"Secret Invasion" is a
comic book
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. ...
crossover storyline that ran through a self-titled eight-issue
limited series Limited series may refer to:
*Limited series, individual storylines within an anthology series
*Limited series, a particular run of collectables, usually individually numbered
* Limited series (comics), a comics series with a predetermined number ...
and several tie-in books published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Comics'' in 19 ...
from April through December 2008. The story involves a subversive, long-term invasion of
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surf ...
by the
Skrulls, a group of alien
shapeshifters who have secretly replaced many superheroes in the
Marvel Universe with impostors over a period of years, prior to the overt invasion. Marvel's promotional tagline for the event was "Who do you trust?".
A
six-episode television miniseries based on the storyline and produced by
Marvel Studios as part of the
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is scheduled to be released in 2023 on
Disney+.
Production and marketing
Writer
Brian Michael Bendis stated in interviews that the motivation for the invasion is the destruction of the
Skrull Empire
The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Skrulls first appeared in ''Fantastic Four'' #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. They originated from ...
in the 2007
"Annihilation" storyline. Bendis said the Skrulls believe Earth "is religiously and rightfully theirs," and that there are hints as to the plot placed in the limited series ''
Secret War'' and the title ''
New Avengers'' from the first issue.
[''New Avengers'' #1 (Jan. 2005). Marvel Comics.] The limited series concluded the plot and was, according to Bendis, "a hell of an end."
In November 2007, several ongoing titles and mini-series were branded as tie-ins to the main ''Secret Invasion'' storyline, with the tagline: ''Secret Invasion: The Infiltration''. In addition to the core story, the
Avengers
Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to:
Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
**Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of ...
titles provided additional plot material and acted as a link between titles. Other Marvel titles also featured variant covers with the characters depicted as Skrulls. Bendis stated that the series would not deal with the origins of the invasion, but is conceived from the following perspective: "If there's a character on the team who's a Skrull, we will rewind from when they got on that team, or from before they got on that team, so when they are infiltrated, how they became who they became and the effects of their actions from their 'point of view' is shown."
The Marvel website featured two online-exclusive e-comics for the event, titled ''Secret Invasion Prologue'' (a seven-page comic that reveals the replacement of a previously unknown Skrull agent) and ''Secret Invasion: Home Invasion'' (a
MySpace video blog featuring a young teenager named Kinsey Walden and her fears regarding her brother's strange behavior), supported by comic pages by writer Ivan Brandon and artist Nick Postic.
Plot
After the
Kree–Skrull War the Earth superheroes
Iron Man
Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...
,
Mister Fantastic,
Namor,
Black Bolt,
Professor Charles Xavier
Professor X (Charles Francis Xavier) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as the founder and sometimes leader of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writ ...
and
Doctor Strange join as a group called the
Illuminati to secretly confront the
Skrulls. They attack the Skrull Empire, and warn that any future invasion attempts of
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surf ...
would mean further reprisals; however, they are all captured and intensely studied before escaping.
An eventual successor to the Skrull throne, Princess
Veranke
Veranke is a fictional Character (arts), character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She serves as the queen of the Skrull Empire. Introduced as Jessica Drew, Veranke is the main antagonist of ''Secret Invasion'', in whi ...
, claims that a prophecy foretold the annihilation of the Skrull homeworld. The current Emperor, Dorrek, exiles her to a prison world for inciting religious extremism. After the destruction of the Skrull Throneworld by the cosmic entity
Galactus, Veranke becomes Empress by lineage, and guides an invasion of Earth, armed with the knowledge of
superhumans gained from having studied the Illuminati. The Skrulls capture several superhumans and infiltrate Earth's defenses, with Veranke herself posing as heroine
Spider-Woman. Veranke is inconvenienced when there is a breakout of supervillains at the Raft prison, which forces her to join the
New Avengers team.
[
After the ]Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...
, Elektra
Electra was a daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra in Greek mythology.
Electra or Elektra may also refer to:
Greek mythology
*Electra (Pleiad), one of the Pleiades
* Electra, one of the Danaids, daughter of Danaus and Polyxo
* Electra (Oc ...
, the leader of the ninja group the Hand, is revealed to be a Skrull named Pagon after dying in battle with the New Avengers. Veranke takes the corpse to Tony Stark (who, at the time, led the pro-registration Mighty Avengers) to sow distrust among the superhero community. She joins the Mighty Avengers, claiming it will throw the Skrulls off balance. Posing as agents of spy organization S.H.I.E.L.D., the Skrulls attempt to mine the metal vibranium in the Savage Land and battle the New Avengers before being killed. The Illuminati battle an impostor posing as Black Bolt and two new Super-Skrulls, possessing all-new powers.
