Avengers Civil War

"I knew I couldn't kill them. More powerful men than me have tried. But if I could get them to kill each other? An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one which crumbles from within? That's dead...forever."

- Helmut Zemo

The Avengers Civil War was a brief conflict between two factions of the Avengers based on their opposing stances toward the Sokovia Accords. While initially a seemless political bout between ideals, the conflict soon escalated into violence through the secret manipulations of the vengeful Sokovian Colonel Helmut Zemo, who sought to bring ruin to the Avengers in retaliation for the death of his family in the Battle of Sokovia. While Zemo himself was eventually apprehended, he succeeded with his own goal in the end, as the Avengers were left disorganized and scattered.

Age of Heroes
"The world is filling up with people that can't be matched, can't be controlled."

- Nick Fury

A conflict six years in the making, the genesis of the Avengers Civil War dates back to 2010, when Tony Stark revealed to the world that he was Iron Man. This marked a chain of events in which the number of certain individuals with powers increased exponentially, generating mass resentment and fear.

It wasn't until the Battle of New York that the fear of those with powers become more ubiquitous. As the nations of Earth finally realized that humanity was not alone in the universe, there were both widespread feelings of gratitude and continued resentment toward the Avengers and the "gifted people". Several months later, newly-elected United States President Matthew Ellis vowed that he would protect the people of his nation from any other threat that they could face in the future.

In 2014, S.H.I.E.L.D. initiated an operation that would prevent future threats to international security. Unbeknowst to all, HYDRA, who had infiltrated the organization, attempted to use the operation to achieve their goals of world domination. While they were defeated by Steve Rogers, the goverment labeled S.H.I.E.L.D. a terrorist organization.

Despite widespread feelings of fear over the fact that there was no one left to protect the world, a new S.H.I.E.L.D. emerged under the direction of Phil Coulson and worked in secret to defeat HYDRA.

Meanwhile, on a smaller scale, superheroes like Daredevil and Spider-Man emerged, attracting the attention of local news networks.

Ultron Offensive
In 2015, after spending an entire year taking down HYDRA cells around the world, the Avengers raided a research base in Sokovia and defeated high-ranking operative Wolfgang von Strucker, bringing an end to the War on HYDRA. During the attack, Stark recovered the Scepter wielded by Loki during the Battle of New York, which Strucker had used for his illegal experiments.

Upon returning to Avengers Tower, Stark discovered an artificial intelligence hidden within the scepter's gem and used it to create the Ultron Program. However, the program became self-aware and caused Ultron to believe that humanity was responsible for preventing peace.

The chain of events that followed resulted in the Battle of Sokovia, which caused the death of 177 civilians and $474 billion in damage.

Following the Ultron Offensive, public opinion of both the Avengers and all "gifted people" worsened. Many went as far as threatening to expose them and often referred to them as freaks.

Inhuman Outbreak
Newly-emerged Inhumans added fuel to this bigotry when a Quinjet filled with Terrigen Crystals crashed into the ocean and contaminated the sea life. The fish were turned into Nature Max Supplements Fish Oil pills and distributed worldwide.

Though S.H.I.E.L.D. pulled some of the product off store shelves, several people consumed what was not caught and, in doing so, discovered their true heritage.

Following a series of attacks engineered by the Inhuman known as Lash, the Advanced Threat Containment Unit was formed in order to handle incidents involving the rise of Inhumans.

At the same time, a radical group known as the Watchdogs emerged and launched an attack on an ATCU facility, killing all of the personnel inside. They later broadcast the terrorist act, using the Battle of Sokovia as an excuse for their actions.

As a result, public negativity towards superhumans increased and the nations of the world began demanding goverment oversight.

Attack on the IFID
"This is for dropping a building on my face!"

- Crossbones to Captain America

Approximately one year after the Battle of Sokovia, the Avengers discovered that HYDRA sleeper agent Brock Rumlow, who had deserted HYDRA and taken up the alias "Crossbones", had been spotted in Lagos, Nigeria with several mercenaries.

Upon arriving in Lagos, the Avengers learned that Rumlow was planning to steal a biological weapon from the Institute for Infectious Diseases. Although the team successfully neutralized the mercenaries and secured the weapon, Rumlow had managed to escape. Rogers confronted him and the two engaged in a duel that ended with Rogers subduing the former STRIKE commander.

When Rogers began pressing Rumlow for information, the latter claimed Bucky Barnes was pulling the strings before activating a suicide bomb attached to his vest, intent on taking Rogers with him.

Wanda Maximoff successfully contained the explosion and attempted to move the blast away. However, she moved it too close to a nearby building and inadvertantly caused an explosion that killed 26 people, with several relief aid workers from the African nation of Wakanda among the dead.

The Sokovia Accords
"For the past four years, you operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate."

- Thaddeus Ross to the Avengers

One month after the incident in Lagos, several international politicians, among them Wakanda's ruler King T'Chaka, called for the United Nations to create a system of accountability.

Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross brought the Avengers together and informed them that the United Nations was in the process of passing the Sokovia Accords, which would police the increasing number of enhanced individuals while also mandating that the Avengers would no longer be allowed to operate unregulated. Ross warned that anyone who rejected the Accords would be forced to "retire".

Following the debriefing, the team became divided over the accords and their impact on both themselves and the world at large. Vision noted that in the years since Stark revealed himself as Iron Man, the rate of hostile enhanced individuals and the number of potential world-ending events has grown exponentially.

While Stark agreed with Vision, Rogers argued that if they signed, then they would be surrendering the right to choose for themselves.

The Vienna Bombing
"Don't worry, Ms. Romanoff. I will kill him myself."

- T'Challa to Natasha Romanoff

Eventually, Stark, Vision and James Rhodes decided to sign the accords while Clint Barton refused, citing the fact that he was retired. Rogers, who was forced to put the discussion on hold after learning that Peggy Carter died in her sleep, confided in Natasha Romanoff that he stood by his beliefs.

Three days later, the United Nations arranged a formal ceremony at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria. Among those in attendance were Romanoff, T'Chaka and his son Prince T'Challa. T'Chaka accepted Natasha's apology, but was saddened to hear that Rogers wasn't in attendance.

While watching his father give the keynote address, T'Challa noticed a commotion outside the Centre and learned that a bomb had been planted in a van. Despite his attempts to evacuate everyone inside, the bomb detonated and decimated the building, killing T'Chaka and several others.

Following the bombing, T'Challa was crowned King of Wakanda. When security footage revealed Barnes was responsible for the attack, he personally set out to avenge his father's death.

Meanwhile, Rogers learned about Barnes' suppossed role in T'Chaka's death and implored Sharon Carter to help him. She eventually revealed that Barnes was in Bucharest, Romania, prompting Rogers and Sam Wilson to track him down.

Hunting the Soldier
"I didn't kill your father." "Then why did you run?"

- Bucky Barnes and Black Panther

Rogers and Wilson managed to find Barnes living in a Bucharest safe house only to learn that both T'Challa and local law enforcement were also in pursuit.

This led to a high-speed chase through the city, which came to an abrupt end when Rhodes apprehended the four and escorted them to the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre in Berlin.

Barnes was placed in a contained cell while Deputy Task Force Commander Everett Ross arranged for psychiatrist Theo Broussard to speak with him.

Meanwhile, Stark and attempted to persuade Rogers to sign the accords. The conversation became heated when Stark revealed that he confined Wanda to the New Avengers Facility.

The Soldier Escapes
As Stark and Rogers continued arguing, Broussard arrived and met with Barnes. Before the discussion officially began, the power suddenly went out. Broussard then recited a set of conditioned trigger words that were used when Barnes was a HYDRA operative.

His training suddenly reactivated, Barnes broke free of his restraints and went on a rampage after being ordered to fight and kill anyone who tried to stop him. He overpowered Natasha, T'Challa, Sharon and Stark before escaping to the roof, where he attempted to escape via a helicopter.

Rogers managed to get to the roof before Barnes could take off and grabbed the landing gear to stop his best friend from escaping. Barnes then tried to crash the helicopter in a desperate attempt to kill Rogers, but failed. When the helicopter fell into the water, Barnes was knocked unconscious. Rogers saved him from drowing and took him to a remote warehouse.

Later, after trapping Barnes' prosthetic arm in a metal vise , Rogers reunited with Wilson and interrogated a now calm Barnes. Barnes revealed personal facts that only he knew before explaining that there were five other Winter Soldiers and that, if Broussard revived them, they would be unstoppable.

Rogers and Wilson discussed the situation, deciding that Stark would not be able to assist them because of the accords. Wilson then mentioned that he "[knows] a guy" who could assist them.

Meanwhile, Stark traveled to Brooklyn, New York and recruited high school student Peter Parker, who was secretly the costumed vigilante Spider-Man. Parker accepted, on the condition that his Aunt May remained unaware of his activities. Stark agreed and decided to upgrade his new ally's costume.

Rescuing Wanda
Meanwhile, at the New Avengers Facility, an explosion prompted Vision to investigate while Wanda stayed behind. Suddenly realizing that she wasn't alone, she used her powers on a kitchen knife to attack the intruder.

She then realized that Barton was in the room and that he was responsible for the "explosion", which was meant to distract Vision while he rescued her.

Vision suddenly returned and proceeded to fight Barton. When the synethic being overpowered his former ally, Barton convinced Wanda to use her powers to take down Vision, which she reluctantly did.

The two fled the compound and proceeded to recruit Scott Lang before making their way to Germany, where Rogers was waiting with Barnes and Wilson.

Clash of the Avengers
"You chose the wrong side."

