The organization known as A.I.M., standing for Advanced Idea Mechanics, 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).
A.I.M. is an organization of brilliant scientists and their hirelings dedicated to the acquisition of power and to overthrowing 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 several 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.
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General
- Bad Boss: The organization is (usually) run by a rotating panel of businesspeople called the "Board of Directors" that are just as concerned about profit margins as they are about World Domination.
- Beware the Silly Ones: They look like beekeepers, and their typical leader is a giant talking head. That doesn't mean they're not dangerous.
- Conspiracy Redemption: During Time Runs Out, Roberto Da Costo bought A.I.M. out, drove out the more villainous nut-jobs, and tried to get A.I.M. to do good. It worked for about two years. Then during Secret Empire, HYDRA!Steve convinced most of them to turn on him, and it was right back to business as usual.
- Corporate Conspiracy: A.I.M. started off as a Research, Inc., hiding its true origins as a division of Hydra.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: They use various front companies to generate/launder money, test gadgets, traffic arms, and spread their interests.
- Dimensional Traveler: A throwaway line reveals they have operations in parallel universes, using the official numeric designations for worlds to be checked on as they evacuate their base. During the Incursions, they did their own studying of the phenomenon that brought them to and survivors from alternate realities.
- Enemy Civil War: A.I.M. has been known to turn on itself, such as a period during the 70s between a M.O.D.O.K. loyalist faction and an anti-M.O.D.O.K. faction. The loyalists wore blue, the antis wore the traditional yellow.
- Fun with Acronyms: Advanced Ideas Mechanics. New Avengers took the concept and ran to the end-field with it, showing off all the various A.I.M. spin-offs and their many increasingly contorted acronyms (to the extent one group hadn't gotten beyond the acronym itself).
- Gas Mask Mooks: They have very conspicuous uniforms that make them look like bee-keepers with guns.
- Mad Scientist: They don't seem to have any safety guidelines at all, and are content to run any unethical or amoral experiment they feel like.
- A Nazi by Any Other Name: Once a part of the Nazi remnant organization, HYDRA, until their differing goals caused a split.
- N.G.O. Superpower: At one point, they bought an island and declared themselves an independent nation.
- Renegade Splinter Faction: A splinter faction of a splinter faction. Which also has its own splinter factions.
- Research, Inc.: Actually it's more of a criminal conspiracy with a heavy superscience bent, but it may sometimes work through front companies.
- Rogues' Gallery Transplant: Their nature as generic Mad Scientist terrorists means they'll show up everywhere, sooner or later. ...Well, except for Marvel's cosmic stuff (so far, at any rate).
- Symbol Face: Back in the 1980's, the tech-centric criminal organization had a group of their mooks use powered armor. The front of the helmet was a Smiley Face, which was found to be an effective and intimidating psychological tool.
Leaders
M.O.D.O.K.
M.O.D.O.K.
Alter Ego: George Tarleton
Notable Aliases: Damocles Rivas
Species: Human mutate cyborg
First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #93 (September, 1967)
Thor: Tis some kind of... of... That is a very big head.
M.O.D.O.C.: I AM M.O.D.O.C.! I am the ultimate in human-machine interface! I am designed ONLY FOR CONQUEST!
The Wasp: Whatever you say, freak-show.
M.O.D.O.C.: I AM M.O.D.O.C.! I am the ultimate in human-machine interface! I am designed ONLY FOR CONQUEST!
The Wasp: Whatever you say, freak-show.
M.O.D.O.K. is a Marvel Comics super-villain created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Making his Silver Age debut in Tales of Suspense #93 (September, 1967), M.O.D.O.K. has been featured in over 40 years of Marvel canon. While originally a foe of Captain America, M.O.D.O.K. is not tied to a single hero's Rogues Gallery. He has battled the likes of The Falcon, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., Iron Man, Namor, the Hulk, rival villains Mad Thinker and Yellow Claw, Ms. Marvel, the Champions (Angel, Iceman, Black Widow, Darkstar, Ghost Rider, and Hercules), the Thing, and the Serpent Society. The latter group managed to assassinate him back in 1986. But M.O.D.O.K. was revived in 1995 and has remained a prominent villain since then.
