Show pageBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Kree/Skrull Alliance ====== ===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary ===== * **Core Identity: The Kree/Skrull Alliance is a monumental galactic empire formed from the improbable union of two ancient, warring species—the militaristic, stagnant Kree and the shapeshifting, duplicitous Skrulls—fundamentally reshaping the cosmic balance of power under a single prophesied ruler.** * **Key Takeaways:** * **Role in the Universe:** The Alliance represents the single greatest paradigm shift in the Marvel cosmos in millennia. It ended an eternal, galaxy-spanning war that defined both races, transforming them from bitter rivals into a unified superpower capable of challenging established empires like the [[shi'ar_empire|Shi'ar]] and celestial-level threats. Its capital is Throneworld II and it is governed by [[emperor_hulkling|Emperor Dorrek VIII]]. * **Primary Impact:** Its formation, chronicled in the `[[empyre|Empyre]]` event, immediately plunged the galaxy into a new conflict with the resurgent [[cotati|Cotati]]. For Earth's heroes, particularly the `[[avengers|Avengers]]` and `[[fantastic_four|Fantastic Four]]`, it repositioned them as crucial players in galactic politics, with the Alliance's fate being inextricably linked to the actions of its Earth-born emperor and his allies. * **Key Incarnations:** In the primary comics continuity (**Earth-616**), the Alliance is a vast, formal, and politically complex empire born of prophecy and royal lineage. In the **Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)**, the "alliance" is a far more nascent and fragile concept, representing a tenuous peace treaty and practical cooperation between factions rather than a unified government, largely brokered by [[captain_marvel_carol_danvers|Carol Danvers]]. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== The concept of a unified Kree/Skrull entity is a relatively recent development in Marvel Comics, but its foundation rests upon decades of established lore. The two species were created by **Stan Lee** and **Jack Kirby** and introduced separately in `[[fantastic_four|Fantastic Four]]` #2 (Jan. 1962) for the Skrulls and `[[fantastic_four|Fantastic Four]]` #65 (Aug. 1967) for the Kree. The legendary storyline that forever intertwined them was the **`[[kree-skrull_war|Kree-Skrull War]]`**, a nine-issue epic running through `[[avengers|Avengers]]` #89-97 (1971-1972). Crafted by writer **Roy Thomas** with artists **Sal Buscema**, **Neal Adams**, and **John Buscema**, this arc established the sheer scale and ancient hatred of their conflict, making it a cornerstone of Marvel's cosmic mythology. For nearly fifty years following this story, the Kree and Skrulls were defined by their perpetual state of war. The idea of a lasting union was seeded with the creation of the character [[hulkling|Theodore "Teddy" Altman (Hulkling)]] in `[[young_avengers|Young Avengers]]` #1 (2005) by **Allan Heinberg** and **Jim Cheung**. His unique heritage as the son of the Kree hero [[captain_mar-vell|Captain Mar-Vell]] and the Skrull Princess Anelle made him the living embodiment of a potential union. This potential was finally and fully realized in the 2020 crossover event **`[[empyre|Empyre]]`**, masterminded by writers **Al Ewing** and **Dan Slott**. This event served as the official in-universe genesis of the Kree/Skrull Alliance, transforming a long-running plot thread into a major new status quo for the entire Marvel Universe. ==== In-Universe Origin Story ==== The path to the Alliance was not one of diplomacy, but of bloodshed, prophecy, and the uniting power of a common, even more ancient, enemy. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === The animosity between the Kree and the Skrulls is one of the oldest conflicts in the known universe. Eons ago, the technologically advanced Skrulls landed on the Kree homeworld of Hala, which was then inhabited by two sentient species: the barbaric, humanoid Kree and the peaceful, plant-like [[cotati|Cotati]]. The Skrulls proposed a contest: they would take representatives from each species to a distant, barren moon (Earth's moon, in fact) and see which could create something of worth in one year. The Cotati cultivated a magnificent garden, while the Kree built a massive, technologically advanced city. When the Skrulls declared the Cotati the winners for their creation of life, the enraged Kree slaughtered the Skrull delegation and the Cotati representatives. They then reverse-engineered the Skrulls' starship, rapidly advancing their technology and launching an offensive war against the Skrull Empire that would last for millennia. This eternal war became the defining cultural trait of both races. The Kree evolved into a militaristic, genetically