The Skrull invasion destabilizes the superhuman community as:
# Simultaneous strikes disable the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier and orbiting base The Peak.
# A breakout is instigated at the supervillain holding facility the Raft.
# The Baxter Building (headquarters of the Fantastic Four) is transported to the Negative Zone.
# Thunderbolt Mountain (headquarters of the Thunderbolts
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hell ...
) is attacked.
Additionally, the Avengers are attacked by Skrulls posing as heroes in the Savage Land, and Reed Richards is wounded by the Skrull Criti Noll (who was posing as Henry Pym) seconds after determining a way to identify the shape shifters.
After several battles between Earth's heroes and the Skrulls in Manhattan
Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of co ...
and the Savage Land, Mr. Fantastic manages to develop a device that can detect the aliens. Criminal kingpin the Hood aids the heroes, deciding "no more Earth is bad for business." Veranke regroups with her forces in New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...
in a final battle against the combined Avengers, now aided by Nick Fury and his new Commandos, Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing ...
, Daredevil
Daredevil may refer to:
* A stunt performer
Arts and media Comics
* Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications), a fictional 1940s superhero popularized by writer-artist Charles Biro
* Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), a Marvel comic book superher ...
, Ka-Zar, and super teams such as the Young Avengers and the Thunderbolts
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hell ...
.
Veranke is wounded by the Avenger Hawkeye. Criti Noll activates a booby trap placed on the heroine Wasp, although the blast is contained by Thor at the cost of her life. Veranke is then shot and killed by Norman Osborn (using a weapon he created with intelligence stolen from Deadpool). The last remnants of the Skrull armada are destroyed, with Iron Man locating the missing heroes. S.H.I.E.L.D. is dissolved by executive order of the President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal gove ...
while a last Skrull (posing as the Avengers' butler Edwin Jarvis) flees with the child of hero Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. This Skrull is killed by Bullseye shortly after returning the child. Norman Osborn is placed in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D's replacement, H.A.M.M.E.R.
H.A.M.M.E.R. is a fictional espionage and law enforcement agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The organisation is led by Norman Osborn and was formed in ''Secret Invasion'' #8 to replace S.H.I.E.L.D. The organisat ...
, and forms a secret group consisting of himself, Emma Frost, Namor, Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in '' The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the f ...
, The Hood and Loki which commences the " Dark Reign" storyline.
Characters
The Mighty Avengers
''The Mighty Avengers'' is a comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics. Originally written by Brian Michael Bendis, also the writer of '' New Avengers'', the title first featured an officially sanctioned Avengers team of registered ...
* Iron Man
Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...
* Spider-Woman (Veranke)
* Black Widow
Black widow may refer to:
Spiders
* Black widow spider, a common name for some species of spiders in the genus ''Latrodectus''
American species
* ''Latrodectus apicalis'', the Galapagos black widow
* ''Latrodectus curacaviensis'', the South Amer ...
* Ares
* Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers)
Carol Susan Jane Danvers is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan, Danvers first appeared as an officer in the United States Air Force and a colleague of th ...
* Sentry
* Wonder Man
* Wasp
The New Avengers
* Luke Cage
* Spider-Man
* Iron Fist
Iron Fist, Iron fist or Ironfist may refer to:
Military
* Iron Fist (exercise), an Indian Air Force exercise held in 2013 and 2016
* Iron Fist (countermeasure), an Israeli counter-weapon system
* 20th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom) or The Iron ...
* Ronin (Clint Barton)
Ronin is an alias used by multiple characters in the . It was first adopted by Maya Lopez in '' The New Avengers'' #11 (November 2005) by Brian Michael Bendis and Joe Quesada. Following this, the Ronin mantle has been taken up by characters su ...
* Wolverine
* Echo
Fantastic Four
* Mister Fantastic
* Human Torch
* Thing
* Invisible Woman
Skrulls
* Dard'van
** Yellowjacket (Citri Noll)
** Captain America
** Dum Dum Dugan
** Edwin Jarvis
** Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)
** Invisible Woman
** Elektra
Electra was a daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra in Greek mythology.
Electra or Elektra may also refer to:
Greek mythology
*Electra (Pleiad), one of the Pleiades
* Electra, one of the Danaids, daughter of Danaus and Polyxo
* Electra (Oc ...
