The DCEU Outdid Marvel: Revealing an Unbelievable Twist in Their Move Toward Phase 5, a Year Ahead of the MCU!

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Secret Invasion. James Gunn's Peacemaker unveiled an undisclosed alien invasion in the DCEU, a year prior to Marvel's portrayal of the Skrulls in the MCU's Secret Invasion. Marvel's Skrulls have been a well-known extraterrestrial race ever since their introduction in Fantastic Four #2 in 1962. Over the years, they have been featured in numerous storylines and even had their own Marvel event in 2007 called Secret Invasion. Fast forward 16 years later, the MCU brings this event to life with Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury as the leading character, revealing that millions of Skrulls had covertly infiltrated Earth several decades ago.

The MCU had already teased the Skrull's invasion in Captain Marvel, where their backstory in the MCU was explained. In contrast to their original portrayal as villains in Marvel Comics, the MCU's Skrulls were depicted as cosmic nomads in search of a safe haven after their home planet was devastated by the Kree. However, after 30 years, a faction of Skrulls sets their sights on conquering Earth by assuming human identities and sowing chaos from influential positions. If this premise seems familiar, it's because DC had already utilized it in the 2022 DCEU series Peacemaker.

Peacemaker Season 1 Was The DCEU's Secret Invasion In 2022

In Peacemaker, John Cena's character, Christopher Smith, undertakes a classified operation titled "Project Butterfly" for ARGUS. The objective of this covert mission is to eliminate extraterrestrial beings that have infiltrated Earth and assumed the identities of numerous humans. These beings, known as Butterflies, possess superior strength, speed, and durability compared to ordinary humans, making it incredibly challenging to identify them. Moreover, they possess the ability to acquire the memories and personalities of their human victims, allowing them to seamlessly mimic their behavior by accessing their brain function. Similar to the character Nick Fury in Secret Invasion, Peacemaker must exercise caution when placing his trust, as his partner Clemson Murn is ultimately revealed to be a disguised Butterfly.

Why Peacemaker Season 1 Didn't Ruin Secret Invasion

While Secret Invasion and Peacemaker share some striking similarities in their plots, there are distinct enough variations that prevent any clear overlap. Secret Invasion unfolds as a deliberate and suspenseful mystery thriller, centering on the trials of an older Nick Fury as he rebuilds his life and outsmarts the cunning Skrulls. On the other hand, Peacemaker presents itself as a comedic action tale, revolving around the journey of anti-hero Christopher Smith as he harnesses his raw strength for noble causes. Furthermore, Secret Invasion delves into the Skrulls' intricate character development, complete with conflicting motivations and layered backstories, whereas Peacemaker primarily explores the robotic Butterflies driven solely by instinctual survival.

Peacemaker and Secret Invasion emanate storytelling approaches that diverge so greatly from each other, avoiding any semblance of one show imitating the other. To illustrate, while Peacemaker captivates with its spirited introductory dance sequence, Secret Invasion captivates through its unnerving AI-generated opening credits. In a similar vein to how Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 and The Suicide Squad share a common premise, and Captain America: Civil War and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice showcase a similar conflict, DC's Peacemaker and Marvel's Secret Invasion delve into the realm of parallel villains and enigmatic plots, each offering distinct perspectives.