====== Intelligencia ======
===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary =====
  *   **Core Identity:** **The Intelligencia is a clandestine cabal of the Marvel Universe's most brilliant and morally bankrupt super-geniuses, united by their shared belief that their intellect grants them the right to seize power and knowledge by any means necessary.**
  *   **Key Takeaways:**
  *  **Role in the Universe:** They function as the ultimate masterminds and puppet masters, operating in the shadows for years to orchestrate events on a global scale. Their primary goal is the acquisition of all knowledge and the weaponization of cosmic energies, particularly [[gamma_radiation]].
  *  **Primary Impact:** The Intelligencia's crowning achievement was the secret orchestration of the "Red Hulk" program, leading to the creation of [[Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross)|Red Hulk]] and Red She-Hulk, and culminating in their nearly successful conquest of the United States during the //Fall of the Hulks// and //World War Hulks// sagas.
  *  **Key Incarnations:** The Earth-616 comics depict the Intelligencia as a council of legendary, egomaniacal supervillains like the [[Leader]] and [[M.O.D.O.K.]]. In stark contrast, the Marvel Cinematic Universe reimagined the group as a misogynistic online hate forum of disenfranchised men targeting [[She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters)|She-Hulk]].
===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution =====
==== Publication History and Creation ====
The Intelligencia as a formal, named entity made its official debut in the Marvel comics continuity in **//Fall of the Hulks: Alpha// #1**, published in December 2009. The group was co-created by writer Jeff Parker and artist Paul Pelletier as the central antagonists for a massive, multi-title Hulk-centric event.
However, the genius of their introduction was a significant use of **retroactive continuity (retcon)**. While their first //named// appearance was in 2009, subsequent stories by writers like Jeph Loeb, Jeff Parker, and Greg Pak established that this cabal had been secretly meeting and collaborating for years, if not decades, within the Marvel Universe. The storyline revealed that many seemingly unrelated events, particularly those involving gamma mutates and cosmic power, were actually the long-term machinations of this hidden group. This retcon masterfully wove the Intelligencia into the very fabric of Marvel history, portraying them as the secret architects behind numerous crises, most notably the creation of Red Hulk. This approach gave the new organization an immediate sense of gravity, history, and profound threat.
==== In-Universe Origin Story ====
The origin of the Intelligencia is a tale of ambition, ego, and the corrupting influence of absolute knowledge, but its telling differs dramatically between the primary comic universe and its cinematic adaptation.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
The seeds of the Intelligencia were planted years ago, born from a simple yet profound realization shared among the world's greatest minds: collaboration, even among rivals, could yield results no single genius could achieve alone. The initial, informal gatherings were instigated by [[Leader|The Leader (Samuel Sterns)]] and [[M.O.D.O.K. (George Tarleton)|M.O.D.O.K.]]. They reached out to other high-intellect villains who had frequently been thwarted by superheroes. Their core pitch was that their individual defeats were a result of heroic teamwork, a principle they needed to adopt.
Their first major collaboration was a historic event, retconned into continuity. They successfully devised a way to raid the long-lost, time-displaced Library of Alexandria. This ancient repository contained not only the sum of human knowledge from the classical era but also scrolls from alien races like the [[Kree]] and [[Skrulls]], and even texts from extradimensional beings. The minds present for this initial venture were a veritable who's who of Marvel's brain trust, including both heroes and villains: [[Leader|The Leader]], [[Doctor Doom]], [[Mad Thinker]], [[Egghead]], [[Red Ghost]] and his Super-Apes, the [[Wizard]], and, surprisingly, a younger, more arrogant [[Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards)|Reed Richards]] and a pre-transformation [[Doctor Henry "Hank" Pym]].
The raid was a success, and the geniuses divided the priceless knowledge among themselves. However, this act created a schism. Reed Richards, horrified by the villains' intentions for the cosmic and dangerous information they had acquired, attempted to stop them. A fight broke out, and in the chaos, much of the library's data was seemingly lost again. This event solidified the villains' resolve to work in absolute secrecy, cutting out anyone with a moral compass. Richards, for his part, kept the incident a secret for years, ashamed of his youthful hubris and association with such figures.