** White Queen (Skrull)
** Beast
Beast most often refers to:
* Non-human animal
* Monster
Beast or Beasts may also refer to:
Bible
* Beast (Revelation), two beasts described in the Book of Revelation
Computing and gaming
* Beast (card game), English name of historical Fren ...
** Spider-Man
** Luke Cage
** Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing ...
** Wonder Man
** Jean Grey
** Iron Man
Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...
** Hawkeye (Skrull)
** Vision
** Jewel (Skrull)
** Scarlet Witch
** Mockingbird
** Wolverine
** Ms. Marvel
Additionally, several variants of the Super-Skrull appear, utilizing the powers of Archangel
Archangels () are the second lowest rank of angel in the hierarchy of angels. The word ''archangel'' itself is usually associated with the Abrahamic religions, but beings that are very similar to archangels are found in a number of other re ...
, Captain America, Iron Man, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman and the Illuminati, among others.
Also, several Skrulls are seen impersonating such pop culture figures as George W. Bush, Stephen Colbert, Tom Cruise, and Eric Cartman from '' South Park''.
Cloak
A cloak is a type of loose garment worn over clothing, mostly but not always as outerwear for outdoor wear, serving the same purpose as an overcoat, protecting the wearer from the weather. It may form part of a uniform. Cloaks have been and ...
Noh-Varr
Noh-Varr is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is most commonly depicted as using the codename Marvel Boy.
He first appears in ''Marvel Boy'' #1 (Aug. 2000) and was created by write ...
Thunderbolts
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hell ...
* Norman Osborn
* Swordsman (Andreas von Strucker)
* Songbird
* Moonstone (Karla Sofen)
* Venom (Mac Gargan)
MacDonald "Mac" Gargan is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an adversary of the superhero Spider-Man. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, he first appeared in ''The ...
* Bullseye
* Robbie Baldwin (as Penance)
Captain America (Bucky Barnes)
Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing ...
Franklin Richards
Valeria Richards
Young Avengers
* Patriot
* Wiccan
* Hulkling
* Speed
* Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)
* Vision
The Initiative
* Diamondback (Rachel Leighton)
* Stature
* Gauntlet
Gauntlet or the gauntlet may refer to:
Common uses
*Gauntlet (glove), protective gloves used as a form of armor
*Running the gauntlet, a form of physical punishment
Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters
*Gauntlet (comics), a Marvel ...
(Joseph Green)
* Prodigy
Prodigy, Prodigies or The Prodigy may refer to:
* Child prodigy, a child who produces meaningful output to the level of an adult expert performer
** Chess prodigy, a child who can beat experienced adult players at chess
Arts, entertainment, and ...
(David Alleyne)
* Taskmaster
* Proton
* Crusader (Z'Reg)
* Batwing
* Gorilla Girl
Fahnbullah Eddy, also known as Gorilla Girl, is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
Gorilla Girl first appeared in ''Marvel Team-Up'' #91 (March 1980), and was created by ...
* Red 9
The Mauser C96 (''Construktion 96'') is a semi-automatic pistol that was originally produced by German arms manufacturer Mauser from 1896 to 1937. Unlicensed copies of the gun were also manufactured in Spain and China in the first half of the 20t ...
* Geiger
Geiger may refer to:
People
*Geiger (surname)
Places
* Geiger, Alabama, a town
* Geiger (crater), a lunar impact crater on the far side of the Moon
* Geiger, South Sudan, a border town filled with refugees
Other
* Geiger counter, a device ...
* Melee
* Sunstreak
* Annex
Secret Warriors
* Nick Fury
* Slingshot
* Quake (Daisy Johnson)
* Phobos
* Hellfire (J.T. Slade)
* Stonewall
Stonewall or Stone wall may refer to:
* Stone wall, a kind of masonry construction
* Stonewalling, engaging in uncooperative or delaying tactics
* Stonewall riots, a 1969 turning point for the modern LGBTQ rights movement in Greenwich Village, Ne ...
* Druid (Sebastian Druid)
Skrull Kill Krew
* Ryder
* 3-D Man II
* Riot
* Catwalk
* Dice
* Moonstomp
The Hood's Criminal Syndicate
* Hood
* John King
* Wizard
* Wrecking Crew (Marvel Comics)
* Madame Masque
* Blood Brother
* Crossfire
* Blackout (Marcus Daniels)
* Griffin
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (Ancient Greek: , ''gryps''; Classical Latin: ''grȳps'' or ''grȳpus''; Late Latin, Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a legendary creature with the body, tail ...
