Warning! The second episode of Secret Invasion contains spoilers.
In Marvel's Secret Invasion, the true villains are revealed to be shape-shifting Skrulls. They are plotting to forcefully claim Earth as their own, led by their Skrull General, Gravik. Tired of Nick Fury's unfulfilled promises to find them a new home, a growing faction of Skrulls intends to take Earth. But Gravik's plans go beyond inciting World War III, and it surprisingly involves Guardians of the Galaxy's Groot, the massive plant-like creature.
What The Skrulls Are Making In Secret Invasion
: The revelation in the premiere episode of Secret Invasion shows that Gravik has intentions of instigating a nuclear war between the United States and Russia. This strategic move would greatly favor the Skrulls, as their shape-shifting abilities make them immune to radiation, positioning them as the dominant force on Earth. However, the second episode of Secret Invasion confirms that provoking war is just the initial phase of Gravik's grand plan. Consequently, it appears that the Skrulls are on the brink of attaining unprecedented power in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.In the second episode of Secret Invasion, Emilia Clarke's character, Talos' daughter Gi'ah, stumbles upon a secret laboratory housing a massive machine. Inside, the villain Gravik employs two scientists to conduct experiments using various DNA samples collected by the Skrulls. Gi'ah becomes intrigued when she learns about the Harvest, a project requiring more unique DNA samples. Determined to uncover more information, Gi'ah searches the Skrulls' database for a scientist named Doctor Rosa Dalton, eventually discovering a comprehensive list of DNA samples already obtained by Gravik.
Marvel Comics' Super-Skrulls Explained
In addition to Groot's DNA, Gravik has acquired various other samples for his experiments. These include the Frost Beast from Jotunheim, which appeared in Thor: The Dark World's final scenes. Gravik also possesses the severed hand of Cull Obsidian, a member of Thanos' Black Order who met his demise at the hands of Bruce Banner in the Hulkbuster armor during Avengers: Infinity War. Additionally, there is a sample taken from an Extremis soldier featured in Iron Man 3. It is evident that Gravik aims to develop the MCU's own version of Super-Skrulls, potentially equipping him with an advantage if any of the Avengers attempt to unite and interfere in his battle against humanity.
Initially, in the original Marvel comics, there was only one Super-Skrull known as Kl'rt. He was bestowed with the combined powers of the entire Fantastic Four and sent as a sort of honor guard before the Skrull Empire's planned invasion of Earth. However, Kl'rt faced repeated defeats at the hands of Marvel's First Family, which eventually prompted the creation of several additional Super-Skrulls leading up to the original Secret Invasion event.
While Kl'rt stands out as one of the most renowned Super-Skrulls, another notable figure emerged who goes by the name of Paibok, also recognized as the Power Skrull. However, it is important to note that there were numerous Super-Skrulls bestowed with the ability to imitate a diverse range of Earth's heroes. Among them was Rl'nnd, who possessed the combined powers of Colossus, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Cyclops from the X-Men. Equally intriguing was an unnamed Super-Skrull who acquired the combined powers of Spider-Man's adversaries: Sandman, Hydroman, Rhino, Electro, Venom, and Lizard. This amalgamation resulted in an individual capable of embodying his own version of the Sinister Six.
Every Power The Super Skrulls Will Have In The MCU
The DNA samples confirmed in Marvel's Secret Invasion suggest that the Skrulls possess a combination of abilities from the original Super-Skrull and the Power Skrull. In place of Reed Richards' elasticity powers, Groot is expected to provide stretching and growing abilities. Both Groot and Cull Obsidian contribute to an increased level of strength. Durability and endurance enhancements are likely to come from the Frost Beast, along with the power of ice generation possessed by the Power Skrull in the comic books.
The return of Extremis in Secret Invasion is expected to be a captivating development. It has the potential to serve multiple purposes, such as being a vehicle for Kl'rt to exhibit the Human Torch's fire abilities from the comics, or even as a means for the Power Skrull to showcase their bio-electric projection capability. Extremis, known for its ability to rapidly heal limbs and more by harnessing the body's bioelectric power, was notorious for its volatile nature in the hands of humans, owing to its potentially explosive side effects. Consequently, it is reasonable to assume that Secret Invasion will continue to explore and replicate additional powers through DNA samples.
Secret Invasion Already Spoiled The Super Skrull Experiment
While fans had a blast confirming Groot's involvement in Secret Invasion, their excitement was somewhat dampened by the trailers and promotions for the new Marvel show. now, we know that it's just a matter of time before Gravik puts himself through the experiment and gains powers of his own (if he hasn't already done so off-screen). Nevertheless, it's a stunning revelation that highlights the true danger posed by Gravik's Skrulls. These shape-shifters have infiltrated every level of society and government, positioning agents across the globe. And now they're arming themselves with superpowers, just in case any of the Avengers dare to assemble against them.
Nick Fury's mission to fight this new war on his own just became significantly more challenging. The Skrulls' ability to shape-shift poses a real threat to the MCU, but Fury had initially formed an alliance with them when they arrived on Earth as refugees. Unfortunately, broken promises and a lack of a permanent home after 30 years have driven the Skrulls to take matters into their own hands, augmenting their power through artificial means in order to claim Earth for themselves.
It is crucial for Nick Fury to intervene and prevent the Super-Skrull experiments from empowering too many shape-shifters. With limited allies at his disposal, Fury will have to rely on those he has left, even if they are not the Avengers. Marvel's Secret Invasion is clearly a war that cannot be won by a lone gunslinger like Fury, especially when dealing with super-powered Skrulls.