Unveiling Marvel's Shocking New Supervillain: A Threat More Terrifying Than Thanos in Phase 5!
Introducing Gravik, the formidable supervillain of MCU's Phase 5 With an unstoppable power granted by Extremis, Gravik has slain two heroes and cunningly replaced an Avenger Unlike Thanos, Gravik seeks to bring an end to humanity, posing an even greater threat to the world Brace yourselves for a new era of villainy
Warning: This article includes spoilers for Episode 4 of Secret Invasion, titled "Beloved." Marvel Studios has introduced a villain in Phase 5's Secret Invasion who surpasses the power of Thanos. Samuel L. Jackson reprised his role as Nick Fury in Secret Invasion on Disney+, returning to Earth to address a Skrull uprising led by Kingsley Ben-Adir's Gravik. Since Fury and Carol Danvers failed to fulfill their promise of finding a new home for the Skrulls, Gravik and his rebel forces are planning to wipe out humanity and claim Earth as their own. The Skrulls' ability to shape-shift into any living being makes this a frighteningly simple task, and Secret Invasion demonstrates the extreme measures the Skrull rebels are willing to take in order to achieve their objectives.
Episode 4 of Secret Invasion, "Beloved," premiered on July 12, 2023, providing further insight into Fury's personal life and his relationship with Charlayne Woodard's Priscilla. Additionally, it showcased Gravik's progress in his plans, as he orchestrated an attempt to assassinate President Ritson of the United States. "Beloved" exhibited Gravik's newfound superpowers, obtained through the "Super Skrull" machine, which granted him abilities from Groot, Thor: The Dark World's Frost Beast, Cull Obsidian, and Iron Man 3's Extremis. With this combined power, he becomes an exceptionally formidable adversary for Fury, as well as for Talos, portrayed by Ben Mendelsohn. Moreover, Gravik's destructive agenda renders him even more hazardous than the primary villain of the Infinity Saga, the Mad Titan Thanos.
Gravik Can't Be Killed Thanks To Extremis
After teasing the inclusion of Extremis in Secret Invasion episode 2, "Betrayed" in episode 3 showcased its true value. Gravik, wounded after a heated discussion with Talos, used Extremis to heal his hand. Although introduced in Iron Man 3, Extremis had been forgotten until its brief appearance in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Now, Extremis plays a crucial part in Gravik's plan for global annihilation, as demonstrated in Secret Invasion episode 4. It is revealed that Extremis has made Gravik nearly indestructible.
The conclusion of Secret Invasion episode 4 sets the stage for a battle between the President's security detail and Gravik's Skrulls disguised as Russian soldiers. In this confrontation, Talos is killed by Gravik. In retaliation, Fury shoots Gravik in the chest and face, but the rebel Skrull General rapidly recovers thanks to Extremis. Gravik's seemingly unkillable nature makes him an even more formidable enemy, drawing comparisons to Thanos in the MCU - a character notoriously difficult to defeat. While Extremis soldiers have been eliminated in the past, there is still a glimmer of hope for Gravik's downfall. However, it will require unconventional methods.
Gravik Killed 2 Heroes & Replaced An Avenger
In Secret Invasion, Gravik has proven himself as a relentless and deadly warrior. In a surprising turn of events, he assumed the identity of Nick Fury and killed Maria Hill. He also seemingly killed G'iah and emerged victorious in a final battle against Talos. Gravik's ruthless nature stands in contrast to Thanos, who only killed when necessary.
Furthermore, episode 4 of Secret Invasion revealed that James "Rhodey" Rhodes, also known as War Machine, is actually a Skrull. This confirmation supports theories that arose after the ambiguous ending of episode 3. It remains unclear how long Rhodey has been a Skrull, but his infiltration within the Avengers suggests that Gravik will possess crucial information. This revelation is a significant moment for Secret Invasion and will undoubtedly impact the future of the MCU.
Thanos Wanted To Save Humanity, Gravik Wants To End It
Gravik's immense power in Secret Invasion has already established him as a formidable adversary, possibly equal to the Mad Titan Thanos. However, there is a crucial distinction that sets these two supervillains apart. In the Infinity Saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially in Avengers: Infinity War released in 2018, Thanos aimed to acquire the six Infinity Stones and eradicate half of the universe's population, with the intention of preserving resources and safeguarding the remaining half. On the other hand, Gravik harbors no intention of sparing any humans in his pursuit for a new home. In fact, he desires to completely annihilate the entire species, enabling the Skrulls to claim Earth as their own.
This contrast makes Gravik even more terrifying than Thanos. While the Mad Titan possessed a glimmer of compassion for the people who would be left behind, hoping they would thrive following his snap of the fingers in Infinity War, Gravik lacks such motivation. His sole objective is to witness the destruction of humanity as an act of revenge, driven by selfish desires to transform Earth into the Skrulls' own realm, without any inclination to negotiate or find a middle ground. As Gravik continues to exhibit his overwhelming power by eliminating Fury's allies, it becomes difficult to fathom how Fury might impede him. The portrayal of Gravik in Secret Invasion truly solidifies him as a truly terrifying villain.
New episodes of Secret Invasion release every Wednesday on Disney+.
