Initiative is assumption of control of a culturally defined interaction by conducting the initial moves, forcing the other players into respondent roles. Initiative may also refer to: Fiction Avengers: The Initiative, a comic book series from Marvel Comics Civil War: The Initiative, a comics crossover storyline from Marvel Comics Fifty State Initiative, a fictional government program in the Marvel Comics Universe The Dharma Initiative, a fictional organization from the television show Lost "The Initiative", the seventh episode of season 4 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer Games Initiative (chess), the ability in chess to make attacks that must be responded to initiative (role-playing games), a number which determines the order in which characters take actions, especially during combat Organizations Initiative, a media buying agency that is part of Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG) The Initiative Collective (aka "The Initiative"), a worldwide group of grassroots neighborhood watch organizations Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties (INITIATIVE), a European Marxist–Leninist political group Political science Initiative is a political process by which a referendum can be triggered by a petition of voters Other Initiative Q, an alternative payment network The Initiative (Tunisia) – a political party The Hawkeye Initiative, a tumblr page that features comic book character Hawkeye in various poses held by female comic book characters