A.I.M

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.. 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.[6] A.I.M. then raided S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York City headquarters.[7] As a result of these events, Royale was discredited, and A.I.M.'s headquarters was destroyed.[8]

A.I.M. employed Batroc the Leaper to recover an explosive compound called Inferno 42[9] and dispatched a chemical android against Nick Fury and Captain America.[10] A.I.M. also dispatched their special agent the Cyborg against Captain America.[11] A.I.M. was involved in a skirmish with the Maggia and its "Big M".[12] A.I.M. has also captured Iron Man in an attempt to analyze and replicate his armor.[13] A.I.M. was responsible for transforming Betty Ross Banner briefly into the gamma-irradiated Harpy.[14] A.I.M. dispatched their special agent the Destructor to capture Ms. Marvel.[15]

For a time, a schism developed within A.I.M., causing it to split into the Blue and Yellow factions. These factions battled each other, employing Deathbird as an operative.[16] A.I.M. captured the Thing and Namor to test the Virus X on them.[17] The Blue faction later made an attempt to recapture the Cosmic Cube.[18] A second battle occurred between the rival factions[19], but factions no longer seem to be active within A.I.M.

A.I.M. eventually hired the Serpent Society to kill MODOK, which they did.[20] A.I.M. was responsible for a jet attack on the West Coast Avengers compound[21] and then took over Boca Caliente<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21">[22] and unleashed a microbe aboard the Stark space satellite.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22">[23] A.I.M. also sent an agent to attempt to confiscate the quantum-bands given to Quasar.