wolfgang von Strucker (Baron Strucker)Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #5 – Nazi founder of Hydra.