Howling Commandos (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on superhero films and other series starring various titular superheroes independently produced by Marvel Studios and based on characters that appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The shared universe, much like the original Marvel Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters. Over the course of the films and related media (such as Disney+ miniseries), several teams and organizations have been formed, each with different aims and purposes.

Teams and factions

Avengers

The Avengers are the central team of protagonist superheroes of "The Infinity Saga" within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Created by Nick Fury and led primarily by Steve Rogers / Captain America, the team is a United States-based organization composed mainly of enhanced individuals committed to the world's protection from threats. The Avengers operate in New York State; beginning at Avengers Tower in Midtown Manhattan, and subsequently, from the Avengers Compound in Upstate New York.

They were foreshadowed in the 2008 film, ''Iron Man'', in which the "Avengers Initiative" was referenced by Nick Fury in a post-credit scene. The team first appear in ''The Avengers'' (2012), consisting of Tony Stark / Iron Man, Steve Rogers / Captain America, Bruce Banner / Hulk, Thor, Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, and Clint Barton / Hawkeye. The lineup that was depicted by Joss Whedon is primarily based on the Ultimates of Ultimate Marvel, with the exception of two classic founders, Hank Pym / Ant-Man and the Janet van Dyne / The Wasp. In '' Avengers: Age of Ultron,'' Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff joins the Avengers before the Battle of Sokovia while Vision, James Rhodes / War Machine, and Sam Wilson / Falcon and also joins them in a new team roster led by Rogers. In '' Captain America: Civil War,'' the Avengers break apart into two teams, one led by Rogers and one led by Stark. In '' Avengers: Infinity War'', the Avengers battle Thanos, and Stark officially makes Peter Parker / Spider-Man a member of the team. In '' Avengers: Endgame'', five years after the events of ''Infinity War'', Nebula, Rocket, Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel, and Scott Lang / Ant-Man join the Avengers as well.

The Avengers appear in the films ''The Avengers'', ''Avengers: Age of Ultron'', ''Captain America: Civil War'', ''Avengers: Infinity War'', '' Captain Marvel'' (mid-credits scene), and ''Avengers: Endgame''; as well as the Disney+ series ''Loki'' (archival footage). Alternate versions of the team also appear in the animated Disney+ series '' What If...?''. Individual members of the Avengers are central characters in almost all films of the MCU.

Children of Thanos

The Children of Thanos were an elite team of powerful individuals who used their abilities to serve their adoptive father Thanos. As Thanos's vicious generals, they assisted him in his mission to find and harness the power of the Infinity Stones. Thanos adopted six known children: Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive, Cull Obsidian, Gamora, and Nebula, and trained them in the ways of combat, turning each of them into a deadly warrior. Over the years, Gamora and Nebula would both turn on Thanos, while the rest of his children continued to serve him faithfully. In 2018, once Thanos initiated his crusade to acquire the six Infinity Stones, he sends them to Earth in order to retrieve the Time and Mind Stones. Maw and Obsidian attempt to remove the former from Doctor Strange's Eye of Agamotto while Glaive and Midnight attempt to steal the latter from Vision, but they are each killed by members of the Avengers. Five years later, alternate versions of the Children of Thanos from 2014 time-travel to 2023 and participate in the battle between Thanos's forces and the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Masters of the Mystic Arts, and Ravagers. Obsidian and Glaive are killed during the battle, while Maw and Midnight both disintegrate after Stark uses the Infinity Stones to snap his fingers. An alternate version shown in ''What If...?'' shows how Thanos lost the team to the Collector when he became good.

They appeared in the films ''Avengers: Infinity War'' and ''Avengers: Endgame''; as well as the Disney+ animated series ''What If...?'', in which they are referred to as the Black Order.

Dora Milaje

The Dora Milaje, also known simply as the Dora, are an elite organization of female bodyguards and Wakanda's special forces. The current general is Ayo. Florence Kasumba portrays Ayo, a member of the Dora Milaje, in ''Captain America: Civil War'', as a guard of T'Challa. They next appear in ''Black Panther''. Florence Kasumba reprises her role, Danai Gurira portrays Okoye, and Sydelle Noel portrays Xoliswa while the unnamed Dora Milaje are portrayed by Marija Abney, Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, Maria Hippolyte, Marie Mouroum, Jénel Stevens, Zola Williams, Christine Hollingsworth, and Shaunette Renée Wilson. After Killmonger takes over Wakanda and seemingly kills T'Challa, the Dora Milaje reluctantly stand by him as they must remain loyal to the throne. After T'Challa returns, the Dora Milaje fight Killmonger, though Xoliswa is killed in the process.
In 2018, the Dora Milaje join the Avengers in defending Wakanda from Thanos's forces., whilst they fight Thanos's forces again in 2023.
In 2024, after Bucky Barnes breaks Helmut Zemo out of prison, the Dora Milaje pursue the latter, and eventually capture him before sending him to the Raft. Ayo advises Barnes not to return to Wakanda for some time, though he is able to ask them to create a suit for Sam Wilson.

