Triune Understanding
Encyclopedia
Triune Understanding is a fictitious religious cult
created by Kurt Busiek
for volume three of the Marvel Comics
Avengers
series, based on The Church of Scientology
.
Thanks to this manipulation of the team, Captain America
and Thor
both temporarily resigned, Thor resenting the media criticism and Captain America feeling unable to lead the team against this kind of attack. The situation was made even worse when the Triune Understanding hired the Taskmaster
to pose as Captain America and trick Warbird
, Ant-Man
, Silverclaw
, and Captain Marvel
into destroying a Triune building. Although they saw through his deception, the building was destroyed in the ensuing battle and the heroes lacked any evidence of their story. Justice and Firestar
, then members of the Avengers, went undercover inside the organization. One of the many secrets they discovered was that the group could power a spacecraft with the sheer belief of the followers.
It was revealed over time that the Triune Understanding was trying to protect Earth from a mysterious threat named the Triple Evil. This being arrived on Earth during the "Kang Dynasty
" storyline, when Earth was conquered by long-time Avengers foe Kang the Conqueror
, prompting Tremont and a team of Avengers to power up their spaceship and face the being; an enormous floating black pyramid on the far side of the moon. They confronted it and eventually triumphed, with the ancient power of the billions the Triple Evil had destroyed passing to Triathlon, who also became the re-embodiment of 3D-Man. Jonathan Tremont, who had wanted the power for himself, was captured and later died battling Kang. The fate of the Triune Understanding after these events is unclear.
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
created by Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.-Early life:...
for volume three of the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
series, based on The Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
.
History
The Triune Understanding was depicted as a fast-growing movement claiming to maximize human potential, but gradually revealed to have connections with an invading alien race. Members included the Avengers' government liaison Duane Freeman and new member Triathlon (who owed his powers to the sect). After a battle between the Avengers and villains Lord Templar and Pagan, Jonathan Tremont (the leader of the Triune) publicly blamed the Avengers for the destruction, then covertly set up a smear campaign against the team to suggest they were religiously intolerant and racist (exploiting the general lack of African-American heroes in the team) and hinting that they supported the "mutant conspiracy."Thanks to this manipulation of the team, Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
and Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
both temporarily resigned, Thor resenting the media criticism and Captain America feeling unable to lead the team against this kind of attack. The situation was made even worse when the Triune Understanding hired the Taskmaster
Taskmaster
Taskmaster is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The character is primarily a supervillain but is often portrayed as an antihero. The Taskmaster first appeared in Avengers vol.1 #195 and was created by David Michelinie and George Pérez...
to pose as Captain America and trick Warbird
Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvel is the name of a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and designed by artist Gene Colan, the non-powered Carol Danvers debuted as a member of the United States Air Force in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 and as Ms. Marvel—a...
, Ant-Man
Scott Lang
Scott Lang is a fictional character featured in the American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the second superhero character to use the name Ant-Man in the Marvel Universe, following the original, Dr. Henry Pym...
, Silverclaw
Silverclaw
Silverclaw , is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. The character is a reserve member of the Avengers and regards Edwin Jarvis as an uncle figure.-Publication history:...
, and Captain Marvel
Genis-Vell
Genis-Vell, also known as Legacy, Captain Marvel, and Photon, is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He is depicted as the son of Mar-Vell of the extraterrestrial Kree Empire, who was the first character to be known as Captain Marvel in the Marvel Universe...
into destroying a Triune building. Although they saw through his deception, the building was destroyed in the ensuing battle and the heroes lacked any evidence of their story. Justice and Firestar
Firestar
Firestar is a fictional mutant superhero in the . Debuting in 1981 on the NBC animated television series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, she has the ability to generate and manipulate microwave radiation, which allows her to generate intense heat and flames, and to fly...
, then members of the Avengers, went undercover inside the organization. One of the many secrets they discovered was that the group could power a spacecraft with the sheer belief of the followers.
It was revealed over time that the Triune Understanding was trying to protect Earth from a mysterious threat named the Triple Evil. This being arrived on Earth during the "Kang Dynasty
Kang Dynasty
"Kang Dynasty", sometimes called "Kang War", was a 16 part comic book storyline which ran through Avengers #41 - 55 and Avengers Annual 2001 between June, 2001 and August, 2002. It was written by Kurt Busiek and illustrated by a number of artists including Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer, Ivan Reis and...
" storyline, when Earth was conquered by long-time Avengers foe Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Avengers #8 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
, prompting Tremont and a team of Avengers to power up their spaceship and face the being; an enormous floating black pyramid on the far side of the moon. They confronted it and eventually triumphed, with the ancient power of the billions the Triple Evil had destroyed passing to Triathlon, who also became the re-embodiment of 3D-Man. Jonathan Tremont, who had wanted the power for himself, was captured and later died battling Kang. The fate of the Triune Understanding after these events is unclear.