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Shortly after the [[Kree-Skrull War]], in which Earth's heroes were involved, a small group of heroes banded together to secretly confront the Skrull emperor. Informally referenced as the "[[Illuminati (Marvel Comics)|Illuminati]]", this group represented the various factions of the Marvel universe and consisted of [[Iron Man]], [[Mister Fantastic]], [[Namor]], [[Black Bolt]], [[Professor X|Professor Charles Xavier]], and [[Doctor Strange]]. They attacked the capital of the empire, and then threatened the emperor that another attack by the Skrulls would lead to war. However, they were captured, separated, and then experimented upon. The Skrulls analysed their captives (physiology, genetics, technology, etc) and gleaned information from their behaviour, until Iron Man was able to lead an escape. The Illuminati recognized that another attack is inevitable, while the Skrull Empire began to make use of the data they compiled. <ref>''New Avengers: Illuminati'' #1</ref> The research resulted in the creation of clones indistinguishable from the originals and the capacity of duplicating almost any superhuman power.<ref name="na40">''New Avengers'' #40</ref>
Shortly after the [[Kree-Skrull War]], in which Earth's heroes were involved, a small group of heroes banded together to secretly confront the Skrull emperor. Informally referenced as the "[[Illuminati (Marvel Comics)|Illuminati]]", this group represented the various factions of the Marvel universe and consisted of [[Iron Man]], [[Mister Fantastic]], [[Namor]], [[Black Bolt]], [[Professor X|Professor Charles Xavier]], and [[Doctor Strange]]. They attacked the capital of the empire, and then threatened the emperor that another attack by the Skrulls would lead to war. However, they were captured, separated, and then experimented upon. The Skrulls analysed their captives (physiology, genetics, technology, etc) and gleaned information from their behaviour, until Iron Man was able to lead an escape. The Illuminati recognized that another attack is inevitable, while the Skrull Empire began to make use of the data they compiled. <ref>''New Avengers: Illuminati'' #1</ref> The research resulted in the creation of clones indistinguishable from the originals and the capacity of duplicating almost any superhuman power.<ref name="na40">''New Avengers'' #40</ref>


The heir to the Skrull throne, Princess Veranke, claimed that a prophecy foretold the annihilation of their planet and the need to find a new planet called Earth. King Dorrek exiled her to a prison world for inciting religious extremism. After the destruction of the Skrull Throneworld by [[Galactus]], Veranke became queen by lineage, which drew the remainder of the Skrull Empire under her rule. Veranke decided to spearhead an invasion of Earth with the information of the human species obtained from the Illuminati. The plan was to disguise themselves as important people in society and weaken the Earth's defences from within, thus leaving the planet vulnerable for a military assault. Veranke has decided that she herself would as one of the agents on Earth. When she asked who she could replace to do the most damage, Spider-Woman was recommended.<ref name="na40"/>
The heir to the Skrull throne, Princess Veranke, claimed that a prophecy foretold the annihilation of their planet and the need to find a new planet called Earth. King Dorrek exiled her to a prison world for inciting religious extremism. After the destruction of the Skrull Throneworld by [[Galactus]], Veranke became queen by lineage, which drew the remainder of the Skrull Empire under her rule. Veranke decided to spearhead an invasion of Earth with the information of the human species obtained from the Illuminati. The plan was to disguise themselves as important people in society and weaken the Earth's defences from within, thus leaving the planet vulnerable for a military assault. Veranke has decided that she herself would pose as one of the agents on Earth. When she asked who she could replace to do the most damage, Spider-Woman was recommended.<ref name="na40"/>


===The Infiltration===
===The Infiltration===

Revision as of 21:19, 8 May 2008

Template:Future comic

Secret Invasion
Variant cover art to Secret Invasion #1.
Art by Steve McNiven.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
Publication date(The Infiltration) November 2007 - April 2008
(Main Story) April 2008 - November 2008
No. of issues8 plus tie-ins
Main character(s)New Avengers
Mighty Avengers
The Skrulls
Creative team
Written byBrian Michael Bendis
Artist(s)Leinil Yu
Inker(s)Mark Morales
Colorist(s)Laura Martin

Secret Invasion is a comic book limited series and crossover that began in April 2008, published by Marvel Comics.

