The Skrulls made their debut in Fantastic Four #2 in January 1962, making them one of the very first alien races introduced in the nascent Marvel Age of Comics. Created by the legendary duo of writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, their arrival signaled a shift towards grander, science-fiction-oriented storytelling.
Their creation was deeply rooted in the Cold War anxieties of the early 1960s. The concept of shapeshifting invaders who could be anyone—a neighbor, a leader, a friend—was a direct parallel to the pervasive fear of hidden communist agents and “the enemy within.” This theme, reminiscent of films like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, allowed Lee and Kirby to explore themes of paranoia, identity, and trust, which would become central to the Skrulls' character for decades to come. Their initial appearance as goofy, cow-obsessed aliens quickly evolved into that of a cunning and formidable interstellar threat, setting the stage for their role as major players in the Marvel cosmos.
The origin of the Skrull species is ancient and tied to the cosmic beings known as the Celestials. However, the trajectory of their civilization diverged dramatically between the prime comic universe and the MCU.
Millions of years in the past, the god-like Celestials visited the planet Skrullos, then populated by a primitive reptilian race. As was their custom, they experimented on the native lifeforms, creating three distinct branches of the Skrull species:
A brutal civil war erupted between the three branches. The Deviant Skrulls, led by the ruthless Sl'gur't, used their shapeshifting to infiltrate and utterly annihilate the other two branches, leaving the Deviants as the sole inheritors of Skrullos. From that point forward, all modern Skrulls are descended from this Deviant lineage, and their innate shapeshifting ability is a core part of their biology. Harnessing their abilities, they rapidly developed advanced technology and began to build a vast, commerce-based empire. Their first major interstellar contact shaped their destiny forever. Arriving on the planet Hala, they discovered two primitive sentient species: the warlike, humanoid Kree and the peaceful, plant-like Cotati. To decide which race they would favor with their technology and welcome into their empire, the Skrulls proposed a contest: they transported groups from both species to two separate, barren worlds (Earth's moon for the Kree, another barren planet in the solar system for the Cotati) and challenged them to create something of worth within one year. The Kree constructed a magnificent, technologically advanced city. The Cotati, in contrast, cultivated a vibrant, beautiful garden. When the Skrulls returned, they judged the Cotati's creation to be the nobler achievement. Enraged by this perceived slight, the Kree slaughtered the Skrull delegation and the Cotati, stole the Skrulls' starship, and reverse-engineered its technology. This act of violence ignited the Kree-Skrull War, a conflict that would rage for millennia and define both empires. The Skrulls transitioned from a mercantile empire to a relentlessly militaristic one, a transformation that continues to define them. Their throneworld, Tarnax IV, became the heart of this empire until its tragic destruction by Galactus.
The MCU presents a radically different origin story for the Skrulls' current state, first detailed in the film `Captain Marvel`. In this continuity, the Skrulls are not aggressors but victims. Their homeworld, Skrullos, was destroyed by the Kree Empire in a genocidal campaign. The Skrulls seen in the MCU are the last survivors of their species, a scattered band of refugees desperately searching the cosmos for a new planet to call home. Their leader is Talos, a cunning but fundamentally weary and peace-seeking commander. Their shapeshifting abilities are biological, just as in the comics, but their application is one of survival, not conquest. They use their powers to hide from their Kree pursuers, led by Yon-Rogg and the Supreme Intelligence. Their conflict with the Kree is not a war between equals, but a one-sided persecution. Their story becomes deeply intertwined with Earth when a Skrull scientist, Mar-Vell (disguised as a human), develops a Light-Speed Engine on Earth, hoping to use it to transport the remaining Skrulls to safety. After Mar-Vell's death, Carol Danvers and Nick Fury discover the truth and vow to help the Skrulls find a new home. This completely inverts the comic dynamic, repositioning the Skrulls as allies to the heroes of Earth. However, the Disney+ series `Secret Invasion` reveals a schism that developed in the 30 years following these events. A younger, radicalized faction of Skrulls, led by Gravik, grew disillusioned with Fury's unfulfilled promise. Feeling abandoned and believing that assimilation is impossible, they initiated a covert plan to orchestrate global conflict, wipe out humanity, and claim Earth as “New Skrullos” by force, bringing their motivations closer to their comic book counterparts, albeit born from desperation rather than imperial ambition.
