Hydra (sometimes stylized as HYDRA) is a fictional terrorist organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Its name alludes to the mythical Lernaean Hydra, as does its motto: "Cut off one head, two more shall take its place," proclaiming the group's resilience and growing strength in the face of resistance. Hydra is taken over and turned into a neo-fascist international crime syndicate by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. Hydra agents often wear distinctive green garb featuring a serpent motif. Hydra's plans for world domination are regularly foiled by Marvel Universe superheroes and the intelligence organization S.H.I.E.L.D.
Hydra has appeared in various media adaptations, including films, television series, and video games. It plays a major role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Contents
Publication history
Hydra first appeared in Strange Tales #135 (August 1965). In its original continuity, it was headed by nondescript businessman Arnold Brown, who was killed when S.H.I.E.L.D. apparently crushed the organization. Hydra soon returned, however, headed by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, with the support of the Nazi Red Skull; Hydra's changing origin is one of Marvel's earliest retcons. After its initial defeat, some of its branches, such as its scientific branch A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) and the Secret Empire, became independent.
Crypt of Shadows #5, published in 1973, reprinted a story from Menace #10 (1954), but with a change to a line of dialogue that erroneously implied that Hydra is premier mentioned is in a 1954 issue. In the reprint, an agent of an unspecified enemy government is changed to identify himself as working for Hydra when he paid off a scientist named Dr. Nostrum for information about a cobalt bomb that turned people into monsters. Nostrum shot all the other scientists on his team after they were turned into monsters, then shot himself after his son put an image from a monster magazine on his mirror.
Organization
The earliest origins of Hydra began in the Ancient Egypt when Imhotep led an army to defeat the Brood. Part of Imhotep's organization went eastward to become a secret society of geniuses called the Brotherhood of the Spear, based on Imhotep's spear, while the other half became the Brotherhood of the Shield, based on Imhotep's shield. Over time, the Brotherhood of the Spear became corrupted and fell to "the Beast". It spread out, ingraining itself like a multi-headed serpent into all facets of human society, from science to magic to politics. As time wore on, the organization's name changed and it included the Cathari sect, as well as the Thule Society. The Nazi sub-group, funded by the Thule Society, is brought into the main Hydra fold after the end of World War II.
One of the Nazi members, Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, quickly seized control of the Hydra organization and restructured it to be dedicated to world domination through terrorist and subversive activities on various fronts, resulting in a global neo-fascist New World Order. To this end, Baron von Strucker used his personal fortune, based on his recovered hoard of Nazi plunder from World War II, and funds established by the original leaders of the Japanese secret society that became part of the old Hydra. However, after von Strucker's first death, Hydra broke into factions (such as A.I.M., the Secret Empire, THEM, etc.) that each adopted its own reorganized modus operandi. Eventually, this fragmentation would lead to a Hydra civil war, even after von Strucker's resurrection.
According to the files discovered by Nick Fury, Hydra is split into four independent sectors:
International Corporations (Fronts created using a legitimate business to conceal illicit activities)
Government Assets (Individuals within a national government's chain of command. Long-term resources that benefit from the minimal turnover inherent in bureaucracies)
Global Criminal Groups (Subsidiary organizations created for short-term goals. Also used to deflect unwanted interest from the global law enforcement community)
Intelligence Gathering (S.H.I.E.L.D. and all their underlying resources) Hydra regards S.H.I.E.L.D. as their "most valuable proactive intelligence asset" while its government assets include the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the FBI, and the NSA, as well as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the GRU and SVR of Russia.
Technology
As advanced as any on Earth, Hydra's technology is based in part on artifacts of the alien Gnobians discovered by Baron Von Strucker in 1944. Hydra uses advanced experimental vehicles and devices along with conventional military vehicles, seacraft, aircraft, pistols and standard concussive force blasters, and communications equipment.