A lowly technician working for Advanced Idea Mechanics, George Tarleton was nothing special. One day, Tarleton is picked by A.I.M.'s Scientist Supreme to be genetically altered into a living computer code-named M.O.D.O.C.: Mental Organism Designed Only for Computing. The experiment was a success: Tarleton's brain became enormous, granting him superhuman intelligence and vast psionic powers. Driven mad by the procedures performed on him, M.O.D.O.C. kills his masters in cold blood. Enjoying the slaughter, M.O.D.O.C. renames himself M.O.D.O.K.: Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing. Having eliminated the existing command structure, M.O.D.O.K. takes over A.I.M., declaring himself the new Scientist Supreme. He replaced Feilong as Orchis director of their Third Petal, Operations / Offense.
M.O.D.O.K. made his live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, in which he's reinvented as a mutated Darren Cross/Yellowjacket, played by Corey Stoll.
Tropes associated with M.O.D.O.K. include:
- Abusive Parents: In 'M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games, it's revealed that George Tarleton's father, Alvin, was one of the founders of A.I.M. and felt his son should have a part in it. Unfortunately, George didn't have any interest in science then, so Alvin turned him into M.O.D.O.C.. When M.O.D.O.K. finally learns this, Alvin has been quietly biding his time and is now willing to completely wipe his son's mind and use him solely as a weapon.
- Ascended Extra: To a degree: he's made the host of the officially sanctioned clay/action-figure animated comedy series Marvel Super Heroes: What The-?!, appearing in nearly every episode, including having an episode devoted entirely to his M.O.M.E.N.T.S.
note . However, he's treated as a Butt-Monkey even still. - Ax-Crazy: There's a reason why he changed his name from M.O.D.O.C. to M.O.D.O.K.. Plus there's the fact that he murdered his creators as well as having a tendency to kill his own subordinates if they fail him.
- Back from the Dead: A.I.M. used a Cosmic Cube to bring M.O.D.O.K. back to life, believing that he would be loyal as originally designed. They were wrong.
- Bad Boss: So bad that A.I.M. had him assassinated by the Serpent Society for his obsession with killing superheroes. Although he sometimes keeps his word and reward employees and hired help if they do as promised.
- Bald of Evil: The current version.
- Barrier Warrior: M.O.D.O.K.'s forcefields are strong enough to withstand nuclear blasts.
- Big Bad:
- He was the closest thing Ms. Marvel (1977) had to a main villain. Half of Carol's problems were because of him.
- Leader of the Intelligencia, M.O.D.O.K. was the big bad during Fall of the Hulks.
- Bio-Augmentation: The source of M.O.D.O.K.'s giant cranium and superhuman powers.
- Body Surf: Usually uses this if his body wears out, or needs to control a mecha to fight heroes.
- Body Swap: M.O.D.O.K. once swapped bodies with Damocles Rivas. The two ended up sharing M.O.D.O.K.'s body for a while when things went wrong.
- Brain Uploading: M.O.D.O.K. found a way to upload his brain online, giving him the ability to travel by e-mail.
- Brains Evil, Brawn Good: Definitely applies when M.O.D.O.K. faces off against the Hulk.
- Butt-Monkey: M.O.D.O.K. is actually somewhat respected in the comics, but in a lot of his television and video game appearances, he ends up being a goof.
- This tends to be the rule for 21st-century M.O.D.O.K. appearances, as the current generation of writers and artists can't really ignore the Narmtastic charm of his Kirbyesque design. Sometimes he's brought in purely for laughs (as in Nextwave), or at least mostly for laughs (as in West Coast Avengers (2018)) but sometimes he plays a slightly heavier note in an overall silly story (as in The Unbelievable Gwenpool)
- Cephalothorax: He does have a small, atrophied body, but you can't see anything but his head and limbs as long as he's in his chair.
- Cloning Gambit: The Red Hulk discovers M.O.D.O.K. had hidden a clone of himself away in case something happened to him. This version sees himself as an upgrade to the original.