* Chemistro
* Answer (Aaron Nicholson)
* Brothers Grimm
* Bushwhacker
* Shockwave
* Scarecrow
A scarecrow is a decoy or mannequin, often in the shape of a human. Humanoid scarecrows are usually dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops.Lesle ...
* Cutthroat
* Corruptor
The Corruptor (real name Jackson Day) is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He has fought Thor (Marvel Comics), Thor and Nova (Richard Rider). His sweat glands release a toxin, chemi ...
* Masked Marauder
* Scorcher
Howard the Duck
X-Men
* Pixie
* Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner)
* Cyclops
* Beast
Beast most often refers to:
* Non-human animal
* Monster
Beast or Beasts may also refer to:
Bible
* Beast (Revelation), two beasts described in the Book of Revelation
Computing and gaming
* Beast (card game), English name of historical Fren ...
Medusa
In Greek mythology, Medusa (; Ancient Greek: Μέδουσα "guardian, protectress"), also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Those ...
Black Panther
Sabra (Ruth Bat-Seraph)
Uatu the Watcher
Uatu (), often simply known as the Watcher, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in ''The Fantastic Four'' #13 (April 1963). He is a member of ...
Daredevil
Daredevil may refer to:
* A stunt performer
Arts and media Comics
* Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications), a fictional 1940s superhero popularized by writer-artist Charles Biro
* Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), a Marvel comic book superher ...
Mockingbird
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal gove ...
Cabal
* Norman Osborn
* Hood
* Namor
* Lady Loki
* Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in '' The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the f ...
* Emma Frost
Reception
According to Comic Book Roundup, the core series has an average score of 6.9 out of 10, based off 79 critic reviews.
Issue #1 was not very well received despite critics noting its "strong introduction to the story, good pacing, and "slick" art style",[Review of ''Secret Invasion'' #1](_blank)
, Comics Bulletin[Review of ''Secret Invasion'' #1](_blank)
Comic Book Resources
''Comic Book Resources'', also known by the initialism CBR, is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book–related news and discussion.
History
Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1995 as a development of the Kingdom ...
although some concerns were raised over Bendis' dialogue. Sales estimates suggested that around 250,200 copies were sold, more than twice as much as the second highest seller.[Sales Estimates for April, 2008 Books]
Comic Book Resources
''Comic Book Resources'', also known by the initialism CBR, is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book–related news and discussion.
History
Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1995 as a development of the Kingdom ...
, May 20, 2008 The ''Secret Invasion: The Infiltration'' collected volume also topped the trade paperback chart, with an estimated 7,247 sales. The second issue kept the top slot, with estimated sales dropping to 200,344.
Tie-in issues
''Secret Invasion: The Infiltration''
The following issues were released with ''The Infiltration'' banner prior to the launch of the ''Secret Invasion'' series:
* '' Avengers: The Initiative Annual'' #1
* '' Captain Marvel'' vol. 6, #4-5
* ''The Mighty Avengers
''The Mighty Avengers'' is a comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics. Originally written by Brian Michael Bendis, also the writer of '' New Avengers'', the title first featured an officially sanctioned Avengers team of registered ...
'' #7
* '' Ms. Marvel'' vol. 2, #25-27
* '' The New Avengers'' #38-39
* '' The New Avengers: Illuminati'' #5
* ''Franklin Richards Not-So-Secret Invasion''
* ''Marvel Spotlight Secret Invasion''
* ''Secret Invasion Saga''
* ''Secret Invasion Home Invasion''
''Secret Invasion''
The following issues tie-in to the ''Secret Invasion'' mini-series:
* '' Avengers: The Initiative'' #14-19
* '' Black Panther'' vol. 4, #39-41
* '' Captain Britain and MI: 13'' #1-4
* '' Deadpool'' (Vol. 4) #1-3
* '' Guardians of the Galaxy'' vol. 2, #4-6
* '' Incredible Hercules'' #116-120
* '' Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' #33-35
* ''Marvel Spotlight: Secret Invasion Saga'' #1
* ''The Mighty Avengers
''The Mighty Avengers'' is a comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics. Originally written by Brian Michael Bendis, also the writer of '' New Avengers'', the title first featured an officially sanctioned Avengers team of registered ...
'' #12-20
* '' Ms. Marvel'' vol. 2, #28-30
* '' New Avengers'' #40-47
* ''New Warriors
The New Warriors is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They traditionally consisted of teenage and young adult heroes, and were often seen to serve as a junior counterpart to The Avengers in mu ...