They appeared in the films ''Captain America: Civil War'', ''Black Panther'', ''Avengers: Infinity War'', ''Avengers: Endgame,'' and ''Black Panther: Wakanda Forever''; as well as the Disney+ television series ''The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'' and ''What If...?''.

Guardians of the Galaxy

The Guardians of the Galaxy are a band of outlaws who joined to protect the galaxy from threats. The group's founding members are Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. The team's membership is later expanded with the addition of Yondu Udonta and Mantis while temporarily aided by Nebula in their fight against Ego. Kraglin also assists the team in the final confrontation. Four years later, they aid Thor and the Avengers in confronting Thanos in his attempt to collect the six Infinity Stones. Thanos succeeds in collecting all of Stones, murdering Gamora in the process, and disintegrates half of all life in the universe, with Star-Lord, Drax, Mantis, and Groot among his victims, with only Rocket and Nebula spared. After Thanos has destroyed the Stones and is executed by Thor, Rocket and Nebula help the Avengers travel back in time to retrieve the Infinity Stones from the past. They are successful, but the Thanos of 2014 becomes aware of the presence of this other Nebula, and has her captured, sending 2014 Nebula to the present in the former's place. 2014 Nebula summons Thanos to the present, where he destroys Avengers headquarters in order to acquire the Stones to kill the entire universe. Nebula successfully convinces 2014 Gamora to join her in opposing Thanos, and kills her 2014 counterpart, though 2014 Gamora has no emotional connection to Quill. The combined forces of the Avengers, the Guardians and all of their allies succeed in repelling his forces, and killing Thanos once and for all. Afterwards, Nebula and Thor joins the Guardians, quipping that they are now the "Asgardians of the Galaxy", and jokingly argues with Star-Lord over command of the team. Thor eventually leaves the team. The Guardians, having gained lots of money due to their role in saving the universe, buy Knowhere to use as their base of operations. Cosmo the Spacedog then joins the team.

They appeared in the films ''Guardians of the Galaxy'', ''Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2'', ''Avengers: Infinity War'', ''Avengers: Endgame'', and '' Thor: Love and Thunder''; as well the Disney+ television special ''The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special'' and the animated series ''What If...?''.

Guardians of the Multiverse

The Guardians of the Multiverse is a group consisted of superheroes and supervillains from across the Multiverse. The group was assembled by the Watcher with the goal of stopping an alternate version of Ultron from destroying the Multiverse. The group's members are Peggy Carter / Captain Carter, T'Challa / Star-Lord, Thor, Erik "Killmonger" Stevens, Gamora, Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, and Stephen Strange / Doctor Strange Supreme. After a lengthy battle, the team defeats Ultron, but Killmonger enters into a duel with Arnim Zola over the Infinity Stones. Strange Supreme then casts a spell which imprisons the two inside a pocket dimension before the team is disbanded, returning to their universes by the Watcher. However, Romanoff is transported to another universe, as her own universe was destroyed by Ultron.

They appeared in the animated series '' What If...?''.

Howling Commandos

The Howling Commandos are an elite combat unit that had been led by Captain America (portrayed by Chris Evans) during World War II. At the end of the war and after Captain America's apparent demise, their unit continued to be active and was led by Dum Dum Dugan (portrayed by Neal McDonough). They are first introduced in ''Captain America: The First Avenger''. They were made up of men freed from a Hydra prisoner camp by Rogers. Their number also included Bucky Barnes, Gabe Jones, James Montgomery Falsworth, Jim Morita, and Jacques Dernier (portrayed by Sebastian Stan, Derek Luke, JJ Feild, Kenneth Choi, and Bruno Ricci respectively). In ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'', the team uses old Howling Commandos' equipment provided by Agent Antoine Triplett who is the grandson of one of the Howling Commandos. Commandos Dugan and Morita also return in a flashback, led by Peggy Carter. They also appear in '' Agent Carter''.

They appeared in the film '' Captain America: The First Avenger'' and ''Agent Carter'', as well as the Disney+ animated series ''What If...?''.

Revengers

The Revengers is a team of ex-Sakaar prisoners assembled by Thor to escape the planet and defeat Hela. The team consists of Thor, Loki, Hulk, Valkyrie, Korg, and Miek. With the exception of Loki, who is choked to death by Thanos, the team survives Ragnarok and the attack on the ''Statesman''.