From this point on, the core villain group—Leader, M.O.D.O.K., Mad Thinker, Red Ghost, Egghead, and the Wizard—began meeting periodically. They called themselves the Intelligencia. They shared data, analyzed their defeats at the hands of heroes, and formulated long-term plans. Their ultimate goals were twofold:
  1. **The Acquisition of All Knowledge:** To possess and control every piece of valuable information and technology on Earth and beyond.
  2. **The Conquest of Power:** To subvert and overthrow the existing world order, which they viewed as chaotic and unfit to be led by intellectually inferior beings.
Their modern incarnation, and the one that posed the greatest threat, was formally organized by the Leader and M.O.D.O.K. following the events of [[World War Hulk]]. Seeing the awesome, destructive power Bruce Banner had unleashed, they decided to focus their efforts on harnessing [[gamma_radiation]]. They recruited General "Thunderbolt" Ross, preying on his obsession with destroying the Hulk, and used their combined knowledge to create the Cathexis Ray—a device capable of siphoning gamma energy and imbuing it into a new host. This led directly to the creation of Red Hulk and the beginning of their most ambitious and devastating plot.
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ===
The Marvel Cinematic Universe presents a radically different version of the Intelligencia, as depicted in the Disney+ series //[[She-Hulk: Attorney at Law]]//. This adaptation eschews the concept of a super-genius cabal entirely, instead reimagining the group for the modern digital age as a toxic online community.
In the MCU, the Intelligencia is not a secret society of masterminds but an exclusive, misogynistic website and message board for disenfranchised men who harbor a deep-seated resentment towards powerful women, specifically Jennifer Walters as [[She-Hulk]]. The site is filled with hateful memes, death threats, and conspiracy theories aimed at discrediting her. The members operate under usernames, with the site's founder known only by the handle "HulkKing."
The group's "origin" is rooted in societal backlash and online radicalization. Its members feel emasculated and threatened by She-Hulk's power, which they believe she did not "earn." Their goal is not world domination but personal vengeance and the humiliation of their chosen target. They conspire to steal a sample of Jennifer Walters's gamma-irradiated blood to gain superpowers for themselves.
To achieve this, the Intelligencia's leader, "HulkKing"—later revealed to be the insecure tech billionaire Todd Phelps—employs a small team. He hires the Wrecking Crew to attack Jennifer in an attempt to get a blood sample and manipulates a man named Josh Miller to seduce Jennifer and steal her blood while she sleeps.
This interpretation serves a completely different narrative purpose. Where the comic version is a classic, high-concept supervillain threat, the MCU's Intelligencia is a grounded and satirical commentary on real-world toxic fandom, "incel" culture, and online harassment. The adaptation reflects the themes of the //She-Hulk// series, which focuses on the unique professional and personal challenges a female superhero faces in a world that is often hostile to powerful women. The change was a deliberate creative choice to make the antagonists relevant to the show's comedic and socially-aware tone, rather than introducing a world-ending threat that would have felt out of place.
===== Part 3: Mandate, Structure & Key Members =====
The purpose, hierarchy, and membership of the Intelligencia are central to understanding its threat level and methodology, which vary immensely between its comic and screen portrayals.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
==== Mandate and Modus Operandi ====
The Intelligencia's mandate is the absolute domination of the world through intellectual supremacy. They operate on the core belief that they are the six most intelligent men on the planet, and therefore are the only ones fit to rule it. Their methods are patient, intricate, and layered with contingencies.
  * **Knowledge as a Weapon:** They view information—scientific, strategic, personal—as the ultimate weapon. Their primary activity for years was data collection and exchange, analyzing everything from alien technology to the psychological weaknesses of their heroic foes.
  * **Long-Term Planning:** Unlike many villains who seek immediate gratification, the Intelligencia plays the long game. Their plan to create Red Hulk and take over America was years in the making, a testament to their patience and foresight.
  * **Manipulation and Proxies:** They rarely engage in direct combat themselves unless necessary. Their preference is to use pawns, proxies, and manipulated agents to do their bidding. General Ross was their greatest asset in this regard, a willing participant who believed he was in control, when in reality he was a tool for their grander scheme.
