Project Avengers Initiative

Project Avengers Initiative was a secret project created by SHIELD to create the Avengers, a team composed of super-powered beings that would counter the global threat of the Hulk.

Activation
The World Security Council activated Project Avengers Initiative when the Hulk nearly destroyed Harlem. SHIELD was selected to control the Hulk and Nick Fury was assigned to lead the recruitment of super-powered beings. The mission was to capture and contain the Hulk by any means neccessary.

Battle of India
The project saw the recruitment of war veteran and SHIELD agent Captain America, Asgardian Thor and billionaire playboy Tony Stark aka Iron Man.

The team was dispatched when SHIELD tracked down Bruce Banner. A brief conversation was held by Banner and Stark before a rogue SHIELD agent shoots Banner down. Agitated, Banner transforms into the Hulk and a huge battle takes place.

In the battle, Thor accidentally hits Iron Man which causes the latter to retalliate. Captain America tries to intervene. The battle ends when Thor's Mjolnir hits Captain America's Vibranium shield that created a blast. The blast knocked all participants down including Hulk, who then transforms back to Banner.

Recruited Candidates

 * Captain America - Agent Steve Rogers of SHIELD was ask to lead the project by Nick Fury.
 * Tony Stark/Iron Man - Tony Stark was a consultant for SHIELD. His Iron Man armor was selected to participate in the project.
 * Thor - When SHIELD learned of Thor's return to Earth, Agent Phil Coulson was sent to recruit him.

Failed Candidates

 * Abomination - Agent Coulson and Agent Jasper Sitwell sabotage the Abomination's candidacy for the project.
 * War Machine - War Machine was initially intended to be included in the project but Stark asked him to investigate terrorists in Afghanistan.