They appeared in the film '' Thor: Ragnarok'' and the Disney+ series ''Loki'' (archival footage).

Salem Coven

The Salem Coven was a witch coven based in Salem, Massachusetts. In 1693, during the Salem witch trials, the coven brought one of its members, Agatha Harkness, to the woods. She begged to be spared but was tied to a wooden post with magic bonds. Evanora Harkness, her mother, inquired if she was a witch, which Agatha admitted to. Evanora responded by saying she had betrayed her coven and stole knowledge above her place and that she practiced the darkest of magic, which Agatha denied. The witches tried to kill Agatha with energy beams as Agatha pleaded with Evanora. Agatha continued to cry until her powers took over and she reversed the effect of the beams onto the witches and killed them. Agatha broke free of the post and killed Evanora before taking the brooch off her mother's corpse and flew away.

It appeared in the Disney+ series ''WandaVision''.

Starforce

The Starforce is an elite military task force of skilled Kree warriors in the service of the Kree Empire. Led by Yon-Rogg (portrayed by Jude Law in the 2019 film '' Captain Marvel''), the group also includes Vers, Korath, Minn-Erva, Att-Lass, and Bron-Char (portrayed by Brie Larson, Djimon Hounsou, Gemma Chan, Algenis Perez Soto, and Rune Temte, respectively). The group is first seen going to the planet Torfa to rescue a Kree scout named Soh-Larr. Vers is captured in a Skrull ambush led by Talos, but escapes to Earth and makes contact with Yon-Rogg. Following a parley with Talos and the discovery of the Skrull refugees hidden by Mar-Vell, Starforce arrives on Earth and takes prisoner the Skrulls, Nick Fury, Maria Rambeau, and Goose. Vers, in her regained identity of Carol Danvers, is placed in a transmission with the Supreme Intelligence. After breaking free and overheating the implant that limited her abilities, Carol Danvers fights Starforce and Kree soldiers to rescue Nick Fury, Maria Rambeau, and the Skrulls; most of the antagonizing Kree are killed or incapacitated.

They appeared in the film ''Captain Marvel''.

Strategic Operations Command Center

The Strategic Operations Command Center, also known by its acronym SOCC, was a special task force led by Thaddeus Ross in order to hunt down the Hulk. Part of the United States Army, the SOCC tracked Banner down in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and attempted to arrest him, but Banner transforms into the Hulk and manages to escape. The SOCC then confront the Hulk at Grayburn College and arrest Banner, but are forced to become temporary allies with him during his fight with the Abomination in Harlem.

It appeared in the film ''The Incredible Hulk''.

Valkyrie

The Valkyrie were a group of female Asgardian warriors who served under Odin. Described by Thor as a "legend", the Valkyrie were sworn to protect the throne and fly on winged horses. During one of their missions, they were sent by Odin to Hel in order to prevent his daughter, Hela, from escaping. However, Hela single-handedly murdered all but one of the Valkyrie before Odin arrived and stopped her. Deeply traumatized by the experience, the sole surviving Valkyrie leaves Asgard and becomes a bounty hunter, serving the Grandmaster on Sakaar as "Scrapper 142".

They appeared in the film ''Thor: Ragnarok''.

Warriors Three

The Warriors Three are a group of Asgardian warriors/adventurers, made up of Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg, with Fandral initially portrayed by Joshua Dallas, Hogun portrayed by Tadanobu Asano, and Volstagg portrayed by Ray Stevenson. They often fight alongside Thor and Lady Sif. Zachary Levi later replaces Joshua Dallas as Fandral. They are ultimately killed by Hela during her takeover of Asgard.

They appeared in the films ''Thor'', ''Thor: The Dark World'', and ''Thor: Ragnarok''; as well as the Disney+ animated series ''What If...?''.

Companies

Advanced Idea Mechanics

Advanced Idea Mechanics, better known by its acronym A.I.M., was a scientific research and development company that was founded by Aldrich Killian. In 1999, Killian attempted to recruit Tony Stark, but failed and was instead approached by Maya Hansen, who agreed to join the organization and develop the Extremis genetic manipulation technology. Over the years, A.I.M. gathered an army of Extremis soldiers, but many of them became unstable and exploded. To cover the accidents up, Killian hired failed actor Trevor Slattery to pose as the Mandarin and claim responsibility for the "attacks". The Mandarin's actions eventually caught the attention of Tony Stark, whose mansion was later destroyed by A.I.M., while Killian kidnapped U.S. President Matthew Ellis. Killian is ultimately stopped by Stark and James Rhodes, and is then killed by Pepper Potts.

