"Secret Invasion" is a comic book crossover storyline written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Leinil Francis Yu, that ran through a self-titled eight-issue limited series and several tie-in books published by Marvel Comics from April through December 2008. The story involves a subversive, long-term invasion of Earth by the Skrulls, a group of alien shapeshifters who have secretly replaced many superheroes in the Marvel Universe with impostors over a period of years, prior to the overt invasion. Marvel's promotional tagline for the event was "Who do you trust?".
A six-episode television miniseries of the same name, loosely based on the storyline and produced by Marvel Studios as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debuted in June 2023 on Disney+.
Production and marketing Writer Brian Michael Bendis stated in interviews that the motivation for the invasion is the destruction of the Skrull Empire in the 2007 "Annihilation" storyline.Annihilation #1 - 6 (Oct. 2006 - Mar. 2007). Marvel Comics. Bendis said the Skrulls believe Earth "is religiously and rightfully theirs," and that there are hints as to the plot placed in the limited series Secret WarSecret War #1 - 5 (Apr. 2004 - Dec. 2005). Marvel Comics. and the title New Avengers from the first issue.New Avengers #1 (Jan. 2005). Marvel Comics. The limited series concluded the plot and was, according to Bendis, "a hell of an end."
In November 2007, several ongoing titles and mini-series were branded as tie-ins to the main Secret Invasion storyline, with the tagline: Secret Invasion: The Infiltration. In addition to the core story, the Avengers titles provided additional plot material and acted as a link between titles. Other Marvel titles also featured variant covers with the characters depicted as Skrulls. Bendis stated that the series would not deal with the origins of the invasion, but is conceived from the following perspective: "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 are infiltrated, how they became who they became and the effects of their actions from their 'point of view' is shown."
The Marvel website featured two online-exclusive e-comics for the event, titled Secret Invasion Prologue (a seven-page comic that reveals the replacement of a previously unknown Skrull agent) and Secret Invasion: Home Invasion (a MySpace video blog featuring a young teenager named Kinsey Walden and her fears regarding her brother's strange behavior), supported by comic pages by writer Ivan Brandon and artist Nick Postic.
Plot After the Kree–Skrull WarAvengers #88–97 (June 1971 – Mar. 1972) the Earth superheroes Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Namor, Black Bolt, Professor Charles Xavier and Doctor Strange join as a group called the Illuminati to secretly confront the Skrulls. They attack the Skrull Empire, and warn that any future invasion attempts of Earth would mean further reprisals; however, they are all captured and intensely studied before escaping.Shown in flashback in New Avengers: Illuminati #1 (Dec. 2006). Marvel Comics.
An eventual successor to the Skrull throne, Princess Veranke, claims that a prophecy foretold the annihilation of the Skrull homeworld. The current Emperor, Dorrek, exiles her to a prison world for inciting religious extremism. After the destruction of the Skrull Throneworld by the cosmic entity Galactus,Fantastic Four #257 (Aug. 1983) Veranke becomes Empress by lineage, and guides an invasion of Earth, armed with the knowledge of superhumans gained from having studied the Illuminati. The Skrulls capture several superhumans and infiltrate Earth's defenses, with Veranke herself posing as heroine Spider-Woman.New Avengers #40 (Apr. 2008) Veranke is inconvenienced when there is a breakout of supervillains at the Raft prison, which forces her to join the New Avengers team.
After the Civil War, Elektra, the leader of the ninja group the Hand, is revealed to be a Skrull named Pagon after dying in battle with the New Avengers.New Avengers #31 (June 2007). Marvel Comics. Veranke takes the corpse to Tony Stark (who, at the time, led the pro-registration Mighty Avengers) to sow distrust among the superhero community. She joins the Mighty Avengers, claiming it will throw the Skrulls off balance. Posing as agents of spy organization S.H.I.E.L.D., the Skrulls attempt to mine the metal vibranium in the Savage Land and battle the New Avengers before being killed.New Avengers #41–43 (May–July 2008). Marvel Comics. The Illuminati battle an impostor posing as Black Bolt and two new Super-Skrulls, possessing all-new powers.New Avengers: Illuminati #5 (Nov. 2007). Marvel Comics.
The Skrull invasion destabilizes the superhuman community as: Simultaneous strikes disable the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier and orbiting base The Peak. A breakout is instigated at the supervillain holding facility the Raft. The Baxter Building (headquarters of the Fantastic Four) is transported to the Negative Zone. Thunderbolt Mountain (headquarters of the Thunderbolts) is attacked. Additionally, the Avengers are attacked by Skrulls posing as heroes in the Savage Land, and Reed Richards is wounded by the Skrull Criti Noll (who was posing as Hank Pym) seconds after determining a way to identify the shape shifters.
After several battles between Earth's heroes and the Skrulls in Manhattan and the Savage Land, Mr. Fantastic manages to develop a device that can detect the aliens. Criminal kingpin the Hood aids the heroes, deciding "no more Earth is bad for business." Veranke regroups with her forces in New York City in a final battle against the combined Avengers, now aided by Nick Fury and his new Commandos, Thor, Daredevil, Ka-Zar, and super teams such as the Young Avengers and the Thunderbolts.
Veranke is wounded by the Avenger Hawkeye. Criti Noll activates a booby trap placed on the heroine Wasp, although the blast is contained by Thor at the cost of her life. Veranke is then shot and killed by Norman Osborn (using a weapon he created with intelligence stolen from Deadpool).Deadpool vol. 4 #3. Marvel Comics. The last remnants of the Skrull armada are destroyed, with Iron Man locating the missing heroes. S.H.I.E.L.D. is dissolved by an executive order of the President of the United States, while a last Skrull (posing as the Avengers' butler Edwin Jarvis) flees with the child of heroes Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. This Skrull is killed by Bullseye shortly after returning the child. Norman Osborn is placed in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D's replacement, H.A.M.M.E.R., and forms a secret group consisting of himself, Emma Frost, Namor, Doctor Doom, The Hood and Loki which commences the "Dark Reign" storyline.Secret Invasion #8. Marvel Comics.Dark Reign: Dark Avengers #1 (Mar. 2009). Marvel Comics.