'' vol. 4, #14-15
* '' Nova'' vol. 4, #16-18
* '' Punisher War Journal'' #24-25
* ''Secret Invasion: The Amazing Spider-Man'' #1-3
* ''Secret Invasion: Aftermath Beta Ray Bill: The Green of Eden'' (One-Shot)
* ''Secret Invasion: Dark Reign'' (One-Shot)
* ''Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four'' #1-3
* ''Secret Invasion: Front Line'' #1-5
* ''Secret Invasion: Inhumans'' #1-4
* ''Secret Invasion: Requiem'' #1
* '' Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers'' #1-3
* ''Secret Invasion: Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing ...
'' #1-3
* ''Secret Invasion: War Of Kings (One-Shot)
* ''Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust?'' ( one-shot)
* ''Secret Invasion: X-Men'' #1-4
* '' She-Hulk'' vol. 2, #31-33
* ''Skrulls!'' (one-shot)
* ''Thunderbolts
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hell ...
'' #122-125
* '' X-Factor'' vol. 3, #33-34
Collected editions
The stories are collected in volumes:
Sequels
From November 2022 forward, Marvel released a new Secret Invasion title composed of five issue miniseries that serves as a spiritual sequel to the original event and sees new hints from the Skrulls to invade again Earth that will force Maria Hill to put out an alert in the intelligence community to prove that they are ready for another Skrull invasion. After dealing with the various Nick Fury imposters, she alerts the Avengers and assures them that it is unlikely that they have been infiltrated, unfortunately she is wrong. While the world's most clandestine forces move in silence to quell the situation before it gets out of hand, Earth's Mightiest Heroes have been left wondering who among them might be an alien infiltrator. Thankfully, Maria Hill is quick to move on to the ranks of Earth's Mightiest Heroes for immediate blood testing. Though her methods are certainly intrusive, to say the least, the Avengers all acquiesce to her demands for a blood sample. This leads to Black Widow being uncovered as a Skrull, which when coupled with the lack of any other failed tests, is enough to calm the rest of the heroes' nerves for the time being. And, in the case of Tony Stark, it is enough to assure him that his fellow Skrulls' plans are going exactly as intended. Upon returning to his lab, Stark is met by another version of himself while revealing the blood bag taped to his arm which he used to pass Hill's test. This is more than enough to make it perfectly clear that Stark has been replaced without anyone else realizing it. It also sets the stage for the latest Skrull invasion to do untold amounts of damage before anyone can stop him, assuming no one figures out the truth anytime soon.
Other versions
Earth-3290
In this reality, Earth surrendered to the Skrulls.
What If?
An issue of '' What If'' revolves around the Secret Invasion with two stories.
The first story asks what would happen if the Skrulls won the Secret Invasion and solved mankind's challenges such as freedom. Here, the Skrulls are celebrating their anniversary of taking over Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surf ...
. Some humans have been converted into Skrulls. The Avengers Alliance of Freedom (led by Captain America II and consisting of Black Panther, Blue Marvel, Human Torch, a heavily alcoholic Iron Man
Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...
, Khn'nr, Ms. Marvel, Night Thrasher II, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman II, Storm, Thing, Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing ...
, and Wolverine) are considered terrorists to the rest of the world. The Skrull's broadcast is interrupted by a pirate footage of Captain America stating that Earth is really under occupation. Queen Veranke's consort Norman Osborn tells her that it would be best to crush the Avengers Alliance of Freedom in Wakanda where they are currently hiding. Wolverine has brought one last remaining sample of the modified Legacy Virus to use against the Skrulls. Veranke
Veranke is a fictional Character (arts), character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She serves as the queen of the Skrull Empire. Introduced as Jessica Drew, Veranke is the main antagonist of ''Secret Invasion'', in whi ...
appears before the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizi ...
and gets approval to invade Wakanda and take down the Avengers Alliance of Freedom. As soon as the virus is ready, the Skrull forces attack Wakanda. The Avengers leap into action to repel them. When the cannon meant to release the vaccine is destroyed, Thor uses his powers to spread it across the globe. But instead of doing what was expected, every Skrull and converted humans perishes. The culprit is in fact Norman Osborn. He explains that this was all an elaborate ruse to get what he wants. Due to Iron Man's alcoholism, Spider-Man helped him infiltrate Wakanda to help them but he did not expect that Norman Osborn would cross the line. Osborn admits that he did create a cure for the virus, so that he could survive and get back at the Skrulls for using him. Enraged, Captain America beheads Osborn with his shield. The Avengers surrender to the UN forces sent to arrest them. Meanwhile, far up on the Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width ...