It focuses on an alien invasion by shapeshifters known as the Skrulls, who have been secretly posing as various characters in the Marvel Universe.

Production and marketing

Though it is unknown how the Skrull invasion began and for how long it has been going on, writer Brian Michael Bendis revealed in interviews that the motivation is the destruction of the Skrull Empire in Annihilation; the Skrulls believe that Planet Earth "is religiously and rightfully theirs".[1] Bendis said there have been hints of the Skrull plot placed as far back as New Avengers #1, when an unknown figure hired Electro to break into the superhuman prison known as the Raft, and 2004's Secret War, which culminated in Nick Fury being removed as head of S.H.I.E.L.D. and going underground for many years.

Starting in November 2007 and leading up to April when the event starts, several ongoing comics and mini-series will be branded as tie-ins to the main Secret Invasion storyline, bearing the branding: "Secret Invasion: The Infiltration". These tie-ins include New Avengers: Illuminati #5, Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1, Mighty Avengers #7, New Avengers #38-39, Captain Marvel #4 -5 and Ms. Marvel #25-27.[2]

The primary story of the Secret Invasion will be told in an eight-issue limited series which will pull all parties involved together, while the current titles of New Avengers and Mighty Avengers will focus on the past three years' worth of events and how those have been affected by the Skrull invasion, including the return of Nick Fury to the Marvel Universe. Other books such as the Fantastic Four will not tie in although their characters will still appear in the Secret Invasion books; the main story will mostly stick to Avengers-related books. Major impact from Secret Invasion has already been felt in Avengers: The Initiative, but whether this impact will relate to current events or reflect past events which will be revealed in this book is unknown.

When asked about the plot, Bendis stated that the series would not deal with heroes trying to work out how the Invasion had started, but show the reader the details; he stated that "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 infiltrated, how they became who they became and the effects of their actions from their "point of view" is shown. He also stated that the story has been brewing since 2004's Avengers Disassembled, and that the limited series will be that story's final end, "and it’s a hell of an end".[3]

"Who Do You Trust" images on Marvel.com show Skrulls posing as Iron Man, Wolverine, Hawkeye, Hercules, Phoenix, Spider-Woman, Luke Cage, Storm, Invisible Woman, Doctor Doom, Yellowjacket, Nick Fury, Spider-Man and Captain America.

In addition the Marvel website features two currently Online-Exclusive and free Comics for the event - Secret Invasion Prologue, a seven page comic that reveals the replacement of a previously unknown Skrull agent, and Secret Invasion: Home Invasion, a special storyline started via a Myspace video blog and featuring a young teenager named Kinsey Walden and her fears regarding her brother acting strangely, and continuing on Marvel.com with one new comic page by writer Ivan Brandon and artist Nick Postic every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.[4]

Plot synopsis

The Illuminati

Shortly after the Kree-Skrull War, in which Earth's heroes were involved, a small group of heroes banded together to secretly confront the Skrull emperor. Informally referenced as the "Illuminati", this group represented the various factions of the Marvel universe and consisted of Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Namor, Black Bolt, Professor Charles Xavier, and Doctor Strange. They attacked the capital of the empire, and then threatened the emperor that another attack by the Skrulls would lead to war. However, they were captured, separated, and then experimented upon. The Skrulls analysed their captives (physiology, genetics, technology, etc) and gleaned information from their behaviour, until Iron Man was able to lead an escape. The Illuminati recognized that another attack is inevitable, while the Skrull Empire began to make use of the data they compiled. [5] The research resulted in the creation of clones indistinguishable from the originals and the capacity of duplicating almost any superhuman power.[6]

The heir to the Skrull throne, Princess Veranke, claimed that a prophecy foretold the annihilation of their planet and the need to find a new planet called Earth. King Dorrek exiled her to a prison world for inciting religious extremism. After the destruction of the Skrull Throneworld by Galactus, Veranke became queen by lineage, which drew the remainder of the Skrull Empire under her rule. Veranke decided to spearhead an invasion of Earth with the information of the human species obtained from the Illuminati. The plan was to disguise themselves as important people in society and weaken the Earth's defences from within, thus leaving the planet vulnerable for a military assault. Veranke has decided that she herself would pose as one of the agents on Earth. When she asked who she could replace to do the most damage, Spider-Woman was recommended.[6]

The Infiltration

After the events of Secret War, Nick Fury went into hiding. He learns that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine was plotting to extract S.H.I.E.L.D. passcodes from him and kill him. Fury kills her first, after which she reverts to her true Skrull form. Fury comes to the realization that an alien invasion is taking place. He recruits Spider-Woman to be a mole inside both HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D., while secretly reporting to him, and to keep an eye on anything suspicious.[7] Afterwards, he recruits former S.H.I.E.L.D. Daisy Johnson in order to gather a group of super powered teenagers whose existence is known only to Fury himself.

