Project Spitfire
Encyclopedia
Project Spitfire is a fictional comic-book intelligence agency
appearing in the newuniversal
comics published by Marvel Comics
. Created by Warren Ellis
and Salvador Larroca
in newuniversal #1, it is tasked with monitoring and, if necessary, killing superhumans.
- illuminated the night sky. This event was localised to North America and destroyed American computers, leaving the NSA (which had been in existence for less than six months) with "the world's most expensive collection of burnt-out valves".
Although the cause of the event was unclear, one possibility was that it was a Soviet weapon, and so the NSA's mandate was expanded to include any and all intelligence connected to the Fireworks. When this intelligence indicated that the Fireworks also had a less obvious effect, transforming three people into superhumans, Project Spitfire was founded to observe them.
In 1956, two of the superhumans - Lester Robbins and Veronica Kelly - met for the first time. Over the next year, Project Spitfire monitored them as they repeatedly clashed, causing large amounts of damage to their surroundings. By June 1957, the two superhumans had ceased fighting and had entered into a relationship. Project Spitfire continued to monitor them.
On March 31, 1959, the project became aware that Veronica Kelly had given birth to a child. On the same day, they were also notified that the third superhuman, Tony Stark
, had built an exoskeleton from 'spare parts' and escaped from North Vietnam, destroying a number of Vietnamese tanks on his way out of the country.
Spitfire agent Philip Voight successfully persuaded his superiors that these events were not coincidental, that the conflict between Robbins and Kelly was some sort of mating ritual, and that Stark's return to America might lead to further battles if the two men were to clash over Kelly's affections. The consequence was a decision to kill all three superhumans.
Stark was taken to San Diego's naval base for debriefing, then shot dead by Voight. A Spitfire agent seduced Robbins, damaging his relationship with Kelly and causing him to flee. Kelly was then poisoned by Spitfire agents, although she then detected their presence and killed several of them before her death. A week later Robbins returned to Kelly's house, lured by a fake letter, and was killed by a bomb.
Kelly's child was initially taken into the custody of Project Spitfire, but Voight then killed him after persuading his superiors that the boy was too dangerous to live. Stark's exoskeleton was also seized by Project Spitfire, which then started work on reverse-engineering the technology that Stark had used to construct it.
.
Project Spitfire's mandate does not normally allow action until three living superhumans are detected:
The Spitfire protocols were designed on the assumption that superhumans are an evolution
ary step and will be driven by a Darwinian imperative, competing with humanity. If superhumans "band together for protection and then reproduce", Project Spitfire believes that the entire human race could be threatened.
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
appearing in the newuniversal
Newuniversal
newuniversal is a comic book series by writer Warren Ellis, artist Salvador Larroca and colorist Jason Keith, published by Marvel Comics. The series is a re-imagining of Marvel's New Universe concepts, launched to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the New Universe's creation in 1986.As with the...
comics published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. Created by Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis
Warren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
and Salvador Larroca
Salvador Larroca
Salvador Larroca is a Spanish comic book artist, primarily known for his work on various X-Men titles.-Early life:Salvador Larroca was born and raised in Valencia, Spain.-Career:...
in newuniversal #1, it is tasked with monitoring and, if necessary, killing superhumans.
Fictional history
On April 26, 1953, at 9:00 EST, an unknown astronomical incident - later referred to as The FireworksWhite Event
The White Event was a fictional occurrence which played a key role in Marvel Comics' New Universe line.-New Universe:The White Event was the name given to a mysterious blinding flash of light which bathed the Earth on July 22, 1986, at 4:22am EST...
- illuminated the night sky. This event was localised to North America and destroyed American computers, leaving the NSA (which had been in existence for less than six months) with "the world's most expensive collection of burnt-out valves".
Although the cause of the event was unclear, one possibility was that it was a Soviet weapon, and so the NSA's mandate was expanded to include any and all intelligence connected to the Fireworks. When this intelligence indicated that the Fireworks also had a less obvious effect, transforming three people into superhumans, Project Spitfire was founded to observe them.
In 1956, two of the superhumans - Lester Robbins and Veronica Kelly - met for the first time. Over the next year, Project Spitfire monitored them as they repeatedly clashed, causing large amounts of damage to their surroundings. By June 1957, the two superhumans had ceased fighting and had entered into a relationship. Project Spitfire continued to monitor them.
On March 31, 1959, the project became aware that Veronica Kelly had given birth to a child. On the same day, they were also notified that the third superhuman, Tony Stark
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, had built an exoskeleton from 'spare parts' and escaped from North Vietnam, destroying a number of Vietnamese tanks on his way out of the country.
Spitfire agent Philip Voight successfully persuaded his superiors that these events were not coincidental, that the conflict between Robbins and Kelly was some sort of mating ritual, and that Stark's return to America might lead to further battles if the two men were to clash over Kelly's affections. The consequence was a decision to kill all three superhumans.
Stark was taken to San Diego's naval base for debriefing, then shot dead by Voight. A Spitfire agent seduced Robbins, damaging his relationship with Kelly and causing him to flee. Kelly was then poisoned by Spitfire agents, although she then detected their presence and killed several of them before her death. A week later Robbins returned to Kelly's house, lured by a fake letter, and was killed by a bomb.
Kelly's child was initially taken into the custody of Project Spitfire, but Voight then killed him after persuading his superiors that the boy was too dangerous to live. Stark's exoskeleton was also seized by Project Spitfire, which then started work on reverse-engineering the technology that Stark had used to construct it.
Organization structure and procedure
The presiding officer of Project Spitfire reports to the Director of the National Security AgencyDirector of the National Security Agency
The Director of the National Security Agency is the highest-ranking official in the National Security Agency, which is a Defense Agency within the U.S. Department of Defense. The Director of the NSA also concurrently serves as Chief of the Central Security Service and as Commander of U.S. Cyber...
.
Project Spitfire's mandate does not normally allow action until three living superhumans are detected:
- When the existence of a live superhuman is detected, Project Spitfire begins surveillance and makes defensive preparations.
- If two live superhumans are detected, the project will put troubleshooters into the field.
- If three or more live superhumans are detected, the project will kill them.
The Spitfire protocols were designed on the assumption that superhumans are an evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
ary step and will be driven by a Darwinian imperative, competing with humanity. If superhumans "band together for protection and then reproduce", Project Spitfire believes that the entire human race could be threatened.
Prominent members
- Philip VoightPhilip Nolan VoigtPhilip Nolan Voigt is a fictional character from Marvel Comics New Universe, first appearing in D.P. 7 #1 in 1986.- Fictional character biography :...
- Doctor Jennifer SwannSpitfire (New Universe)Spitfire and the Troubleshooters was a short-lived comic book series from Marvel Comics' New Universe line. It followed "Spitfire" and a group of brilliant but eccentric college students as they used various high-tech exoskeletons to combat crime Spitfire and the Troubleshooters (renamed to...
- Luke Randolph
- Doctor Joe Swann