The Ultimate Guide to Understanding the Kree in Marvel Comics

The Marvel Cinematic Universe boasts an array of fictional races that inhabit its various star systems and dimensions. While some, like the Hundun in Shang-Chi, are benevolent, others, such as Uatu and the Watchers, remain enigmatic voyeurs despite their incredible power.

Of all the races in the MCU, the Kree and their galactic empire arguably hold the most influence, with the exception of Earth's humans. Curious about these blue-skinned space conquerors and their prevalence in the MCU? With The Marvels set to introduce a new Kree villain, there's no better time to delve deeper.

When Have the Kree Appeared in the MCU?

The Kree, a militaristic race with blue skin, originated from the planet Hala, as depicted in both the Marvel comics and films. They created the Supreme Intelligence, an AI composed of the greatest minds in their empire, millions of years ago to lead their civilization. In the MCU, the Supreme Intelligence is too vast for mortals to comprehend, and when a Kree communicates with it, it takes on the form of someone that person respects the most. The Kree view the AI as a deity and strictly follow its words, considering any deviation from its will as sinful and any contradiction as heresy.

The Supreme Intelligence guided the Kree to conquer extensive parts of the galaxy, leading to the establishment of a brutal, fascist empire. The Kree Empire controlled information strictly, feeding its citizens propaganda that suited its imperial agenda. Often, this propaganda involved justifying wars and genocide with xenophobic and aggressive social programming.

Naturally, as the empire expanded, it faced opposition from rival factions such as the Nova and the Skrull. To combat these threats, the empire raised massive armies consisting of both regular troops and specialized units. Among these units, the "Accusers" stood out as the most renowned. Comprised of military jurists and shock troopers, they fulfilled the role of judge, jury, and executioner for those deemed enemies of the state.

In Guardians of the Galaxy, the Kree made their first appearance in the MCU as Ronan, a Kree "Accuser," violates the peace treaty with the Nova by waging a genocidal war. Ronan believes that the treaty is a shameful deviation from Kree tradition and seeks to restore his people's honor by making a deal with Thanos. Thanos agrees to destroy the Nova homeworld in exchange for Ronan bringing him the Power stone and furthering his plans to create "balance" in the galaxy. Prior to the events of the film, Ronan had been attacking settlements within Nova space, and the Kree refused to intervene when Nova Prime asked for their help, indicating their support for Ronan's actions.

In Captain Marvel, the Kree played a significant role in the origin story of the MCU's most formidable hero. Brie Larson portrayed Carol Danvers, a Starforce team member who suffered from amnesia and possessed metahuman abilities. As the plot progressed, it was revealed that Danvers was not a Kree entity, but a human who had been infused with cosmic powers when an experimental engine, fueled by the Space Stone, exploded in her face.

Mar-Vell defected from the Kree Empire after discovering that her people were the true aggressors in the Kree-Skrull conflict. In the 1990s, she arrived on Earth and posed as a human physicist, working on a prototype engine for the U.S. military. However, her true intention was to use the Space Stone to create a light speed engine that would help Skrull refugees escape the Kree and find a new home. During the program, Carol Danvers was selected as one of the pilots. When the Kree attacked during a test flight, Yon-Rogg witnessed Danvers bond with the Space Stone's cosmic energy. He spared her life and took her back to Hala, where her memories were erased, and she was enlisted in the Kree armed forces. Like Mar-Vell, after years of fighting Skrulls for the Kree, Danvers learned the truth about the Kree Empire's genocidal war against the Skrulls and defected to become Captain Marvel.

The television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a valuable source of information on the history of the Kree Empire, despite having been removed from the main canon. Although no longer considered part of the main MCU timeline, many fans still hold it dear. The show reveals that the Inhumans, the species to which Ms. Marvel's Kamala Khan originally belonged, were created thousands of years ago by rogue Kree scientists. The Kree had dispatched scientific teams throughout the galaxy in search of alien species to experiment on, hoping to create bioweapons. Although the project was eventually shut down, the Inhuman gene had already been passed on to the human race, lying dormant and waiting to be activated. It remains to be seen whether the entire history of Kree experimentation has been completely erased from the canon, and some fans are hoping for more Inhuman-related content in the Multiverse of Madness, which includes characters like Blackbolt.

Are the Kree Good or Evil?

The Kree have been portrayed as the villains in the MCU so far. Their empire is driven by imperialist expansion and the complete destruction of any race that opposes them. State-sponsored propaganda and social programming ensure that the majority of their citizens never question the empire's cause. This includes the genocide of the Skrull race, who were annihilated by the Kree when they refused to submit to their rule. The Kree also fear the Skrulls' shapeshifting abilities, leading them to relentlessly hunt down and eliminate every surviving Skrull. It remains to be seen if the Kree will be portrayed beyond their fascist empire, but for now, they are synonymous with evil.

How do the Kree Connect to The Marvels?

The Kree Empire is expected to have a significant impact on Nia DaCosta's The Marvels, slated to debut in November. With two of the three titular Marvels having direct ties to the Kree, the film will likely delve deeper into their origins. While Captain Marvel's Kree background is well-known, Ms. Marvel's connection is still shrouded in mystery. Her bangle, which bears the same Kree symbol as her idol Carol Danvers, was discovered in an ancient temple along with the remains of a Kree. The movie may explore the origins of the bangle and even shed light on the creation of mutants, as Kamala is the first confirmed mutant in the franchise. Moreover, the film's primary antagonist, Zawe Ashton's Dar-Benn, is a lesser-known villain who appears to be a Kree Accuser in this rendition. As a result, the Kree will once again disrupt the MCU's status quo on November 10, 2023.