Dum Dum Dugan also met with de Fontaine around the time of Captain America's death. She asks Dugan about Nick Fury's whereabouts and if he has had contact with Fury. Dugan denies any knowledge and the Contessa stabs Dugan with claws similar to Wolverine's, revealing herself to be another Skrull imposter. The Skrull then assumes Dugan's form and leaves him to die.[8]

Some time afterwards, a battle broke out between the New Avengers and the Hand over the fate of Echo. During the fight, Echo is freed from the Hand's influence, and stabs the Hand's leader Elektra. Moments after her death, Elektra is revealed to be a Skrull. Tensions rise amongst the New Avengers, as no-one was able to detect Elektra's true nature, they surmise any one of them could also be a Skrull. Spider-Woman suggests that they hand over the Skrull corpse to Iron Man, but she is rebuked by Luke Cage, who believes Iron Man to be a Skrull as well. During a fight, Spider-Woman knocks out Wolverine and steals the corpse to bring to Iron Man.[9]

Spider-Woman informs Tony Stark of what had happened in Japan, including the suspicion by his former team-mates that he is a Skrull himself. A disturbed Stark accepts this, claims that his possession and DNA restructuring by Ultron verifies his authenticity, then demands to know where Nick Fury is, because he would know what to do. Jessica doesn't know. Stark agrees with Wolverine's opinion that this is just the beginning of an invasion, and convinces her to join the Mighty Avengers, even though she still absolutely refuses to register her abilities under the Superhuman Registration Act, since it will throw the Skrull off guard. Stark assumes that one of the Mighty Avengers is a Skrull sent to kill him, and with Spider-Woman on the team the Skrull will know that the Avengers are now aware of the Skrull threat. Spider-Woman convinces the others that she merely wanted to get back to doing something useful, and does not tell them what happened in Japan.[10]

Iron Man is shocked by the Skrull corpse, realizing it to be a repercussion of the Illuminati's attack years prior. He reassembles the group for the first time since they splintered shortly before the Civil War, and they debate over whether this means an invasion has taken place. The group is caught off guard, however, when Black Bolt voices his opinion. It is revealed that he is in fact a Skrull as well, and fights the others over the body. This Skrull shows to not only have Black Bolt's powers, but to have the combined powers of all the members of the Illuminati. After Namor manages to kill him, the Illuminati are attacked by two more Skrulls:

These Skrulls are killed by Iron Man who detonates a small nuclear bomb with his armor. Namor reminds them that any of them could also be a Skrull, and that no one is to be trusted. The five then go their separate ways. [11]

The returning Captain Marvel battled the villains Cobalt Man and the original Cyclone, both supposedly deceased. He is then confronted by a group of Skrulls posing as Kree Soldiers, who attempt to kill him but are quickly defeated by Mar-Vell with the aid of Iron Man. He then goes on to confront Ms. Marvel over her identity, and then shares with her his experiences fighting both Cobalt Man and Cyclone. Shortly thereafter, Mar-Vell goes to interrogate Cobalt Man, who reveals himself to be a Skrull and states "You are not Captain Marvel." Meanwhile, Brother McNally, a member of the recently formed Church of Hala (established after the return of Captain Marvel), is revealed to be a Skrull as well.[12] Iron Man is suspicious of Mar-Vell's true identity and sends men to Titan to investigate his grave. The Skrull impersonating Cobalt Man reveals to Captain Marvel that he is in fact a Skrull sleeper agent named Khn'nr created to pose as the real Captain Marvel. However, despite his status, Marvel decides to fight against the invading Skrulls.[13]

Iron Man tells S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent David Sum, a member of Ms. Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. strike force Operation Lightning Storm, about the coming invasion and states that he believes Ms. Marvel, is actually a Skrull agent.[14] A Skrull named Rl'nnd is found by Ms. Marvel in what she believes is an A.I.M. lair and attacks her, only to escape. Afterwards, Ms. Marvel finds the body of William Wagner, a man she had been dating. Agent Sum and the rest of Lightning Storm try to capture Ms. Marvel under the impression that she was the murderer.[15] Eventually both Ms. Marvel and the Skrull impostor are captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. with Rl'nnd following in disguise. After Rl'nnd reveals himself, the Skrull Ms. Marvel tells Ms. Marvel that Wagner was a Kree. She also had disguised herself as him to convince Ms. Marvel he was dead, and that he is still alive.[16]

The Invasion

Iron Man reveals the corpse of the Elektra impostor to Henry Pym and Reed Richards, who pretends he has never seen the corpse before, and leaves the two to study the body. Then he assembles the Mighty Avengers to investigate the wreck of a Skrull spaceship in the Savage Land, unaware of the fact that the New Avengers are heading for there as well after being tipped off by Spider-Woman. As Luke Cage opens the downed ship, a chain reaction of events takes place. S.W.O.R.D.'s headquarters in space is destroyed by a Skrull posing as Dum Dum Dugan, while in Avengers Tower, the Skrull disguised as Edwin Jarvis inserts a computer virus into Stark Tower's mainframe that causes every computer system controlled by Iron Man to crash, including Iron Man's armor and the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, which is evacuated as it starts to lose power. This virus also releases super-powered prisoners from the Raft and the Cube. In addition, Khn'nr attacks Thunderbolts Mountain, while a third Skrull takes on the form of Susan Storm and sends the Baxter Building into the Negative Zone. Each Skrull agent mouths the words "he loves you" before putting their part of the plan in to action.

The Skrull spaceship is shown to hold a large group of Marvel superheroes with older appearances and costumes, speaking as if they believe themselves to be authentic. Floating in space in a stasis gel with only minutes of oxygen left, Agent Abigail Brand witnesses a massive Skrull armada heading for Earth. Elsewhere, Reed Richards conducts an autopsy on the Elektra Skrull corpse and learns how the Skrulls are avoiding detection, but is quickly shot in the face before he can share the information with others by Pym, who reveals himself to be a Skrull and leaves Richards unable to remain solid.[17]

Despite the urging of Ares that their confrontation is merely a distraction from the true battle, the assembled heroes from the ship and their counterparts on Earth begin fighting, both sides convinced that their opponents are the Skrulls. In the ensuing battle, the Spider-Man and Hawkeye from the ship are both killed and revert into Skrulls, while Mockingbird insists she is not an imposter, as she and the real Clint Barton make a tearful reunion. Mockingbird also states that the Captain America from the ship may, in fact, be the genuine article. While Spider-Woman disappears into the jungle and Earth's Ms. Marvel heads back to the States, Earth's Iron Man (still suffering from the Skrull virus) starts to build himself a new suit from the wreckage of a nearby lab. In Manhattan, meanwhile, the first wave of Warskrull shock troops bearing the abilities of Earth's superhumans arrive, confronting the Young Avengers upon arrival.[18]

Known Skrull Agents

This section lists prominent characters who have been shown to be replaced by a Skrull, in order of publication date.

  • Elektra - revealed in New Avengers #31. Killed by Echo.
  • Black Bolt - revealed in New Avengers: Illuminati #5. Killed by Namor.
  • The Revolutionary of the Liberteens - revealed in Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1.
  • Cobalt Man - revealed in Captain Marvel #3. Killed by Captain Marvel.
  • Cyclone - revealed in Captain Marvel #4. Killed by Captain Marvel. Skrull identity not public due to decimated remains.
  • Captain Marvel - revealed in Captain Marvel #5. A mistake in the Skrull Khn'nr's conditioning lead to him rebelling against his species.
  • Valentina Allegra de Fontaine - revealed in Secret Invasion Prologue.[19]
  • Dum Dum Dugan - revealed in Secret Invasion Prologue.[19]
  • Edwin Jarvis - revealed in Secret Invasion #1.
  • Henry Pym - revealed in Secret Invasion #1.

