Force Works

Force Works was a Marvel Comics superhero team. It first appeared in the comic book series Force Works #1 (July 1994). The title was written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning and initially drawn by Tom Tenney.

The group was formed from the remains of the West Coast Avengers, after leader Iron Man left the Avengers due to an internal dispute. Force Works maintained a different outlook than the Avengers, trying to preempt natural and manmade disasters.

Fictional history

First Force Works

Force Works began shortly after the West Coast Avengers disbanded. Tony Stark, otherwise known as the hero Iron Man, sought to form a superhero group with a different philosophy than its predecessors, most notably the East Coast branch of the Avengers: they would not just stop disasters, but prevent them. The team was initially composed of Iron Man, U.S. Agent, Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter), Scarlet Witch, and Wonder Man. By the end of their first mission, Wonder Man was thought dead at the hands of the invading Kree, and shortly thereafter the alien Century took his place. The group used a combination of The Chaos Computer, a supercomputer that used incoming information to predict future events, and the hex powers of the Scarlet Witch to attempt to prevent major world problems.

Force Works used a Stark Enterprises facility known as The Works as their base. The building was fully equipped for the team's use; it featured powerful security and stealth systems and incorporated nanotechnology that would repair the building if it were damaged. It was maintained by a Stark Industries staff, leaving Force Works to focus on its duties. The facility was also administered by an artificial intelligence system called P.L.A.T.O. (Piezo-electrical Logistic Analytical Tactical Operator). The Works also included living and training accommodations and could also produce hard-light holographs.

Although Force Works was officially led by the Scarlet Witch, Iron Man would often act insubordinately and make his own decisions during their missions. Later it was revealed that Iron Man was under the influence of the time-traveling villain Kang the Conqueror (even later revealed to be his future self Immortus in disguise). The team fought several battles, existed for just less than two years, and disbanded. Most of its members rejoined the Avengers or sank into obscurity.

Shortly after the disintegration of the group, Tony Stark died in his attempts to regain control of himself from "Kang" and was replaced by a younger, alternate-reality version of himself. The original Stark did not remain dead for long, due to the events that culminated in the "Heroes Reborn" storyline.

Second Force Works

A new version of Force Works was mentioned as being active and sent to Iowa as a part of the Fifty State Initiative in Civil War #6, although no members were shown or even named. According to editor Tom Brevoort on a Newsarama interview it could be that the team consists of new super-heroes, some could be existing "Pro-reg" heroes and some could be established heroes "with an upgrade".

Force Works was again mentioned as a team in Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. #33, when War Machine was sent into space to deal with attacking Skrulls. Investigating a Stark Satellite, he discovered Suzie Endo (Cybermancer) there, and it was implied by War Machine she was a member of Force Works.

Known Members

First Force Works

• Iron Man
• Century
• Cybermancer
• Moonraker
• Scarlet Witch
• Spider-Woman
• U.S. Agent
• War Machine
• Wonder Man

Second Force Works

• Cybermancer

Collections

In other media

Television

• The group was adapted into the supporting cast of the 1994â€"1996 Iron Man animated series. For the series, Hawkeye appeared in place of U.S. Agent (though he did appear in the eight issue adaptation of the cartoon). Shortly after the characters were written out of the series, Force Works was cancelled at issue #22 (April 1996).