The Inhuman Outbreak, also known as the Inhuman Epidemic, was a phenomenon surrounding the emergence of Inhumans and the ongoing fight between different factions to help, contain or destroy them.
Background[]
War Against the Inhumans[]
- "The recent spread of Terrigen throughout Earth... The contamination of their water supply... has ignited the Terrigenesis of people's genetics who are at least part Inhuman."
- ―Medusa[src]
Many descendants of Inhumans, a species created by the Kree to act as their super soldiers in a war but ultimately abandoned, live among Humans, but do not know their heritage. They live normal lives as construction workers,[2] college professors,[4] and government employees.[5]
Meanwhile, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Jiaying, the leader of a society of Inhumans who lived in Afterlife, had a war, which ended with a Quinjet filled with Terrigen Crystals falling into the ocean and contaminating the sea life with its Terrigen Mist. The contaminated fish were unknowing turned into Nature Max Supplements Fish Oil pills and distributed to stores worldwide.[1] Though S.H.I.E.L.D. was able to pull some of the product from store shelves, what was not caught, the public consumed.[2]
New Inhumans[]
First Cases[]
- "The Earth's going through a big change right now... some kind of alien contagion. Call themselves Inhumans."
- ―Grant Ward to Hive[src]
In the months that had passed since Nature Max Supplements Fish Oil pills were distributed, S.H.I.E.L.D. had pulled the product from the shelves of stores. However, they were unable to track down the pills that were already bought, and at least five individuals managed to take them before S.H.I.E.L.D. could locate them. The organization under Coulson's direction managed to find this Inhumans and protecting them but many of them were caught by other organization and others were killed. Believing that the new organization was responsible for the capture and deaths of those Inhumans, Coulson appointed Skye, who now was going with her birth name Daisy Johnson, and Alphonso Mackenzie to track the Inhumans and get to them before the mysterious organization could with the help of their new plane, Zephyr One.[2] Dwight Frye was among many who underwent Terrigenesis by swallowing Nature Max Supplements Fish Oil, his change left him in great physical pain whenever he was near another Inhuman, leading him to resent his own kind.[5]
Andrew Garner's Transformation[]
- "I didn't know why, it was intense. I had this new desire, I had a hunger on my skin. It wasn't until I finally met one that my body took over and I... I lashed out and I felt relief."
- ―Andrew Garner[src]
S.H.I.E.L.D. took possession of many of Jiaying's belongings in the aftermath of the War Against the Inhumans, and Phil Coulson tasked Andrew Garner with examining them. One of the books, a ledger detailing the identity of every Inhuman that had lived in Afterlife, contained a Terrigen Mist booby trap. When Garner ] tried to open it, he was hit by Terrigen crystals and underwent Terrigenesis. Although Garner's body did not change immediately, when he first came across another Inhuman, Garner gained the temporary power to change into an Inhuman form, learning to transform at will into it.[4]
Rescue of Joey Gutierrez[]
- "Use lethal force if necessary."
"Lethal force? I'm not trying to do this, I need help!" - ―Rosalind Price and Joey Gutierrez[src]
Both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Advanced Threat Containment Unit learnt about Joey Gutierrez, a man from Seattle that took one of the Nature Max Supplements Fish Oil pills, and, due to his Inhuman genetics, underwent Terrigenesis. Gutierrez emerged from his chrysalis with the power of liquefying metal, and started to unintentionally wreak havoc in the streets as his powers melted every metal near to him, including vehicles, and caused multiple explosions.
The Advanced Threat Containment Unit, led by Luther Banks, surrounded Gutierrez, and were authorized by their leader to use lethal force if necessary. Gutierrez, fearing for his life, seized an opportunity to escape when his power caused an explosion, and was rescued by S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents Daisy Johnson, Alphonso Mackenzie and Lance Hunter, who, using Johnson's Inhuman powers, defeated the soldiers long enough to convince Gutierrez to be extracted within a Containment Module. Rosalind Price, leader of the ATCU, realized that Gutierrez was extracted, and visited the area to give Banks further instructions. Phil Coulson, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., seized the opportunity to take a photograph of Price in order to identify her.[2]
Attack on Lincoln Campbell[]
With Lash using intel gathered from both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Dwight Frye, he was able to track Lincoln Campbell at the hospital where he was working. Once he had murdered a security guard, Lash discovered Campbell alongside Daisy Johnson and Alphonso Mackenzie, engaging in a fierce battle with the three. Eventually Lash was defeated by the three and forced to escape while the Advanced Threat Containment Unit arrived to capture them, Campbell then went on the run while Johnson and Mackenzie returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. and began investigating their latest Inhuman enemy.[2]
Presidential Announcement[]
- "By executive order, I have created a special task force to neutralize these alien threats on our soil. The Advanced Threat Containment Unit, or ATCU, will be given full license to act with whatever authority is necessary."
