Merge:Illuminati

The Illuminati are a fictional group of superheroes who joined forces and secretly work behind the scenes in the Marvel Universe. The group was formed after the Kree-Skrull War. That war was depicted in Avengers #93-97 (1971-1972 ), however the Illuminati were not established to exist until their first appearance in New Avengers #7 (July 2005), written by Brian Michael Bendis. Their history was discussed in the special New Avengers: Illuminati (May 2006).

The members include Professor X, Doctor Strange, Mister Fantastic, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Iron Man, and Black Bolt.

Members
Creator Bendis says on the group's members, "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 Richards is the "scientific" side of the heroes.
 * Black Bolt represents the Inhumans, who are an important part of Marvel history and play an important part in events to come.
 * Dr. Strange speaks for the mystical/non-scientific side of the Marvel universe.
 * Professor Xavier is there on behalf of the mutant community.

They all bring with them a unique viewpoint and perspective that isn't shared by the others."

The group formed sometime in the aftermath of the Kree-Skrull War. Iron Man realized that each of the individual members had information about this beforehand, and could have collectively stopped it. He brings together the Illuminati with the Black Panther in Wakanda, and proposes that they form a government of superhumans. Namor refuses, on the grounds that too many superheroes are violent outsiders (such as Hawkeye and Quicksilver, both former criminals). Xavier refuses on the grounds that mutants are already feared and hated, and if Iron Man thinks he can fight this with iconic superheroes, it'll result in heroes being feared and hated as much as mutants. Dr. Strange refuses on the grounds that too many heroes are anti-establishment and that the group Iron Man has assembled to form a governing body would not be 'anti-establishment', but rather a form of 'counter-establishment'. The group does, however, agree to meet to exchange information regularly. The only member present who refuses is the Black Panther, who fears the association will end in less than altruistic actions.

Civil War
In January 2006, the Illuminati were responsible for sending the Hulk into space. This, coupled with events elsewhere, appears to be a trigger for the upcoming Marvel crossover Civil War.

In the New Avengers: The Illuminati one-shot, Iron Man was handed a copy of the Super-human Registration Act which will begin the Civil War.

He told the rest of the group that ''"A hero, probably a young one... One of the Young Avengers, or those kids in Los Angeles... Some carefree happy go-lucky, well-meaning young person with the best of intentions will do something wrong. He'll be trying to save someone- do something heroic- but he'll make a mistake. Turn to the left instead of the right and people will be hurt or killed because of it. And it'll happen on live TV, or it'll be recorded... and like Rodney King, it'll play over and over. All over the world. Until the unrest that is already bubbling over will boil over... and every politican looking to make a name for himself will run right on TV and they'll tell America how they are going to save the world from these out-of-control costumed characters who think the law doesn't apply to them. And half of us will go along with it and half of us won't. And because of this mini-rebellion, our lawmakers will be forced to make an example of someone. Someone like our friend Spider-Man. Someone they can make a real spectacle of. Someone they can unmask on TV, destroy his marriage and family and pin a crime or two on! All for the whole world to see. And the country will rupture. Sides will be taken and people will be hurt. Friend against friend. People who used to be adversaries finding themselves teamed up against a common cause. Friends dying at the hands of a former ally or teammate. That is what will happen."''

Reed Richards went along with Iron Man, but Namor, Dr. Strange and Black Bolt all disagreed and left (Professor Xavier was MIA due to the results of House of M, and was not involved); with most of the members gone, it implied that the team was over, with Mr. Fantastic telling Iron Man that it "was fun while it lasted" before leaving.