- Cloudcuckoolander: In West Coast Avengers (2018), during and after his temporary attempt at a Heel–Face Turn as 'B.R.O.D.O.K.' (yes, M.O.D.O.K. as a surfer dude. Try and get that image out of your head). During, he compliments the taste of tap-water like its a vintage of wine (and he's the first to catch on about Quentin Quire and Gwenpool's Belligerent Sexual Tension), and after, he's back to mad science, creating things like Land-Sharks: sharks that can run around on four legs. A baby one is taken in by Gwenpool, named Jeff, and becomes the WCA's Team Pet.
- Combat Tentacles: Uses these to restrain or subdue his enemies within reach.
- Depending on the Writer: How threatening M.O.D.O.K. is depends on who’s writing the story. Sometimes he’s a cunning villain, other times he’s a bumbling fool.
- De-power: In Incredible Hulk #610, a Hulked out Amadeus Cho uses his temporary reality warping powers to turn M.O.D.O.K. back into George Tarleton.
- Distaff Counterpart: M.O.D.A.M., the Mental Organism Designed for Aggressive Maneuvers.
- Driven by Envy: Driven by envy of more powerful superhumans, and sometimes those with a greater life than his.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Cries out, "%#$@ you, Nazi!" as he headbutts the Hatemonger, a clone of Adolf Hitler.
- Evil Cripple: M.O.D.O.K. gained his powers at the cost of his mobility. Without his Doomsday Chair and headband, M.O.D.O.K. would be completely helpless.
- Evil Genius: One of the smartest amongst the supervillains, frequently highly regarded in the mathematics department, being able to solve mathematical problems almost instantaneously.
- Evil Laugh: Prone to give a psychotic laugh when given the chance.
- Evil Sounds Deep: According Deadpool, he makes Terence Stamp sound like Michael Jackson. Ironically, several adaptations have made M.O.D.O.K. sound high-pitched.
- Expendable Clone: M.O.D.O.K.'s organs fail often, so he has clones kept in storage for replacement parts. In Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, M.O.D.O.K. vs. M.O.D.O.K. fights usually end with the following:M.O.D.O.K.: Never again will I forget to lobotomize one of my clones!
- For Science!: A.I.M.'s primary goal is to achieve scientific breakthroughs. When M.O.D.O.K. loses sight of this goal, A.I.M. has him assassinated.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: From nothing special to a murderous giant head monster.
- Head Blast: M.O.D.O.K. wears a headband which allows him to focus his mental powers into devastating energy beams.
- Gone Horribly Right: Tarleton was subjected to a process intended to accelerate a billion years worth of evolution in a single moment to create a hyper-intelligent life form that would be smart enough to create cosmic cubes and help A.I.M. achieve even greater feats. Short of pledging fealty to the Scientist Supreme, all these goals were largely met, but the experiment also turned George into a bloodthirsty lunatic with a recurring murderous contempt for all life. What's more, "M.O.D.O.K.'s 11" reveals that in a billion years at least some of humanity will have evolved to resemble M.O.D.O.K. in both appearance and ethics.
- Heel–Face Turn: He makes a half-hearted attempt at this in West Coast Avengers (2018), while in a new body (a handsome cyborg surfer dude with a slightly oversized head. Absolutely no one is fooled), though it doesn't last - his heroics are manufactured solely to impress Kate Bishop, and he pretty much immediately reverts to Mad Scientist form.
- Played straight in the Maestro miniseries where he's protecting what's left of humanity.
- Humongous Mecha: Occasionally, M.O.D.O.K. has used a large humanoid robot machine that is sized proportionately to the size of his head where he controls it at the neck base.
- I Have You Now, My Pretty: M.O.D.O.K. in the 70s either wanted Carol Danvers as a loyal minion, a lab experiment or... other things.
- Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: Beneath the veneer of the selfish, seething, dissident psychopath is an Omnicidal Maniac who secretly believes that life makes no mathematical sense and serves no purpose, and should therefore be wiped out. And deeper than that you have what remains of George Tarleton, a scientist weak-willed and amoral enough to join A.I.M. of his own volition.
