Advanced Idea Mechanics

A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) is a fictional criminal organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. In most versions, it is depicted as a network of terrorist arms dealers and scientists specializing in highly advanced and technological weaponry, whose ultimate goal is the overthrow of all world governments for their own gains. The organization originated as a branch of HYDRA, created by Baron Strucker. Its most notable creations include the Cosmic Cube, Super-Adaptoid, and MODOK; the latter has been depicted as a prominent member of A.I.M., and in some incarnations is the organization's leader.

A.I.M.
A.I.M. troopers from Tales of Suspense #94 by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceStrange Tales #146 (July 1966)
Created byStan Lee
Jack Kirby
In-story information
Type of organizationTerrorist
Technology
Leader(s)Baron Strucker
MODOK
Andrew Forson
Monica Rappaccini
Sunspot
Agent(s)Doomsday Man
Head Case
Allesandro Brannex

A.I.M. has been featured in several media adaptations, including television series and video games. The organization made its cinematic debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Iron Man 3 (2013).

Publication history

The organization known as A.I.M. first appeared in Strange Tales #146 (July 1966), and was revealed to be a branch of the organization known as THEM in Strange Tales #147 (August 1966), a larger organization mentioned in Strange Tales #142 (March 1966), and depicted in Tales of Suspense #78 (June 1966) a few months earlier. It was later revealed that THEM was also a parent organization to the Secret Empire and that it was, in fact, a new incarnation of the previously dissolved organization HYDRA in Strange Tales #149 (October 1966).

Organization

A.I.M. is an organization of brilliant scientists and their hirelings dedicated to the acquisition of power and to overthrow all the world's governments through science and technology. Its leadership traditionally consisted of the seven-member Board of Directors (formerly known as the Imperial Council) with a rotating chairperson. Under the Directors 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 both to foster a violent technological revolution and to make a profit. A.I.M. operatives are usually involved in research, development, manufacturing, and sales of high technology. Members of A.I.M. are required to at least have a master's degree, if not a Ph.D, in some area of science, mathematics, or business.

A.I.M.'s reach is worldwide, including various front organizations such as Targo Corporation, International Data Integration and Control, and Cadenza Industries. A.I.M. has also operated under some other fronts including Koenig and Strey, Pacific Vista Laboratories, Allen's Department Store, and Omnitech.

A.I.M. has had a number of bases of operations, including a nuclear submarine mobile in the Atlantic Ocean; a base 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.

Technology

A.I.M. has created three major implements of deadly potential which stand far above the rest of their accomplishments. The greatest of these was the Cosmic Cube, a device capable of altering reality.[1] A.I.M. did not realize that the cube was merely a containment device, in which the real power was an entity accidentally drawn into this dimension. The Cosmic Cube eventually evolved into Kubik. Their second achievement was the Super-Adaptoid, an android capable of mimicking the appearance and superpowers of other beings. The Super-Adaptoid's powers were made possible by incorporating a sliver of the Cosmic Cube into its form. When Kubik repossessed the sliver after defeating the Adaptoid, the android was rendered inanimate. A.I.M.'s third and final major achievement was the creation of MODOK (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing), an artificially mutated human with an enormous head and corresponding massive computational brain, and psionic abilities.[2] MODOK was originally an ordinary A.I.M. scientist, George Tarleton, who was selected by A.I.M.'s leader at the time, the Scientist Supreme, to be the subject of the bionic and genetic experiments that turned him into MODOK.[1][3] After his transformation, MODOK killed the Scientist Supreme and took control of A.I.M., and later took advantage of the organizational chaos following the destruction of HYDRA Island 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 an independent organization ever since.

A.I.M.'s level of technology is as highly advanced as any on Earth, and its scientists have also built various cyborgs, robots, and androids; its agents utilize a variety of submarines, hovercraft, jets, etc. A.I.M. has also attempted to recreate versions of MODOK, including transforming Dr. Katherine Waynesboro into Ms. MODOK[4] and creating SODAM[5] (later revamped as MODAM).[6] Since A.I.M's redirection as an exotic arms dealer,[6] its members have access to whatever exotic weaponry is 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. However, the organization is renowned for the 'beekeeper'-looking helmets and NBC suit uniform of its underlings since the first appearance.

However, as a result of the "Scorpion: Poison Tomorrow" arc of Amazing Fantasy, A.I.M. has gained a new costume, which tends towards insectoid armor and large guns.