  * **Technological Supremacy:** They pool their scientific genius to create technology far beyond the reach of conventional powers like [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]]. Their key invention was the Cathexis Ray, but they also developed advanced androids (Gammadroids), teleportation networks, and impenetrable psychic shielding for their bases.
==== Structure and Key Members ====
The Intelligencia is a council of equals, though in practice, the Leader and M.O.D.O.K. often serve as //de facto// co-leaders due to their ambition and focus on gamma power. Each member brings a unique specialty to the table, creating a whole far more dangerous than the sum of its parts.
^ **Founding Member** ^ **Area of Expertise** ^ **Role within the Intelligencia** ^
| [[Leader|The Leader]] (Samuel Sterns) | Gamma Radiation, Genetics, Strategy | Co-founder and primary strategist. His unparalleled understanding of gamma energy was the cornerstone of their master plan. He devised the creation of Red Hulk and the "Hulked-Out Heroes." |
| [[M.O.D.O.K.]] (George Tarleton) | Computer Science, Robotics, Psionics, Corporate Espionage | Co-founder and chief technologist. He designed much of their advanced hardware, managed their data networks, and leveraged the resources of [[A.I.M.]] for their operations. |
| [[Red Ghost]] (Ivan Kragoff) | Rocketry, Astrophysics, Animal Conditioning | Expert on cosmic radiation and non-terrestrial energies. He was tasked with analyzing and siphoning cosmic power, and his trained Super-Apes served as versatile field agents and lab assistants. |
| [[Mad Thinker]] | Androids, Computer Modeling, Probability Analysis | The group's primary analyst and contingency planner. His ability to calculate probabilities to a high degree of accuracy allowed the Intelligencia to predict hero responses and prepare for nearly any outcome. He designed their army of Life Model Decoys. |
| [[Wizard]] (Bentley Wittman) | Anti-Gravity Physics, Particle Physics | Specialist in energy manipulation and advanced weaponry. He designed much of the group's offensive and defensive technology, including the anti-gravity devices used in their attack on Washington D.C. |
| [[Egghead]] (Elihas Starr) | Robotics, Molecular Biology | A master of miniaturization and artificial intelligence. While he was deceased before the Intelligencia's main plot unfolded, they utilized an advanced android replica of him, programmed with his intellect and personality, to contribute to their work. |
| **Associate / Temporary Member** |||
| [[Doctor Doom]] (Victor von Doom) | All scientific and mystical fields | A temporary and untrustworthy ally. Doom participated in early collaborations but his own ego and agenda prevent him from being a true subordinate member. The Intelligencia often manipulated him or stole his technology rather than working with him directly. |
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ===
==== Mandate and Modus Operandi ====
The MCU Intelligencia's mandate is not global conquest but targeted harassment and theft, driven by a philosophy of male supremacy and entitlement.
  * **Discrediting and Humiliation:** Their primary goal is to publicly humiliate She-Hulk and undermine her legitimacy as a hero and a professional. They use doxxing, deepfakes, and public smear campaigns.
  * **Power Theft:** Their secondary, more tangible goal is to steal Jennifer's unique gamma-mutated blood to empower their leader, Todd Phelps, so he can become a Hulk without, in his view, the "drawbacks" of being a woman.
  * **Online Radicalization:** They operate as a digital hate group, using their website to recruit and radicalize other men who share their misogynistic views, creating a network of sympathizers and low-level operatives.
==== Structure and Key Members ====
The structure is a simple online hierarchy: a leader who operates under a pseudonym and a mass of anonymous followers.
^ **Member** ^ **Role / Title** ^ **Known Actions** ^
| Todd Phelps | "HulkKing" | The founder and leader of the Intelligencia website. He funded the group's operations, hired the Wrecking Crew, and ultimately used the stolen blood to transform himself into a Hulk before being defeated and arrested. |
| Josh Miller | Infiltrator | A member tasked by HulkKing to get close to Jennifer Walters. He seduced her, gained her trust, and then copied the data from her phone and stole a sample of her blood while she was asleep. |
| The Wrecking Crew | Hired Muscle | A group of low-level criminals armed with stolen Asgardian construction equipment. They were hired by Intelligencia to ambush Jennifer and steal her blood, but they were easily defeated. |
| Anonymous Members | Followers | A large group of men who participate in the website's forums, creating and spreading hateful content about She-Hulk. They represent the broader base of the organization's support. |
===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network =====
==== Core Allies ====
True "allies" are rare for a group as treacherous as the Intelligencia; they prefer to use "assets."
