When it comes to the world of comics, some of the most engaging storylines for crossovers and individual heroes alike tends to be those that involve one secret society or another. While villains of the week and galactic threats are popular, secret societies tend to bring out the most engaging stories around.

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In the world of Marvel Comics, there are quite a few secret societies that have driven the narrative for years. From villainous groups of mad scientists to mafia style villains and government organizations using espionage to protect the world, here are the 10 most powerful Marvel secret organizations.

10 The Maggia

One of the first organizations fans should know about has to be The Maggia. The Marvel Universe’s answer to the classic mafia, the Maggia are a major player in many of the world’s plots, none more so than in the city of New York, home to heroes like Spider-Man and the Avengers alike.

The Maggia has many leaders and families within the organization. From Count Nefaria and his daughter Madame Masque to the Hammerhead family, the organization is filled with iconic villains and figureheads. The Maggia family known as the Costa’s are responsible for Frank Castle’s (aka The Punisher) family being targeted.

9 Leviathan

One of the next organizations is unique in that it shares a name with another secret organization in DC Comics. This group is known as Leviathan, which is a terrorist organization that began as a Soviet counterpart to the infamous Nazi group Hydra. The two groups collaborated to build super soldiers using tech and tanks from aliens known as The Brood.

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Alongside the Hand and even Nick Fury, the groups were supposed to produce top tier super soldiers, but of course Leviathan betrayed them, causing Hydra and The Hand to retaliate. They’ve appeared many times since, including during the event Dark Reign.

8 S.T.A.K.E.

One of the most unique organizations in Marvel Comics has to be S.T.A.K.E., a subsidiary group of S.H.I.E.L.D.. The group was created by Maria Hill and a resurrected LMD version of Dum Dum Dugan, who went on to form a new version of the Howling Commandos.

The group is meant to deal with extranormal threats, mainly anything with a supernatural spin. The group has consisted of the zombie version of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell, Warwolf, Hit-Monkey, Man-Thing, Orrogo and even the infamous Vampire-By-Night. The group has come across Old Man Logan, Teen Abomination (who became a member), and villain Sphinx.

7 A.I.M.

One of the most popular groups or secret organizations in the Marvel Comics universe has to be A.I.M., otherwise known as Advanced Idea Mechanics. Originally one of the two branches of the group Hydra, A.I.M. was built to be the weapons manufacturing side of Hydra. Created by Baron Von Strucker, the group went into hiding after WWII and Hydra’s defeat.

They have been responsible for many iconic events, including reviving Red Skull from suspended animation and the creation of the villainous MODOK. More recently, the group was bought out by hero Sunspot and rebranded Avengers Idea Mechanics.

6 The Hand

One of the most notorious street level secret organizations in Marvel Comics has to be The Hand. Originally created in the 16th century by Japanese Nationalist Samurai, they were co-opted by the Snakeroot, ancient ninja clans that worship a demon that is only known as the Beast of the Hand.

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With ties to organized crime and mercenaries alike, the group has been involved in several assassination attempts, and battles heroes like Daredevil and his trainer Stick, alongside other heroes such as Spider-Man, Wolverine, Black Widow, the Avengers and even the X-Men. Also, The Hand is mostly comprised of powerful undead ninja warriors.

5 Weapon X

This next secret organization is interesting as it is the name of a program that helped create some of the universe’s most powerful heroes and villains alike. The organization/project is known as Weapon X. Created by the Canadian Government’s Department K, the program is used to enhance or turn willing and unwilling patients alike into living weapons for the government.

The program is so popular because it is notorious for the creation of Wolverine, aka Logan. However the program also created Deadpool, Weapon H, Leech and even Wolverine’s most heated enemy, Sabertooth, making them a truly powerful secret organization.

4 Hellfire Club

One of the most powerful organizations that truly worked in secrecy for many years has to be The Hellfire Club. On the outside, the group is seen as nothing more than a secret social club for some of the world’s most wealthy and powerful elites to gather together in secret.

However, the Inner Circle of the group has an interest in influencing the world, and first made their appearance in an attempt to control the Dark Phoenix, aka Jean Grey. The group is led often by the Black Knight Sebastian Shaw and the White Queen, who is better known as the notorious villain Emma Frost.

3 S.W.O.R.D.

One of the most powerful groups in Marvel Comics is yet another offshoot of S.H.I.E.L.D., S.W.O.R.D.. Standing for Sentient World Observation and Response Department, the organization is a space station filled with agents who monitor threats from outer space and protect Earth from such threats.

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Led by Abigail Brand, the group has also featured characters like Beast, Lockheed and Spider-Woman in their ranks. The group was featured prominently during the event Secret Invasion, where a Skrull under the guise of Dum Dum Dugan snuck aboard the Peak and destroyed it.

2 Hydra

The second most powerful secret organization in Marvel Comics has to be Hydra. The group was originally a Nazi-led terrorist organization during WWII that was led by figures such as Red Skull and Baron Von Strucker. Originally an enemy of Captain America, the group hid and rebuilt in the years after WWII.

Originally a corrupted group used by reptilian aliens to control Earth, Von Strucker seized control and restructured it as a terrorist organization bent on world domination, digging their claws into politics, science and magic outright. The most recent attack was during Secret Empire and evil Captain America.

1 S.H.I.E.L.D.

The most powerful secret organization in the history of Marvel Comics has to be S.H.I.E.L.D.. The group that has not only inspired multiple offshoots and superhero teams to take on threats both small and large, they are also the hated enemy of Hydra and the world’s top spy organization.

Led mostly by the infamous one-eyed leader Nick Fury, the group also include Dum Dum Dugan, Maria Hill, and more recently Agent Phil Coulson (both in the MCU and comics). The group initiated the Secret Avengers and other superheroes to fight the battles Earth needed.

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