In 1995, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. encountered analien threat to Earth from both theKree and theSkrulls whenCarol Danvers crash landed in aBlockbusterstore. The resultingconflict resulted in Danvers and the Skrulls aligning with S.H.I.E.L.D. and agreeing to help Fury in the case of emergencies. Afterwards, Fury created the Protectors Initiative to create a group of heroes to protect Earth from future supernatural threats. He later renamed it to the Avengers Initiative after learning that Danvers'call sign in theUnited States Air Force had been 'Avenger.'

In 2010, Tony Stark was kidnapped by theTen Rings. Thegroup attempted to force Stark to buildweapons of mass destruction (WMDs) for them. Stark agreed to do so, however didn't and instead built the first Iron Man suit. Stark used the suit to break out of custody and escape, later being saved byColonel James Rhodes. After the incident, Stark came into conflict with the Ten Rings and was forced to kill his company'sspokesperson, who was exposed as a Ten Rings collaborator. S.H.I.E.L.D. cought on to Stark's actions and sent Phil Coulson to provide Stark with asecret identity and analibi. Stark refused to use and instead admitted himself as Iron Man to theAmerican public. Fury approached Stark afterwards to tell him about the Avengers Initiative, although he initially refused to join.

In 2011, Fury sent Natasha Romanoff tospy on Stark and make a report on his physical and mental wellbeing. Romanoff wrote that Stark was selfish, impulsive, reckless, and not a good fit for the Avengers Initiative. As a result, Fury hired Stark as aconsultant for S.H.I.E.L.D., but did not let him onto the Avengers Initiative. Later, a series of incidents inBrazil and theUnited States involvingThunderbolt Ross and Bruce Banner caught the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D. Ross wanted both himself andEmil Blonsky (Abomination) to join the initiative, leading Coulson to send in Stark to convince Ross to not join. Instead, S.H.I.E.L.D. began to consider Banner. Another series of events involving S.H.I.E.L.D. andAsgardian activities inNew Mexico led to Thor Odinson agreeing to join the initiative. Finally, in late 2011, Steve Rogers was found frozen inice (but alive) by S.H.I.E.L.D. and was added to the Avengers Initiative by Fury.

Battle of New York
Date 2012 Location New York City,New York,United States Result Avengers victory
Belligerents
Children of Thanos Chitauri	Avengers S.H.I.E.L.D. World Security Council
Commanders and leaders
Loki Laufeyson (POW)	Steve Rogers Tony Stark Bruce Banner Thor Odinson Natasha Romanoff Clint Barton Nick Fury
Casualties and losses
EntireChitauri army deactivated	Tony Stark wounded
Many civilians killed, injured, or displaced

In 2012, Loki Laufeyson (working covertly forThanos) attacked a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. He injured Fury, usedmind control to bring Clint Barton to his side, and stole theTesseract.