  * **General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross:** In the Earth-616 universe, Ross was the Intelligencia's most crucial asset. They preyed on his lifelong obsession with the Hulk, offering him the one thing he craved most: the power to destroy his nemesis. They transformed him into the Red Hulk, and for a long time, he served as their powerful, unwitting field commander. Their "alliance" was purely transactional and built on manipulation; they saw him as a weapon, and he saw them as a means to an end. The relationship shattered when Ross realized he was being used in a plot to overthrow his country.
  * **A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics):** Through M.O.D.O.K., the Intelligencia had access to the vast resources, personnel, and technology of the terrorist science organization A.I.M. This provided them with the infrastructure and manpower necessary to carry out their global-scale operations without revealing their core membership.
==== Arch-Enemies ====
The Intelligencia's enemies are the very heroes whose intelligence and power rival their own.
  * **The Hulk Family ([[Hulk (Bruce Banner)]], [[She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters)]], [[Skaar]], etc.):** The Intelligencia's focus on gamma radiation makes them the natural arch-foes of Earth's gamma mutates. Their conflict is deeply personal. They see the Hulks not as people, but as living power sources to be studied, siphoned, and controlled. For Bruce Banner, they represent the ultimate perversion of his scientific curse. For Jennifer Walters in the MCU, they are the embodiment of the toxic misogyny she faces daily.
  * **The Heroic Geniuses ([[Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards)]], [[Amadeus Cho]], [[Doctor Henry "Hank" Pym]]):** The Intelligencia holds a special contempt for their intellectual peers who use their gifts for heroic purposes. Reed Richards is a particular target, viewed as a traitor since their first disastrous collaboration at the Library of Alexandria. Amadeus Cho, officially declared the 8th smartest person on the planet, became a primary target for capture during //Fall of the Hulks//, as his unique hyper-mind was a crucial component they needed to perfect their plans.
  * **The Illuminati:** While they never had a direct, large-scale confrontation, the Intelligencia can be seen as the dark mirror of the Illuminati. Both are secret cabals of powerful individuals who believe they know what's best for the world. But where the Illuminati (for all their faults) aimed to protect Earth, the Intelligencia aims only to conquer it for their own selfish gain.
==== Affiliations ====
The Intelligencia itself is the primary affiliation. However, its members have deep roots in other corners of the Marvel Universe's villainous landscape.
  * **A.I.M.:** M.O.D.O.K.'s leadership position in A.I.M. was frequently leveraged.
  * **The Frightful Four:** The Wizard is the founder and leader of the Frightful Four, the classic evil counterpart to the [[Fantastic Four]].
  * **Hydra:** While not directly affiliated, members like Egghead have had past dealings with [[Hydra]], and their goals of world domination often align.
===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines =====
The Intelligencia's legacy is defined by one massive, interconnected saga that shook the foundations of the Hulk's world.
==== The Red Hulk Saga (//Hulk// Vol. 2, 2008-2009) ====
While the Intelligencia was not revealed as the masterminds until later, this entire storyline was their opening move. The sudden appearance of a mysterious, intelligent, and ruthless Red Hulk who seemingly murders the Abomination sets off a global mystery. This new Hulk battles and defeats heroes across the board, from Iron Man to Thor. Every event—Red Hulk's appearance, the creation of Red She-Hulk from Betty Ross, and the manipulation of key figures like [[Domino]] and [[Doc Samson]]—was orchestrated from the shadows by the Intelligencia. Their goal was to sow chaos, test their new weapon (Red Hulk), and move their pieces into place for the final stage of their plan.
