Secret Invasion

• Core Identity: Secret Invasion is a cataclysmic Marvel Comics crossover event revealing that the shapeshifting Skrull Empire has been systematically and secretly replacing Earth's heroes and leaders for years, culminating in a full-scale global invasion.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: This event served as a universe-wide paranoia thriller, fundamentally shaking the trust between heroes and dismantling the established power structures of Earth. It was the culmination of years of subtle storytelling within series like `new_avengers` and `mighty_avengers`.
• Primary Impact: Its most significant consequence in the comics was the fall of `Tony Stark` as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the subsequent rise of `norman_osborn`, ushering in the fraught Dark Reign era. In the MCU, it redefined the later career of `nick_fury` and established a new, more desperate status quo for the Skrull race.
• Key Incarnations: The Earth-616 comic event was a massive, violent military invasion driven by religious prophecy and imperial conquest, involving hundreds of heroes. The MCU adaptation is a much smaller-scale, espionage-focused political thriller centered on a radicalized Skrull faction born from a refugee crisis.

The concept of a “Secret Invasion” was seeded by writer Brian Michael Bendis for years before the main event comic was published. The central idea grew out of the fallout from earlier storylines like `avengers_disassembled` and `house_of_m`, which had fractured the superhero community. The first major, overt clue was the reveal of Elektra as a Skrull in New Avengers #31 (August 2007). This shocking moment served as the starting pistol for the slow-burn reveal of the Skrull infiltration. The core limited series, titled Secret Invasion, was an eight-issue miniseries written by Bendis with art by Leinil Francis Yu. It ran from June 2008 to January 2009. The event was a massive publishing initiative for Marvel, with dozens of tie-in issues across their entire line of comics, from The Amazing Spider-Man to Captain Marvel. The tagline, “Who Do You Trust?”, became iconic, perfectly encapsulating the story's paranoid tone. It was designed to be the climactic chapter of a long-form narrative Bendis had been building since he took over the Avengers franchise, resolving lingering questions about the illuminati and the state of the post-Civil War hero community.

The seeds of the Secret Invasion were planted decades apart in the two primary Marvel continuities, leading to vastly different motivations, scales, and outcomes.

The Skrull plan for conquering Earth has deep roots in their history and theology. Following the destruction of the Skrull Throneworld, Tarnax IV, by galactus, the Skrull Empire was thrown into chaos. Empress Veranke, a devout religious zealot, rose to power by citing a prophecy that declared Earth as the new Skrull homeworld. This religious fervor provided a powerful justification for what would become a holy war. The immediate catalyst for the invasion, however, was a direct confrontation with Earth's most powerful minds: the illuminati. After the destructive conclusion of the kree-skrull_war, the Illuminati (composed of `Iron Man`, `doctor_strange`, `black_bolt`, `namor`, `Mister Fantastic`, and `Professor X`) traveled to the Skrull Empire to issue a stern warning against any future aggression towards Earth. Their show of force backfired spectacularly; they were captured and intensely studied. From these powerful captives, the Skrulls learned everything they needed to know about Earth's metahuman biology, technology, and social structures. Most importantly, they extracted genetic material that allowed their scientists to create a new generation of “Super-Skrulls” that were completely undetectable by any psychic, magical, or technological means known to Earth's heroes. For years, the Skrulls methodically executed their plan. They placed sleeper agents in key positions of power, replacing figures like elektra of the Hand, Black Bolt of the inhumans, and several high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. and S.W.O.R.D. agents. The most impactful replacement was that of Hank Pym, a founding Avenger. This allowed the Skrulls to gain intimate knowledge of the Avengers' operations and technology from the inside. Their strategy was patient and brilliant: wait for the heroes to destroy themselves. Events like Civil War and World War Hulk did exactly that, leaving the hero community fractured, exhausted, and distrustful of one another—the perfect environment for the final phase of the invasion to begin.

The origin of the MCU's Secret Invasion is radically different, stemming not from imperial ambition but from a broken promise and a refugee crisis. As established in the film `Captain Marvel`, the Skrulls were not conquerors but victims of a genocidal war waged by the kree. In the 1990s, `nick_fury` and `Carol Danvers` promised to find the surviving Skrulls a new home. For over thirty years, that promise went unfulfilled. The Skrulls, led by `talos`, remained hidden on Earth, with many using their shapeshifting abilities to work for Nick Fury in his intelligence network. However, a younger generation of Skrulls, born as refugees and knowing only a life of hiding on a planet that was not their own, grew disillusioned and angry. This faction was radicalized under the leadership of Gravik, a charismatic and ruthless leader who believed Fury and Danvers had abandoned them. Gravik's philosophy was a dark mirror of the comic's imperial ambition. He argued that the Skrulls should not beg for a home but take one by force. His plan was not a massive, overt military assault but a covert war of terror and political manipulation. He intended to sow chaos among human nations, specifically by framing them for attacks on each other, to trigger World War III. In the ensuing nuclear holocaust, humanity would wipe itself out, leaving a radiation-scarred—but habitable for the radiation-resistant Skrulls—planet for his people to claim. He established a secret Skrull settlement called “New Skrullos” at a decommissioned nuclear plant in Russia, where he also began experiments to create Super-Skrulls using a machine called the “Harvest,” which contained the DNA of numerous super-powered beings. This transformed the MCU's Secret Invasion from a story of conquest to a tragic tale of desperation, radicalization, and the consequences of neglect.

The execution and consequences of the Secret Invasion diverged significantly between the comic book and cinematic universes, reflecting their different scales and narrative goals.

The comic storyline was a massive, sprawling war with multiple fronts and shocking reveals.

For years prior to the main event, Skrull agents replaced key figures. The first on-page sign was the defeat of Elektra by the New Avengers, revealing her as a Skrull imposter. This single act ignited paranoia across the superhero world. Subsequent investigations by the Illuminati revealed that their own member, Black Bolt, had also been replaced. The imposter was killed, but the damage was done—the heroes knew they had been compromised at the highest levels.

• The Savage Land Offensive: A ship full of “classic” versions of heroes, including a Captain America in his old uniform, crash-lands in the Savage Land. This was a brilliant psychological tactic to confuse the feuding Avengers teams who arrived to investigate. The ship was a trap, and a massive battle erupted as dozens of Super-Skrulls emerged, setting the tone for the global conflict.
• Global Systems Failure: The Skrull-Hank Pym had secretly planted a virus in all StarkTech systems. At the moment of the invasion, the virus was activated, disabling the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, all of Iron Man's armors, and global defense networks. Simultaneously, the Baxter Building was teleported to the Negative Zone, and the Raft prison was shut down, unleashing supervillains. This coordinated strike decapitated Earth's defenses in minutes.
• The Battle of Manhattan: The main Skrull armada arrived over New York City. The conflict was brutal, with the combined forces of the Young Avengers, the Initiative, and the street-level heroes fighting a desperate defense. During this battle, the Skrull posing as Edwin Jarvis kidnapped the infant daughter of luke_cage and jessica_jones, adding a deeply personal stake to the war.
• The Final Confrontation: The remaining heroes and a surprising number of supervillains (who had no interest in seeing the planet conquered) rallied in Central Park for a final stand against Empress Veranke's army. The turning point came when norman_osborn, leader of the Thunderbolts, landed the public, televised killing blow on Queen Veranke. This single act transformed him from a notorious villain into a global hero in the eyes of the public.

The Skrulls were defeated, but the cost was immense. The public's faith in its heroes was shattered. S.H.I.E.L.D. was seen as incompetent for allowing the infiltration to happen. In the power vacuum, the U.S. President disbanded S.H.I.E.L.D. and handed its resources and authority over to the man of the hour: Norman Osborn. Osborn rebranded S.H.I.E.L.D. into H.A.M.M.E.R. and formed his own team of “Dark Avengers,” consisting of villains masquerading as heroes. This began the Dark Reign era, where the villains were in charge, and the true heroes were fugitives. The paranoia of “Secret Invasion” was replaced by the open corruption of a world run by its greatest monster. The event permanently altered the political and social landscape of the Marvel Universe.

The MCU's version was a contained espionage thriller focused on a handful of characters.

Unlike the comics, the MCU infiltration was not about replacing heroes but about replacing key political and military figures to orchestrate global conflict. Notable replacements included:

• Everett Ross of the CIA.
• James “Rhodey” Rhodes, the war_machine, a high-level advisor to the U.S. President. This was the most significant reveal, implying he had been a Skrull for an unknown but potentially lengthy period.
• Various world leaders and intelligence chiefs.

• The Moscow Bombing: Gravik's faction executes a terrorist attack in Moscow and frames the American anti-Russia group “Americans Against Russia” to escalate tensions between the superpowers. This event results in the death of maria_hill, a devastating personal blow to Nick Fury.
• The Assassination Attempt: The Skrulls, led by the Rhodey-Skrull, orchestrate an attack on U.S. President Ritson's motorcade in London. The goal was not necessarily to kill him but to create an incident that would be blamed on Russia, pushing the world closer to war. Fury and Talos narrowly manage to save the President, but Talos is killed by Gravik in the process.
• The Harvest: The core of Gravik's plan is revealed: to acquire “the Harvest,” a vial containing the DNA of dozens of Avengers and other super-powered individuals collected from the battlefield after the Battle of Earth (`avengers_endgame`). With this, he could turn himself and his followers into unstoppable Super-Skrulls.
• The Final Confrontation at New Skrullos: The climax is not a massive battle but a tense, personal confrontation. G'iah, Talos's daughter who had been working as a double agent, confronts Gravik. She secretly uses the Harvest to empower herself, leading to a Super-Skrull vs. Super-Skrull battle where she ultimately kills Gravik. Simultaneously, the real Nick Fury works with Sonya Falsworth of MI6 to expose the Rhodey-Skrull to President Ritson, averting nuclear war at the last second.

While nuclear war was averted, President Ritson, now deeply paranoid, declares all extraterrestrial species on Earth to be enemy combatants, launching a global witch hunt. This creates a new, dangerous world for the million Skrulls still hiding on the planet, turning them from refugees into targets. Nick Fury leaves Earth with his Skrull wife, Varra, to try and broker a peace treaty with the Kree, finally attempting to fulfill his original promise. The world is left in a state of high tension, with humans now violently xenophobic and the Skrulls facing persecution, setting up future conflicts.

• Empress Veranke: The primary antagonist. A religious fanatic who truly believed in the prophecy of Earth as the Skrull Throneworld. She took the form of Jessica Drew to infiltrate the New Avengers at the highest level, acting as a perfect double agent. Her leadership was a combination of military strategy and divine mandate.
• Crit Noll (Hank Pym): The Skrull who replaced Hank Pym was arguably the most effective agent. He not only gave the Skrulls access to Pym's technology but also helped found the Initiative, giving him oversight of America's entire superhero training program. He was also instrumental in creating the virus that crippled Earth's defenses.
• Pagon (Elektra): The Skrull who replaced Elektra. His death at the hands of Echo was the first major domino to fall, alerting the heroes to the infiltration.
• Super-Skrulls: An army of bio-engineered Skrull soldiers, each possessing a combination of powers from various Earth heroes. Unlike the original Super-Skrull, Kl'rt, these were mass-produced shock troops.

• Gravik: The primary antagonist of the MCU series. A young, charismatic, and utterly ruthless Skrull who felt betrayed by Nick Fury. His motivation was born from desperation and a twisted desire for a home for his people, no matter the cost. He was a brilliant strategist but ultimately undone by his own lust for power.
• G'iah: Talos's daughter. Initially a loyal follower of Gravik, she became disillusioned with his violent methods. She acted as a spy for her father before ultimately becoming a hero in her own right, gaining immense power from the Harvest and defeating Gravik to become a new leader for the Skrulls on Earth.
• Raava (James Rhodes): The Skrull who replaced War Machine. She was Gravik's most valuable asset, using Rhodes's political access to manipulate the U.S. President and orchestrate the conflict with Russia.