Hydra personnel are issued cowled jumpsuits, which have included a number of designs over the years. Originally, the jumpsuits were green with a yellow H design, and later incorporated a red and brown color scheme, but in time were changed back to green with a serpent motif.
They tested on Bucky Barnes, creating the Winter Soldier in the process. The Winter Soldier then went on to kill over a dozen unnamed people over the span of 50 years.
Fictional organization history
Hydra's history as depicted in Marvel Universe continuity is a long, tumultuous and convoluted one, spanning millennia, and going back to the Third Dynasty of Egypt, with all references to the ancient group, the Brotherhood of the Spear, disappearing around the Renaissance.
The terrorist organization Hydra was born in Japan, with aid from Nazi Germany, during World War II. One of the Nazi organizers was the Red Skull. When another Nazi, Baron Strucker, had a falling out with Adolf Hitler, the Red Skull helped Strucker escape Germany to Japan, where Hydra was being formed by merging several underground Japanese secret societies, including a faction of the Hand, with several fugitive members of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, to become the modern Hydra. This incarnation of Hydra operated in Japan, directed by a Japanese militarist called the Supreme Hydra. However, Strucker seized control of the organization, became the Supreme Hydra himself, and constructed the Hydra base Tsunami - called Hydra Island. The original Hydra Island is invaded by the Leatherneck Raiders and the Japanese Samurai Squad, and the base is destroyed. Strucker then slowly steered the organization towards the goal of world domination. That campaign brought him into conflict with Charles Xavier and the future Magneto, among others.
Hydra becoming more brazenly public in its operations led to the creation of the original agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., specifically to counter Hydra's threat to world security. After Hydra apparently assassinated S.H.I.E.L.D.'s first executive director, Col. Rick Stoner, Nick Fury is appointed as executive director. Hydra agents attempted to assassinate Nick Fury before his appointment as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director, but failed.
After several failed Hydra campaigns, including the failure of the world blackmail attempt using the Betatron Bomb, the creation of the Overkill Horn (designed to detonate all nuclear explosives worldwide), and the bio-engineered "Death-Spore" Bomb, which led directly to Strucker's first death at the hands of Fury, and several deceived Hydra operatives.
In the wake of Strucker's first death, the surviving elements of Hydra broke into factions that each adopted its own reorganized modus operandi. Several of these factions developed "super-agents" that would occasionally break away in turn to become freelance operatives, or, in some rarer cases, superheroes, such as the original Spider-Woman. During this era, Hydra's collective threat is mitigated by not only occasionally infighting among themselves, but their operating policy of punishing failure with death, often led to their killing of each other more often than their intended victims. Hydra frequently found itself defeated by S.H.I.E.L.D., various superheroes, and even apparently unpowered civilians, like the motorcycle racing team, Team America.
Other versions
Amalgam Comics
An alternate universe iteration of Hydra appears in the Amalgam Comics series Super-Soldier, led by Lex Luthor / Green Skull. This version of the organization's agents possess black eyes instead of red coupled with the traditional yellow and green uniforms.
Exiles
An alternate universe iteration of Hydra appears in Exiles #91-94, led by Sue Storm / Madame Hydra and Wolverine and consisting of Captain Hydra and Slaymaster.
Secret Wars (2015)
Multiple alternate universe iterations of Hydra from Battleworld appear during the "Secret Wars" storyline":
The first iteration appears in the tie-in Hail Hydra, consisting of Arnim Zola, Grant Ward, Dum Dum Dugan, Nick Fury Jr., and Toad as well as Viper symbiotes. In addition, they also have their version of the Avengers which itself consists of Leopold Zola / Captain Hydra, Chancellor Cassandra, Doctor Mindbubble, Baron Strucker / Iron Baron, Lord Drain, and Venom. This version of the organization hail from the Battleworld domain of the Hydra Empire.
