Superhuman Registration Act

The Superhuman Registration Act is a fictional piece of legislation featured in comic books published by Marvel Comics. It relates to the "Civil War" crossover event and was being developed as early as Civil War #1 in July, 2006.

History
A team of celebrity super-heroes known as the New Warriors got into a fight with some super-powered villains in Stamford, Connecticut. One of these villains was Robert Hunter, aka Nitro, who had the ability to detonate his own body then reconstitute himself. Enhanced by the Mutant Growth Hormone, Nitro exploded, killing six-hundred people, including his villainous cohorts as well as the New Warriors.

In the wake of this tragedy, public opinion towards the super-hero community began to turn against their favor. People blamed the Stamford incident on the recklessness and lack of accountability on the part of costumed heroes, and demanded a response. Under pressure from the nation at large, the Federal government began putting together legislation, which required costumed heroes to register with the government, and in so doing, becoming deputized agents of said government. This sent shock-waves throughout the heroic community, as many agreed that heroes should be held to a higher standard of accountability, while others feared that registering would only make them lap-dogs of an organism governed by agendas.

Heroes immediately began taking sides. Tony Stark agreed with the implementation of the Superhuman Registration Act, while Steve Rogers immediately began working against it.

Tensions within the community continued to mount, with government agencies such as S.H.I.E.L.D. implementing special task forces known as Superhuman Restraint Units, or "cape-killers", to track down and arrest those who refused to register. In short order, the country erupted into a full-blown superhuman Civil War.

Proponents

 * Tony Stark