Who are Marvel’s Illuminati – The Super-Secret Superhero Organization Revealed
Marvel’s Illuminati has been involved in some of the largest events in the last sixteen years–but who are they?
Brian Michael Bendis introduced the Illuminati in 2006. The super-secret crew includes some of Marvel Comics’ most elite, powerful, and key characters. The self-appointed members come from across the universe and have one goal: to protect the Earth. How could these über-smart men go wrong?
Marvel’s Illuminati Comic Book Origins & Members
Created by: Brian Michael Bendis and Steve McNiven
First Appearance: New Avengers #7 (July 2005)
The group came together after the Kree-Skrull War ravaged Earth. The goal: share information and work together to prevent another similar event from happening. Tony Stark suggested they form a representative body similar to the UN in order to organize the universe’s superheroes. This idea was rejected due to its complexity and size. Instead, they decided to hold secret meetings on a regular basis and make universe-changing decisions without any external input.
T’Challa called the meeting, and he decided not to participate after hearing everyone’s ideas.
The initial members were:
– Iron Man (representing the Avengers)
– Mister Fantastic (representing the Fantastic Four)
– Namor (representing Atlantis)
– Black Bolt (representing the Inhumans)
– Professor Xavier (representing the X-Men)
– Black Panther (representing Wakanda)
– Doctor Strange (Sorcerer Supreme of Earth)
Actions & Operations
The Illuminati met when major incidents occurred in order to plan their organization’s next move. Orchestrating solutions to major conflicts from the shadows, with a mixed record of success. They have dealt with Kree and Skrull attacks regularly. At one point, they took on Los Angeles’ powerful mutant underworld and were a centerpiece in the Planet Hulk Saga.
They’ve also experimented on all six Infinity Stones and the gauntlet, which they get rightfully chastised by The Watcher Uatu for doing. These may be some of the brightest minds Marvel has to offer– but that doesn’t mean they can’t be totally stupid due to arrogance.
As with all supergroups, it’s not always peace and love. The members fought amongst themselves over choices that had to be made and who the group should support in conflicts. They have split and answered the call to meet again more than once, but that can only happen so many times before things fall apart.
A combination of Civil War and Secret Invasion helped lead to the original Illuminati’s demise. Mr. Fantastic and Iron Man backed the Superhuman Registration Act. The two worked closely with the government and S.H.I.E.L.D. during that war, while the rest stayed out of the conflict. The Skrull invasion caused the members not to trust one another, and the partnership wasn’t able to survive.
Marvel’s Illuminati in the MCU
The Illuminati return in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In the trailers, Stephen Strange, in restraints, walks into a large room with six chairs. The members were teased at that point, with Patrick Stuart’s voice being the only recognizable clue.
The movie revealed that the shadowy group exists in an alternate universe. Its members are Charles Xavier (Patrick Stuart), Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Blackagar Boltagon (Anson Mount), Captain Marvel (Lashana Lynch), Reed Richards and (John Krasinski). Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) has taken Strange’s seat.
In this universe, the Avengers don’t exist to save the day. Strange looks for a solution to Thanos by using the Darkhold to Dreamwalk. In his quest, he causes an incursion that destroys an entire universe. The Illuminati ends up taking out the Eternal–Deviant warlord without him.
This gathering of the Illuminati didn’t fare well against another user of the Darkhold–the Scarlet Witch.
Marvel Studios has several projects coming up that could be related to the secret organization. The Fantastic Four is scheduled to hit theaters next summer, and there was a hint at Secret Wars in the post-credit of The Marvels. The introduction of the X-Men into the MCU also opens some possibilities, including adding the organization to X-Men ’97. We’ll have to wait and see if any of that pans out as new movies and series are released.