- Lighter and Softer: For all intents and purposes, his rendition in The Superhero Squad Show places him as a Butt-Monkey, while playing the part of Dr. Doom's right-hand man. He still has his moments where he becomes the designated Monster of the Week, and for the most part, is a moderate threat to the Squadies, but mostly only by working with Abomination as Doom's henchmen. The rest of the time though, he's often subjected to humiliating wacky cartoon antics that the show loves to use all around.
- His appearances in West Coast Avengers (2018) mostly feature him pretending to be a hero called 'B.R.O.D.O.K.', while the team puts up with him to keep him out of trouble/figure out what he's really up to.
- Like Father, Like Son: Tarleton's son joined up with A.I.M. and was rebuilt as the villainous Head Case after an encounter with Ms. Marvel. His body is normal size, but his head is a skull in a jar.
- Mind Probe: Does this to gain information on his enemies or allies.
- Mooks
- A.I.M. henchmen don't have a very long shelf life.
- M.O.D.O.K.'s latest incarnation relies on Life Model Decoys.
- My Brain Is Big: Obviously.
- Never Say "Die": Animated series frequently change his name for this reason:
- Iron Man: The Animated Series never said it was an acronym.
- Iron Man: Armored Adventures makes it M.O.D.O.C., with the C standing for Conquest.
- The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes follows suit. However, it actually makes more sense given M.O.D.O.C.'s modus operandi in the show and the fact that he isn't as Ax-Crazy.
- The Super Hero Squad Show keeps M.O.D.O.K., and plays with the name by making the last letter stand for something different each time, as supplied by whoever's mocking him or whatever he's bragging about. What the K actually stands for is never given (though he once claims it stands for "Kick-butt").
- Old Shame: In-Universe example. George Tarleton is one for Monica Rappaccini, a Scientist Supreme of the splintered A.I.M. organizations, to the point where she's tried to have him killed more than once. M.O.D.O.K. enjoys reminding her of their one-night-stand.
- Powered Armor: M.O.D.O.K. wears an exoskeleton that allows him to move his limbs in conjunction with the Doomsday Chair.
- Psychic Powers: His humungous brain granted him telepathy and psychokinesis on a high level.
- Psycho Prototype: Originally designed as a harmless living computer, M.O.D.O.K. went crazy and killed his masters instead of following orders.
- Psychopathic Manchild: In "M.O.D.O.K.'s 11" he hatches an elaborate plot to steal the Hypernova (an exploding star caught in a temporal loop and contained in a Bigger on the Inside bottle) and sells it to A.I.M. for a billion dollars. The container deteriorates and explodes in A.I.M.'s headquarters, supposedly killing Monica Rappaccini. The goal of his whole plot was to get back at his ex-girlfriend.
- Ret-Canon: An interesting example. Before the stop motion animated M.O.D.O.K. (2021) came out, the head writers Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt (who also voiced M.O.D.O.K.) were invited to write a M.O.D.O.K. comic book for Marvel. Since the show was about M.O.D.O.K. and his family, who didn't exist in the main Marvel universe, they decided to have the 616 M.O.D.O.K. start having memories of said family. However, it turned out that they were false memories that he made to forget the trauma of his own father turning him into M.O.D.O.K.. In the end, M.O.D.O.K. actually creates his family from super-Adaptoids, so he can have it all.
- Rogues' Gallery Transplant: Originated as a Captain America foe, but he's since battled pretty much everybody; media adaptations, however, tend to make him an Iron Man-only villain, likely stemming from prominent IM appearances in the 1970s and '80s.
- Spell My Name With An S: M.O.D.O.(K./C.) The name changes between continuities depending on what the final letter stands for.
- Squishy Wizard: One of the most powerful psychics in the Marvel Universe, but he can throw a punch about as hard as you'd expect. He has many weapons, transports, and resources available that make him extremely difficult to deal with in a straight fight but can be easily dealt with once his psychic powers and weapons are stripped away from him.
- Super-Intelligence: The reason why he was mutated into M.O.D.O.C. in the first place. Downplayed somewhat, as his extreme intelligence is limited by his average creativity.
- Super Wheelchair: M.O.D.O.K.'s Doomsday Chair gives him the power of Flight and is equipped with an arsenal of weapons including lasers, missiles, and bombs.
