WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Ravencroft #5 by Frank Tieri, Angel Unzueta, Rachelle Rosenberg, and VC's Joe Sabino, on sale now.

The Marvel Universe has a number of secret groups trying to control the world, consisting both of heroic and villainous figures. Whether they've been an official incarnation of the Illuminati or a more loose affiliation of like-minded individuals, these groups almost always end up causing more damage than they fix. And now, Marvel's newest one seems to have its sights set on a very dangerous goal.

The once-and-future Green Goblin. Norman Osborn, had a meeting in Ravencroft #5, where we were officially introduced Marvel's latest shadowy organization, J.A.N.U.S. In addition to revealing its members, the comic also teased is a possible connection to the coming of Knull.

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The reopening of the Ravencroft Asylum hasn't gone perfectly, with hordes of demons crossing back into the mortal world. However, full catastrophe was halted when Misty Knight and Punisher make peace with the Kingpin long enough to wipe out most of the horde, while John Jameson is able to reutilize his Man-Wolf form to kill the demon leader and stop a bomb from blowing up the building. In the aftermath, Mayor Fisk makes Jameson the new warden of Ravencroft, and all seems to end well for everyone involved. However, it's revealed that Norman Osborn -- another one of the people present in the asylum during the chaos -- was able to take advantage of the situation. He constantly spurred Jameson to action, slipped a clone of Doctor Kafka into the Asylum and even got a hold of the valuable Ravencroft Journal.

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It's revealed that all this was done in service of a group calling themselves J.A.N.U.S., who has plans for Ravencroft. The organization is run by former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents G.W. Bridge and Contessa Valentina, Alpha Flight's James Hudson, ex-Hydra head Madame Viper, ex-A.I.M. leader Monica Rappaccini and Weapon X Director Malcolm Colcord.

The group has been seeking access to Ravencroft's "assets" inside the asylum, which could reference any number of secrets hidden inside its walls. As this meeting goes on, the potential threat just keeps escalating though, when one J.A.N.U.S. soldier ends up shooting another and finding a secret pathway marked with the sign of Knull. Gaining access to a secret room, the soldier reveals that he knows Knull is coming to Earth, and that he and Knull's other followers have to prepare for his arrival. Notably, this includes finding the grave of Cortland Kasaday - Carnage's ancestor and the first of the Kasaday line to be exposed and driven mad by the influence of Knull - and suggests there may be a way to bring him back so he can bear witness to the arrival of Knull.

The J.A.N.U.S. group, especially in the way they're introduced and the way they seem to operate, could seem at first glance to be a new international version of an organization like S.H.I.E.L.D. The organization is an international coalition of former world leaders like Viper and count both heroes like James Hudson and villains among its number, which makes its intentions far murkier. The fact that J.A.N.U.S. is more than willing to work alongside villains like Norman Osborn suggests that they're willing to be lax with their morals if it means completing their mission. However, their interest in Ravencroft hints that there are darker schemes at play here,  none of which are good.

If the J.A.N.U.S. agent who killed his partner and was revealed to be a worshipper of Knull was sent there on orders, then it means that J.A.N.U.S. could have a contingent of Knull disciples, or it could even be dedicated to that purpose of serving him and helping him bring about the destruction that his earthly arrival will bring. Knull's coming is only currently known by a handful of figures, and if J.A.N.U.S. is aware of it, they may actively want to contribute to or benefit from the chaos of his arrival. If the agent was operating independently of the organization, then that means they've already been infiltrated - and there is some other dark power within the walls of Ravencroft that they're want to claim. Neither seems like a promising potential for groups that count Madam Viper among their number.

No matter what they're planning, it'll be important for Marvel's heroes to find out about the creation of J.A.N.U.S. sooner than later, or this secret council could be destroyed by the secrets it doesn't know.

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