The Livewires member named Cornfed wears an A.I.M. uniform. He also wears a button referencing "The Real A.I.M".

Fictional organization history

A.I.M.'s origins began late in World War II with Baron Wolfgang von Strucker's creation of his subversive organization HYDRA. Under the code name of THEM, he created two HYDRA branches called Advanced Idea Mechanics and the Secret Empire. A.I.M.'s purpose was to develop advanced weaponry for HYDRA. They were close to developing and attaining nuclear weapons when HYDRA Island was invaded by American and Japanese troops. Although HYDRA suffered a major setback, it survived and grew in secret over the following decades.

A.I.M. has had numerous encounters with various superheroes and supervillains, and is the subject of ongoing undercover investigations by S.H.I.E.L.D.. It was responsible for reviving the Red Skull from suspended animation.[7] An A.I.M. android factory in a Florida swamp was once raided by S.H.I.E.L.D., which also involved Count Bornag Royale in a weapons deal negotiation with S.H.I.E.L.D..[8] A.I.M. then raided S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York City headquarters.[9] As a result of these events, Royale was discredited, and A.I.M.'s headquarters was destroyed.[10]

A.I.M. employed Batroc the Leaper to recover an explosive compound called Inferno 42[11] and dispatched a chemical android against Nick Fury and Captain America.[12] A.I.M. also dispatched their special agent, the Cyborg, against Captain America.[13] A.I.M. was involved in a skirmish with the Maggia and its "Big M".[14] A.I.M. has also captured Iron Man in an attempt to analyze and replicate his armor.[15] MODOK and A.I.M. were responsible for transforming Betty Ross briefly into the gamma-irradiated bird-woman called the Harpy.[16] A.I.M. dispatched their special agent the Destructor to capture Ms. Marvel.[17]

For a time, a schism developed within A.I.M., causing it to split into Blue and Yellow factions (the former loyal to MODOK, the latter independent from him). These factions battled each other,[18] with MODOK and the Blue faction once employing Deathbird as an operative.[19] A.I.M. captured the Thing and Namor to test Virus X on them.[20] The Blue faction later made an attempt to recapture the Cosmic Cube.[21] A second battle occurred between the rival factions,[22] but factions no longer seem to be active within A.I.M. since then.

A.I.M. eventually hired the Serpent Society to kill MODOK, which they did.[23] A.I.M. was responsible for a jet attack on the West Coast Avengers compound[24] and then took over Boca Caliente[25] and unleashed a microbe aboard the Stark space satellite.[26] A.I.M. also sent an agent to attempt to confiscate the quantum-bands given to Quasar.[27]

The organization was revealed to have become a 'techno-anarchist' group, with no connection to HYDRA, and even a hatred for fascism. With the introduction of the Death's Head 3.0 character, a pacifist future version of the organization is promised, with a surprise character as leader.[28]

It is later revealed that A.I.M. helped General Thunderbolt Ross and Doc Samson create the Red Hulk.[29]

A.I.M. was revealed to be behind the pocket dimension of Earth-13584 by using a sliver of time they obtained to alter certain events so they can obtain the technology and science from various individuals. They did this by exploiting the fluid nature of time brought on by the manipulations of Kang the Conqueror traveling back to alter the past. This lasted until the Dark Avengers ended up in this reality causing it to collapse. The Dark Avengers were able to get out before the pocket dimension collapsed.[30]

After the Secret Avengers recruited Taskmaster after freeing him from Bagalia, they send him to infiltrate the new High Council of A.I.M. which consists of Andrew Forson, Graviton, Jude the Entropic Man, Mentallo, Superia, and Yelena Belova.[31] Andrew Forson then leads A.I.M. into attending a weapons expo which led to A.I.M. fighting against the Secret Avengers. During the battle, Andrew Forson takes the opportunity to steal the Iron Patriot armor.[32]

Daisy Johnson launched an unsanctioned operation to send the Secret Avengers to A.I.M. Island to assassinate Forson, and they seemingly killed him. Johnson ended up suspended for breaking protocol and Maria Hill is put in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. again. As Forson was revealed to be alive all along, the news of A.I.M. being a new permanent member of the Security Council is known.[33]

Using an as-yet-unidentified device in the pages of Avengers World, Andrew Forson and A.I.M. accelerate the flow of time within the limits of A.I.M. Island, creating in a matter of hours for the real world year of progress and transforming A.I.M. into a technologically advanced empire.[34]