stagnant empire ruled by the [[supreme_intelligence|Supreme Intelligence]], while the Skrulls became masters of subterfuge and infiltration, their empire collapsing and reforming over centuries of conflict. The prophecy of unification emerged from the shadows of this war. Ancient texts from both races spoke of a hybrid child, a "Celestial Messiah" figure who would one day unite the two warring peoples under a single banner and bring the conflict to an end. This prophecy came to fruition through an unlikely romance. The Kree hero **Captain Mar-Vell** was captured by the Skrulls, where he fell in love with **Princess Anelle**, daughter of the Skrull Emperor. Their union produced a son, **Dorrek VIII**, whom Anelle's handmaiden smuggled to Earth for his own safety. Raised on Earth as the human teenager Teddy Altman, he discovered his powers and heritage, becoming the superhero **Hulkling**. For years, he operated with the [[young_avengers|Young Avengers]], largely unaware of his galactic destiny. This changed when representatives from both a pacifist Kree sect and a progressive Skrull faction approached him. They revealed the full extent of the prophecies and explained that the Kree and Skrull fleets, weary of endless war and recognizing him as the prophesied uniter, had massed and were prepared to declare him their emperor. Wielding the mythical blade **Excelsior**, the Star-Sword, Teddy accepted his birthright. He was crowned Emperor Dorrek VIII of the new Kree/Skrull Alliance on the command deck of his flagship. His first act as emperor was to set a course for Earth, not for conquest, but to confront the Alliance's true first enemy: the vengeful Cotati, who had returned to exterminate all "animal" life in the galaxy, starting with the planet that had witnessed their original betrayal. The formation of the Alliance was thus forged in the crucible of the `[[empyre|Empyre]]` war, a baptism by fire that solidified Hulkling's rule and established the new empire as a dominant galactic force. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === The relationship between the Kree and Skrulls in the MCU (designated Earth-199999) is drastically different, lacking the epic, millennia-long sweep of the comics' backstory. Here, the dynamic is framed less as a war between two equal empires and more as a brutal campaign of eradication by a dominant Kree Empire against the scattered, refugee Skrull population. As revealed in `[[captain_marvel_film|Captain Marvel]]` (2019), the Kree, led by the Supreme Intelligence and enforced by military commanders like [[ronan_the_accuser|Ronan the Accuser]] and [[yon-rogg|Yon-Rogg]], had been systematically hunting the Skrulls for years. The Skrulls, led by General [[talos|Talos]], were not presented as a duplicitous empire but as a displaced people desperately searching for a new home after the Kree destroyed their planet, Skrullos. Their primary goal was to find a light-speed engine, developed by the Kree scientist Mar-Vell (disguised on Earth as Dr. Wendy Lawson), to escape the Kree's reach. The "alliance" here was never a formal unification of empires. It began as a personal alliance between [[carol_danvers|Carol Danvers]], [[nick_fury|Nick Fury]], and Talos's faction of Skrulls after Carol discovered the truth about the Kree's propaganda and her own past. She became the Skrulls' sworn protector, vowing to help them find a new home. This fragile peace was explored further in subsequent projects. In `[[spider-man_far_from_home|Spider-Man: Far From Home]]` (2019), Talos and his wife Soren are shown working with Nick Fury, impersonating him and Maria Hill on Earth while Fury commands a space station. However, `[[secret_invasion_tv_series|Secret Invasion]]` (2023) revealed this cooperation was not universal. A radicalized Skrull faction led by [[gravik|Gravik]] emerged, disgusted by the decades of waiting for a new home and Fury's failure to deliver on his promise. They sought to claim Earth for themselves through infiltration and war. The film `[[the_marvels_film|The Marvels]]` (2023) presented another facet of the relationship. It introduced the Kree leader **Dar-Benn**, whose world of Hala was devastated in the aftermath of Carol Danvers destroying the Supreme Intelligence. Driven by a desire to restore her planet, she sparked a civil war and became a radical Kree Accuser, vehemently opposed to any peace with the Skrulls. The film's climax sees Carol Danvers force a temporary truce, relocating a group of Skrull refugees to the Kree-colonized planet of Aladna. This act represents the closest the MCU has come to a Kree-Skrull alliance: a forced, practical armistice between specific factions, brokered by an external, super-powered mediator, rather than the grand, prophesied unification of two entire civilizations seen in the comics. The MCU's adaptation prioritizes a more grounded, character-driven narrative, using the Kree-Skrull conflict as a backdrop for Carol Danvers' personal journey and the themes of propaganda, refugees, and the long-term consequences of war. ===== Part 3: Mandate, Structure & Key Members ===== The structure and purpose of the Alliance differ radically between the two primary continuities, reflecting their vastly different origins. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === * **Mandate:** The Alliance's primary mandate is twofold: 1. **Internal Unification:** To permanently end the genocidal Kree-Skrull War, merge two diametrically opposed cultures, and forge a new, shared identity. This involves navigating deep-seated xenophobia, integrating military command structures, and standardizing laws. 2. **External Projection of Power:** To establish the new empire as the preeminent galactic superpower. This involves defending its territory, engaging in diplomacy with other empires like the Shi'ar, and confronting cosmic threats that neither empire could face alone. * **Structure:** * **Government:** A constitutional monarchy led by **Emperor Dorrek VIII (Hulkling)**. While he holds ultimate authority, he is supported by a council of Kree and Skrull advisors. His marriage to the powerful sorcerer [[wiccan|Billy Kaplan-Altman (Wiccan)]] also makes Wiccan the Prince-Consort and official Court Wizard, adding a magical element to the Alliance's power base. * **Military:** The combined **Alliance Armada** is one of the largest and most formidable military forces in the universe. It integrates Kree naval strategy and technology with Skrull infiltration tactics and the power of the Super-Skrulls. The command structure is mixed, with figures from both races holding high ranks. * **Capital:** The former Skrull Throneworld, Tarnax II, was renamed **Throneworld II** and serves as the capital of the unified empire. * **Key Members:** * `[[emperor_hulkling|Emperor Hulkling (Dorrek VIII)]]:` The prophesied uniter and supreme ruler. His hybrid nature and Earth-bound morality make him a unique and often compassionate leader. * `[[wiccan|Wiccan (Billy Kaplan-Altman)]]:` As Prince-Consort and Court Wizard, his reality-warping abilities make him one of the Alliance's most powerful assets, both militarily and politically. * `[[super-skrull|Kl'rt the Super-Skrull]]:` A legendary Skrull warrior and once a fearsome enemy of the Fantastic Four, Kl'rt has become one of Hulkling's most loyal and effective generals. * `[[captain_marvel_carol_danvers|Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers)]]:` Due to her Kree heritage (via Mar-Vell's DNA) and her status as a galactic hero, Hulkling appointed her as his **Supreme Accuser**, a high-ranking judicial and military role. * `[[noh-varr|Noh-Varr (Marvel Boy)]]:` A Kree warrior from an alternate reality, his knowledge and skills make him a valuable operative for the Alliance. * **Tanalth the Pursuer:** A Kree general who initially served Ronan and later became a key military leader within the Alliance. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === * **Mandate:** The MCU's "alliance" lacks a grand mandate. Its purpose is purely pragmatic and survival-based. 1. **For the Skrulls:** Find a new, permanent home and ensure the survival of their species. 2. **For the Kree:** Varies by faction. For moderates, it's about ending a costly and destructive conflict. For radicals like Dar-Benn, any peace is a betrayal. 3. **For Carol Danvers:** To fulfill her promise to the Skrulls and act as a peacekeeper, mitigating the damage caused by the long war. * **Structure:** There is no formal, unified structure. The relationship consists of: * **Informal Pacts:** Agreements between individuals like Carol Danvers, Nick Fury, and specific Skrull leaders (formerly Talos, now potentially [[giah|G'iah]]). * **Forced Truces:** As seen in `The Marvels`, peace is often imposed by a powerful third party (Carol) rather than mutually agreed upon. There is no combined government, military, or capital. The two peoples remain largely separate. * **Key Figures (Not Formal Members):** * `[[captain_marvel_carol_danvers|Carol Danvers]]:` The central mediator and protector. The "alliance" exists almost entirely because of her intervention. * `[[nick_fury|Nick Fury]]:` An Earth-based ally who leveraged Skrull intelligence for his own network, with mixed results for the Skrull people. * `[[talos|Talos]]:` The Skrull general who initiated the first peaceful contact with Fury and Danvers. His death in `Secret Invasion` was a major blow to human-Skrull relations. * `[[giah|G'iah]]:` Talos's daughter, now imbued with the powers of numerous heroes and villains (a "Super-Skrull"). Her future role as a