==== Fall of the Hulks (2009-2010) ====
This is the Intelligencia's signature storyline, where they finally step out of the shadows. Their plan is revealed in all its audacious glory: to kidnap the eight smartest people in the world—Reed Richards, Tony Stark, Hank Pym, Bruce Banner, T'Challa, Amadeus Cho, Doctor Doom, and the Leader himself (via a Life Model Decoy). They intended to use a perfected Cathexis Ray to drain all of their collective genius and absorb it into a central computer, effectively stealing all the world's greatest knowledge.
Simultaneously, they unleash their army of "Hulked-Out Heroes," having captured and transformed heroes like Captain America, Thor, and Spider-Man into gamma-powered slaves using temporary radiation. Their ultimate goal is the conquest of the United States, positioning M.O.D.O.K. as the new leader. The storyline is a desperate race against time as the remaining heroes, led by a newly intelligent Bruce Banner and a conflicted Red Hulk, try to rescue the captives and stop the Intelligencia's endgame.
==== World War Hulks (2010) ====
The explosive climax to the saga. The Intelligencia's plan seems to succeed as they take control of the White House and project a massive energy field that begins turning every citizen in the area into a Hulk-like creature. It's revealed that this was the Leader's true plan all along: to create a world of Hulks that only he could command. However, he is betrayed by M.O.D.O.K. and outsmarted by Bruce Banner and Red Hulk.
The turning point comes when Red Hulk, realizing the full extent of the Intelligencia's betrayal, chooses to side with the heroes. He absorbs the massive radiation overload from the Intelligencia's doomsday weapon, nearly killing himself but saving the day. In the aftermath, the Intelligencia is defeated and captured. The Leader suffers a critical power drain, M.O.D.O.K. is apprehended, and Red Hulk's true identity as Thunderbolt Ross is revealed to the world, forcing him to become a reluctant hero. The event permanently dismantles the original Intelligencia.
===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions =====
  * **The New Intelligencia (Earth-616):** Years later, the Leader re-formed a new Intelligencia in the pages of Al Ewing's //Immortal Hulk// and Donny Cates's //Hulk// (2021). This version is smaller and more focused on controlling the cosmic and mystical aspects of gamma radiation, specifically the metaphysical "Green Door" that governs the resurrection of gamma mutates. Its goals are less about political conquest and more about rewriting the laws of life and death itself.
  * **Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.:** The animated series presented a more recurring, "villain of the week" version of the Intelligencia. Led by the Leader, this group included classic Hulk foes and frequently clashed with the titular team of heroic Hulks. Their schemes were typically less complex and more geared towards direct confrontation.
  * **Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999):** As detailed extensively above, this is the most radical adaptation. It is a completely separate entity in theme, membership, and motivation, serving as a satirical antagonist for a single season of television rather than a universe-spanning threat. Its existence highlights a willingness by Marvel Studios to completely reinvent concepts to fit the specific tone and message of a project.
===== See Also =====
  * [[Leader|The Leader (Samuel Sterns)]]
  * [[M.O.D.O.K. (George Tarleton)]]
  * [[Hulk (Bruce Banner)]]
  * [[Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross)]]
  * [[She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters)]]
  * [[Gamma Radiation]]
  * [[A.I.M.]]
  * [[Fall of the Hulks]]
===== Notes and Trivia =====
((The name "Intelligencia" is a direct reference to the real-world term for the intellectual elite of a society, a fittingly arrogant name for the villainous group to choose for itself.))
((The retcon establishing the Intelligencia's early meetings was detailed in //Fall of the Hulks: Alpha// #1. The raid on the Library of Alexandria was shown in a flashback sequence in //Hulk// (Vol. 2) #18 (2010).))
((The "eight smartest people" list is a frequent point of contention and debate among fans, as Marvel's official list often changes and excludes other notable geniuses like Doctor Octopus or High Evolutionary. The Intelligencia's list was specific to their needs and who they could realistically capture.))
((In the MCU, the name "Intelligencia" is a direct parallel to real-world forums like 4chan or certain subreddits, which have been criticized for fostering extremist and misogynistic communities. The choice of name was almost certainly a deliberate act of social commentary.))
((The original Egghead was killed years prior to the Intelligencia's formation in //Avengers// #229 (1983). The version that worked with the Intelligencia was confirmed to be a highly advanced robotic duplicate created by the Mad Thinker, containing all of the original's memories and scientific knowledge.))