parent nodes: TimeLine
2012
Billionaire Tony Stark escaped from his kidnappers and returned to the United States. He quickly hired himself his own superhero, Iron Man, to prevent future kidnappings.
As the world would eventually learn, S.H.I.E.L.D. began to function as a protectorate for superheroes, working to preserve the identities of heroes. They would also begin crafting responses for major super villain activity. They began to plan how to defend the country from all manners of superhero and villain events. They also enlisted the help of various heroes in various activities to keep the world safer. Or so they claimed.