- Take Over the World: A frequent desire of his, although the success in this varies.
- Tragic Monster: An average scientist of A.I.M., after being dumped by his girlfriend he was forced to become an unwilling weapon of A.I.M.. The angst caused by this event varies, but there is no denying the pain he went through to become the way he is. One could almost feel sorry for him if he wasn't a homicidal egomaniac. And then it's revealed that the one who forced him to become M.O.D.O.K. was his own father.
- Even if he's been rendered crazy enough that he enjoys it now (probably - his brief time as 'B.R.O.D.O.K.' indicates that he wants to be less than a disgusting punchline), it's not as if he really deserved to be transformed into M.O.D.O.C.. There's a reason why the page image for Cephalothorax depicts M.O.D.O.K. weeping over what he has become.
- Taken up to eleven in Iron Man: The Animated Series, where M.O.D.O.K. gets an episode in the first season explaining he's not crazy like his comics counterpart and, arguably, isn't even evil. He was a scientist who was forcibly mutated into his grotesque form by a rival who was jealous over M.O.D.O.K.'s upcoming engagement — the only reason he has allied himself with the Mandarin at all is that the Mandarin has promised to use his powers to restore M.O.D.O.K. to human form if M.O.D.O.K. helps him. The plot of the episode is even based on M.O.D.O.K. being forced to come to Iron Man and beg him to save the woman who would have been M.O.D.O.K.'s wife if not for his transformation.
- Use Your Head: M.O.D.O.K.'s Battering Ram moves in Marvel Vs. Capcom 3.
- Villain Protagonist: Of his own web show.
- Weaponized Exhaust: Has used this in the game he was in.
- Weaponized Headgear: M.O.D.O.K.'s headband focuses his powers, allowing him to operate his Doomsday Chair and fire "psionic blasts" from his forehead.
- With Great Power Comes Great Insanity: Extremely powerful, but an egotistical despot who seeks to rule the world at whatever the cost.
Monica Rappaccini
Monica Rappaccini
Alter Ego: Monica Rappaccini
Notable Aliases: Scientist Supreme
First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy Vol. 2 #7 (June, 2005)
Monica Rappaccini was the Supreme Scientist of A.I.M.. Her daughter, Carmilla Black, is the Scorpion.
- Archnemesis Mom: Her daughter Carmilla has no love for her.
- Ascended Extra: She was created purely as an antagonist for Carmilla. Carmilla hasn't had a significant role in the Marvel universe since her origin story in Amazing Fantasy, while Monica has gone on to become one of the most visible members of A.I.M., popping up in the comics whenever an evil biochemist is needed, and making significant appearances in both Marvel's Avengers and M.O.D.O.K. (2021).
- Bad Boss: Shehas no love for her own minions and will kill them to further her own goals, or if they piss her off.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: She fully believes that A.I.M.'s goals are the most logical course of action and spent an extended amount of time keeping Hank Pym imprisoned to try and convince him of her way of thinking.
- Green and Mean: Her outfits are usually green and she's amoral at best.
- Master Poisoner: Her skill in biochemistry leans towards this. This knowledge allowed her to devise and engineer her daughters complete immunity to any kind of toxicity.
- Odd Friendship: Monica and Bruce Banner still have some fondness for each other. Monica has even helped Banner even when there's no benefit for her doing so.
- Pet the Dog: She has actually tried to help Bruce Banner get rid of the Hulk with no strings attached.
- Plaguemaster: The other half of her skill in biochemistry also allows her to custom make biological weapons like new diseases.
- Rogues' Gallery Transplant: She's had a few run-ins with the Hulk, since she and Bruce Banner used to date. Bruce may be Carmilla's dad.
- Shout-Out: Her name is for the reference to Rappaccini's Daughter, a story also about a Mad Scientist that modified their child (the eponymous daughter) to be a Poisonous Person.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: She genuinely believes that everything she does as Scientist Supreme is for the good of humanity, and that the world would be better off with A.I.M. in control.
Super-Adaptoid
Super-Adaptoid
Notable Aliases: Adaptoid, Supreme Adaptoid, Cyborg-Sinister, Alessandro Brannex
First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #82 (October, 1966)
An artificial being created by the terrorist group A.I.M. for their evil plans to assassinate Captain America, it holds a fragment of the Cosmic Cube that serves as its limitless power source and can copy the powers of any being it wants.
- Adaptive Ability: This become a problem. In one comic, it was defeated by Ben Grimm who was his normal human self at the time but wearing a suit that still gave him Super-Strength. Ben Grimm tricked the Adaptoid into copying his normal human self, then used the suit's power to punch the Adaptoid out in one blow.
- An early X-Men comic during the Mimic's brief tenure as a hero pitted him against the Super Adaptoid, which had already perfected the abilities of the Avengers. After beating everyone else, including Professor Xavier, the Adaptoid fought the Mimic to a standstill until the Mimic threw the match and psychically convinced the Super Adaptoid to copy his powers. The Mimic's own power was to copy other people's powers, just like the Super-Adaptoid. The attempt to copy that power exceeded the Super-Adaptoid's capacity to duplicate. The feedback also temporarily shut down the Mimic's powers.
- All Your Powers Combined: The Super-Adaptoid could theoretically have anyone's powers, but usually specialized in the Avengers. He can even copy abilities that aren't superhuman, such as Hawkeye's marksmanship. This eventually led to the most brilliant Achilles' Heel ever, when Captain Marvel intervened, Mar-Vell let the supervillain get his powers. The result: the Adaptoid gets distracted by his new Cosmic Awareness, and Mar-Vell crashes the Adaptoid's wrist bands to defeat the Super-Adaptoid while simultaneously rescuing Rick Jones from the Negative Zone.
- Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #19 also had the Super-Adaptoid make an appearance, and this version absorbed DNA, memories, and powers. What it could also absorb (and which became this version's somewhat-Achilles' Heel) were some elements of the personalities of the heroes as well, so when Quicksilver let it absorb Captain America's powers and skills, it also absorbed the noble and trusting nature of Captain America. It realized the Avengers were the good guys and stood down— because it knew "it was the right thing to do".
- A.I.M. eventually came up with a couple biological versions of the Super-Adaptoid. The first one was defeated when it absorbed The Sentry's craziness and became useless. The second turned out to get overloaded if it absorbed multiple powers in quick succession. Since it was intended to fight a team of Avengers, this turned out to be a very Weaksauce Weakness. A third version was killed by Deadpool; when it absorbed his healing factor, it also picked up his cancer.
- Applied Phlebotinum: The original ran on a fragment of a Cosmic Cube, justifying it being able to replicate powers from so many varied sources.
- Creative Sterility: Being a robot, most Adaptoids don't have a lot of imagination of their own.
- Killer Robot: His life purpose and what he serves as.
- Power Copying: The Adaptoid could copy the powers, appearance, and equipment of any superpowered being close to it. It then becomes a duplicate of that being, visually indistinguishable from it.
- Powers as Programs: His power lets him copy any power be it magic, science, or some other unknown ability.
- Secondary Color Nemesis: The Adaptoid is usually colored green.
- Weaksauce Weakness: The Adaptoid was only capable of copying powers it had witnessed. It had limited imagination, incapable of dreaming up complex imagery. For example, in Annihilation: Conquest when it was hunting down Phyla-Vell and copied her powers, it couldn't use the Quantum Bands in any way that it hadn't seen her use them. This, of course, led to its defeat - even suffering a Villainous Breakdown when it tried to copy the concept of imagination.
Andrew Forson
- Bad Boss: He'll shoot minions for running from the latest disaster A.I.M.'s tinkering has unleashed, or just because he's feeling tetchy. Also, if they're from Harvard. Man hates Harvard.
- Big Bad: One of the main antagonists of Nick Spencer's Secret Avengers.
- The Faceless: Forson's head is usually hidden behind his helmet.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: He clued Bruce Banner into the Incursions, and that allowed Bruce to work out the Illuminati had reformed.
- Purple Prose: When written by Jonathan Hickman, he's as prone as every other Hickman character to engaging in flowery monologues.
