Avengers Mansion is a location in Marvel Comics. It has traditionally been the base of the Avengers. The enormous, city block-sized building is located at 890 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City.
Creative origin
According to Stan Lee, who co-created the Avengers:
There was a mansion called the Frick Museum that I used to walk past. I sort of modeled it after that. Beautiful, big, so impressive building, right on Fifth Avenue.
In real life, 890 Fifth Avenue is 1 East 70th Street, the location of the Henry Clay Frick House, which houses the Frick Collection. The building is, like Avengers Mansion, a city block-sized mansion.
<h2>Fictional history and layout
When occupied, the mansion was originally the Stark family manor, until their only son, Tony Stark, inherited their fortune and soon took on the guise of Iron Man. He donated the mansion to the Avengers and had it financed through the charitable Maria Stark Foundation. It was primarily looked after by the Stark family butler, Edwin Jarvis, who not only took care of the mansion but also catered to the needs of the Avengers team. It served as a place to plan and strategize and a home for Avengers members when they needed it.
It had three above-ground floors and three basement floors. The first three floors were open to the public and had twelve rooms to house Avengers who wished to reside in the mansion, as well as Jarvis's quarters. A portion of the mansion's third floor served as a hangar for the Avengers' quinjets, their primary mode of transportation.
The three floors below ground were restricted from the public and had modified rooms for the Avengers' needs. Such rooms below ground were: Howard Stark's "Arsenal" chamber, the Avengers gym, Hawkeye's test-shooting room, the training room (much like the X-Mansion's Danger Room), the cryogenic storage area, a vault to contain Jack of Hearts's power, and the ultra-secure assembly room.
The Fantastic Four took up temporary residence at Avengers Mansion after their headquarters (the original Baxter Building) was destroyed.
The mansion has been destroyed twice. The first time was in Avengers: Under Siege when a huge grouping of Masters of Evil, led by Baron Helmut Zemo, attacked the Avengers and destroyed the Mansion and beat Hercules into a coma among other things before being repulsed.
In the immediate aftermath, the Avengers would relocate to a floating platform called Hydro-Base, while the former Mansion site became known as "Avengers Park", and was unused. Hydro-Base was later destroyed as well.
The Mansion would be featured in a Damage Control story. The reconstruction firm was hired to refit and rebuild the mansion, a task they accomplished easily. Unfortunately they did not manage to move it as easily and it fell into one of New York's rivers.
Later, the Avengers built a new headquarters on the site of the Mansion and resided there until it was destroyed by the Gatherers, a team of alternate universe Avengers. Ute, a Watcher enslaved by the villain Proctor, brought an alternate reality version of the original Avengers Mansion to the site as a dying gift.
This replacement Mansion would survive various assaults until, in the "Avengers Disassembled" storyline, the Scarlet Witch was responsible for its destruction by bringing an undead version of Jack of Hearts that exploded, also killing Scott Lang, the second Ant-Man, and in Avengers Finale (January 2005), Stark decided that with his dwindling assets, he could no longer afford to maintain the building and it was abandoned in its derelict state, left as a memorial to the Avengers who had died. Stark, using his considerable political and social influence, had the grounds declared a landmark by the city of New York. Since then, the Young Avengers have restored much of the statuary on the grounds of the mansion. The Avengers have relocated to Stark Tower, although it is unknown how permanent this move will be, especially in light of the events of Marvel's Civil War storyline, which causes the virtual splitting of the New Avengers down the line between those who were pro-registration and those who were against it.
Even after its destruction, the mansion remains a hub of superhuman activity. The Young Avengers were attacked by, and later defeated, Kang the Conqueror there. They later restored the many statues in the mansion's grounds, adopting the mansion as their meeting place.
During the highest tensions of the Civil War incident, Iron Man and Captain America meet at the ruins in order to talk things out. They tour the grounds and even find abandoned framed photographs of old allies.
Former Avenger Clint Barton has made his way on to the grounds several times since then, most recently following Captain America's death. He meets with Tony Stark to discuss the implications of Steve Rogers' assassination.
After the Skrull invasion, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s replacement agency H.A.M.M.E.R. kept an eye on the mansion in case the Young Avengers, still wanted for refusing to be registered, showed up. The young group did anyway, using the building as a central point for many meetings.