A.I.M. has a more violent offshoot, Advanced Ideas of Destruction (A.I.D.); the two competing organizations were major antagonists of Captain America in the mid-2000s.[35]

As part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel", it was revealed that the A.I.M. members that fled when Sunspot bought out A.I.M. had been taken in by Maker where they work for his organization W.H.I.S.P.E.R. (short for World Headquarters for International Scientific Philosophical Experimentation and Research) as his personal tool to reshape the world.[36]

After Sunspot left the American Intelligence Mechanics, Toni Ho succeeded him and allowed the rogue A.I.M. cells to regain their acronym, as Toni had her organization rebranded as R.E.S.C.U.E.[37]

Heroic offshoots

Avengers Idea Mechanics

During the Time Runs Out storyline which takes place eight months in the future, Sunspot reveals that he bought A.I.M and used their resources to investigate the incursions. Heroes working as part of Avengers Idea Mechanics include Hawkeye, Squirrel Girl, Songbird, Wiccan, Hulkling, White Tiger, Power Man and Pod. Sunspot reveals the group was much easier to deal with after much of higher management had been fired. Many heroes working in the primary Avengers team such as Thor and Hyperion, also find themselves working side by side with A.I.M.[38] Once they managed to create a machine to propel individuals across the Multiverse some of the heroes who were helping A.I.M. offered themselves to participate in a one-way trip to find the origin of the Incursions threatening all reality.[39]

Following the fight against Maker, Sunspot meets with the government and they make plans to merge Avengers Idea Mechanics into the U.S. government. At the same time, the Avengers Idea Mechanics defeats A.I.M's splinter groups.[40]

American Intelligence Mechanics

The merger between the U.S. government and the Avengers Idea Mechanics resulted in the formation of the American Intelligence Mechanics.[41]

Membership

Leaders

High Council of A.I.M.

Former
  • George Clinton[46] – Former Scientist Supreme. He was involved in the creation of MODOC/MODOK and the Cosmic Cube. His mind was eventually drained by the Red Skull, Arnim Zola, and the Hate-Monger (a clone of Adolf Hitler) in an attempt to recreate the Cosmic Cube.
  • Chet Madden[47] – Former head of A.I.M. and former client of Connie Ferrari.
  • Dr. Lyle Getz[46] – A former Scientist Supreme. He is currently deceased.
  • Head Case (Sean Madigan)[48] – The long-lost son of MODOK.
  • Maxwell Mordius[15] – Currently deceased
  • Valdemar Tykkio[24] – Scientist Supreme. He instituted a takeover of Boca Caliente. He is the brother of Yorgon Tykkio.
  • Wolfgang von Strucker (Baron Strucker)[49] – A Nazi and the founder of HYDRA

