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- "It is this Council's duty to oversee S.H.I.E.L.D."
- ―Hawley[src]
The World Security Council is an international council formed of politicians from some of the Earth's most powerful countries to function as oversight for S.H.I.E.L.D.
History[]
The Avengers Initiative[]
- "We'd like to have an open discussion regarding the primary objective of S.H.I.E.L.D. as an agency and of you as its director."
"You're talking about the Tesseract."
"Reigniting the Tesseract. That is correct." - ―The World Security Council and Nick Fury[src]
When Nick Fury and his men searched for Steve Rogers on Greenland, the Council ordered them to shut down the operation and return to New York City. Twelve hours later, the Council ordered Fury to stop wasting time on "wasteful programs" and focus on Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S. to reignite the Tesseract. Despite the direct order, Fury decided to continue with his usual activities.
A week later, Fury gave them his report about how S.H.I.E.L.D. saved Tony Stark's life, prevented the United States Army from capturing Bruce Banner, made an alliance with Thor, and recovered the Destroyer. Finally satisfied with Fury's work, the Council decided to increase the funding for the agency, expand jurisdictions for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents, and augment Fury's strategic authority.[1]
Nick Fury and the World Security Council
Soon after the confrontation between Hulk and Emil Blonsky in Harlem, a request came down from the World Security Council that blame for the incident should be placed on Banner and that Blonsky, who was being held in Thaddeus Ross' sector, be exonerated for his crimes and placed on the team's roster. Fury did not want Blonsky for the team but was in no position to disobey a direct order from the Council.
Hoping to resolve the situation for Fury, Phil Coulson and Jasper Sitwell conspired to sabotage the request by sending Stark to contact Ross. As planned, Stark's abrasive manner and disdain for authority resulted in Ross not only turning down the request but also attempting to have Stark forcibly removed from the bar. In response, Stark bought the establishment and had it scheduled for demolition.[2]
Battle of New York[]
Nick Fury arguing with Gideon Malick
During the Battle of New York, after careful debilitation, Gideon Malick informed Nick Fury that the Council had decided to order the deployment of a nuclear missile to New York City as a last resort to stop the invading force from expanding beyond Manhattan. This plan was delayed when Nick Fury ignored it, then thwarted, between the actions of Fury disabling one fighter jet and Iron Man intercepting the missile of another, sending it toward the wormhole in the sky, destroying the Chitauri Command Center and bringing the Chitauri threat to an end.
After the Chitauri Invasion had been averted, the Council questioned whether or not Fury had fully thought out the consequences of bringing the Avengers together. However, Fury saw it as a statement, a "promise," to even other worlds, that the Earth had her defenders and was not to be trifled with.[3]
Project Insight[]
The Council meets with Alexander Pierce
- "If this Council is going to fall to rancor every time someone pushes us on the playing field, maybe we need someone to oversee us."
- ―Alexander Pierce[src]
Following the Battle of New York, the Council coordinated with Alexander Pierce and Nick Fury to develop a stronger role for S.H.I.E.L.D. To that end, they created Project Insight. The Council had just finished a meeting with Pierce when Fury asked him to postpone its launch. Pierce took the proposal to them after he believed that Fury was assassinated and evidence was revealed that Fury was involved with the hijacking of the Lemurian Star, causing them to expedite their plans for the launch.
The Council was called to the Triskelion by Pierce to witness the launch of Project Insight. When Pierce's involvement was exposed by Captain America as a part of HYDRA's infiltration within S.H.I.E.L.D., STRIKE operatives held the Council hostage, until Black Widow who had been disguised as Hawley, took the HYDRA operatives out.
The Council learns Alexander Pierce's secrets
Yen took one of the unconscious STRIKE members' guns and held it at Pierce to keep him at bay. He stood by as Nick Fury arrived and as Black Widow released all S.H.I.E.L.D. files to the public. Unnoticed by the others, Pierce moved to his phone and pressed a button and the security badges on the Council members' chests exploded, killing them.
The World Security Council was rendered defunct as a result of the Fall of S.H.I.E.L.D.[4] However, the World Security Council was reinstated by 2016.[5]
Meeting with Thaddeus Ross[]
- "So you see, Secretary Ross, this woman whom you want the Council's help to find was fighting on your behalf."
- ―Hawley to Thaddeus Ross[src]
In the aftermath of the Battle at Leipzig-Halle Airport, Thaddeus Ross suspected that Natasha Romanoff helped Steve Rogers escape, so he arranged a meeting with the World Security Council. He asked them for resources to bring Romanoff in, however, Hawley objected, claiming that Romanoff fought on their side and also saved her life in the past. Ross took Hawley to the Conference Room to give her all the information about Romanoff from S.H.I.E.L.D. files, while the other members of the Council were dismissed.[5]
Equipment[]
- Holographic Projection Room: The members of the Council use advanced holographic conferencing equipment to meet in the World Security Council room at the Triskelion and meet with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents from their respective locations around the world.
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- Following its introduction in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the World Security Council was introduced in the comics as an organization tasked with overseeing S.H.I.E.L.D. following the reveal of Maria Hill using a Cosmic Cube to rewrite reality and trap notorious criminals as regular citizens of Pleasant Hill.
Behind the Scenes[]
- Joss Whedon wanted to depict the World Security Council in The Avengers as realistic but good people who were doing what they thought was best to keep the world safe from the Chitauri Invasion. Whedon further commented that in original version of the film, they looked like weather reporters, but it became clear after filming that they needed to be more ominous to service the plot.[6]