- Iron Man to Captain America

Around 24 hours after Thaddeus Ross gave Stark his 36 hour deadline, Iron Man and his team confronted Captain America and some of his team at the airport on Leipzig, Germany, bringing in Spider-Man in his new suit to bound Captain America's hands with his webbing and stole his shield. When Rogers refused to listen to Stark and back down, Ant-Man stole Captain America's Shield back for him, and Hawkeye shot an arrow to break the webbing binding between Captain America's hands, and a battle broke out between both teams. As everyone escapes the various predicaments they have got themselves into, the twelve heroes all end up coming together in the airplane parking area outside the airport. The six heroes on each side begin to run at each other, and all the heroes pair off, clashing with each other, each in an attempt to subdue and take down the other, but with no one having the desire to kill anyone else. In the process, Black Panther got in a hand-to-hand fight with Barnes. A massive battle unfolds, resulting in the destruction of much of the airport. Rogers and Barnes knew they needed a way to get to Siberia so as to stop Zemo. They decided to use Stark's Quinjet parked in a section of the airport. As a distraction, Ant-Man used his suit to make himself grow to be giant instead of shrinking. Taking Iron Man's team by surprise, the team worked on taking down Ant-Man's new "Giant-Man" form and all but momentarily forgot about Captain America and the Winter Soldier. After Giant-Man grabbed War Machine, Spider-Man wrapped his webbing around Giant-Man's legs to make him fall over. Meanwhile, Vision noticed Captain America and the Winter Soldier running for the Quinjet, and caused a tower to fall on them to stop them reaching it. Scarlet Witch managed to use her telekinesis to hold up the tower long enough to allow them to reach the jet's hangar but she was attacked by War Machine. However, they found that Black Widow betrayed Iron Man's team and used her bite to subdue Black Panther. She told Rogers and Barnes to escape in the Quinjet. As the Quinjet flew away, War Machine and Iron Man flew in pursuit, but Falcon went behind them in order to help his friends escape. War Machine told Vision to attack Falcon but he missed the shot, catching War Machine's arc reactor instead of Falcon's wings, and causing Rhodes to fall uncontrollably from the sky. He crashed to the ground before Iron Man or Falcon could catch him. He survived the fall, but was severely injured, and the Quinjet flew away. Iron Man shooted out Falcon in rage, and the authorities soon arrived to arrest Hawkeye, Ant-Man, Scarlet Witch and Falcon. Parker soon returned home.

Zemo's Success
"I've lost everyone. And so will you."

- Helmut Zemo to Captain America

Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes flew to Siberia to stop Helmut Zemo from releasing the other Winter Soldiers. When they arrived, Iron Man followed them and stated that Captain America was right about the whole event. When they entered deep into the base, they found that the other Winter Soldiers have been shot and killed. Zemo revealed that he was a Sokovian and that his family was killed during the Battle of Sokovia. In order to get revenge, he showed the clip from December 16, 1991 and revealed that Barnes killed Stark's parents. An enraged Stark demanded to know if Rogers knew about it. Rogers admitted that he knew about it, although he didn't know it was Barnes specifically. Blind with rage, Stark attacked both Captain America and Barnes while Zemo managed to escape. Outside, Black Panther, who followed Stark in the shadows, stopped Zemo from commiting suicide. Back in the base, Iron Man blasted Winter Soldier's robotic arm off and Captain America beat up Iron Man and shoved his shield into his arc reactor. Captain America picked up Barnes, while Stark stated that Rogers didn't deserve his shield and that his father made it. Rogers dropped the shield, realizing that he was unworthy to wield it.

The End of the Beginning
"Your friend and my father. They were both victims. If I can help one of them find peace..." "You know if they find out he's here, they'll come for him." "Let them try."

- T'Challa and Steve Rogers Stark received a package containing a cell phone and a letter from Rogers, who apologized for keeping the truth from him and informed him that the others are just a phone call away if he needs help.

Secretary Ross then contacted Stark, informing him that Wilson, Wanda, Barton and Lang had escaped from the Raft. Stark, however, ended the call by pretending to be busy, implying he was letting them escape.

Rogers and Barnes then made their way to Wakanda, where T'Challa granted them asylum and promises to watch over Barnes, who chose to remain in cryogenic stasis until his mind could be cleansed of the mental programming.

Impact on S.H.I.E.L.D.
"I'm here because the President sent me. The Sokovia Accords are the law of the land now. He's concerned you might have some undocumented "assets" working for you."

- Glenn Talbot to Phil Coulson Sometime after Rogers went into hiding, Brigadier General Glenn Talbot was ordered by President Ellis to meet with Phil Coulson at the Playground and learn about any "undocumented assets".

Questioning Effectivity
Several months after Hive was successfully defeated, the vigilante known as Quake prompted many to question the regulations put in place by the accords.

Appearances

 * Captain America: Civil War


 * Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
 * Season Three
 * Failed Experiments (mentioned)
 * Emancipation (mentioned)