The Skrull Empire is a deeply militaristic and hierarchical society, ruled by an Emperor or Empress from the throneworld (originally Tarnax IV, later moved to various locations after its destruction). Society is rigid, with a strong emphasis on military service, honor, and loyalty to the Empire. Religion plays a central role. The Skrulls worship a pantheon of gods, primarily Sl'gur't and Kly'bn, and are intensely driven by ancient prophecies. The “Dard'van,” or “Book of Worlds,” contains scripture that has guided their actions for centuries. One such prophecy, which foretold the destruction of their throneworld and the promise of a new one—“a world of blue”—was a primary motivator for the Secret Invasion of Earth.
The Skrulls possess technology far in advance of Earth's. Key examples include:
The MCU Skrulls' physiology and shapeshifting abilities are portrayed as functionally identical to their comic counterparts. A key addition to their powers in the MCU is the ability to absorb the recent memories of the person they are duplicating, which greatly enhances their infiltration capabilities. The concept of the Super-Skrull was introduced in the `Secret Invasion` series. Gravik's faction developed a machine capable of splicing DNA from powerful beings into a Skrull's genetic code. Using a vial of collected DNA known as “The Harvest,” which contained the genetic material of numerous Avengers and their foes, Gravik and his followers gained powers such as:
By the series' end, the Skrull G'iah absorbs the full power of the Harvest, becoming arguably the most powerful individual in the MCU, possessing the abilities of Captain Marvel, Hulk, Thor, Thanos, and dozens more.
Initially, MCU Skrull culture is defined by loss and survival. They are shown to be a tight-knit community, prioritizing family and the protection of their children. Their society lacks the imperialistic fervor of the comics, replaced by the weary desperation of a people without a home. The `Secret Invasion` series explores the fracturing of this culture. Decades of living in hiding on Earth, coupled with the feeling of being abandoned by their allies, led to a deep ideological schism.
The refugee Skrulls appear to have limited technological resources of their own, mostly consisting of their starships. They are, however, highly adaptable and proficient at using and maintaining the technology of other races, as seen with their operation of Kree ships and the S.A.B.E.R. space station. Their most significant and original technological creation is Gravik's Super-Skrull machine, a device that represents a monumental threat.
This seminal storyline by Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, and John Buscema was the first to truly explore the cosmic scope of the Skrull Empire. The ancient conflict between the two races erupts on Earth, which they view as a primitive but strategically vital planet. The Avengers are caught in the crossfire, forced to battle both the Kree Sentry and the Super-Skrull. The event elevated the Skrulls from a simple “alien of the week” to a major galactic power and established the deep, complex history of the Marvel Universe beyond Earth. It had lasting consequences for characters like Captain Mar-Vell and cemented the Skrulls' place as A-list Marvel antagonists.
In this cosmic epic, the Annihilation Wave, a massive armada of insectoid creatures from the Negative Zone led by Annihilus, tears through the universe. The Skrull Empire is one of its first and most prominent victims. Their vast fleet is shattered, dozens of worlds are consumed, and their empire is brought to its knees. The storyline masterfully depicts the fragility of their power. The once-mighty Super-Skrull is reimagined as a tragic, desperate figure, fighting a losing battle to save his son and the last remnants of his people from total extinction. This devastation directly weakened the Skrulls, creating a power vacuum and fostering the desperation that would lead to their next major act.
Arguably the most definitive Skrull story. Written by Brian Michael Bendis, this event was the culmination of years of meticulous planning, both in-universe by the Skrulls and by Marvel's writers. It was revealed that a radicalized religious sect of Skrulls, led by Queen Veranke, had spent years systematically abducting and replacing key figures in the Marvel Universe with sleeper agents. These new agents were so perfectly conditioned that they were undetectable by psionics, magic, or technology. When the invasion was launched, the hero community was paralyzed by paranoia, unable to trust anyone. The Skrulls disabled S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stark Industries technology, and a massive fleet arrived to conquer a defenseless Earth. The event shook the Marvel Universe to its core, leading to the dissolution of S.H.I.E.L.D., the public branding of Norman Osborn as a hero, and the dawn of the “Dark Reign” era.
This modern event represents a paradigm shift for the Skrulls. The long-lost son of the Kree Captain Mar-Vell and the Skrull Princess Anelle, the Young Avenger known as Hulkling, accepts his destiny and unites the two warring empires into a single, massive Kree-Skrull Alliance. With the Super-Skrull as his trusted general, he commands the combined armada to face their original, primordial enemy: the Cotati. For the first time, the Skrulls and Kree fight alongside the Avengers as allies, ending their millennia-long war and fundamentally reshaping the political landscape of the galaxy.