Avengers Initiative

The Avengers Initiative is a top secret project created by S.H.I.E.L.D. to create the Avengers. A team composed of superpowered beings that would respond to any dangerous global threats which are too great to be dealt with. The project was spearheaded by S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury.

Recruitment
When Loki stole the Tesseract, Nick Fury activated the Avengers Initiative and ordered Agent Phil Coulson to begin recruitment. The first was S.H.I.E.L.D. spy, the Black Widow who in turn also recruited Dr. Bruce Banner and his alter-ego the Hulk. Agent Coulson then proceeded to recruit Tony Stark and his Iron Man armor. Lastly, Nick Fury himself recruited World War II veteran Steve Rogers aka Captain America.

Candidates

 * Tony Stark (Iron Man)
 * Steve Rogers (Captain America)
 * Dr. Bruce Banner (Hulk)
 * Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow)
 * Clint Barton (Hawkeye)

Results

 * Captain America, Iron Man, & Black Widow answered Nick Fury's call to capture Loki in Germany.
 * Dr. Bruce Banner helped S.H.I.E.L.D. in locating the Tesseract.
 * Hawkeye, Thor & Hulk (Dr. Banner had transformed) joined the rest of the team in the Battle of New York.
 * Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow & Hawkeye formed the Avengers after the batte.