Marvel's Illuminati

ILLUMINATING THE ILLUMINATI WITH BRIAN BENDIS

Most recently, they played a major role in the fate of The Sentry in the pages of New Avengers: Reed Richards, Black Bolt, Namor, Professor Xavier, and Dr. Strange. Together, the five are known as the Illuminati, and in March, Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev will show their history in New Avengers Special: The Illuminati.

We caught up with Bendis to talk secrets, cabals, how it starts to come apart, and similarities.

First off, the special was originally planned out to be an arc of New Avengers but moved into its own special as circumstances called for it to be something more than an arc. Rather than a multi-part story in an ongoing series, the special will now serve as a prelude to 2006’s major storyline that will run through the Marvel Universe.

Key in this stage-setting: explain the history of the Illuminati.

As revealed in the special, the five first joined forces after the Kree-Skrull War (Avengers #89-#97), and have had a hand in many of the major events that have rocked the Marvel Universe over the years. “We’re going to unfold their history in the special – how it happened that they got together in the first place, why it was these guys rather than other guys, say, why Black Panther isn’t in there, which is actually a very good point for the story, and we’re going to take it from there,” Bendis said.

Backing up, it’s easy to see that the five represent five larger groups within the Marvel Universe, Bendis acknowledged. “They each represent a certain something that is very special to the Marvel Universe – Namor, of course, is the king of 75% of the planet and represents a certain mindset; Tony Stark represents a certain type of hero – the Avenger type of hero, one who understands and appreciates that heroes can work with the government, rather than outside of it; Reed is the ‘science’ side of the heroes; Black Bolt represents the Inhumans, which are an important part of Marvel history and an important part of things that are to come, as was hinted at in House of M; Dr. Strange speaks for the mystical side of the Marvel universe, and Professor Xavier is there for the mutants. They all bring with them a unique viewpoint and perspective that isn’t shard by the others.”

For more information look at:
http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=48704

Seems nice.

Discuss?

It's my understanding that they are trying to retcon the Illuminati into some older Marvel stories.

I'm just scared that they are going to muck up continuity in the process.

"As revealed in the special, the five first joined forces after the Kree-Skrull War"

I counted six.... 🙄

"Tony Stark represents a certain type of hero – the Avenger type of hero"

he also represents humans without powers

🙂

Awesome.

Sounds very cool.

Originally posted by Scoobless
"As revealed in the special, the five first joined forces after the Kree-Skrull War"

I counted six.... 🙄

"Tony Stark represents a certain type of hero – the Avenger type of hero"

he also represents humans without powers

🙂

Everybody make mistakes. 😉

This sounds so awesome, I can't wait.

Namor looks cool in his black suit. How come Strange never joins in person? He just hangs out in Astral Form.

Maybe he is lazy.

This was posted at Newsrama board:

"s plus i wanna see how black bolt contributes since medusa isnt there."

He probably walks around with a little chalk board around his neck like Awesome Andy.

Namor: "Anything you wanna say about this Black Bolt"

Black Bolt: (writing on the chalk board) "HAHA very funny Namor, you ass"

😂

WELL BECAUSE HE CAN

ti just shows his power i guess and why the **** will he want to exert his time and physical ebergy to get up and go (i'm so powerful i don't need to be there)

Originally posted by Scoobless
"As revealed in the special, the five first joined forces after the Kree-Skrull War"

I counted six.... 🙄

"Tony Stark represents a certain type of hero – the Avenger type of hero"

he also represents humans without powers

🙂

OOooo...Maybe someone slipped up and spoiled the fact that Xavier really is gone now.

Oooooo. 😆

"s plus i wanna see how black bolt contributes since medusa isnt there."

He probably walks around with a little chalk board around his neck like Awesome Andy.

Namor: "Anything you wanna say about this Black Bolt"

Black Bolt: (writing on the chalk board) "HAHA very funny Namor, you ass"

you'd think he'd just learn sign language or something.... maybe get one of those speaker boxes Stephen Hawking has.... or those things people use when they can't speak after getting throat cancer... like the guy in South Park

sure he'd sound like a Dalek.... but at least people could hear his opinion without being liquified

he does know sign language, he just rarely uses it. and one of those voice boxes still requires you hold it to vibrating vocal chords, right? wouldn't that be the entire problem with blackbolt, as any vibration of his vocal chords causes the release of that all-annihilating energy wave?

You'd think, with Xavier and Dr Strange there, they'd all just mind link or something so Bolt can say stuff.

BB can use telepathy as well. I'm pretty sure I've seen him communicate that way before. I forgot where though.

Originally posted by K Von Doom
You'd think, with Xavier and Dr Strange there, they'd all just mind link or something so Bolt can say stuff.

You think they would.

But they don't, because they are annoying bastards. 😛

Man, this sounds so goddamn awesome droolio . I think it'll be immensely cool.

~wickerman~

What is rest of the heroes turn on them? We might see Namor and Black Bolt kicking ass...

Originally posted by DarkCrawler
What is rest of the heroes turn on them? We might see Namor and Black Bolt kicking ass...

I'm gonna fall in luv babeh droolio

~wickerman~

If Xvaier is powerless, do mutants still need an representer?