It appeared in the film ''Iron Man 3''.

Bestman Salvage

Bestman Salvage was a company based in New York owned and run by Adrian Toomes. Other employees included Phineas Mason, Herman Schultz, Jackson Brice, and Randy Vale. This company went defunct following the Department of Damage Control taking over their contracts, leading to Toomes choosing a life of crime to support his family.

It appeared in the film ''Spider-Man: Homecoming''.

Bishop Security

Bishop Security is a security company owned and operated by the Bishop family in New York City.

It appeared in the Disney+ series '' Hawkeye''.

F.E.A.S.T.

Food, Emergency Aid, Shelter & Training, better known by its acronym F.E.A.S.T, is an American non-profit charitable organization. In 2024, May Parker worked for F.E.A.S.T. to feed the poor and the hungry in New York. During one of her shifts, the recently displaced Norman Osborn seeks shelter at the F.E.A.S.T. Community Center, and is tended to by May until her nephew Peter Parker arrives to escort him to the New York Sanctum, housing all the other displaced individuals from across the multiverse.

It appeared in the film '' Spider-Man: No Way Home''.

Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway

Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway, better known by its initialism GLK&H, is an American law firm operating in New York City and Los Angeles.

It appeared in the Disney+ series '' She-Hulk: Attorney at Law''.

Hammer Industries

Hammer Industries is an American weapons manufacturing company formerly led by Justin Hammer, until his arrest at the Stark Expo. Following Tony Stark's unprecedented announcement that his company would no longer manufacture weapons, Hammer Industries received the weapons contract for the United States Armed Forces. However, despite its claims, most of the weapons produced by Hammer Industries are defective or weak.

It appeared in the film ''Iron Man 2''.

Pym Technologies

Pym Technologies was a multinational technology and scientific research company founded by Hank Pym and later taken over by his protégé, Darren Cross. Following his departure from S.H.I.E.L.D., Pym founded the company to study quantum mechanics, but was later voted out of his own company by Cross and his daughter, Hope van Dyne. Obsessed with recreating the fabled Pym Particles, Cross eventually succeeded and created the Yellowjacket suit, hoping to sell it to the military or terrorist organizations and planning to rename the company Cross Technologies. He is ultimately stopped by Pym, van Dyne, and Scott Lang, and the company's headquarters is destroyed.

It appeared in the film ''Ant-Man''.

Roxxon Corporation

Roxxon Corporation is a large industrial conglomerate that frequently comes into conflict with S.H.I.E.L.D. and other superheroes due to its willingness to use unethical methods.

It appeared in the films ''Iron Man'', ''Iron Man 2'', and ''Iron Man 3''; the Marvel One-Shot ''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer''; as well as the ABC series ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' and ''Agent Carter'', the Netflix series ''Daredevil'', the Freeform series '' Cloak & Dagger'', the Hulu series ''Runaways'' and '' Helstrom,'' and the Disney+ series ''Loki''.

Stark Industries

Stark Industries is a company founded by Howard Stark and later handed over to Tony Stark. During World War II, a young Howard Stark assists the Strategic Scientific Reserve in their Super Soldier program, and provides key assistance to Steve Rogers and Agent Peggy Carter. The Stark Industries logo is modified to fit in with the 1940s time period. When Tony becomes CEO, the company is featured with a logo similar to those of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, and touted as developing many of the same weapons systems that Lockheed Martin is/was responsible for developing, such as the F-22 Raptor and F-16 Fighting Falcon. After Tony's father Howard dies, Obadiah Stane becomes the CEO and later abdicates when Tony grows old enough to run it. After Stark comes back from Afghanistan, he announces that he is closing the weapons division of the company, causing the company's stocks to fall by about 40.7%.

In 2010, Pepper Potts, Stark's lover and eventual wife, becomes the CEO of the company. Stark Industries, for the first time since 1974, hosted the renowned Stark Expo in Flushing Meadows. In 2012, Tony Stark opens the Stark Tower in New York City. After the Chitauri invasion, almost all the lettering forming the word 'STARK' on the side of the tower falls off, leaving only the 'A' - mirroring the logo of the Avengers that would replace the lettering later on. In 2013, Pepper is still the CEO of Stark Industries and Happy Hogan is the head of security. Happy calls out to an off-camera secretary named Bambi in reference to Bambi Arbogast. The company is later stated to have designed Sam Wilson's winged flight gear, as well as the redesigned Helicarriers' propulsion systems. After S.H.I.E.L.D. is dissolved, Maria Hill