Following the Siege of Asgard and at the start of the Heroic Age, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark sold the mansion to Luke Cage for a dollar allowing him freedom to recruit his own Avengers team and operate from the mansion while the other Avengers team operate from the Infinite Avengers Mansion and Avengers Tower. After an extended period, and severe damage thanks to Daniel Drumm the New Avengers dissolve, and Cage sells the mansion back to Stark for five dollars.
After yet another roster reshuffling, the mansion is refitted as the headquarters for the new Avengers Unity Squad which is funded by Janet Van Dyne. A computerized A.I. system called J.A.R.V.I.S. is installed to replace Edwin Jarvis (who still lives in Avengers Tower with the main team).
Surrounding grounds
The Mansion was surrounded by a wall twelve feet high and one foot thick, as well as an array of high-tech security defenses. A main feature of the defenses were large, restrictive coils. These were sometimes backed up by energy beams that shot out from the ground. Nonetheless, those defenses were often breached by the supervillains faced by the Avengers. Shortly after the Avengers moved into the Mansion, Iron Man and Thor moved the Mansion 35 feet away from the street, increasing the size of the front lawn and giving the Avengers more privacy.
When Tony Stark was the United States' Secretary of Defense, the mansion's security systems were backed up by government forces.
The mansion's grounds featured an array of statues of past and present Avengers, constructed out of adamantium. The statues were destroyed in a battle with the Asgardian God, Loki. One of the trees on the grounds used to hold a miniature lab belonging to Hank Pym. The statues return around the time the 'New Avengers' leave the mansion.
Avengers support crew
- Antony "Rider" Ovens - Member of the Teen Brigade. He answered the call from Rick Jones while he was imprisoned by Corruptor.
- Arnold "Arnie" Roth - A publicist. He died upon succumbing to his cancer.
- William "Bill" Foster (Giant-Man) - A biochemist and Avengers Compound contractor. Killed by the Thor cyborg clone Ragnarok in "Civil War" #4.
- Robert "Bob" Frank Jr. (Nuklo) - The Custodian and Groundskeeper of Avengers Mansion.
- Buddy Sampson - Member of the Teen Brigade. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Carlos Alvarez - The Avengers Compound pool man. He is currently deceased.
- Charles "Charlie" Wallace - Member of the Teen Brigade. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Consuela Sanchez - The Avengers Compound housekeeper and nanny to Rachel Carpenter. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Daniella Tomaz - The Avengers Compound Nurse. Her current whereabouts are unknown
- David Cannon - He used the identity "Charles Matthews" who was Janet van Dyne's chauffeur. He was later fired when his true identity is revealed.
- Devi Bannerjee - The U.N. liaison to the Avengers. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Diane Arliss Newell - The Avengers Compound Secretary. Wife of Walter and sister of Todd Arliss.
- Donald Blake - A physician.
- Donna Maria Puentes - An administrator who would later become a receptionist. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Duane Jerome Freeman - A federal security liaison to the Avengers. Duane is also a member of the Triune Understanding. He was killed during Kang the Conqueror's destruction of Washington.
- Edwin Jarvis - Butler and chief of staff. He was the former butler of the Stark Family. He was replaced by a Skrull during the Secret Invasion. He is currently serving with the New Avengers.
- Elsa Hunter - Governess to Thomas and William Maximoff. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Emerson Bale - A lawyer. His current status and whereabouts are unknown.
- Emma Hegyes - The Avengers Compound Cook. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Eric Masterson (Thunderstrike) - Architect. He is currently deceased.
- Ernest Carrothers - Chauffeur to Janet van Dyne. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Fabian Stankowicz - Machinesmith. He would later become known as the Mechanaut creating robotic Avengers after the events of the Onslaught battle. He was defeated by Jarvis.
- Florence "Candy" Stephens - Member of the Teen Brigade. She answered the call from Rick Jones while he was imprisoned by Corruptor.
- Francis Barnum - A construction worker. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Franz Anton - A one-time biochemical consultant. His current whereabouts and status are unknown.
- Gary Tomasi - A kitchen staff member. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Genji Odashu - A pilot and formerly the operator of the Shogun Warrior Combatra. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Gilbert Vaughn - A physicist. He is currently deceased.
- Major Gordon Kenneth Carlson - A one-time physician. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Grant "Specs" McIntosh - Member of the Teen Brigade. He answered the call from Rick Jones while he was imprisoned by Corruptor.