, Uatu the Watcher
Uatu (), often simply known as the Watcher, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in ''The Fantastic Four'' #13 (April 1963). He is a member of ...
can only lament how this alternate Earth turned out.
The second story asks what would happen if the Secret Invasion remained secret. Norman Osborn is shown wondering what would happen if he was in charge of national security. Already on this Earth, Captain America has been pardoned for his role in the Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...
and is seen shaking hands with the Red Skull. Hours later, Norman Osborn and the Thunderbolts
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hell ...
are dispatched to investigate a situation in the Savage Land. They infiltrate a mysterious structure full of duplicates of superhumans. The Thunderbolts attempt to fight through, only for them all to be massacred and Osborn captured. He is brought before Veranke/Spider-Woman. She tells him a little story about how a priest stood up to her and told her that she would die by the hands of Norman Osborn himself. Therefore, the Skrulls had to integrate themselves into human society and eventually fade away. She claims that the prophet became Osborn himself. Though Norman Osborn tries to deny it, Veranke insists that he is and asks that he kiss her true face. Instead, Norman Osborn commits suicide, and reverts him to his Skrull form.
In other media
Television
* The plot of the ''Secret Invasion'' storyline was adapted in the animated series '' The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes''. A newspaper seen at the beginning of the episode "Masters of Evil" includes a headline for a Baxter Building tenant's recollections of becoming replaced by an alien. Also, in the episode "The Kang Dynasty", Kang the Conqueror references both ''Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...
'' and ''Secret Invasion'' by saying: "Captain America's betrayal is just the beginning... The worst is yet to come." Later, towards the end of episode "Widow's Sting", the captured Madame Hydra is revealed to be a Skrull in disguise. At the end of the episode "A Day Unlike Any Other", after the Avengers return from their battle with Loki, Captain America is attacked and replaced by a Skrull who goes on to say "The infiltration has begun" as the Skrull takes Captain America's place. In the season two premiere episode, "The Private War of Doctor Doom", Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four was also revealed to be a Skrull. However, as of "Welcome to the Kree Empire", only Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in '' The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the f ...
and Nick Fury seem aware of the infiltration. In "Who Do You Trust?", it is shown that Veranke is posing as Mockingbird (mirroring Veranke impersonating Spider-Woman in the original comic). In the episode "Infiltration", the Skrull Invasion begins and Ms. Marvel is tricked by Skrull Avengers to help attack Wakanda and the Black Panther but the Skrull Avengers are later defeated when Hawkeye and the Wasp show up. Veranke also installs a virus in Iron Man's armor. In the episode "Secret Invasion", Nick Fury and Maria Hill save Iron Man
Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...
, Captain America returns to Earth (along with the real heroes and villains who had been revealed to be replaced before), and the Avengers defeat the Super-Skrulls and Thor destroys their backup plan to wipe out humanity. The invasion is thwarted and the Skrulls are put in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.
* In December 2020, a Disney+ '' Secret Invasion'' television show based on the limited comic series was announced as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It will star Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn as Talos, both reprising their roles from the MCU films and Kingsley Ben-Adir as the series villain while Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, Killian Scott, Christopher McDonald and Carmen Ejogo were cast in undisclosed roles.
Video games
* Ubisoft and Marvel Entertainment stated '' Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth'' was influenced by the Secret Invasion.
* Secret Invasion is used as the basis for Chapter 10 in the plot of the game '' Marvel Heroes''.
Merchandising
* Marvel HeroClix released a "Secret Invasion"-themed set based on the storyline. The set included Captain Marvel, Dum-Dum Dugan, Yellowjacket, Elektra
Electra was a daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra in Greek mythology.
Electra or Elektra may also refer to:
Greek mythology
*Electra (Pleiad), one of the Pleiades
* Electra, one of the Danaids, daughter of Danaus and Polyxo
* Electra (Oc ...
, Ms. Marvel, Jarvis, and many more. Veranke (as Spider-Woman) and Lyja (as the Invisible Woman) were released as chase figures in their Skrull-only personality.
References
External links
Marvel.com - ''Secret Invasion: Skrull Revelations''
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''Secret Invasion: First Strike''
Newsarama
WizardUniverse.com - ''Secret Invasion'' #1 Director’s Commentary
GammaPoweredRadio.com - The entire Marvel: ''Secret Invasion'' Panel from the NYC Comic-Con 2008
{{Brian Michael Bendis
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