Members and agents
  • AD-45 Riot-Bots[50]
  • Abu-Jamal Rodriguez – [51]
  • Alexandre Copernicus – [52]
  • Andrew Ritter – [53]
  • Arthur Shaman[54] – hypnotist, kidnapped Michael Barnett and attempted to force the Hulk to kill Ms. Marvel
  • B'Tumba[55] – A Wakandan who is the son of N'Baza, and an old friend of T'Challa. He allied with A.I.M. to sell vibranium. B'Tumba eventually sacrificed his life to save T'Challa from A.I.M.
  • Baron Rolando Samedi[56] – An A.I.M. agent who created pseudo-zuvembies and fought Brother Voodoo. He is not to be confused with the deity of the same name.
  • Bernard Worrell – [21] – Member of A.I.M.'s Blue Faction; former apprentice of George Clinton; led the capture of the Cosmic Cube/Kubik, but was unable to control it once it began its metamorphosis into Kubik
  • Betty Sumitro[51]
  • Betty Swanson
  • Brace – [57]
  • Brendon Newton – [52]
  • Cache[58] – artificial intelligence.
  • Carl Alexis Lombardi[59] – A.I.M. agent, sought Uni-Power, slew David Garrett when he had outlived his usefulness, confessed after being captured by Daredevil
  • Clete Billups[60] – Infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.; revealed himself and killed his "partners" in order to steal the body of Protocide, he was duped by Captain America and Sharon Carter into leading them to A.I.M.'s headquarters.
  • Clytemnestra Erwin[61] – infiltrated 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.[62]
  • Commander Robert Cypher[53] – Sought technology to take control of nuclear missiles
  • Count Bornag Royale – [63]
  • Cyborg[13] – hired assassin
  • David Garrett[59] – ally of A.I.M., funded Gilbert Wiles to monitoring his tracking of the Uni-Power, slain by Lombardi after outliving his usefulness[59]
  • Destructor (Kerwin Korman)[17] – former premier weapons-maker, stumbled on and unleashed the power core of Kree Psyche-Magnitron, later built into the Doomsday Man by A.I.M. technicians and used as its power source, discovered and freed by Avengers, required continued connection to the remnants of the Doomsday Man for life support.
  • Doctor Nemesis (Michael Craig Stockton)[64] –
  • Doomsday Man[65] – virtually indestructible robot created by Dr. Kronton in order to steal cobalt bomb 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, battled Avengers, sought Warbird as replacement when Kerwin began to weaken, destroyed by Justice, remnants used as life support for Korman.
  • Dr. Cristiano Ryder[66] – posed as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent to regain control of Android X-4.
  • Dr. Ralph Rider – [67] – brother of Charles Rider, uncle of Richard and Robert Rider, leading research scientist until killed by Photon (Jason Dean)[67]
  • Evelyn Necker[68] – Earth-8410 liaison
  • Fixer (Paul Norbert Ebersol) – [69]
  • Grizzly[70] – 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)[71] – mother of Piecemeal; forced him to locate and absorb the energy of Proteus; wore an armored exo-skeleton.
  • Harold Bainbridge[72] - An A.I.M. Agent that Mockingbird impersonated during the Secret Avengers' raid on A.I.M. Island.
  • Highwayman[73] – English criminal, agent of A.I.M., attempted to steal the Cognium Steel from Oracle INC., but was defeated by Iron Fist.
  • Hyun Rahman – [74]
  • Ian Fitzpatrick (Mr. Jinx)[75]
  • James Hendrickson[53]
  • Jason Rilker – [50]
  • Jethro Prufrock[76] – father of George and Martha Prufock, was a perennial right-wing Libertarian candidate for President and a staunch advocate of arms-stockpiling; he was slain by a mutated George[76]
  • Julia Black[43] – adoptive mother of Carmilla Black, former ties to Symbionese Liberation Army, currently deceased[43]
  • Lifeform (George Prufrock)[76] – was mutated into a progressively larger carnivorous creature by exposure to experimental virus developed by his father, Jethro Prufock, at A.I.M.
  • MODAM (Olinka Barankova)[42] – A creation of A.I.M. whose name is an acronym for Mobile Organism Designed for Aggressive Maneuvers, who also operated under the names "Maria Pym" and SODAM (an acronym for Specialized Organism Designed for Aggressive Maneuvers). Killed by MODOK[77]
  • Marc Planck – [52]
  • Mentallo (Marvin Flumm)[69]
  • Njeri Damphousse[74] – currently still with A.I.M.
  • Paul Allen[78] – He infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. His current whereabouts are unknown.
  • Peggy Park – [79]
  • Professor Aaron Whyte – [75]
  • Ramona Starr[80] – shot Ka-Zar in the head and then forced him to perform a mission for A.I.M.; also known as Ramona Courtland
  • Red Skull (Johann Schmidt) – [81]
  • Seekers –
  • Solemne Brannex[82] – Possibly the sister of Allesandro Brannex, sought aid from S.H.I.E.L.D. when A.I.M. obtained a Shi'ar vessel
  • Stryke[83]
  • Super-Adaptoid – A robot that can copy the appearance and superpowers of anyone.[84]
  • Timekeeper[85] – scientist and leader of an A.I.M. outpost in Venture Ridge, Wyoming; he attempted to tap into the power of Holly-Ann Ember
  • Timothy Black[43] – adoptive father of Carmilla Black, former ties to Symbionese Liberation Army, currently deceased[43]
  • Ultra-Adaptoid – A stronger version of the Super-Adaptoid.[86]
  • Victorius (Victor Conrad)[87]
  • Wakers[74] – A.I.M. deep penetration agents under the leadership of Scorpion (Carmilla Black) and four others, genetically engineered to resist all chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons
    • Lars Branco[88] – Waker agent; currently deceased
  • Warbot[54] – A.I.M. weapon, used by Arthur Shaman to capture the Hulk to use against Ms. Marvel, destroyed by her
  • Yorgon Tykkio[24] – brother of Valdemar; became a cyborg and led a revolt against his brother's rule; controlled the body of MODOK and destroyed it after he was defeated in battle against Iron Man; allied with Clytemnestra Erwin against Tony Stark/Iron Man; was killed by Clytemnestra when she was attempting to flee from him[89]

Avengers/American Idea Mechanics members

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.