Tie-in issues

Secret Invasion: The Infiltration

  • Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1
  • New Avengers #31-32, #38-39
  • New Avengers: Illuminati #1, 5
  • Captain Marvel #3-5
  • Mighty Avengers #7
  • Ms. Marvel #25-27

April 2008 [20]

  • Secret Invasion #1
  • Mighty Avengers #12
  • New Avengers #40

May 2008 [21]

  • Secret Invasion #2
  • Captain Britain and MI: 13 #1[22][23]
  • Incredible Hercules #117
  • Mighty Avengers #13
  • Mighty Avengers #14
  • New Avengers #41
  • Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #1

June 2008 [20]

  • Secret Invasion #3
  • Avengers: The Initiative #14
  • Captain Britain and MI: 13 #2
  • Incredible Hercules #118
  • Ms. Marvel #28
  • New Avengers #42
  • Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #2
  • Secret Invasion: Runaways and Young Avengers #1
  • Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? one-shot

July 2008 [21]

  • Secret Invasion #4
  • Avengers: The Initiative #15
  • Black Panther vol. 4 #39
  • Captain Britain and MI: 13 #3
  • Incredible Hercules #119
  • Mighty Avengers #15
  • Ms. Marvel #29
  • New Avengers #43
  • New Warriors (vol. 4) #14
  • Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #3
  • Secret Invasion: Front Line #1
  • Secret Invasion: Runaways and Young Avengers #2
  • She-Hulk #31
  • Thunderbolts #122
  • X-Factor (vol. 3) #33

August 2008

  • Secret Invasion #5
  • New Warriors (vol. 4) #15
  • Thunderbolts #123
  • Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1[24]
  • Secret Invasion: Spider-Man #1[25]
  • Secret Invasion: Runaways and Young Avengers #3 [26]
  • Secret Invasion: Thor #1
  • Secret Invasion: X-Men #1 [27][28]
  • Nova (vol. 4) #16
  • Guardians of the Galaxy #4

September 2008

October 2008

  • Secret Invasion #7
  • Secret Invasion: Thor #3
  • Secret Invasion: Spider-Man #3
  • Thunderbolts #125
  • Nova (vol. 4) #18
  • Guardians of the Galaxy #6

November 2008

  • Secret Invasion #8

References

  1. ^ "New Avengers" #31: Bendis Talks About the Big Twist, Comic Book Resources, June 14, 2007
  2. ^ Secret Invasion: The Infiltration Tie-Ins - Marvel.com News
  3. ^ Baltimore '07: Brian Bendis Talks Secret Invasion, Newsarama, September 10, 2007
  4. ^ http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6548744.html
  5. ^ New Avengers: Illuminati #1
  6. ^ a b New Avengers #40
  7. ^ Mighty Avengers #12
  8. ^ Secret Invasion Prologue
  9. ^ New Avengers #32
  10. ^ Mighty Avengers #7
  11. ^ New Avengers: Illuminati #5
  12. ^ Captain Marvel #3
  13. ^ Captain Marvel #4-#5
  14. ^ Ms. Marvel #24
  15. ^ Ms. Marvel #25
  16. ^ Ms. Marvel #26
  17. ^ Brian Michael Bendis (w), Leinil Yu (a). Secret Invasion, vol. 1, no. 1 (April 2008). Marvel.
  18. ^ Brian Michael Bendis (w), Leinil Yu (a). Secret Invasion, vol. 1, no. 2 (May 2008). Marvel.
  19. ^ a b Marvel Digital Comics: Secret Invasion Prologue #1
  20. ^ a b Marvel and CBR talk tie-ins
  21. ^ a b Brevoort talks Secret Invasion Page 3, IGN
  22. ^ Cornell & Lowe talk "Captain Britain and MI:13", Comic Book Resources, February 18, 2008
  23. ^ The British Invasion: Paul Cornell on Captain Britain and MI: 13, Comics Bulletin, April 10, 2008
  24. ^ [1]
  25. ^ Brevoort talks Secret Invasion Page 2
  26. ^ Richard George (March 13, 2008). "Exclusive Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers Interview". IGN. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  27. ^ EXCLUSIVE—Secret Invaders: Mike Carey
  28. ^ Mike Carey's "Secret Invasion" Plans, Comic Book Resources, May 7, 2008
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