Real Name: Henry Peter Gyrich
Occupation: Government agent
Identity: Gyrich does not use a double identity.
Legal Status: Citizen of the United States with no criminal record
Other Aliases: None
Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Known Relatives: None
Group Affiliation: Member of the National Security Council, former government liaison with the Avengers, member of Project Wideawake
Base of Operations: Washington DC
First Appearance: AVENGERS #168

History: Henry Peter Gyrich was appointed by the National Security Council to investigate unofficial reports of irregularities in the operations of the Avengers. The Avengers were granted by the U.S. government certain privileges such as exemptions from air traffic regulations, access to certain classified intelligence information, and a special priority status enabling them to operate with a minimum of bureaucratic red tape. When Gyrich went to investigate the reports in person, he discovered a gaping hole in the wall to Avengers Mansion caused in a recent battle with Count Nefaria, and none of the Avengers present. Overpowering the Avengers' butler Edwin Jarvis, Gyrich bound him to a chair and deliberately set off a security alarm. When the Avengers responded, he introduced himself, lectured them about their lax security, claiming that anyone could have walked in and stolen their sophisticated technology or classified records. He explained that their priority status could only be revoked by two people, the President of the U.S. and himself. After reporting his findings to the council in Washington, Gyrich returned to New York, finding that Hawkeye had left the front door open when he entered. Although he was detained by a security device, Gyrich was still unimpressed by the Avengers' security. He told them he was revoking their priority status and all accompanying privileges, effectively denying them use of their quinjets, monitors, and data files, as well as curtailing certain extralegal activities. Despite their protests, the Avengers could not persuade him to relent. Weeks later, after the Avengers struggled to operate under restrictions, Gyrich returned to tell them his requirements for the reinstatement of their security clearance. Among other things, he demanded that the Avengers limit their membership to seven, and that he determine who that seven would be. Despite general dissent, Captain America convinced the others that the reinstatement of priority status was of prime consideration and worth any other inconvenience. Consequently, the Avengers allowed Gyrich to determine that the Falcon, who had never been an Avenger before, be asked to join. Gyrich also instituted a security screening and identification for all members.

Gyrich oversaw Avengers activities in person for several months, and at one point forbade the Avengers to travel to Bulgaria in response to former member Quicksilver's summons. Captain America spoke to the President in order to overrule Gyrich's decision and enable them to go. Gyrich's intervention in Avengers affairs culminated when he participated in a Senate investigation to determine if the Avengers were a threat to national security. After various testimonies, the committee concluded that the Avengers needed a certain amount of freedom to carry out their operations which were of proven value to the government. Gyrich was replaced by Duane Jerome Freeman, whose attitude was a 180-degree turn from that of Gyrich. Duane is pleasant, and he sees it as his mission to help the Avengers do their work better. He is even a bit of a fan of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, although he doesn't let his admiration impact his professionalism. Gyrich was appointed to supervise the implementation of the new guidelines under which the Avengers were to operate.

Gyrich then requested a transfer in his responsibilities and was made a special consultant to Project Wideawake, a covert governmental commission to deal with the problems posed by the growing number of mutants in America. Project Wideawake was headed by National Security Advisor, Judge Petrie, and its members include Frank Lowell of the Central Intelligence Agency, Raven Darkholme of the Defense Department, and Dr. Valerie Cooper, among other representatives of military and civilian security departments. The project noted that America no longer had a virtual monopoly on superhuman mutants, and decided to investigate the feasibility of employing a special team of mutants to counter the threat of foreign mutants. (Eventually the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants was drafted to fill this position and was renamed Freedom Force.) Gyrich became involved with the threat of the alien Dire Wraiths, and met with the man named Forge, special weapons maker for the U.S. government and S.H.I.E.L.D. Gyrich obtained from Forge the prototype of a gun based on the device carried by the Galadorian Spaceknight Rom, which neutralized Wraiths' abilities. This gun could be adjusted to neutralize superhuman powers in mutants. While trying to apprehend the mutant Rogue for breaking into a S.H.I.E.L.D. installation, Gyrich accidentally shot her fellow mutant Storm, robbing Storm of her powers. Gyrich has since continued to serve on the staff of Project Wideawake.

Height: 6 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 225 lbs.
Eyes: Green
Hair: Red

Strength Level: Henry Peter Gyrich possesses the normal human strength of a man of his age, height, and build who engages in moderate regular exercise.