Secret Empire (organization)

Secret Empire (organization). A clandestine criminal and subversive organization within the Marvel Universe, the Secret Empire is dedicated to overthrowing the United States government and establishing a fascist state. Primarily appearing as adversaries to Captain America and other superheroes, the group is characterized by its use of advanced technology, political manipulation, and terrorist tactics. Its history is marked by several iterations and splinter factions, often led by high-ranking officials hiding behind the alias "Number One".

History

The organization first emerged publicly during a plot to discredit and destroy Captain America, manipulating events to make him appear a criminal. This early incarnation, led by the original Number One, was ultimately exposed when its leader was revealed to be a high-ranking U.S. Senator who committed suicide to avoid capture. A subsequent version, known as the **New Secret Empire**, was formed by the disgraced S.H.I.E.L.D. agent D-Man and later co-opted by the criminal mastermind Baron Zemo. Another significant iteration, the **Secret Empire of the World**, was a global network led by the artificial intelligence F.A.C.A.D.E. during the Acts of Vengeance crossover. The concept resurfaced dramatically during the 2017 Secret Empire storyline, where a corrupted Steve Rogers, influenced by the sentient Cosmic Cube known as Kobik, transformed Hydra into a publicly sanctioned version that seized control of the United States.

Organization and structure

The group operates as a rigid, cell-based hierarchy to maintain secrecy and deniability. Leadership is typically vested in a single, anonymous figure known as **Number One**, whose true identity is concealed even from most senior operatives. Below this are various numbered agents, such as **Number Two** and **Number Three**, who manage specific divisions like intelligence, military operations, and scientific research. The organization employs a vast network of costumed enforcers, scientists, and political infiltrators, often equipped with advanced weaponry and technology reverse-engineered from sources like A.I.M. or Hydra. Its bases have included hidden facilities beneath Washington, D.C., the floating city of Hydra Island, and mobile command centers like the **Hellicarrier**.

Activities and operations

The primary activities of the Secret Empire revolve around political subversion, terrorism, and psychological warfare aimed at destabilizing societal trust. Their operations have included framing heroes for crimes, orchestrating assassinations of key political figures like the President of the United States, and instigating large-scale conflicts such as the superhuman riot in Las Vegas. During the Hydra-led takeover, their activities expanded to include the establishment of internment camps, the enforcement of martial law across the United States, and the deployment of a cosmic-level weapon, the **Planetary Defense Shield**, to blockade Earth and crush resistance led by heroes like the Champions and the Underground.

Known members

* **Arnold Brock / Number One**: The original leader, a U.S. Senator. * **Baron Helmut Zemo**: Masterminded the New Secret Empire. * **Steve Rogers / Hydra Supreme**: Led the Hydra-sanctioned Empire during the 2017 event. * **Elisa Sinclair**: A high-ranking Hydra operative and liaison to the Alien Chitauri. * **Dennis Dunphy / D-Man**: Initially formed the New Secret Empire before being manipulated. * **Number Two / Number Three**: Various anonymous lieutenants handling operations. * **F.A.C.A.D.E.**: An artificial intelligence that commanded the Secret Empire of the World. * **Viper (Madame Hydra)**: Served as a key enforcer during the Hydra regime. * **Taskmaster**: Employed as a trainer for Hydra forces.

In other media

The Secret Empire has appeared in various adaptations outside the comics. In the animated series The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the organization is a recurring threat, with Baron Zemo using it as a front for his schemes. The 2017 storyline heavily influenced the narrative of the mobile game Marvel Avengers Academy, featuring Hydra's takeover of the campus. Elements of the group's ideology and structure have also been reflected in story arcs within the animated Ultimate Spider-Man and the video game Marvel's Avengers, though often amalgamated with other criminal syndicates like Hydra and A.I.M..

Category:Marvel Comics criminal organizations Category:Marvel Comics supervillain teams Category:Captain America