New IRON MAN 3 Image From Empire Confirms HYDRA's Terrorist Splinter Group A.I.M., As Stark Rocks An Advanced Idea Mechanics T-Shirt

Awesome New IRON MAN 3 Poster Features Don Cheadle As Iron Patriot

New Looks At Guy Pearce And Don Cheadle From IRON MAN 3 Super Bowl Spot Teaser

First Official Stills For IRON MAN 3 Featuring Iron Patriot

A.I.M. Spotted On 'IRON MAN 3' Set

ComicBookMovie has found an image of the building for Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.) on the set of Iron Man 3. It seemingly could be the workplace of main villain Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) who creates the Extremis virus setting in motion the conflict of the picture. Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) could also be involved with the terrorist group as well as it could be an upscale replacement for The Ten Rings. The group is known as Marvel villains and have fought Avengers, Iron Man and SHIELD in the past. A.I.M. has their own personal army (like Hydra) who wear ridiculous bright yellow uniforms.

The corporation is a front for a Hydra-aligned terrorist group that is led in the comics by Modok. It was originally created during WWII as Hydra's weapons sub-group by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. They have plans for world domination through technological means. It seems like A.I.M. could be the group that Killian and Mandarin are apart of when they develop the Extremis virus unleashing a group of superpowered villains on the globe. I don't expect to see either Modok or Strucker involved as the two have been mentioned as possible villains for Captain America 2. Another idea is that this could be Marvel planting seeds to setup the group as the new Hydra (or Hydra in hiding) in the Cap sequel.

This isn't the first time we've seen shoutouts to evil Marvel companies in the Iron Man films. In the first film during the Iron Monger fight the Roxxon Corperation building was shown in the background. Roxxon which is an energy company has ties to both A.I.M. and Hydra. Of course Hammer Industries was also highlighted in Iron Man 2 they had government contracts to recreate Stark's tech for the military. Hammer's motivation in that film was jealousy to be as successful as Stark. I wouldn't be shocked to see A.I.M. getting government funding only to use the suits and virus for their own means.

FIRST LOOK: Set Images From 'IRON MAN 3', Features James Badge Dale As Iron Patriot

ComingSoon has got ahold of the first real set images from the Iron Man 3 production. Oddly, enough it's one of the villains likely before he turns as James Badge Dale (Coldblood) is donning the Iron Patriot armor which was originally built/worn by Norman Osborn in the Dark Avengers comics. It will be interesting to see how many of these suits that the government makes before Extremis comes into play. This one looks like a copy of the War Machine armor.