Luther Banks

Agent Luther Banks was an Advanced Threat Containment Unit operative and the right-hand man of Rosalind Price. Tasked with hunting down and capturing Inhumans deemed to be a threat to the public, Banks and the ATCU had an altercation with S.H.I.E.L.D., until it was discovered that the ATCU was secretly funded by HYDRA. When S.H.I.E.L.D. and ATCU went to investigate the HYDRA activity at the Distant Star Facility, Banks ended up being murdered by R. Giyera.
==Biography==
===Early Life===
====Military Career====
Luther Banks began his career in the United States Marine Corps until he was discharged with cause. In the aftermath of the Battle of New York, Banks worked for an elite anti-alien task force.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.06: Among Us Hide… Banks and Rosalind Price, at that time using an alias, infiltrated NASA and joined the Project Distant Star Return with Gideon Malick.
===Hunting Inhumans===
====Targeting Joey Gutierrez====
Banks was charged by Rosalind Price of the Advanced Threat Containment Unit to lead their team of agents in tracking down and capturing any Inhumans who appeared as a danger to the citizens. One of these incidents involved Joey Gutierrez, a man who gained the ability of melting metal. Banks led his team to capture Gutierrez, who begged for assistance as he claimed to have no idea what was happening to him, but when he accidentally used his powers to melt the team's guns, Banks deemed him too dangerous and gave the kill-order. However, Gutierrez was able to cause a car to explode and ran away in the chaos.
Before they could enact this order, Gutierrez was extracted by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents led by Daisy Johnson. As Banks pushed the citizens back and began to clean up the area, Price arrived in her car for a mission update. Banks reported the incident to Price and assured her that they were continuing to secure the area; however, she told him that it was unacceptable that Gutierrez had escaped and they had gotten so much media coverage during the mission. She then ordered him to continue securing the area.
Back at their headquarters, Banks and Price discussed his failure to capture Gutierrez. As they talked about how many Inhumans were appearing across the country, Banks and Price looked at the room filled with the bodies of the Inhumans they had found; many of whom had been found dead and with a hole blasted in the center of their chests. Price made it clear that she was not happy that one of the subjects had gotten away and insisted that Banks find him as quickly as possible.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.01: Laws of Nature
====Ambush on a Train====
When Rosalind Price became aware that S.H.I.E.L.D. and Phil Coulson were hunting her, she set up a trap to capture him on a train. When Coulson and Lance Hunter tried to speak to Price, Banks and a team from the Advanced Threat Containment Unit held him at gunpoint and handcuffed them to seats. Price and Coulson questioned one another and soon became aware that neither one of them were responsible for the brutal murders of Inhumans. When Price left to answer her phone, Coulson tricked Banks and used his prosthetic hand to attack and disarm him; Hunter then sent in a rescue pod and the pair escaped as the train was ripped apart, leaving Banks and his team lying in the rubble.
Following the call Price received on the train, Banks and his team accompanied Price to a Cincinnati Memorial Hospital where a mysterious attacker had killed several guards, using the same deadly energy beam they had been investigating, and wreaked havoc across the hospital, ripping holes through the walls and floors and terrifying the patents and doctors. Banks spoke to Tina Adams who reported that Lincoln Campbell was one of the Inhumans and had battled the attacker within the hospital alongside another woman with devastating powers.
====Hunting Lincoln Campbell====
Having learned of his location, Luther Banks led a team to capture Lincoln Campbell, who had gone of the run since the battle at the Cincinnati Memorial Hospital. As Banks and his team began to catch up with Campbell, they chased him down in a wooded area and Banks gave the order to use lethal force if needed. When Campbell ran into open ground, it seemed he was caught; however, Campbell used his powers on a nearby power line and caused sparks to rain down, separating him and the ATCU. Banks was forced to call Rosalind Price and tell her that Campbell had escaped.
Banks met with Price in her car where they discussed Campbell's abilities and how he was able to escape, commenting on how they had alerted the public to the manhunt. As they were talking, a call from the White House came in, but when Price answered it, it turned out to be Phil Coulson who was attempting to get a meeting with Price. As she spoke to Coulson, Banks got a call giving him Campbell's location. Upon confirming with Price, Banks was ordered to hunt him down and bring him in.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.03: A Wanted (Inhu)man
====Showdown with S.H.I.E.L.D.====
Taking a full team of ATCU agents, Banks charged into the apartment block where Lincoln Campbell was hiding out. They broke into the flat where he was reported to be hiding and found John Donnelly, the man who had called them, lying dead due to a heart attack. Banks' men searched the apartment and quickly found that Campbell was missing.