Characters
The Mighty Avengers Iron Man Spider-Woman (Veranke) Black Widow Ares Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) Sentry Wonder Man Wasp
New Avengers Luke Cage Spider-Man Iron Fist Ronin (Clint Barton) Wolverine Echo
Fantastic Four Mister Fantastic Human Torch Thing Invisible Woman
Skrulls Dard'van Yellowjacket (Criti Noll) Captain America Dum Dum Dugan Edwin Jarvis Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) Invisible Woman Elektra White Queen (Skrull) Beast Spider-Man Luke Cage Thor Wonder Man Jean Grey Iron Man Hawkeye (Skrull) Vision Jewel (Skrull) Scarlet Witch Mockingbird Wolverine Ms. Marvel
Additionally, several variants of the Super-Skrull appear, utilizing the powers of Archangel, Captain America, Iron Man, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman and the Illuminati, among others.
Also, several Skrulls are seen impersonating such pop culture figures as George W. Bush, Stephen Colbert, Tom Cruise, and Eric Cartman from South Park.
Cloak
Noh-Varr
Thunderbolts Norman Osborn Swordsman (Andreas von Strucker) Songbird Moonstone (Karla Sofen) Venom (Mac Gargan) Bullseye Robbie Baldwin (as Penance)
Captain America (Bucky Barnes)
Thor
Franklin Richards
Valeria Richards
Young Avengers Patriot Wiccan Hulkling Speed Hawkeye (Kate Bishop) Vision
The Initiative Diamondback (Rachel Leighton) Stature Gauntlet (Joseph Green) Prodigy (David Alleyne) Taskmaster Proton Crusader (Z'Reg) Batwing Gorilla Girl Red 9 Geiger Melee Sunstreak Annex
Secret Warriors Nick Fury Slingshot Quake (Daisy Johnson) Phobos Hellfire (J.T. Slade) Stonewall Druid (Sebastian Druid)
Skrull Kill Krew Ryder 3-D Man Riot Catwalk Dice Moonstomp
The Hood's Criminal Syndicate Hood John King Wizard Wrecking Crew (Marvel Comics) Madame Masque Blood Brother Crossfire Blackout (Marcus Daniels) Griffin Chemistro Answer (Aaron Nicholson) Brothers Grimm Bushwacker Shockwave Scarecrow Cutthroat Corruptor Masked Marauder Scorcher
Howard the Duck
X-Men Pixie Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner) Cyclops Beast
Medusa
Black Panther
Sabra (Ruth Bat-Seraph)
Uatu the Watcher
Daredevil
Mockingbird
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
President of the United States
Cabal Norman Osborn Hood Namor Lady Loki Doctor Doom Emma Frost
Reception
According to Comic Book Roundup, the core series has an average score of 6.9 out of 10, based on 79 critic reviews.
Issue #1 was not very well received despite critics noting its "strong introduction to the story, good pacing, and "slick" art style",Review of Secret Invasion #1 , Comics BulletinReview of Secret Invasion #1, Comic Book Resources although some concerns were raised over Bendis' dialogue. Sales estimates suggested that around 250,200 copies were sold, more than twice as much as the second highest seller.Sales Estimates for April, 2008 Books, Comic Book Resources, May 20, 2008 The Secret Invasion: The Infiltration collected volume also topped the trade paperback chart, with an estimated 7,247 sales. The second issue kept the top slot, with estimated sales dropping to 200,344.Sales Estimates for May, 2008, Comic Book Resources, June 17, 2008
Tie-in issues
Secret Invasion: The Infiltration The following issues were released with The Infiltration banner prior to the launch of the Secret Invasion series: Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1 Captain Marvel vol. 6, #4-5 The Mighty Avengers #7 Ms. Marvel vol. 2, #25-27 New Avengers #38-39 New Avengers: Illuminati #5 Franklin Richards Not-So-Secret Invasion Marvel Spotlight Secret Invasion Secret Invasion Saga Secret Invasion Home Invasion
Secret Invasion The following issues tie-in to the Secret Invasion mini-series:
Avengers: The Initiative #14-19 Black Panther vol. 4, #39-41 Captain Britain and MI: 13 #1-4 Deadpool (Vol. 4) #1-3 Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, #4-6 Incredible Hercules #117-120 Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. #33-35 Marvel Spotlight: Secret Invasion Saga #1 The Mighty Avengers #12-20 Ms. Marvel vol. 2, #28-30 New Avengers #40-47 New Warriors vol. 4, #14-15 Nova vol. 4, #16-18 Punisher War Journal #24-25
Secret Invasion: The Amazing Spider-Man #1-3 Secret Invasion: Aftermath Beta Ray Bill: The Green of Eden (one-shot) Secret Invasion: Dark Reign (One-Shot) Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #1-3 Secret Invasion: Front Line #1-5 Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1-4 Secret Invasion: Requiem #1 Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #1-3 Secret Invasion: Thor #1-3 Secret Invasion: War Of Kings (One-Shot) Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? (One-Shot) Secret Invasion: X-Men #1-4 She-Hulk vol. 2, #31-33 Skrulls! (one-shot) Thunderbolts #122-125 X-Factor vol. 3, #33-34
Collected editions The stories are collected in volumes: