The Ultimate Marvel Crossover: Why Secret Invasion Deserved to be Avengers 5

WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1 of Secret Invasion.

Marvel Studios' Secret Invasion has had a successful debut on Disney+. However, if it had been reimagined as the plot for Avengers 5, known as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, it could have been even more remarkable. Secret Invasion centers around Nick Fury, portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson, as he returns to Earth after being away in space following the Blip. He is urgently called back by Talos and Maria Hill to help thwart a Skrull invasion. The Skrulls, who have the ability to shape-shift, introduce an element of distrust and suspicion, making it a thrilling cat-and-mouse game for our beloved heroes.

9 Secret Invasion's Setup Is Less Rushed Than Kang's

The cast of Secret Invasion brings an extraordinary energy to the small screen, but the series' ambitious plot would have been better suited as Avengers 5. In the comics, a wide range of Marvel heroes were involved, which unfortunately couldn't be fully realized on Disney+. As a result, the story feels slightly diminished, missing out on the thrill of discovering which hero could potentially be a Skrull. With a broader scope and the title of Avengers 5, Secret Invasion could have truly excelled and allowed for the full exploration of its captivating elements.

Captain Marvel set up the plot for Secret Invasion in 2019. Unlike the comics, where the Skrulls are usually portrayed as villains, the movie showed them in a more positive light, with the Kree being the antagonists. At the end of the film, Fury and Carol Danvers promised to find a new home for the Skrulls. However, 30 years later in the MCU, Fury's mission to find a suitable planet for the Skrulls has been unsuccessful so far. This failure leads Gravik, played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, to initiate a Skrull invasion on Earth and attempt to take over the planet.

8 Secret Invasion Would Avoid Kang's Comparisons To Thanos

While Thanos was the primary antagonist throughout the Infinity Saga, it took time for him to become the central threat in an Avengers film. The Avengers films initially featured Loki as the main villain, and then shifted focus to Tony Stark and Bruce Banner's creation Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron. However, Thanos eventually took the spotlight in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Following the footsteps of the MCU's greatest villain is no easy feat, and instead of focusing on the various versions of Kang in Avengers 5, it would be wiser to tackle a different kind of threat, like the one presented in Secret Invasion, to avoid inevitable comparisons to Thanos right from the start.

7 Civil War Proved Avengers vs Avengers Battles Can Be Incredible

6 The MCU Multiverse Is Already Too Complex

The visually stunning and emotionally charged battles among the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War demonstrated their incredible power. Avengers 5, centered around the Secret Invasion storyline, could have capitalized on this concept. In this plot, the Avengers would face infiltration by the Skrulls, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty as they struggle to identify the enemy within their own ranks. This would inevitably lead to chaos and numerous clashes among the team members. With a fresh lineup of heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this storyline would present a captivating twist reminiscent of the conflicts seen in Captain America: Civil War.

The rules of Marvel's multiverse in the MCU have become increasingly complex, causing difficulties for many in distinguishing between time travel, alternate dimensions, and different realities as the Multiverse Saga progresses. It is important to note that the concept of the multiverse has also become tiresome. Following disappointing performances at the box office for films like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and even DC's The Flash, audience enthusiasm for the multiverse is dwindling. This is concerning considering that the Multiverse Saga in the MCU still has several more years to go. In contrast, Secret Invasion would have injected freshness into Avengers 5 by focusing on a more intimate and personal narrative.

5 Secret Invasion's First Big Death Deserved More

Secret Invasion episode 1's conclusion witnessed the demise of Maria Hill portrayed by Cobie Smulders. Hill, who had been a part of the MCU since 2012's The Avengers and served as Fury's most trusted companion, deserved a more grandiose farewell than what was depicted in the show. If the character had met a fate similar to Phil Coulson in The Avengers, it would have had a significant impact on Avengers 5. The Secret Invasion narrative unfolding on the big screen would have provided a more fitting and poignant conclusion for this beloved, longstanding character in the MCU.

4 Avengers Movies Can't Only Get Bigger Each Time (They Need More)

The Avengers films are constantly pushing the boundaries of grandeur. However, there comes a point where sustaining this level of spectacle becomes challenging, which is the predicament faced by Tom Holland's Spider-Man 4. Outperforming the scale of Spider-Man: No Way Home seems nearly impossible. To keep things fresh and engaging, the Avengers movies must venture into different realms, encompassing varied scopes, tones, stakes, and more. The inclusion of Secret Invasion's narrative marks a noteworthy direction in this regard. It offers a vastly distinctive storytelling style compared to Avengers: Endgame while also setting the stage for future installations like The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.

3 There's No Avengers Setup In Kang Dynasty

2 Secret Invasion Could Change The MCU's Past, Kang Can't

While Kang the Conqueror has emerged as a formidable adversary for Ant-Man, and has even caused trouble for Loki in both the first and upcoming second season of his series, he lacks a significant connection to the other members of the Avengers. The only thing tying them together is the potential threat to the multiverse. It would have been a wiser choice for the Avengers to reunite and face a more personal threat that directly affects all of them, similar to the storyline presented in Secret Invasion. This would have served as a more fitting next step for the team.

The utilization of Secret Invasion in Avengers 5 could have been an opportunity to reshape the MCU's past, as the movie would uncover that certain pivotal moments in Marvel's storyline were influenced by the Skrulls masquerading as beloved superheroes. A fresh perspective would shed light on decisions that previously seemed perplexing, as the infiltration of the Avengers by Skrulls would significantly alter the entire narrative. By unveiling that some Avengers were covertly replaced by Skrulls long ago, Secret Invasion would become an epic crossover event worthy of a theatrical experience.

1 Disney+ Could Never Adapt Secret Invasion's Comic Properly

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The storyline of Secret Invasion in the comics is too expansive to be adapted adequately for Disney+. A movie would be better suited to do justice to this story. Marvel Studios recognized this and decided to focus on Nick Fury, transforming the series into a more intimate narrative rather than a large-scale crossover event within the MCU. Nick Fury certainly deserves his own project, considering he initiated the MCU by assembling the Avengers. However, choosing to make a series meant sacrificing the possibility of a more faithful rendition of one of the most significant comic book events. Although Avengers 5 could have offered a more accurate portrayal of Secret Invasion in cinemas, the series has the potential to be unique in its own right.