Marvel Unveils the Ultimate Shock: The MCU's Most Controversial Avenger After 40 Blockbusters
Marvel settles a long-standing debate as the MCU's Skrull reveal uncovers a surprising truth about Rhodey, making him an unsuspecting target Find out why the Skrulls found him an easy mark in this revealing article
Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for Secret Invasion. The Avengers' absence in Secret Invasion unintentionally reveals the identity of the weakest Avenger. Previous jokes have targeted Hawkeye as the weakest member due to his limited skills compared to the more powerful Gods, monsters, and magicians. However, Secret Invasion presents a different answer to this long-standing debate, thanks to the Skrull infiltration of Earth.
Despite the imminent threat to Earth, the human population, and the assassination attempt on President Ritson in episode 4, the Avengers are notably absent from Secret Invasion. This aligns with the show's focus on Fury's story and the increasing isolation of the former SHIELD director as his allies are exposed as Skrulls or killed. In this isolation, and with the revelation of the first Skull Avenger, Marvel has confirmed the weakest member of the superteam. After 15 years since Iron Man's debut, the debate that involved Black Widow's mention of "second tier" Avengers has finally been settled.
The MCU's Skrull Reveal Confirms Rhodey Is The Worst Avenger
During the discussion about the Skrull invasion, Nick Fury explains to Rhodey why the Avengers are absent. He mentions that the Skrulls have the ability to replicate their powers and therefore believed that the Avengers could be easily replaced. This served as a clever tactic to keep the Avengers out of the Secret Invasion, as they would have quickly dealt with the attacks.
At this point, Fury is unaware of the Super-Skrull experiments being conducted by Gravik's rebels to enhance their powers. Thus, Fury's concern about the Avengers being defeated seems somewhat unnecessary. It appears to be more of a plot device to prevent further drama in the Secret Invasion storyline. If the Avengers had been involved, they would have resolved the situation early on, potentially saving Maria Hill from her unfortunate demise.
However, in episode 4 of Secret Invasion, it is revealed that Rhodey had been replaced all along, possibly even before his previous appearances in the MCU. This confirms that Marvel had excluded the other Avengers due to their perceived power, while Rhodey was not considered a significant concern. This revelation sets a rule for the writers of Secret Invasion, unintentionally revealing that Rhodey never belonged to the category of powerful heroes that needed to be kept away. Interestingly, the Skrulls did not utilize their newly acquired Avenger as a weapon in the field, indicating that Rhodey was primarily targeted for his political influence and proximity to the president. This demonstrates the significant power and status of War Machine.
Why Rhodey Was Such An Easy Target For The Skrulls
In addition, it is implied that Rhodey's replacement by a Skrull suggests that he must have been defeated by Gravik's rebel warriors long before they acquired Super-Skrull powers. However, considering how effortlessly Nick Fury and the President's military entourage defeat Super-Skrull Gravik and his counterfeit Russian strike team, it reflects poorly on Rhodey that the regular Skrulls could overpower a hero equipped with Tony Stark's technology who survived the final battle in Endgame.
In order to safeguard Rhodey's reputation, one can only hope that it will eventually be revealed that he had been a Skrull all along in the MCU, working as a well-intentioned spy before becoming radicalized by Gravik. However, such a revelation would undermine the essence of his character and give rise to further complications. Therefore, it is highly unlikely. This leaves us with the unsettling truth that Rhodey, at some point in time, was taken down by the Skrulls. It is evident that he would be a valuable target, considering his prominent position within the US government (albeit requiring some suspension of logic after his insubordination in Endgame). The question of how he was replaced then becomes relevant. Given that Rhodey had access to the robust War Machine armor, which essentially functions as a tank, it seems improbable that a battle occurred during that period. Consequently, it is more plausible that Rhodey was targeted during his civilian status.
Gravik's team has successfully defeated Agent Ross, played by Martin Freeman, despite his training. This suggests that even highly skilled and experienced humans have a slim chance of evading assimilation. Considering that Rhodey was potentially captured after the events of Endgame and prior to Falcon & The Winter Soldier, it is crucial to acknowledge that he was still coping with the loss of Tony Stark. Additionally, Rhodey's injury during the events of Civil War greatly weakened him, making him more vulnerable. It is plausible that an attack on his home, where he was without his Stark-patented leg braces, could explain why he was easily subdued for Secret Invasion.
New episodes of Secret Invasion are available every Wednesday on Disney+.
