Mind-blowing MCU Revelation: Unmasking the Shocking Skrull Imposter Among the Avengers!

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Secret Invasion episode 4. Don Cheadle's character, Rhodey, has been revealed as a Skrull in a major twist that pays homage to Marvel Comics' concept of impostor Avengers. This revelation, although not entirely surprising considering the hints dropped throughout Phase 5 of Secret Invasion, still carries a significant impact. Rhodey, who previously served as an Avenger in Phase 2, transforms into the female Skrull Raava and instructs Priscilla Fury to kill Samuel L Jackson's character, Nick Fury. This pivotal moment raises important questions and adds to the intrigue of the episode, which also includes two other major plot twists: the survival of Emilia Clarke's character, G'iah, who turns herself into a Super-Skrull to escape certain death at the hands of Gravik, and the demise of Ben Mendelsohn's character, Talos, at the hands of a new MCU supervillain. With the loss of his most powerful allies, including Maria Hill in episode 1, Fury now faces the daunting task of defeating Gravik without the support of both Rhodey and the military. This sets the stage for an intense and uncertain future for the characters involved.

Marvel Confirms Rhodey Is A Skrull

Who Is Raava? Rhodey's Skull Replacement Explained

Having set up Rhodey as a Skrull in the initial three episodes of Secret Invasion, episode 4 took a significant turn by revealing him to be Priscilla's superior. Functioning under Gravik, the Skrull Rhodey had successfully infiltrated the United States government, strategically positioning himself close to President Ritson's inner circle. His ultimate goal was to eliminate Ritson as part of Gravik's grand scheme, which involved an explosive false flag operation. In order to carry out this plan, the Skrull Rhodey insisted that Priscilla execute her own husband. Meanwhile, despite persistent insults implying a decline in his capabilities, Fury tirelessly pursued Gravik and concurrently played a crucial role in orchestrating the attempted assassination on Ritson. This operation was cunningly staged as a retaliatory Russian mission, seeking vengeance for the devastating terrorist attack in Moscow that claimed the lives of thousands, including Cobie Smulder's character, Maria Hill.

The Skrull imposter of Rhodey is revealed to be a female alien named Raava. She is portrayed by Nisha Aaliya, a British actress known for her appearances in Ghosts, Emmerdale, and The Girl On The Train remake in 2021. Fans of Marvel Comics may recognize Raava from Black Bolt #1 (2017), where she is depicted as a Skrull prisoner named Raava The Unskrulled, helping Black Bolt escape from a space prison. Interestingly, Raava was initially a renegade Skrull who turned against the Skrull Empire after her children were murdered. However, Secret Invasion reimagines her backstory, turning her into a devoted follower of Gravik.

How Long Rhodey Has Been A Skrull In the MCU

Just like Martin Freeman's Agent Ross being revealed as a Skrull in episode 1 of Secret Invasion, the biggest question surrounding Rhodey Skrull is when exactly the imposter took over. Additionally, there are other factors to consider: where is the real Rhodey? Was he still the genuine Rhodey during the events of Avengers: Endgame? Presumably, the real Rhodey will be captured and kept in one of the Skrull pods in New Skrullos, although he cannot be hidden with the other high-profile targets due to G'iah potentially warning Talos and Nick Fury about Rhodey's true identity prior to the revelation. Consequently, he must be concealed in another location.

Determining how long ago Rhodey was replaced by the Skrull is a more intricate matter. Upon reviewing Avengers: Endgame, Rhodey appears to be his authentic self. He remains loyal to the Avengers, playing a crucial role in defeating Thanos and the Black Order, with no indication of sabotage from within. It is conceivable that Rhodey's Skrull replacement was not yet under Gravik's extreme influence and was simply a strategic target chosen by the benevolent Skrull council. However, this scenario does not align with the relationship between Nick Fury and Talos, as both would logically oppose replacing an Avenger.

War Machine's replacement likely occurred after Iron Man's death in Endgame. This would provide a possible explanation for the events in Armor Wars, where Rhodey is seen trying to rectify the situation caused by Stark's technology falling into the wrong hands. If he was replaced after Stark's demise and Skrull Rhodey focused on his political career to gain proximity to the president, the theft of Stark tech would go unnoticed. This would also clarify the contradiction between Rhodey's rise in the US government and his insubordination to General Ross in Endgame. Tune in every Wednesday on Disney+ for new episodes of Secret Invasion.