This subversive organization has been headed by a number of different leaders, always known as “Number One”,with each iteration's goals following the desires of its current leader. The Secret Empire was originally founded by a scientist who felt like an anonymous nobody. The organization began as a criminal enterprise, a subsidiary of HYDRA, which provided it with financial support. The Secret Empire served to distract the attention of authorities such as S.H.I.E.L.D. from HYDRA’s activities, although the original Number One sought to break away from HYDRA. The Secret Empire hired the mercenary Boomerang on a mission to steal plans for the Air Force’s Orion Missile, but he was defeated by the Hulk. In attempting to blow up the Hulk, Number One instead killed himself.