- ―Matthew Ellis[src]
In the wake of the very public incidents involving Inhumans, President Matthew Ellis made a statement commenting on the Inhuman Outbreak in America and announced the formation of the Advanced Threat Containment Unit which would be allowed to hunt down and capture any and all Inhumans. The decision to form the ATCU was secretly pushed by Gideon Malick who hoped to create an Inhuman army for HYDRA.[2]
Chase of Lincoln Campbell[]
- "I saw you; I know what you are."
"You have no idea." - ―Private Brown and Lincoln Campbell[src]
Having had his identity and nature as an Inhuman exposed during his battle against Lash at the hospital, Lincoln Campbell was forced to go into hiding, keeping his location secret from S.H.I.E.L.D. and Daisy Johnson. Campbell was soon targeted by the Advanced Threat Containment Unit led by Luther Banks. Having escaped Banks, Campbell discovered that the ATCU had released his picture to the world, with no other option he called his old friend John Donnelly for help, but even he betrayed Campbell once he learned of his powers. Having seemingly lost all hope, Campbell called Johnson for help, but was betrayed by S.H.I.E.L.D. who tried to hand him over to the ATCU. Campbell managed to escape and went on the run to find his friends from Afterlife, soon discovering they had been killed by Lash.[6]
Assassination of Shane and Lori Henson[]
- "He's here, he's here to kill us, and you can't stop him."
- ―Alisha Whitley[src]
Under the order of Lash, Dwight Frye sent an email to Shane and Lori Henson asking them to band together as Inhumans. At the same time Phil Coulson sent Alisha Whitley to recruit the Hensons for their Secret Warriors. While Alisha sent her double to speak to the Hensons, who she knew from Afterlife, they discussed Lincoln Campbell before they were attacked by Lash. Before they could react, Lash killed the Hensons before overpowering Alisha and killing her double while Coulson watched helpless.[5]
Chase of Lash[]
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Attack on Dwight Frye[]
- "I only told them the truth... that you're being... merciful."
"I'm not merciful. I'm necessary." - ―Dwight Frye and Lash[src]
Using the email sent to Shane and Lori Henson, Daisy Johnson was able to track down Dwight Frye. With the assistance of the Advanced Threat Containment Unit, Johnson led a S.H.I.E.L.D. team and soon captured Frye. As Frye was questioned by Rosalind Price and Phil Coulson, his powers were soon established and he was forced to reveal his alliance to Lash, whose actions he defended as he believed that the Inhumans were freaks who needed to be destroyed. Having gathered the information needed, Frye was taken into custody by Luther Banks of the ATCU for further questioning.
However, as the ATCU van was being driven back to Endotex Labs so Frye could be held in custody, they were suddenly attacked by Lash who desired to keep his identity secret. Although Daisy Johnson and Alphonso Mackenzie attempted to stop him, Lash was able to defeat the agents and caused the van to crash. Lash then dragged Frye outside and killed him, claiming that his purpose was not to provide mercy for those in pain, but he was necessary to stop the Inhuman Outbreak. As Lash departed the scene, he spotted Johnson inside, but as he knew Johnson's relationship with his ex-wife, he left her alive before transforming back into Andrew Garner.[5]
Attack on Andrew Garner[]
- "Hey professor, where you been? You know you're a tough guy to track down."
"What's going on here, Alex?" - ―Werner von Strucker and Andrew Garner[src]
Under the orders of HYDRA leader Grant Ward, Werner von Strucker was sent to assassinate Andrew Garner, unaware of his true Inhuman powers. While Strucker, and two HYDRA operatives locked the doors and prepared to burn down the store, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent attempted to defend Garner. In the chaos, Garner found cover and emerged while transforming into Lash.
Strucker watched in horror as Garner transformed and witnessed him murder both the Assassin and Arsonist in seconds. While Strucker escaped from the store, Lash was left with no choice but to transform back into his human form and burn down the store with the bodies of his victims still inside, hoping that the flames would cover up his involvement in their killings. Garner was later found by S.H.I.E.L.D. who took him back to the Playground for treatment. While being cared for, Garner kept his secret and ensured his blood was never tested so they could not discover his Inhuman powers.[5]
Chase of Luther Banks[]
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Kidnapping of Melinda May[]
- "I don't know what I'll do! Instinct will take over again, like it did at the convenience store."
"Instinct?"
