HYDRA

> "*Cut off one head, two more shall take its place*"
> ― Slogan
>
>

**HYDRA** is an evil organization of Nazis and Neo-Nazis, hellbent on world domination from Marvel Comics. They first appeared in 1965 in *Strange Tales #135*. They are primarily enemies of Captain America and the Avengers.

## Description

### Mission

HYDRA is an evil international organization of Nazis, which splintered off from the Third Reich towards the end of World War 2. They survived into modern day via the spy-agency S.H.I.E.L.D. whom they controlled from the shadows before the two separated. HYDRA started out as an organization which developed experimental weaponry for Adolph Hitler, before separating with their own desires of bigoted world conquest.

HYDRA's symbol was a skull, similar to the nazi *Totenkopf* symbol but with six tentacles representing their ambitions of ensnaring the world. The name Hydra was a reference to the Lernean Hydra of Hellenic myth which grew several heads when one was cut off, something reflected in the HYDRA slogan, "*If a head is cut off, two more shall take its place*".

### Bases

* **The Crown**: The Crown was HYDRA's main financial station.
* **Hell's Heaven**: Hell's Heaven was a suspected HYDRA base in China.
* **The Hive**: The Hive was a suspected base of HYDRA.
* **Ichor**: Ichor was Hydra's central base and was located in the Pacific Ocean, east of China.
* **Nemesis**: Nemesis was a suspected base of HYDRA.
* **Omega Point**: Omega Point was a suspected HYDRA base.
* **Ravenous**: Ravenous was HYDRA's recruitment and processing station.
* **Tarantula**: Tarantula was a suspected HYDRA base.
* **Tsunami**: Tsunami was an island base of HYDRA which was destroyed around the 2010s, possibly by SHIELD.

## History

### Origins

HYDRA was founded by 1940 as a Nazi scientific department, amongst their creations being giant advanced tanks. Their presence pushed Howard Stark to join the allies in fighting the nazis during World War 2 and develop a super-soldier serum alongside Dr. Abraham Erskine. After creating Captain America, Erskine was assassinated by an agent of HYDRA. HYDRA later created a weapon-of-mass-destruction which they attempted to use on New York City, only for Captain America to steer the plane off course and crash it into the Arctic Ocean.

### Modern Day

Via SHIELD, HYDRA survived into modern-day. Their main known leader was Arnim Zola, a WWII nazi scientist who had since put his brainwaves into an artificial-intelligence. Other agents of HYDRA wanted by SHIELD included the Red Skull and Madame Hydra who were amongst SHIELD's most wanted. At this period, HYDRA largely used a multitude of robots created by Arnim Zola for their attacks.

Many of HYDRA's bases were tracked down and eliminated by SHIELD. Various HYDRA bases across the world were identified by SHIELD with one, the island base, "Tsunami", being destroyed.

#### Attack on Stark Expo

Around 2010, Arnim Zola and his robots attacked the Stark Expo in Hong Kong to steal the giant arc reactor from the nearby Stark Tower. This plan was thwarted by the joined efforts of Iron Man, Ant-Man, the Wasp, several shrunken recruits of SHIELD, and attendees of the Stark Expo in Stark's *Iron Wing Mark VIII*. This incident inspired Iron Man to begin setting up superhero outposts across the world to prevent similar occurrences.

#### Paris

When Tony Stark unveiled a Vibranium Arc Reactor in Paris, HYDRA and Red Skull joined forces with Loki to steal the reactor. In return for Loki's service, Red Skull would give him the mystical *Casket of Ancient Winters*. During this event, the villains crossed paths with Thor, Spider-Man and Black Widow. After Loki used the casket to defeat these heroes, Red Skull used the stolen Arc Reactor to power the casket and betray Loki, beating him to the floor.

Red Skull's plans were however foiled by Captain Marvel who was contacted by Black Widow. Captain Marvel overpowered the nazi and blasted him with energy, disintegrating him.

## Appearances

### Avengers Campus (DCA)

Nick Fury mentioned Skrulls as a potential enemy to defend yourself from.

#### Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: BREAKOUT!

In the Collector's office is the helmet of a WWII Hydra soldier, a gun adorned with the HYDRA logo, and a red & black HYDRA badge.

#### PYM Test Kitchen

Artwork on the wall depicts Arnim Zola's robots and their attack on Stark Expo.

### Innoventions

The exhibit "Captain America: Living Legend" makes several references to Captain America's history with HYDRA.

### Marvel Super Hero Academy

In the Daily Bugle, Robbie Robertson's article on the *Super Hero Academy* opening makes reference to the Avengers fighting HYDRA.

### Stark Expo

HYDRA is the main-antagonist of the Stark Expo storyline as they lead an assault on Stark Expo, commanded by Arnim Zola and his robots.

#### Ant-Man and the Wasp: Nano-Battle

In this attraction, Ant-Man and Wasp go miniature to fight Arnim Zola's nano-bots.

#### Iron Man Experience

Iron Man fights Arnim Zola's robots in this attraction. In the queue, vintage anti-HYDRA campaign posters are on display in the Captain America section of the exhibit.

### Stark Factory

Peggy Carter has a file on HYDRA cases, along with specific files on Red Skull and Winter Soldier. A bulletin-board has photographs of Red Skull's ship before its crash.

### Super Hero Headquarters

In the SHIELD outpost of Disney Springs, there are wanted posters for the Red Skull and assorted HYDRA members along with computers tracking down known bases of HYDRA.

## Trivia

* HYDRA's presence in the Hong Kong parts is somewhat odd as they are not typically enemies of Iron Man nor of Ant-Man & the Wasp, traditionally being enemies of Captain America and the Avengers.
* The mention of the Hive base could indirectly reference HYDRA's high council superhuman, "Hive" who was created at said facility. In Agents of SHIELD, this character was reimagined as an Inhuman.

## References

1. ↑ https://dlnewstoday.com/2019/08/photos-a-closer-look-at-avengers-campus-projects-coming-to-disney-parks-at-d23-expo-2019/
2. ↑ https://www.slashfilm.com/551270/guardians-of-the-galaxy-mission-breakout-easter-eggs/
3. ↑ https://www.marvel.com/articles/culture-lifestyle/hidden-treasures-on-guardians-of-the-galaxy-mission-breakout
4. ↑ https://collider.com/captain-america-disneyland-exhibit-images/
5. ↑ https://disneycruiselineblog.com/2017/04/look-re-imagined-oceaneer-club-lab-aboard-disney-wonder/
6. ↑ https://mickeyblog.com/2021/06/06/5-epic-details-to-be-on-the-lookout-for-during-your-avengers-campus-visit/
7. ↑ https://wanderingindisney.com/2021/08/04/pym-test-kitchen-review/
8. ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/diaz/31470534883/in/album-72157675406220963/
9. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2022/07/review-great-theming-but-mediocre-food-from-stark-factory-in-avengers-campus-at-walt-disney-studios-park/
10. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2015/04/photos-video-super-hero-headquarters-marvel-store-opens-at-downtown-disney/