- Halliwell DePinna - An architect. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Hector Sandrose - Avengers Compound communications chief. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Helen Bach - The nanny to Thomas and William Maximoff. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Henry Peter Gyrich - National Security Council liaison. He worked at Camp Hammond.
- Hank Pym - Avengers Compound majordomo and biochemist.
- Dr. Hjarmal Knute Svenson - A one-time surgeon. His current status is unknown.
- Ian Burch - An accountant. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Inger Sullivan - A lawyer. His current status is unknown.
- Jack Bale - A construction foreman. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- James Campbell - A European monitor station caretaker. He is currently deceased.
- James Murch - A federal security liaison. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Jane Foster - A team physician.
- Janice Imperato - Maria Stark Foundation accountant. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Jeryn Hogarth - A lawyer. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Joachin Mendez - Avengers Compound chief groundskeeper. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- John Jameson - A pilot. He was once married to Jennifer Walters
- Jorge Latham - Avengers Compound mechanic. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Juan Mercado - Avengers Compound communications member. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- K.C. Ritter (Sam Casey) - Member of the Teen Brigade. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Keith Kincaid - A physician. He is married Jane Foster.
- Lauren Timm - Governess to William and Thomas Maximoff. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- M’Daka - A mechanic. His current whereabouts are unknown
- Marilla - Nanny of Luna Maximoff. She was killed by Iron Man (who was being mind-controlled by Kang the Conqueror at the time).
- Maxwell Caton - Maria Stark Foundation chief accountant. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Michael Costello - A lawyer. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Michael O’Brien - A security chief. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Mikhail "Mike" Armstrong - Member of the Teen Brigade. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Paul Edmonds - A psychiatrist. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Paul Withers - A construction manager. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Peggy Carter - A communications chief and aunt of Sharon Carter. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- "Pepe" Pacheco - Avengers Compound groundskeeper. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Percy Stevens - A construction worker. His current status is unknown.
- Rachel Leighton (Diamondback) - Captain America's secretary.
- Ramon Trigo - Avengers Compound groundskeeper. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Raymond Sikorski - National Security Council liaison.
- Rick Jones - Teen Brigade leader and honorary Avengers member. He was a former sidekick to the superheroes. He is currently known as A-Bomb.
- Roberto Carlos - Avengers Compound butler. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Roberto Gonzago - Avengers Compound gardener. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Rosalita "Lita" Torres - Avengers Compound maid. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Roy Sanford - A physician. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Scott Lang - An electronics expert. He was killed by Jack of Hearts (who was under the influence of an insane Scarlet Witch during the Avengers Disassembled storyline). His death was averted in Avengers: The Children's Crusade.
- Talia Kruma - A physicist. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Theodore "Ted" Sinclair - Teen Brigade member. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Timothy "Wheels" Wakelin - Member of the Teen Brigade. He answered the call from Rick Jones while he was imprisoned by Corruptor.
- Thomas "Tom" Smith - Teen Brigade member. He turned bitter and tried to kill Rick Jones. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Walter Newell (Stingray) - An oceanographer. He is working at Camp Hammond as an underwater training instructor.
- William "Bill" Bishop - Teen Brigade member. He is currently a police officer.
- William "Willie" Maximillian - Teen Brigade member. His current whereabouts are unknown.
- Yolanda Russo - Avengers Compound groundskeeper. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
- Zachary Moonhunter - A pilot. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Infinite Avengers Mansion
The Infinite Avengers Mansion was created by Hank Pym in the pocket dimension where Thor sent Janet Van Dyne's body at the end of Secret Invasion. It was the headquarters of Hank Pym's Mighty Avengers and was home to the Avengers Academy.
In other media
Television
- The Avengers Mansion appears in The Avengers: United They Stand TV series.
- The Avengers Mansion appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes TV series. It is run by an A.I., designation J.A.R.V.I.S..
- The Avengers Mansion appears in the two-part Avengers Assemble episode "The Avengers Protocol". The mansion is destroyed by Red Skull, leading to the team moving into Avengers Tower.
Video games
- The Avengers Mansion is mentioned in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.
- The Avengers Mansion appears in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
- The Avengers Mansion appears in Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects.
- The Avengers Mansion appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes. It is depicted as being in Washington Heights, Manhattan.
See also
- X-Mansion
- Baxter Building
- Stark Tower
- Triskelion (comics)