The second iteration appears in the tie-in Hank Johnson: Agent of Hydra, consisting of Arnim Zola, Baron Strucker, Baron Heinrich Zemo, Hank Johnson, MODOK, the Red Skull, and the Viper. This version of the organization hail from the Battleworld domain of the Walled City of New York.
Ultimate Marvel
An alternate universe iteration of Hydra from Earth-1610 appears in series set in the Ultimate Marvel imprint, consisting of the Viper, Modi, Commander Crimson of the Death's Head Camp, and Abigail Brand. This version of the organization operates on a vague "anti-government" stance.
In other media
Television
Hydra appears in The Incredible Hulk episode "Enter: She-Hulk".
Hydra appears in the X-Men: Evolution, led by Viper as the Supreme Hydra while Omega Red and Gauntlet appear as mercenaries aligned with them. This version of the organization created X-23 from Wolverine's DNA.
Hydra appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. This version of the organization was initially led by Baron Heinrich Zemo, with the Red Skull as the group's super soldier and Baron Strucker working under him during WWII. In the present, Strucker took over as leader, with the Grim Reaper and Viper serving under him while Zemo and Arnim Zola have distanced themselves from Hydra.
Hydra appears in Avengers Assemble, consisting of the Red Skull, Baron Strucker, Crossbones, the Crimson Widow, and Arnim Zola. This version of the organization provided backing to the Cabal and the U-Foes.
Hydra appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, consisting of Arnim Zola, Crossbones, Baron Mordo, and Dr. Michael Morbius. This version of the organization backed Doctor Octopus's formation of a new iteration of the Sinister Six and created the Carnage symbiote and the Spider-Slayers.
Hydra appears in Marvel Future Avengers, consisting of the Red Skull, Arnim Zola, and General Brushov. This version of the organization works in collaboration with Kang the Conqueror and the Masters of Evil and have kidnapped and genetically manipulated several children to turn them into loyal super-soldiers who believe the Avengers are villains. Three of the children, Makoto, Adi, and Chloe discover the truth and defect to the Avengers, while a fourth named Bruno is recruited by the Masters of Evil before later defecting as well.
Hydra appears in the Spider-Man episode "Spider-Island" Pt. 2, consisting of Arnim Zola and Crossbones.
Film
Hydra appears in Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. This version of the group's agents wear Men in Black-esque suits rather than the comics' green uniforms.
Hydra appears in Ultimate Avengers 2.
Hydra appears in Heroes United: Iron Man and Hulk, consisting of Dr. Cruler and Dr. Fump.
Hydra appears in Heroes United: Iron Man & Captain America.
Video games
Hydra appears in X-Men: The Official Game, led by Silver Samurai. This version of the group worked in collaboration with William Stryker Jr. to create Master Mold and the Sentinels.
Hydra appears in Spider-Man: Web of Fire.
A Hydra aerial base appears in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds via the S.H.I.E.L.D. stage.
Hydra appears in Captain America: Super Soldier, led by the Red Skull and consisting of Baron Strucker, Arnim Zola, Madame Hydra, and Iron Cross.
Hydra appears in Marvel: Avengers Alliance, consisting of Baron Helmut Zemo, Moonstone, Viper, and the Hydra Four.
Hydra appears in Avengers Initiative.
Hydra appears in Marvel Heroes.
Hydra agents appear in Lego Marvel Super Heroes, consisting of the Red Skull, Arnim Zola, and an unnamed Hydra Agent.
Hydra agents appear in Lego Marvel's Avengers, consisting of Baron Strucker, the Red Skull, Dr. List, Viper, Crossbones, and Arnim Zola.
Hydra appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2, consisting of the Red Skull, Baron Helmut Zemo, Arnim Zola, Captain America / Hydra Supreme, and the Hydra Four. Additionally, an alternate timeline iteration of Hydra that won WWII and conquered the world called the Hydra Empire appears via a section of Kang the Conqueror's Chronopolis.
Miscellaneous
Hydra appears in Marvel Universe: LIVE!.