Due to an agreement made between Rosalind Price and Phil Coulson, Banks joined forces with a reluctant Alphonso Mackenzie to bring Campbell into the Advanced Threat Containment Unit's custody, finding him speaking with Daisy Johnson, who was furious at the change in plan. When Banks ordered his men to take him into custody, Campbell responded by setting off an electric shockwave on the ground which sent Banks and his men flying backwards. Campbell then escaped out the door before Banks and his men could recover and chase him down.
With Campbell gone, Banks revealed their back-up plan was to take Johnson into custody instead. Banks found himself in a stand-off against Johnson and Mackenzie, with Johnson threatening to use her powers against him and Mackenzie aiming a gun to his head and ordering him to stand down. Banks informed them that he had put snipers outside as protection in case they attacked. Before a firefight could start, Banks received a call from Price who had worked out a new deal with Coulson to combine their agencies. Banks ordered his men to regroup and they departed.
====Uneasy Alliance====
As the alliance between the ATCU and S.H.I.E.L.D. went underway, Banks joined the ATCU team in removing the bodies of Shane and Lori Henson, a happily married pair of Inhumans who had been murdered by Lash. During the resulting investigation, Banks was contacted by Daisy Johnson about a virus S.H.I.E.L.D. had found on the computer of the two murdered Inhumans; Banks informed her that they had not seen the virus before and could not give any information about it.
The ATCU later joined forces with S.H.I.E.L.D. once again outside the home of the hacker responsible for sending the virus, Dwight Frye. When S.H.I.E.L.D. arrived, Rosalind Price ordered Banks to behave and they discussed securing the perimeter before taking Frye into the custody of the ATCU. Banks joined Johnson and a team entering Frye's home. Once Johnson had managed to open the door using her shockwave powers, Banks split off from the team to explore as much of the house as possible so they could discover the rogue Inhuman as swiftly as possible.
Before long, Johnson found and captured Frye who had been hiding; however, Frye appeared to have an allergic reaction to Johnson's Inhuman powers. Banks made a comment that Frye was clearly allergic to Johnson and due to Banks' recommendation, Phil Coulson ordered Johnson to leave so Frye could be questioned by Coulson and Price in private, where he could be safe from pain and suffering. Banks patiently waited outside with his team, awaiting his next orders, as Price took charge of the situation.
When Coulson and Price completed their questioning of Frye, who revealed he worked for Lash, providing him with the locations of Inhumans so he could kill them, Banks took Frye to their van to be taken back to the ATCU's base for lock up. Price made a deal with Coulson and agreed to allow Johnson and Alphonso Mackenzie to ride in the van with Frye so they could overlook the Endotex Labs, but Price ordered Banks to head there first to secure it and hide their classified information from S.H.I.E.L.D. On their way to the base, however, the van was attacked by Lash and the agents on board were injured while Frye was murdered.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.04: Devils You Know
====Suspected Inhuman====
Daisy Johnson came up with a theory that Lash was one of the ATCU. Alphonso Mackenzie suspected it was Banks and the two, along with Lance Hunter, tailed him. Hunter took a chance and shot Banks unconscious outside, wearing a bandana to avoid recognition. The three took a sample of Banks' blood and had it tested by Jemma Simmons, who reported that Banks was fully human and that Johnson's theory was incorrect. The trio inspected Banks' wallet and, when his phone received a text message, learned that he was en route to Gaithersburg, Maryland, the location of Endotex Labs. The three then placed Banks back in his car, still unconscious.
Having been proven not to have Inhuman DNA in his blood, Banks was cleared of suspicion. He later joined Rosalind Price and Phil Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D. team in the transport of Andrew Garner, who had been discovered to be the real Lash and was being moved in a Containment Module. Banks stood beside Price and she and Coulson discussed what was to be done with Garner overheard a conversation where it was agreed that Price would be allowed to visit and explore Coulson's base where they could discuss the ATCU's ongoing mission to find a cure.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.08: Many Heads, One Tale
====Operation Spotlight====
Banks entered Endotex Labs with R. Giyera and learned that there had been a security breach in the computer network. When he and Steve Wilson walked over to where the computer technician was working, Banks learned that the technician was Lance Hunter undercover. Banks chased Hunter through the facility, but the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent entered a passageway that locked behind him and blocking Banks from catching up, making him furious.
While Banks tried to locate Hunter, he received a call from Rosalind Price telling him to assist the agents in evacuating the ATCU facility as she had learned that the ATCU was being secretly run by HYDRA. Eventually, Banks caught up to Hunter and Bobbi Morse after they had defeated Giyera and several other guards. Banks told the two of them to follow him, regardless of whether or not they trusted him and he escorted them to their rendezvous with a Quinjet piloted by Melinda May and Lincoln Campbell.
