Unveiling Marvel's Untapped Superpower Solution That Could Revolutionize the MCU
Marvel's Secret Invasion introduces G'iah, a powerful character causing a superpower problem in the MCU However, the article explores how Marvel missed an opportunity to address this issue using a clever solution from their comics and set up the Fantastic Four in the process
Summary
Secret Invasion introduced the Super Skrulls to Phase 5 of the MCU, but failed to include their weakness from the Marvel Comics version.
The final episode of Secret Invasion received backlash due to its CGI battle and the excessive dominance of characters like G'iah, potentially establishing her as the most formidable character in the MCU. Additionally, the series failed to capitalize on a chance to introduce the Fantastic Four into the MCU by not alluding to cosmic rays, which is the source of the team's abilities in the comic books.
Despite including the Super Skrulls in Phase 5 of the MCU, Secret Invasion failed to incorporate their main weakness from the Marvel Comics. Throughout the series, Secret Invasion hinted at the arrival of the Super Skrulls in the MCU, particularly in Samuel L. Jackson's Disney+ show "Nick Fury," which concluded on July 26, 2023. It was revealed early on that Gravik, the Skrull rebellion leader played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, had enhanced himself with genetic material from Groot, Thor's Frost Beast, Cull Obsidian, and the Extremis from Iron Man 3. In the finale of Secret Invasion, both Gravik and Emilia Clarke's G'iah became Super Skrulls, with enhanced abilities borrowed from various prominent characters in the MCU.
The MCU's Super Skrulls are based on Marvel Comics' character Kl'rt, who first appeared in Fantastic Four #18 in 1963. In the comics, Kl'rt was a decorated Skrull warrior chosen to possess the combined powers of the Fantastic Four in an attempt to defeat them. However, since the Fantastic Four have not yet been introduced in the MCU, Secret Invasion's Super Skrulls were instead augmented with DNA samples obtained after the final battle in Avengers: Endgame, which included individuals such as Captain America, Thanos, the Hulk, and Captain Marvel. As a result, Secret Invasion's version of the Super Skrull possesses different abilities and weaknesses compared to its comic book counterpart.
Secret Invasion Made G'iah Too Powerful
Following its finale, Secret Invasion quickly became the lowest-rated Disney+ series in the MCU. The final episode drew criticism for its portrayal of Gravik and G'iah, as their CGI battle took away from the emotional depth and grounded nature of the series. Despite the backlash, episode 6, titled "Home," introduced two immensely powerful characters to the MCU. G'iah, having defeated Gravik, now stands as the sole Super Skrull in the MCU. Notably, she may also be the most powerful character in the entire MCU.
Hidden within the Harvest, a highly sought-after vial concealed by Nick Fury after the Battle of Earth, are DNA samples from various impressive MCU individuals. This collection includes super soldiers like Captain America, the Winter Soldier, and Abomination, members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, and even Thanos' Black Order and Thanos himself. Furthermore, G'iah's incredible abilities, fueled by the cosmic Tesseract and enhanced by Captain Marvel's powers, solidify her status as the most overwhelmingly dominant character in the MCU. To top it off, it remains uncertain whether G'iah possesses any weaknesses, setting her apart from her Marvel Comics counterpart.
Marvel Comics Had The Perfect Answer To Fixing G'iah's Power Problem
Unlike G'iah in Secret Invasion, whose DNA was altered to give her abilities, Marvel Comics' creation of the Super Skrull, Kl'rt, had a different approach. Kl'rt's abilities were not innate; instead, they were enhanced by a power energy beam that connected him to the Skrull homeworld, regardless of his location. This connection allowed Kl'rt to possess the powers of the Fantastic Four and challenge Marvel's First Family, ultimately leading to the emergence of a new Skrull Empire. While the Super Skrull wielded immense power in Marvel Comics, his reliance on the energy beam created a weakness that the Fantastic Four could exploit.
In Fantastic Four #18 from 1963, the team managed to capture and imprison Kl'rt by attaching a device that blocked the energy beam, thus preventing him from utilizing his abilities. A similar approach could have been effective in addressing G'iah's overpowering presence in Phase 5 of the MCU. Despite G'iah's intentions to use her powers for good, her rapid ascension as the MCU's most formidable character poses a potential challenge for Earth's Mightiest Heroes or the Fantastic Four in future projects. To resolve this issue, Secret Invasion could have introduced a limitation to G'iah's powers through an energy beam, yet this opportunity was missed.
Secret Invasion Missed A Chance To Set Up The MCU's Fantastic Four
It made logical sense to modify the Super Skrull's abilities to suit the MCU in Secret Invasion. Introducing the powers of the Fantastic Four before their official debut would have been illogical. However, if Secret Invasion had introduced the concept of cosmic energy empowering the Super Skrulls, it could have subtly alluded to the arrival of the Marvel's First Family. In the Marvel Comics, the Fantastic Four obtain their powers through exposure to cosmic rays during a space mission. Therefore, subtly mentioning cosmic rays in Secret Invasion could have effectively laid the foundation for the Fantastic Four's introduction in the MCU.