"Look, I didn't want to hurt anyone but I didn't know what was happening."
"You killed all those people." - ―Andrew Garner and Melinda May[src]
When Werner von Strucker revealed to Melinda May that her ex-husband Andrew Garner was the Inhuman killer Lash, she went to confront him alone. Finding Garner interviewing Joey Gutierrez, May demanded Gutierrez leave before she confronted Garner. Fueled by fear and rage, Garner shot May with an I.C.E.R. before kidnapping her. Garner tried to explain what had happened to him and why he had killed the Inhumans, but May struggled to accept his explanation. They were soon discovered by Phil Coulson who tried to calm Garner down.
Lincoln Campbell arrived and furiously accused Garner of murdering his friends, which caused Garner to transform into Lash and battle Campbell. As the battle went on Lash was also attacked by S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents Daisy Johnson and Alphonso Mackenzie as well as the Advanced Threat Containment Unit led by Rosalind Price. Having killed several ATCU agents, Lash was eventually cornered by May who managed to calm him down and forced him to transform into his human form. At this moment May shot him repeatedly, knocking him into the Containment Module where he was captured and given to the ATCU for examination.[4]
Operation Spotlight[]
- "Today, we're launching Operation Spotlight. The objective – to peer into every shadowy corner of the ATCU."
- ―Phil Coulson[src]
After making preparations, Andrew Garner's Containment Module was given to the ATCU in the early morning to be held in stasis until a cure could be found. Coulson informed him that he had invited Rosalind Price to the Playground. He then explained to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents about the Operation Spotlight, a plan for S.H.I.E.L.D. to learn as much as possible about the ATCU and Endotex Labs, and inviting Price was part of discovering whether they could be fully trusted. S.H.I.E.L.D. used technology planted on Garner's module to disable the ATCU's computers and leak their confidential information.
After flying Price in circles so that she would not guess the Playground's location, she arrived at the base. Coulson decrypted her phone, and they used the information to get Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter, who were undercover as FBI computer experts sent to fix the ATCU's problem, into Endotex Labs. Morse investigated the labs further to find Garner's containment module, but she discovered that despite what Price had told them, the module was not being kept at Endotex Labs, instead finding out that the ATCU had been using the Nature Max Supplements Fish Oil pills to create new Inhumans.
Suspicious of the lies at play and a possible link to HYDRA, she informed Coulson, who then tricked Price into imprisoning herself in a holding cell so as to question her on their new suspicions of the ATCU's involvement with the terrorist organization. Price genuinely believed that they had no involvement, and was distressed that Coulson did not believe her, until they realized that the man behind it all was Gideon Malick, who Price sent reports to, and had been controlling the ATCU for HYDRA's purposes. At the ATCU labs, a HYDRA agent planted as a worker by Malick named R. Giyera, who was one of the newly turned Inhumans, attacked Hunter and Morse, using his powers of telekinesis to fight them.
They escaped with the help of Luther Banks, and were extracted by Melinda May and Lincoln Campbell. While the team infiltrated the labs, Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz investigated potential links between Project Distant Star Return and the carvings in the castle in Gloucestershire. They both looked at the open books with HYDRA's logo upside down, they realized that the terrorist organization had been behind it all, and was much more ancient than they believed, manipulating all the other organizations to aid them in returning to the distant planet and bring back the creature that lives there. When the team returned, they presented their findings.[7]
Aftermath[]
The Accords[]
As Hive embarked on his campaign to conquer Earth, a terrorist attack involving the Avengers occurred in Lagos, Nigeria, killing more twenty-six people and causing more than $14 million in property damage.
One month later, the United Nations passed the Sokovia Accords, which would monitor the Avengers and police the increasing number of enhanced individuals. Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross presented the Avengers with the Accords, only to unknowingly start a civil war.[8]
S.H.I.E.L.D. Relegitimized[]
A New Directorship[]
With Hive's defeat and Lincoln Campbell's death, several months later, Daisy Johnson, now known as Quake, left S.H.I.E.L.D. and started to be chased by them. Due to Quake's vigilantism, some people questioned the effectiveness of the Sokovia Accords in actual implementation of the measures.[3]
Public Announcement[]
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Anti-Inhuman Movement[]
Blackout Attack[]
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Appearances[]
Appearances for Inhuman Outbreak |
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In chronological order: |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.22: S.O.S. Part Two
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.01: Laws of Nature
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.22: Ascension
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.07: Chaos Theory
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.04: Devils You Know
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.03: A Wanted (Inhu)man
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.08: Many Heads, One Tale
- ↑ Captain America: Civil War
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.09: Broken Promises