 In this brand new segment, I'll be covering Marvel's ongoing "Secret Invasion" event and keeping tabs on who's who and who's a Skrull. For those of you not familiar with this giant Marvel-wide event, it was recently revealed in New Avengers that Elektra (of Daredevil fame) was actually a member of the evil shape-shifting alien race the Skrulls, and had been for some time. Not just any imposter, mind you, but an imposter that was totally undetectable by Doctor Strange's magic, Wolverine's enhanced senses, and Iron Man's technology. Later, in the Illuminati miniseries, it was revealed that not only could the Skrulls now hide themselves perfectly, they can now imitate every single superpower on Earth, whether it be a mutant ability, a magic power, or technologically based. As the pieces fall together it's been revealed that the Skrull invasion has been in motion for years now. Slowly but surely, the Skrulls have replaced dozens, if not hundreds of people - civilian and superhero alike. Every superhero team has been infiltrated. No one can be trusted. The traitor can look like anyone, have any ability, mimic any personality. The Skrulls are here, and the invasion has begun.
Secret Invasion PrologueIn this mini-issue, we see Dum-Dum Dugan - Nick Fury's right hand at S.H.I.E.L.D. - watching the reports of Captain America's death in a seedy bar. He leaves in anger and is met at his houseboat by an old friend: Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The ex-love interest of Nick Fury (who has been M.I.A. since 2005's "Secret War") asks Dugan if he's seen Fury, and when he answers that he hasn't, she reveals herself to be a Skrull agent by growing adamantium claws ala Wolverine, and killing him. As he slips into unconsciousness, she takes his form and says the words: "Don't worry, he loves you."
Secret Invasion #01 The Invasion begins. High above Earth in the S.W.O.R.D. space station, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents detect a Skrull ship crash landing to Earth near the Savage Land. Tony Stark, who is busy revealing the Elektra Skrull to Reed Richards and Hank Pym, is alerted and assembled the Avengers. Spiderwoman tips her hand and tells the New Avengers about the ship, and they steal Stark's quinjet in an attempt to beat him to the crashed ship. Once both teams arrive in the Savage Land, the showdown begins as Iron Man demands the New Avengers surrender.
Unfortunately, before they have time to surrender, the whole world comes crashing down. The Skrull imposter posing as Dum-Dum Dugan sabotages the S.W.O.R.D. space station and it explodes in a shower of debris. Another Skrull is revealed when Jarvis, the Avenger's longtime butler, loads an alien virus into Tony Stark's computer systems, which not only shuts down the Iron Man armor, but systematically takes over and shuts down the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. network, including bringing all of the helicarriers crashing to the ground. "He loves you" they both say as they complete their missions.
However, that's not the strangest event by a long-shot. As Tony Stark struggles to get his armor back online, the Skrull ship behind the two Avenger teams opens up to reveal...
...an entire group of superheroes from long ago.
Captain America is there, along with previous versions of Luke Cage, Iron Man, Jessica Jones, Wolverine, Beast, and Spiderman (not that you can really tell - good costumes last). Are they Skrull imposters? Are they the real heroes of Earth, back from space? Are the current heroes Skrull sleeper agents? This panel blew my mind. Sure, the fanboy in me wants to say that the current heroes are the real heroes, but how can I be sure? If Jessica Jones and Luke Cage really are Skrulls, it would explain their baby's Skrull-ish behavior. It could account for Beast's wild mutation in recent years. Was the Cap who died on those courthouse steps even the real Captain America? It would explain why the body shriveled up after death... see what I mean? Anyone could be a Skrull!
Worse still, a Skrull posing as Susan Storm waltzes through the Baxter Building's security and implosively folds the entire building into the Negative Zone. Back with the Elektra Skrull's body, Reed Richards finally figures out how the Skrulls managed to disguise themselves so well, but is silenced before he can reveal the secret by Hank Pym, who has been replaced by a Skrull. "He even loves you", he says after blowing Reed Richards into shreds.
The big question here is obviously "Who is the HE that all the Skrulls speak of"?
But past that, we are off to a good start identifying who's a Skrull:
- Elektra - revealed in New Avengers #31
- Black Bolt - revealed in New Avengers: Illuminati #5
- The Revolutionary - revealed in Avengers: The Initiative
Annual #1 - Cobalt Man - revealed in Captain Marvel #3
- Valentina Allegra de Fontaine - revealed in Secret Invasion Prologue
- Dum Dum Dugan - revealed in Secret Invasion Prologue
- Edwin Jarvis - revealed in Secret Invasion #1
- Henry Pym - revealed in Secret Invasion #1
Who do you think the next Skrull will be? Post a comment below and let me know!
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