====Ambush at the Distant Star Facility====
As Banks and Rosalind Price discussed her new relationship with Phil Coulson, he called her foolish. When Price was assassinated shortly afterwards, Banks traveled to the Playground where Alphonso Mackenzie introduced him to Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons; Banks said that he would do whatever it took to avenge the death of Price. He told them of how both he and Price had infiltrated NASA and had become a part of the project Distant Star, funded by Gideon Malick, while Fitz and Simmons told him of the ancient origin of HYDRA.
Banks, Fitz, Simmons and a S.H.I.E.L.D. unit had then decided to go search the Distant Star Facility for anything they could find on Project Distant Star Return which could relate to Malick. However, as they went through the facility, Banks found he was unable to let go of his gun as R. Giyera took control of it, forcing Banks to eliminate the S.H.I.E.L.D. unit while Fitz and Simmons watched in horror. As Banks tried to explain he was not responsible, Giyera turned the gun around and delivered the final shot to Banks' head, killing him instantly.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3.09: Closure
==Personality==
Banks carried his tasks with a high level of professionalism and rarely displayed any form of emotion which could indicate how he felt. His relentlessness in hunting down Inhumans caused several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents like Daisy Johnson and Lance Hunter to dislike him in the first place. On the contrary, his work and dedication were appreciated by his superior, Rosalind Price, who did not hesitate to tell him details about her personal life, like her relationship with Phil Coulson. As such, when Price died, Banks immediately reported to S.H.I.E.L.D. despite their initial disagreements, knowing that S.H.I.E.L.D. and the ATCU had to unite against HYDRA.
==Abilities==
*Expert Marksman: Banks was a former member of the United States Marine Corps, Banks was therefore a trained gunman. He carried an advanced pistol as his sidearm.
==Equipment==
===Weapons===
thumb|250px|Banks being controlled by R. Giyera
*: Banks carried this handgun as his service weapon during his field missions. He carried while coordinating a mission to apprehend Joey Gutierrez in Seattle, to protect Rosalind Price when Phil Coulson tried to ambush her, when he pursued and tried to capture Lincoln Campbell, when he was called to deal with the Murder of Shane and Lori Henson and when he took Dwight Frye into ATCU custody. Banks ended up being killed by his own weapon inside the Distant Star Facility, as R. Giyera controlled his handgun and made him shoot himself.
===Other Equipment===
*Bulletproof Vest: Banks wore a bulletproof vest on his missions for the Advanced Threat Containment Unit.
==Facilities==
*Endotex Labs: Banks went to Endotex Labs in order to hide the Advanced Threat Containment Unit's classified information from S.H.I.E.L.D.. He later returned to the laboratory, where he was alerted to a security breach and found Lance Hunter to be responsible. However, Rosalind Price ordered him to help the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as she evacuated the building, so Banks, Hunter, and Bobbi Morse left together.
*Playground: Banks went to the Playground, hoping to team up with S.H.I.E.L.D. to avenge Rosalind Price's death. He discussed Project Distant Star Return with Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons, so they went to investigate a facility used by the project.
*Distant Star Facility: Banks went to the Distant Star Facility with Leo Fitz, Jemma Simmons, and a S.H.I.E.L.D. unit for information on Project Distant Star Return and Gideon Malick. However, R. Giyera took control of Banks' gun and used it to kill several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, as well as Banks himself.
==Relationships==
===Allies===
*United States Marine Corps
*NASA
*Advanced Threat Containment Unit
**Rosalind Price † - Former Superior
**Steve Wilson - Colleague
*S.H.I.E.L.D. - Former Enemies
**Phil Coulson †
**Lance Hunter
**Daisy Johnson - Former Target
**Bobbi Morse
**Alphonso Mackenzie
**Leo Fitz
**Jemma Simmons
**Joey Gutierrez - Former Target
**Lincoln Campbell † - Former Target
===Enemies===
*Dwight Frye †
*Andrew Garner/Lash †
*HYDRA
**Gideon Malick †
**R. Giyera † - Former Colleague and Killer
==Appearances==
In chronological order:
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* (mentioned)
==Behind the Scenes==
*Tim Storms was a stunt double for Andrew Howard in the role of Luther Banks.
==References==
Category:Characters
Category:Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Characters
Category:Humans
Category:Males
Category:Bald Hair
Category:Blue Eyes
Category:United States Marine Corps Soldiers
Category:NASA Members
Category:Advanced Threat Containment Unit Members
Category:Deceased Characters
Category:Characters Killed by R. Giyera