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.[90]

2020 Death's Head Future

A future (2020) version of A.I.M was featured heavily in the Marvel UK limited series Death's Head II. This future organisation created the cyborg Minion, which was 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 point of making peace with the UN, when a renegade A.I.M. scientist unleashes Death's Head 3.0 on the peace conference.

House of M

In the House of M reality, A.I.M. is re-imagined as a human resistance movement led by Monica Rappacini to oppose Exodus, ruler of Australia and his cohorts.[91]

Marvel Adventures

In the Marvel Adventures version of Iron Man, A.I.M., through the use of dummy companies, acquired Stark International's hover platform and uni-beam technology in their invasion of Madripoor, a third world country. Gia-Bao Yinsen tried to tell the world about A.I.M.'s terrorist attacks on his country. However, his message is dismissed. During Tony Stark's test of his new solar-powered glider, A.I.M. causes Tony to crash on their artificial island. Tony's heart is damaged, and A.I.M. forces him to build an EMP weapon to allow A.I.M.'s forces to finish their conquest of Madripoor. In exchange, A.I.M. will repair his heart. Tony learns that Yinsen was also kidnapped, as A.I.M. wanted to prevent him from telling the world about their attacks on his country and to use his intellect to build technology for A.I.M.. Similar to Iron Man's main Marvel Universe origin, Yinsen and Tony both build armor to escape. However, Yinsen destroys the generator powering the island in order to save his homeland. The explosion kills Yinsen, but Tony Stark lives. Tony becomes Iron Man to prevent people like A.I.M. from committing evil against innocents. Here, the Supreme Scientist is a black-haired woman who is extremely brilliant. In addition, the uniforms that A.I.M. uses are basically NBC orange suits. However, the Supreme Scientist wears black clothing in a style similar to Darth Vader.

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel reality, A.I.M. commissioned Mad Thinker to steal Cerebro from the X-Men and frame the Fantastic Four, as seen in the Ultimate X4 mini-series.[92] Ultimate A.I.M.'s full purpose and function has yet to be revealed. 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 orbital research facility. Tarleton and his team attempted to take control of a Gah Lak Tus module that was left behind in orbit after the swarm was driven away. Being unable to do so on their own, they lured Vision to the station to help them by claiming they would use the knowledge to order the Gah Lak Tus swarm to self-destruct. Once the cyborg Tarleton had connected to the module using Vision, he had the module fire an energy beam at her. Tarleton then incorporated the Gah Lak Tus' circuitry into his own body, but it has seemingly taken him over, transforming him more into a machine, with a monstrous appearance. He has since taken over the entire station remotely and has set it to plummet out of orbit, along with the Gah Lak Tus module, which he says has "unfinished business on Earth."[93] Ultimately, Tarleton was broken free of the module's control and helped the Vision and the Falcon a.k.a. Dr. Samuel Wilson in destroying the module.[94]

In Ultimate Comics: Avengers, a group of A.I.M. terrorists stole advanced technology (revealed to be blueprints for a Cosmic Cube)[95] from the Baxter Building and have some associations with the Red Skull.[95][96]

In other media

Television
  • Though they go unnamed, a group of A.I.M. agents make a cameo in the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends animated series episode "The X-Men Adventure." They are seen in Firestar's flashback attacking the lab where she and Nathan Price worked at before he became Cyberiad.
  • A.I.M. appears in the 1994 Iron Man animated series.
  • A.I.M. appears in the Iron Man: Armored Adventures animated series episodes "Ready, A.I.M., Fire", "Panther's Prey", "Designed Only For Chaos", "Uncontrollable", and "Titanium vs. Iron".
  • A.I.M. appears in the The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes animated series episodes "The Breakout (Part 1)", "Everything is Wonderful", "Widow's Sting", "Hail Hydra", "Alone Against A.I.M.", "Prisoner of War", and "Secret Invasion".
  • A.I.M. appears in the anime series Marvel Anime: Wolverine. In the episode "Mariko", a group of A.I.M. agents chase Tesshin Asano until Wolverine arrives and slays them. In the episodes "Min" and "Vadhaka", Shingen Yashida and Hideki Kurohagi utilize a robot called Vadhaka, which A.I.M. created for their use.
  • A.I.M. appears in the Avengers Assemble animated series.
  • A.I.M. appears in the 2017 Spider-Man animated series. In the episode "Symbiotic Relationship", a black-suited Spider-Man confronts and defeats a group of A.I.M. agents before leaving them for the police. In "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 "A Troubled Mind", A.I.M. steals three mental projection devices and combine 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 "Amazing Friends", A.I.M. collaborates with Baron Mordo to capture Groot and use him as a template for mystical wood golems, only to be stopped by Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Ironheart, Doctor Strange, and the Totally Awesome Hulk.

