Why "Avengers" The Initiative?

**Dermie** · 03-25-2007, 07:57 PM

I was just wondering why The Initiative got labelled as an Avengers book.

After all, it looks like the book will be dealing with a bunch of all-new characters as well as tons of characters from the MU in general, none of whom have ever been Avengers.

Of course, all of the main 'instructor' characters are former Avengers (Yellowjacket, Justice, War Machine and She-Hulk), except for the Gauntlet. Perhaps that was the reason? Or maybe "Avengers: The Initiative" simply had a better ring to it than just "The Initiative"?

Just curious.

**Miss Kitty Fantastico** · 03-25-2007, 11:12 PM

No doubt the likelihood of people buying it purely because it has 'Avengers' on the cover played a part. But I think the idea of the Avengers, or rather the ideal of them, could be a big theme. The Avengers are the end goal of the whole Initiative program, after all: to take in rookies and turn them into Avengers. Not everyone'll make it of course, some with wash out, or only get as far as the lower-profile teams or whatever, but the Avengers are the top of the line, the ideal that everyone in the program is striving for (or should be).

In fact, A:TI could well turn out to be the book that defines 'the Avengers' for future stories. In seeing how you turn (or try to turn) an ordinary person into an Avenger, it has the scope to explore everything about what an Avenger is, not just in terms of power or being chosen by Tony Stark, but what it is in a person's nature that makes them Avengers material. You know what they say - if you want to understand something, try to teach it to someone.

**tom daylight** · 03-26-2007, 10:35 AM

I was thinking about this myself. Ultimately, it's because the Avengers brand has recently become a juggernaut on a level the X-Men used to be on, and tying this book to it is the only way to guarantee sales.

I do think the title is a bit awkward, to say the least. It looks even worse on the covers, with the two titles the wrong way around (although having said that, "The Initiative Avengers" looks a lot less awkward, and makes about as much sense).

With the other two Avengers books having the same banner across the top, the cover looks almost like Avengers #1. Which I guess is exactly what they want you to think.

**Dave S.** · 03-29-2007, 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by tom daylight

I was thinking about this myself. Ultimately, it's because the Avengers brand has recently become a juggernaut on a level the X-Men used to be on, and tying this book to it is the only way to guarantee sales.

I do think the title is a bit awkward, to say the least. It looks even worse on the covers, with the two titles the wrong way around (although having said that, "The Initiative Avengers" looks a lot less awkward, and makes about as much sense).

With the other two Avengers books having the same banner across the top, the cover looks almost like Avengers #1. Which I guess is exactly what they want you to think.

At least this makes some sense, as the people are striving to become Avengers.

New Avengers: Illuminati is just blatant use of the name Avengers to get sales.

**Dingo** · 03-29-2007, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by Dave S.

At least this makes some sense, as the people are striving to become Avengers.

New Avengers: Illuminati is just blatant use of the name Avengers to get sales.

Well at least now two of them have been New Avengers what with Doc Strange joining up.

**tom daylight** · 03-29-2007, 10:07 AM

it was originally a spin-off of new avengers, so i don't think it's a huge stretch. although now it's more deeply entrenched in hulk stuff... what would you title it?

**Dave S.** · 03-31-2007, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by tom daylight

it was originally a spin-off of new avengers, so i don't think it's a huge stretch. although now it's more deeply entrenched in hulk stuff... what would you title it?

I'd just call it The Illuminati, since really they are their own team with their own agendas.

Some of Nextwave were Avengers, I wouldn't want that book called Avengers: Nextwave.

**tom daylight** · 03-31-2007, 11:16 AM

if they called it illuminati they'd get sued.

probably by the illuminati

**Dermie** · 03-31-2007, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Dave S.

New Avengers: Illuminati is just blatant use of the name Avengers to get sales.

And due to the Illuminati concept being introduced in NEW AVENGERS...

**CyberCoyote** · 03-31-2007, 10:23 PM

Avengers is what Marvel wants you to associate with 'organised heroes', plain and simple. Be they organised resistance or organised governmet sponsored teams they are Avengers. There's a big push and if the group is. well, a group, it's gonna be Avengers tied.

Maybe the FF will become Fantastic Avengers or Avenging Four soon, and Colak and Dagger will come back as 'Avenging Cloak and Dagger', best yet, Avenging Defenders! Maybe the few mutants left on earth will be xA, or the AveXgers or something