Mind-Blowing Villains & Epic Storylines: Marvel Sets the Stage for Thor 5 like You've Never Imagined!

Summary

After the Skrull invasion, there is a pervasive sense of paranoia and fear towards aliens, which could potentially reset the MCU to its Phase 1 status quo. Marvel's Siege storyline presents an ideal narrative for Thor 5, shifting focus back to Earth and possibly reuniting Thor with the Avengers. This compelling story could also be explored in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

Secret Invasion concluded by introducing potential storylines and characters for the MCU, with a focus on a potential Thor 5 narrative. In contrast to the original comic book, Marvel's Secret Invasion series remained confined to its own standalone adventure, separate from the Avengers and Earth's other forces. Nonetheless, the finale of Secret Invasion will have implications for the future of the MCU, particularly since the Skrull crisis has not been entirely resolved. Furthermore, the impact of the Skrulls' secret invasion has only just begun to be felt.

On one hand, Secret Invasion's conclusion brought resolution to its main conflict. Gravik has been defeated, and the Skrull Insurgence's plan to destroy and claim Earth has failed. Additionally, the humans who were replaced by Skrulls, including James Rhodes and Everett Ross, have been saved. On the other hand, Fury has yet to fully fulfill his promise to the Skrulls, and Earth must now navigate the aftermath of the secret invasion. The planet's lingering paranoia as a result of the Skrulls' attack can seamlessly transition into other Marvel stories, including one that positions Thor and the Asgardians as adversaries.

Secret Invasion Makes Thor's Asgardians The Enemy

During Secret Invasion's conclusion, U.S. President Ritson made a significant announcement, declaring a war on all extraterrestrials on Earth in response to the Skrulls' attempted attack. Ritson introduced an urgent bill classifying "all off-world species" as "enemy combatants," thereby designating not just the Skrulls, but every alien on Earth as enemies of the United States. This action raises concerns as it fails to consider that many Skrulls were not involved in Gravik's Insurrection, and there are numerous aliens from different species residing on Earth who had nothing to do with the Skrull invasion.

One such group is the Asgardians, who have established their home on Earth since Avengers: Endgame. After the destruction of Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok, Thor relocated his people to New Asgard in Tønsberg, Norway, currently governed by Valkyrie. The Asgardians fall under the category of "off-world species" as stated in President Ritson's bill, consequently making them official enemies of the United States. If other nations were to adopt Ritson's decision from Secret Invasion, all aliens on Earth could potentially be viewed as enemies worldwide. This includes the Asgardians, despite their peaceful coexistence with humans for over five years.

Phase 5 Has Created The Perfect Backstory For Siege

Marvel Comics' Siege was the culmination of the Dark Reign storyline. It showcased Norman Osborn's transformation from a reformed villain to one of the world's most influential and powerful individuals. After his role in saving Earth from the Skrulls in Secret Invasion, Osborn gained significant political power and replaced SHIELD with his organization HAMMER. Later, he attempted to manipulate the President into viewing New Asgard as a threat to the country and the world, similar to the conclusion of Secret Invasion.

However, the absence of a Norman Osborn figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) poses a challenge. Spider-Man: No Way Home indicated that Oscorp does not exist in the MCU's main timeline, making it unlikely for a Earth-616 version of Osborn to appear anytime soon. Nonetheless, a Dark Reign/Siege storyline exploring the aftermath of Secret Invasion, where traditional superheroes lose their political influence amid fear and paranoia, can still be compelling without Osborn. In Captain America: Brave New World, it has been revealed that Thunderbolt Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford, will become the President. This opens the door for characters like Ross and Valentina to fulfill the Osborn-equivalent role in Captain America 4 and Thunderbolts.

Why Siege Would Be Perfect For Thor 5's Story

A comic-accurate adaptation of Marvel’s Siege may not be feasible in the MCU due to many characters not yet being part of the franchise. However, the concept of this comic would be ideal for Thor 5's storyline. It's crucial to remember that Nick Fury's attempt to weaponize the Tesseract was primarily driven by Thor's arrival on Earth years ago. Fury believed that Earth needed protection after witnessing Thor's battle with Loki, resulting in widespread destruction and setting the stage for The Avengers. Fast forward a few years, Asgard peacefully established itself on Earth as its new home.

To bring Thor's MCU journey full circle, it would be compelling to portray the governments of the world labeling Asgard and other aliens as enemies. After experiencing a period where heroes in armor, sorcerers, radioactive individuals, and aliens were revered as superheroes, Secret Invasion could overturn the MCU's status quo back to how it was during Phase 1. The Skrulls' attack could trigger paranoia surrounding future alien invasions, rendering the planet unsafe for Asgardians. This would undoubtedly draw Thor's attention back to Earth, ultimately leading to his reunion with the Avengers. Even if Thor 5 is not in the immediate pipeline, this storyline could be explored in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.