Fictional comic book law enforcement agency
H.A.M.M.E.R. is a fictional espionage and law enforcement agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The organisation is led by Norman Osborn and was formed in Secret Invasion #8 to replace S.H.I.E.L.D. The organisation plays a large part in Marvel's "Dark Reign" and Siege storylines that ran from 2008 to 2010.
What "H.A.M.M.E.R." stands for, or whether it stands for anything at all, has not been revealed. In Dark Avengers #1, Osborn told Victoria Hand that it does stand for something, but when she questioned him further, he told her to "get on that for [him]".[1] Also, in the Captain America: Reborn Prelude, when Sin, who is captured by H.A.M.M.E.R, asks what it stands for, the agent present claims that it's classified information which she does not have the necessary security clearance to divulge.[2]
Publication history
H.A.M.M.E.R. first appeared in Secret Invasion #8 (January 2009) and was created by Brian Michael Bendis.
Fictional organization history
The ramifications of the alien Skrulls' invasion of Earth forced a massive restructuring of the United States' defense network. At the time, the country's primary peace keeping agency was S.H.I.E.L.D., led by civilian industrialist Tony Stark, aka, Iron Man. Because the Skrulls were able to compromise S.H.I.E.L.D.'s StarkTech technology, it was decided that S.H.I.E.L.D. was no longer an effective organization and Tony Stark was personally held accountable for the Skrull invasion. In the wake of this controversy, Thunderbolts leader Norman Osborn manipulated the U.S. government into allowing him to serve as director of a replacement agency called H.A.M.M.E.R. Under Osborn's leadership, H.A.M.M.E.R. had administrative control over the entire Fifty State Initiative.[3]
As the director of H.A.M.M.E.R., one of Osborn's first initiatives was to issue warrants for the arrest of former S.H.I.E.L.D. director Tony Stark and deputy director Maria Hill. Moreover, Osborn wanted access to the database containing the identities of every hero registered under the Superhuman Registration Act. To prevent Osborn from gaining the information in the database, which could potentially be used for malicious purposes, Tony Stark took measures to erase all known resources containing this sensitive information, including his own mind.[4]
When Stark failed to surrender himself to Osborn, Norman sent contingents of H.A.M.M.E.R. squads to Stark Industries facilities worldwide with orders to arrest Tony Stark with extreme prejudice. The militant agents caused substantial damage in their efforts to find Stark, often brutalizing Stark Industries' personnel.[5]
In an effort to make H.A.M.M.E.R.'s image more palatable to the general public, Osborn reorganized the Avengers, filling their ranks with members of the Thunderbolts. Two previous members of the team who remained on Osborn's Avengers were the Sentry and Ares, the God of War. Osborn himself donned his own suit of armor (based upon Stark's designs) and became known as the Iron Patriot.[1]
During the Siege of Asgard, Osborn took H.A.M.M.E.R., the Dark Avengers, and the Initiative members who were on his side to partake in the attack on Asgard.[6] The President was watching the invasion of Asgard with his security council; he ordered the Secretary of State to dispatch all available military forces to Broxton and to have Osborn and the Dark Avengers arrested for treason. After this, the President exclaimed a need for a miracle, which was met by Captain America, along with his friends, arriving to help. The President then decided to let Captain America deal with Osborn and sent an order to the arriving military forces to focus on H.A.M.M.E.R. as the military shot down one of the H.A.M.M.E.R. Helicarriers.[7]
H.A.M.M.E.R. was soon officially dissolved.[8] Some remnants of the organization attempted to reorganize themselves after Osborn's defeat, contacting Victoria Hand to lead them, only to have her give their location to the New Avengers in her new role as their S.H.I.E.L.D. liaison.[9] H.A.M.M.E.R. was soon reassembled by Superia.[10] The New Avengers captured Superia after getting a tip from Victoria Hand.[11]
Following the Fear Itself storyline, Osborn escaped from the Raft and freed Superia as well.[12] Osborn reclaimed control of H.A.M.M.E.R. and recruited Madame Hydra, Gorgon, and some A.I.M. Agents as new members.[13] H.A.M.M.E.R. later ended up in an alliance with A.I.M. and HYDRA.[14] When Norman Osborn was defeated, H.A.M.M.E.R. ended up disbanding, with Madame Hydra using the remaining members to reinforce HYDRA.[15]
Later, members of H.A.M.M.E.R. along with S.H.I.E.L.D., S.T.R.I.K.E., Alpha Flight and other organizations established the group called Orchis. Orchis began building cosmic-level Sentinels in an orbital base to take on mutantkind after Professor X turned Krakoa into a sovereign nation state for mutants and used its unique abilities to created massive plantlike "Habitats" with embassies around the world. Through the combination of technology and mutant power, Professor Xavier developed three drugs that could change human life: A pill that extends human life by five years, an adaptable universal antibiotic, and a pill that cures “diseases of the mind, in humans.” In exchange for recognizing the sovereignty of Krakoa, Professor X said he will give these drugs to mankind, with mutants living in peace on the island.[16]