Skrull leader is uncertain but pivotal. * `[[emperor_droge|Emperor Dro'ge]]:` The Skrull leader on Tarnax who negotiated with Carol Danvers, showing a formal Skrull government still exists elsewhere. ===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network ===== ==== Core Allies ==== * **`[[The Avengers & The Fantastic Four]]`:** In the comics, these two teams are the Alliance's most crucial Earth-based allies. The Fantastic Four have a long, complex history with both races, often acting as reluctant diplomats or fierce opponents. The Avengers' connection is more personal, given that both Hulkling and Wiccan are founding members of the Young Avengers. Both teams were absolutely essential in defending the Alliance and Earth during the `Empyre` war against the Cotati. * **`[[S.W.O.R.D. (Marvel Comics)|S.W.O.R.D.]]`:** The Sentient World Observation and Response Department, particularly under the command of Abigail Brand, serves as Earth's primary diplomatic and intelligence channel to the Alliance. While often fraught with tension and espionage, the relationship is a necessary one for managing galactic security. During events like `The Last Annihilation`, S.W.O.R.D. and the Alliance fought side-by-side. * **`[[Guardians of the Galaxy]]`:** As the premiere team of cosmic adventurers, the Guardians frequently interact with the Alliance. They were instrumental in the lead-up to `Empyre`, helping to secure Hulkling's claim to the throne. Their relationship is often less formal and more chaotic than that of the Avengers, but their on-the-ground knowledge of the cosmos is invaluable. ==== Arch-Enemies ==== * **`[[The Cotati]]`:** The Alliance was forged specifically to fight this enemy. The Cotati, believing themselves to be the true inheritors of the galaxy, launched a campaign of universal genocide against all "animal" life. Led by the vengeful Celestial Messiah **Quoi**, they represent the shared original sin of both the Kree and the Skrulls, and their defeat was the Alliance's first and greatest victory. * **Internal Dissidents:** The most persistent threat to the Alliance comes from within. Millennia of hatred cannot be erased overnight. * **Kree Purists:** Factions within the Kree military and society who see the alliance with the "inferior" Skrulls as a betrayal of everything their empire stood for. Figures like the spectral villain **Vox Supreme** embody this fanatical hatred. * **Skrull Warmongers:** Similarly, many Skrulls cannot forgive the Kree for their history of atrocities. In the MCU, this sentiment is perfectly personified by **Gravik** and his insurgency, who saw cooperation as a fool's errand. * **`[[Dormammu]]`:** During the `Last Annihilation` storyline, the Dread Lord of the Dark Dimension launched a massive invasion of realspace, targeting the Alliance's capital among other key galactic worlds. This forced the new empire into a desperate struggle for survival and proved that even a unified Kree/Skrull force could be overwhelmed by mystical, extra-dimensional threats. ==== Galactic Standing & Relations ==== * **`[[Shi'ar Empire]]`:** The Alliance's primary rival for galactic dominance. With the Kree and Skrulls united, the Shi'ar, led by Gladiator and the Imperial Guard, were forced to reassess their position. The relationship is a cosmic cold war, marked by suspicion, proxy conflicts, and a very delicate balance of power. * **`[[Galactic Council]]`:** The Alliance now speaks with a single, powerful voice on this council of galactic civilizations. This has shifted political dynamics significantly, as where there were once two squabbling votes, there is now one unified and formidable voting bloc, often putting them at odds with the Shi'ar, the Brood, and other members. ===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines ===== ==== The Kree-Skrull War (The Foundation) ==== While the Alliance did not exist during this 1971-1972 `Avengers` epic, it is the single most important prerequisite for its existence. The storyline established the deep-seated, irreconcilable hatred between the two empires and showcased the devastating scale of their conflict, with Earth caught in the middle. It cemented Captain Mar-Vell's role as a pivotal figure who could bridge the gap between the Kree and humanity, a legacy that would pass directly to his son, Hulkling. The war's conclusion, with the intervention of the Supreme Intelligence and the temporary halt of hostilities due to Rick Jones's use of the Destiny Force, demonstrated that only an outside, context-changing event could ever hope to end the war for good. ==== Empyre (The Unification) ==== This 2020 crossover event is the definitive story of the Kree/Skrull Alliance's formation. When the Cotati return with a Death-Bloom-empowered army to cleanse the galaxy, Hulkling is summoned to fulfill his destiny. The event chronicles his acceptance of the Star-Sword, his coronation as Emperor, and the unification of the two massive fleets. The core of the story sees the Alliance Armada arrive at Earth, leading the Avengers and Fantastic Four to believe it is an invasion. The true threat of the Cotati is revealed, forcing Earth's heroes to fight alongside the new Alliance. The event tested Hulkling's leadership, revealed traitors within his own ranks (the Kree commander Captain Glory), and ended with him solidifying his rule and a new galactic order. ==== The Last Annihilation (The First Test) ==== A crossover storyline primarily in `Guardians of the Galaxy` and `S.W.O.R.D.