• Nick Fury: Central to the story in both universes, but in different ways. In the comics, the “real” Nick Fury had been in hiding since the events of Secret War and emerged from the shadows with a secret team of “Secret Warriors” to fight the Skrulls, proving he was one step ahead of everyone. In the MCU, Fury is the protagonist, returning to Earth after years away, older and wearier, forced to confront the consequences of his past failures.
• Tony Stark (Iron Man): In the comics, Stark was the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the face of Earth's defense. The invasion was a catastrophic failure on his watch, leading to his public disgrace and downfall. He was a central figure, but one defined by his inability to stop the infiltration.
• Norman Osborn: The unlikely “savior” of the comic event. His public execution of Queen Veranke was a masterful piece of public relations that allowed him to seize control of the world's security apparatus.
• The Illuminati: While their initial actions inadvertently caused the invasion, members like Reed Richards were crucial in defeating it. Richards developed a device that could force the Skrulls back into their true forms, which was key to winning the final battle.

The true depth of the Secret Invasion event is found in its numerous tie-ins, which revealed the full scope of the infiltration and its impact on individual characters.

This crucial prelude one-shot tells the story of the Illuminati's disastrous trip to the Skrull homeworld. It provides the entire backstory for how the Skrulls were able to create their undetectable Super-Skrulls. It shows their capture, the experiments performed on them, and their violent escape, which planted the seeds for the future war. This issue is essential reading for understanding the “why” of the invasion.

After the invasion is over, Tony Stark and the real Jessica Drew confront the captured Veranke (still in Drew's form). In a shocking twist, Veranke reveals that she replaced Drew before Jessica joined the New Avengers. This meant that the Spider-Woman who had been a core member of the team, who had developed deep friendships, and who had even begun a romance with Hawkeye, was the Skrull Queen all along. This was one of the most personal and devastating betrayals of the entire event.

This tie-in series followed investigative journalist Ben Urich and his protégé Sally Floyd as they experienced the invasion from a civilian, street-level perspective. It provided a gritty, boots-on-the-ground view of the chaos, fear, and heroism of ordinary people caught in the crossfire. It grounded the epic conflict and explored the crucial question of how society functions when you can't trust anyone.

During the invasion, the original Kree hero Captain Mar-Vell seemingly returns from the dead. He is hailed as a messiah figure by the Kree. However, it is eventually revealed that he is a Skrull sleeper agent named Khn'nr, specifically programmed to believe he was Mar-Vell. In a tragic final act, his programmed personality breaks down, but the heroic Mar-Vell persona asserts control, and the Skrull agent chooses to fight and die for the Kree, the very people he was meant to subvert. This was a complex and poignant side-story about identity and heroism.

Beyond the main Earth-616 and MCU versions, the Secret Invasion concept has been adapted in other media.

• The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Animated Series): This critically acclaimed animated series featured a season-long adaptation of Secret Invasion. It is often cited by fans as one of the best versions of the story. The infiltration was revealed slowly, with Captain America himself being replaced by a Skrull. The story built tension brilliantly, culminating in a global invasion that required every hero on the planet—from the Avengers to the Fantastic Four—to unite and fight back. It captured the scale and paranoia of the comic event perfectly.
• Marvel's Avengers (Video Game): While not a direct adaptation, the “Operation: Hawkeye - Future Imperfect” DLC storyline features elements of the Kree-Skrull War and hints at a future Skrull conflict, showing the long-lasting animosity between the two alien races.
• What If…? Secret Invasion (Earth-721): A one-shot comic exploring an alternate reality where the Skrull invasion was a success. In this timeline, the Skrulls won the final battle in Central Park. The story picks up years later, showing a Skrull-conquered Earth where remaining heroes like Thor, the Punisher, and a now-adult Franklin and Valeria Richards lead a desperate resistance against their alien overlords.

• skrulls
• kree-skrull_war
• illuminati
• dark_reign
• nick_fury
• brian_michael_bendis

^{1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)}