Members and Agents
Agent Anesthesia
Agent Anesthesia
Alter Ego: Unknown
First Appearance: Ant-Man & Wasp #1 (January, 2011)
A Sleepwalker/human hybrid from the Mindscape. She works for A.I.M. in exchange for getting help for her comatose human father.
- Distaff Counterpart: Can be seen as one for the regular Sleepwalker.
- Flight: Anesthesia is capable of flotation-like flight.
- Going Commando: A pink dress is all she wears.
- Half-Human Hybrid: She's a human/Sleepwalker hybrid.
Bill, Agent of A.I.M.
Bill, Agent of A.I.M.
Known Aliases: Bill of A.I.M.
First Appearance: Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #5 (January, 2010)
An agent of A.I.M.. He was sent to The Savage Land to track down a biological weapon (Headpool).
- Ace Pilot: He's good enough to fly helicopters.
- Affably Evil: Like Bob, Bill is a pretty okay person despite working for AIM.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: For Bob, Agent of HYDRA, to the point Deadpool confused them.
Dr. Betty
Doctor Betty
Alter Ego: Betty Swanson
Known Aliases: "Dr. Hotness"
First Appearance: Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1 (September, 2009)
Cache
Cache
First Appearance: Captain America Vol 3 #33 (September, 2000)
Cache is the man behind Parliamech. He is the keeper of all knowledge, seeker of all truths, and the storehouse of all recorded information.
- The Collector: Of knowledge.
- Green and Mean: His outfit is mostly green.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: His real name has never been revealed.
Head Case
Head Case
Alter Ego: Sean Madigan
First Appearance: Ms. Marvel Vol. 2, #11
A.I.M. agent that was killed and was resurrected by A.I.M. scientists to be the spawn of M.O.D.O.K..
- Luke, I Am Your Father: He's the son of George Tarleton before he became M.O.D.O.K..
- Skull for a Head: His head no longer has any flesh, leaving him a skull.
Joro Spider
Joro Spider
Alter Ego: Jae Hwa Kwak
First Appearance: Future Fight Firsts: Luna Snow #1 (December, 2019)
Agent of A.I.M. that fought Luna Snow
- Form-Fitting Wardrobe: Her A.I.M. outfit highlights her curves.
- Small Role, Big Impact: She has only appeared in one issue so far, but it's thanks to her that Seol Hee obtained her powers and became Luna Snow.
Larry from Stores
Larry
First Appearance: New Avengers Vol. 4 #7 (2016)
An agent from Avengers Idea Mechanics' Stores department (duh), who hasn't quite got the memo about not being evil anymore.
- Broken Pedestal: During Secret Empire, he and the majority of A.I.M. turn on Roberto Da Costa. Larry's motivations are unclear, but given that he previously sang Berto's praises, it seems to be this.
- Due to the Dead: Pours out drinks at Roberto's (fake) funeral.
- The Faceless: Like all A.I.M. employees, his face is hidden under a helmet, even when he's tending bar or at a funeral.
- Large Ham: When he gets worked up. It scares Rick Jones (and doesn't help convince the guy A.I.M. under Roberto isn't sinister).Larry: HAIL TO THE SUPREME LEADER, BABY!
- Not Brainwashed: So he says, even sounding pretty offended that he'd turn on Roberto simply because of brainwashing.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Hasn't been seen since he betrayed Berto during Secret Empire.
M.O.D.A.M.
M.O.D.A.M., Mental Organism Designed for Aggressive Maneuvers
- Dead Guy on Display: Killed by the Red Skull, her remains were put up on display in one of his lairs.
- Distaff Counterpart: A female M.O.D.O.K., though she's not as high up the totem pole of A.I.M. as he is.
- The Dragon: Usually, M.O.D.A.M. is content to be a minion for whoever's in charge of A.I.M.
- Pink Means Feminine: One of the major differences between her and M.O.D.O.K. is the parts of him that are purple are pink on her.
- Punch-Clock Villain: A.I.M. hired her out to Superia. Superia was upset when in a later attempt at taking control of A.I.M., M.O.D.A.M. refused to side with her. M.O.D.A.M. makes clear that her working for Superia was a business arrangement, and Dr. Wentworth may have bought her services, but not her allegiance.
