Unraveling the Enigma: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Secret Invasion

Highlights

The creation of the Harvest raises unanswered questions in Secret Invasion, specifically regarding the inclusion of certain heroes' DNA while excluding others.

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Secret Invasion on Disney Plus. The Disney Plus series Secret Invasion not only reveals the existence of a hidden alien race on Earth but also unveils some of Nick Fury's undisclosed secrets. Throughout the six-episode limited series, the audience gains insight into Fury's personal life, including his Skrull diplomat wife and his utilization of Skrulls as a clandestine spy network. However, one of the most significant revelations involves the mysterious project known as "the Harvest."

Every MCU Character Whose DNA Is In The Harvest

Gravik's ultimate desire in the series is to attain the Harvest, which would grant him the immense power needed to dominate Earth. He believes that by acquiring the Harvest, he can eliminate any potential threats posed by heroes. This scheme originates from a strategic plan devised by Nick Fury during the events of Avengers: Endgame. Fury enlists the Skrulls to infiltrate the Battle for Earth and gather the blood shed by heroic individuals, thereby granting Gravik access to the DNA of exceptionally formidable beings. Despite its potential, Nick Fury's concept of the Harvest raises numerous intriguing inquiries within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

During their conversation in Secret Invasion Episode 5, Nick Fury and Gravik discuss the Harvest, portraying it as containing solely the DNA of Avengers heroes. Specifically, they refer to collecting DNA from the battlefield where the Avengers and their allies confronted Thanos and his army in the "battle for Earth." This presents the idea that the Harvest comprises multiple DNA samples from characters such as Hulk, Spider-Man, and Captain Marvel, among others. However, this portrayal is not entirely accurate. In reality, the Harvest consists of a single bottle containing a combination of DNA. While not all members of the Avengers contribute to this mixture, it does include the DNA of numerous other characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

During the testing of the Harvest in Secret Invasion episode 6, Gravik swiftly scans the sample and successfully identifies the DNA of 21 distinct characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While it may require a leap of faith from the audience, the array of samples is intriguing. Among them are the DNA of various Avengers, including the Hulk, Captain America, Winter Soldier, Captain Marvel, Thor, Valkyrie, Korg, Groot (referred to as Flora Colossus), Gamora, Drax, and Mantis.

The DNA of Frost Beast and Cull Obsidian is also detected, although the audience is aware that these are already registered in the Skrull computer. Additionally, DNA from Thanos, Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive, Outrider, Chitauri, and Ebony Maw is found. It is expected that these species and characters would have left DNA behind on the battlefield, considering their involvement in the conflict depicted in Avengers: Endgame. The whereabouts and circumstances under which Thanos and Captain Marvel left traces of their DNA raise some questions, as neither seemed to have visibly shed blood during the battle. However, the viewers are urged to suspend their disbelief slightly in this regard.

The final two sets of DNA included in the Harvest are characters who were never known to be at the Battle for Earth: Ava Starr’s Ghost and Emil Blonsky’s Abomination.

Why Did Fury Create The Harvest In The First Place?

It is rather worrisome that Fury's spies, who coincidentally happen to be Skrulls, are responsible for gathering all this DNA. In the MCU, Fury always strategizes for the long haul, striving to outmaneuver everyone else. Although he is surely aware that advancements in technology could lead interested parties to experiment with the DNA of any superhuman or extraterrestrial, his choice to merge all the accumulated DNA into a single concoction is peculiar.

Not only does consolidating all the harvested DNA in one place mean, but it also allows for the extraction of the most potent abilities. In the show, Captain Marvel's DNA is frequently referenced, and both Gravik and G'iah acquire her abilities as Super Skrulls, along with the abilities of other beings whose DNA is included in the Harvest. Nick Fury's decision to create the most powerful DNA concoction in the world does not appear to be his wisest plan.

Similar to previous instances in the MCU, where governments attempted to replicate the supersoldier serum, many of the heroes were born. This led to the Winter Soldier, Hulk, and others obtaining their powers, as well as the development of the Extremis serum. It seems that Nick Fury was following the same misguided path as those scientists before him – amalgamating all known substances that create or possess superpowers, hoping it could be utilized to bestow powers upon another individual. He claims to want to prevent access to the Harvest, but such prevention would not have been necessary if he had not allowed its creation in the first place.

The concept of The Harvest is extremely perilous, particularly considering the previous catastrophic attempts in the MCU to regulate the actions of superpowered individuals. It was evident that he was aware of the negative ramifications associated with acquiring and retaining that DNA.

Why Aren't Certain Characters Included In The Harvest Who Were Present At The Battle?

The Harvest in Secret Invasion contains only 21 confirmed DNA samples, representing a fraction of the individuals present at the final battle. It is logical for Nick Fury to exclude the DNA of humans who solely rely on weapons or machinery in this collection. Characters such as Iron Man, Hawkeye, Falcon (now the new Captain America), Ant-Man, Wasp, and members of the Dora Milaje possess exceptional training, but their DNA remains unchanged as it is not fundamentally altered by their use of technology or fighting skills.

In the Harvest, there are several characters who possess superpowers or modified DNA that are conspicuously absent. Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, Nebula, Rocket Racoon, Star-Lord, and Black Panther are all excluded. This exclusion is peculiar, especially considering that Peter Parker, who sustained visible injuries during the battle, was present. It is possible that the inclusion of Peter Parker's character is complicated due to Marvel's agreement to share the character with Sony. However, the remaining characters all possess superhuman abilities or extraterrestrial DNA, making their omission from the Harvest questionable.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that no magic users, such as Doctor Strange, the new Sorcerer Supreme Wong, or the Scarlet Witch, are included in the Harvest. Despite their presence on the battlefield, their DNA is not referenced. This may indicate a larger distinction between individuals whose DNA has been altered and those who possess the ability to wield magic, illustrating a division in the types of powers found in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Does This Mean Ghost And Abomination Fought In Avengers: Endgame?

The Harvest in Secret Invasion episode 6 raises the question of how the DNA of Ava Starr and Emil Blonsky ended up in it. Both characters have not been mentioned in Avengers: Endgame's Battle for Earth. However, their absence in the movie does not necessarily mean they were not there.

The last time the MCU audience saw Ava Starr was before Thanos snapped his fingers in Avengers: Infinity War. The Pym family gave her quantum energy to control her phasing powers and prevent them from killing her. Although the Pym family and Scott Lang planned to assist her, Scott became trapped in the Quantum Realm and the rest of the family disappeared in the Snap. Ava Starr is slated to appear in Thunderbolts.

It is highly likely that Ava Starr may have been recruited by someone like Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to join the fight during the years that the audience hasn't seen her. Val, as she prefers to be called, has been appearing in recent MCU projects. If Valentina managed to approach Ava during the five-year gap and somehow learned about the battle, Ava could have been sent to participate. This can be a plausible explanation.

The last time the MCU audience encountered Emil Blonsky, he was under custody in She-Hulk. However, it was evident that he had already escaped from his cell multiple times with Wong's assistance to engage in underground superpowered tournaments. Unlike Ava Starr, Emily Blonsky has not been mentioned as a potential member of the Thunderbolts. Nonetheless, it is evident that he didn't need to be affiliated with anyone for a magic user like Wong to seek his collaboration. After all, Wong was instructed to gather "everyone" for the fight, which may not have been limited to just magic users.

The retcon involving Ava Starr and Emil Blonsky being present in the Battle for Earth in Avengers: Endgame is the easiest question to address. However, the presence of the Harvest in the first place will undoubtedly leave many MCU fans questioning its purpose.

You can now stream the entirety of Secret Invasion on Disney Plus.