`, this 2021 event served as the Alliance's first major test after its formation. Dormammu, using Ego the Living Planet as a vessel, created a massive portal to merge his Dark Dimension with the prime universe. Throneworld II was one of the first planets targeted, with massive Mindless Ones laying siege to the capital. The event forced the Kree/Skrull Alliance to work directly with S.W.O.R.D. and other galactic powers in a coordinated defense. It showcased the military capabilities of the unified Armada and proved that, despite internal friction, the Alliance could function as a cohesive unit against a universe-ending threat, cementing its status as a pillar of galactic stability. ===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions ===== * **Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999):** As detailed extensively above, this is the most prominent alternate version. It is not a unified empire but a fragile peace, more of a ceasefire and a network of personal allegiances. It is defined by the Kree's role as oppressors and the Skrulls' as refugees, with Carol Danvers acting as the lynchpin holding the delicate relationship together. * **Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610):** In this reality, the dynamic was also vastly different. The Skrulls, led by their emperor **Kl'rt**, were a fanatically aggressive force that believed in conquering and consuming worlds. The Kree were a less prominent force. A major event, **Gah Lak Tus**, saw the two races, along with the Shi'ar and Chitauri, attempt to deal with the arrival of the world-devouring entity. A formal, lasting Alliance was never conceived of, as the Skrulls of this universe were portrayed as almost monolithically evil conquerors. * **What If...? Scenarios:** The concept of the Alliance opens up numerous speculative possibilities often explored in Marvel's `What If...?` series. * //What if Ronan the Accuser had been chosen to lead the Alliance?// Such a scenario would have likely resulted in a far more brutal, expansionist empire, turning the Alliance into the galaxy's greatest threat rather than a stabilizing force. * //What if the Cotati had won the Empyre war?// This would have resulted in the end of the Alliance and the likely extinction of most sentient animal life in the universe, transforming the Marvel cosmos into a silent, green galaxy. ===== See Also ===== * [[emperor_hulkling]] * [[empyre]] * [[kree]] * [[skrull]] * [[kree-skrull_war]] * [[captain_mar-vell]] * [[captain_marvel_carol_danvers]] ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ((The core concept of uniting the Kree and Skrulls was a long-term plan by writer Al Ewing, who seeded elements for it throughout his various cosmic and Avengers-related books for years before the `Empyre` event.)) ((Hulkling and Wiccan's wedding, which occurs during the climax of `Empyre`, is one of Marvel's most high-profile LGBTQ+ marriages and carries significant political weight within the Marvel Universe, officially making a former Young Avenger the Prince-Consort of a galactic empire.)) ((The symbol of the Kree/Skrull Alliance is a combination of the two races' classic insignias, visually representing their union.)) ((The MCU's decision to portray the Skrulls as sympathetic refugees in `Captain Marvel` was a significant departure from their traditional comic book role as villains and infiltrators. This change was likely made to create a more nuanced and emotionally resonant story for Carol Danvers and to avoid potentially problematic undertones associated with a race of "deceivers." This thematic choice heavily influenced the nature of their relationship with the Kree in that continuity.)) ((The original Kree-Skrull War storyline in `Avengers` was partially an allegory for the Cold War, reflecting the political anxieties of the early 1970s.)) ((The sword Excelsior, wielded by Hulkling, is a magical weapon that shares a symbolic lineage with the Excalibur of Arthurian legend, reinforcing Hulkling's "kingly" destiny. It is said to belong only to one of noble heart who is "a king of two worlds." ))