Film

Video games
  • A.I.M. troopers and attack bots appear in Marvel Ultimate Alliance, with the former voiced by Steven Blum.
  • A.I.M. appears in the 2008 Iron Man film tie-in game. They work with Obadiah Stane to develop an army of Iron Men based on Tony Stark's original prototype suit. Although their attempts to develop an effective power source fail, they are able to create Titanium Man, though Iron Man is able to defeat it. Iron Man later thwarts A.I.M.'s attempt to acquire satellite power sources.[100]
  • A.I.M. appears in the PS2 and PSP versions of Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, having aligned themselves with Spencer Smythe.
  • A.I.M. agents appear in Marvel Super Hero Squad, voiced by Travis Willingham, Nolan North, and Troy Baker.
  • A.I.M. appears in the Iron Man 2 film tie-in game. with its agents voiced by Catherine Campion, Andrew Chaikin, Denny Delk, Eric Goldberg, Adam Harrington, and Roger L. Jackson. They work with Kearson DeWitt in collaboration with Roxxon to perfect the Ultimo Program.
  • A.I.M. and their R.A.I.D. (Radically Advanced Ideas of Destruction) branch appears in Marvel Avengers Alliance.
  • A.I.M. appears in Iron Man 3: The Official Game.
  • A.I.M. appears in Marvel Heroes. Led by MODOK, they are shown working with the Wizard and Doctor Octopus.
  • A.I.M. appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes. Led by MODOK, they are among the supervillains that allied themselves with Doctor Doom. Iron Man, Thor, and Spider-Man track Doom aboard an A.I.M. submarine, where they defeat MODOK and his agents.
  • Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite features a stage that fuses A.I.M. with Resident Evil's Umbrella Corporation, creating "A.I.M.brella". Unlike other fused locations, this was a proper company merger, as both A.I.M. and Umbrella were led by warped scientists who chose to pool their resources.[101]
  • A.I.M. agents appear in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.
  • A.I.M. is referenced in Spider-Man, providing funding to Otto Octavius when the city rescinds his development grant.
  • A.I.M. appears in the 2020 Marvel's Avengers video game.[102] Founded by Dr. George Tarleton after the events of "A-Day", A.I.M. is portrayed as a powerful multinational corporation built to protect the world through science as opposed to heroes, working on rebuilding a devastated San Francisco. They also develop robotic synthoids that perform public service duties and manage the growing population of Inhumans. Five years later, A.I.M. has established a virtual police state in the country, as a young Inhuman named Kamala Khan discovers that the company's leaders are experimenting on Inhumans rather than curing them, harvesting their powers to create an army of Adaptoids, with which they intend to replace the Avengers and heroes. Tarleton, his brain mutated and warped by his corrupt assistant Monica Rappaccini, seemingly kills her, and renames himself MODOK. Afterwards, he plans to wipe out all Inhumans on Earth, but he is defeated by Khan and the Avengers. After he is presumed dead, Rappaccini assumes control of A.I.M. and its assets. Realizing that the company is still an active threat, the Avengers partner with S.H.I.E.L.D. to locate A.I.M.'s remaining facilities around the world and take them out.[103]

Live performance

A.I.M. appears in the arena show Marvel Universe: LIVE!.[104]

Miscellaneous

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

Critical reception

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 Communist and Nazi totalitarianism removes ambiguity from the threat and thus from America's moral superiority in the comics.[105] In contrast, in the post-9/11 context of Iron Man 3, Pepper says of Extremis' war profiteering, "That's exactly what [Stark Industries] used to do".[98] 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.[35]

References
  1. 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, ISBN 978-1-4438-4850-3, pp. 19–20.
  2. Tales of Suspense #93–94
  3. origin revealed in Captain America #133
  4. Hulk #190
  5. Solo Avengers #14–16
  6. Quasar #8
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