The events of 2008's Secret Invasion completely destabilized the Marvel Universe. A good number of key heroes were replaced by Skrulls in a plot to take over the Earth that saw the aliens place agents with almost every major Marvel team.
And now, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to face its own Secret Invasion in an upcoming Disney+ series starring Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury. But before that happens, we're taking a look back at some of the most noteworthy heroes the Skrulls relaced in the original Secret Invasion crossover.
Elektra
Elektra was the first of many Skrulls to be revealed, heralding the beginning of the Skrull invasion. In 2007's New Avengers #31, by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu, "Elektra" was killed by Echo during a battle with the New Avengers. It was revealed in 2008's Mighty Avengers #16, by Brian Michael Bendis and Khoi Pham, that Elektra was immobilized and replaced by the Skrulls months earlier. The Skrull who replaced Elektra was chosen specifically so she could die, revealing the Skrull infiltration and sowing the seeds of mistrust among Marvel's heroes.
Black Bolt
In 2008's New Avengers: The Illuminati #5, by Brian Michael Bendis and Jim Cheung, Iron Man brought "Elektra's" corpse to the Illuminati, in an attempt to figure out the Skrulls' plot. "Black Bolt" then revealed himself as another Skrull, attacking the rest of the Illuminati. In Secret Invasion: Inhumans #3, by Joe Pokaski and Tom Raney, it was revealed that the Skrulls had kidnapped Black Bolt shortly after he'd lost his throne to his brother, Maximus, in 2007's Silent War #6, by David Hine and Frazer Irving. The Skrulls planned to use Black Bolt's sonic scream as a weapon, before he was rescued by his wife, Medusa.
Spider-Woman
New Avengers #40, by Brian Michael Bendis and Jim Cheung, revealed that Spider-Woman was replaced by the most important Skrull of all: Queen Veranke. The Skrull empress was determined to make Earth into the Skrull homeworld. Queen Veranke replaced Spider-Woman shortly before she joined the New Avengers, due to her mysterious past and heroic image. Veranke manipulated the New Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, infiltrating each of these groups successfully. After Civil War, Veranke also played the Anti-Registration and Pro-Registration heroes against each other, betraying the New Avengers and bringing the Skrull Elektra's body to Tony Stark.
Hank Pym
In a shocking twist, founding Avenger Hank Pym was revealed as a Skrull at the end of 2008's Secret Invasion #1, by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu. In 2008's Mighty Avengers #15, by Brian Michael Bendis, John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson and Tom Palmer, a flashback revealed that Hank was incapacitated by a young college student shortly after "Avengers Disassembled." This Skrull replaced him, becoming Hank Pym. "Hank" presented the Wasp with a new growth formula, which was secretly a Skrull weapon. The Wasp grew to an enormous size, giving off energy that nearly killed everyone and forced Thor to send her into the Microverse.
Jarvis
The Avengers' trusted butler, Jarvis, was also replaced by a Skrull. Jarvis' replacement planted a virus in Stark Enterprises technology, shutting down vital assets such as the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier and Iron Man's suits of armor. "Jarvis" also collected data on the Sentry, so the Skrulls could manipulate him. After the invasion, in 2008's Secret Invasion #8, by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu, this Skrull ran away with Luke Cage and Jessica Jones' daughter, Danielle. By New Avengers #49, by Brian Michael Bendis and Billy Tan, the baby was found and "Jarvis" was killed by Bullseye.
Captain Marvel
By the '00s, Mar-Vell, the original Captain Marvel, had been dead since 1982's The Death of Captain Marvel, by Jim Starlin. Mar-Vell seemingly returned in 2007's Civil War: The Return #1, by Paul Jenkins and Tom Raney. In truth, this was a sleeper agent for the Skrulls, believing himself to be the real Captain Marvel. "Mar-Vell" was later sent to attack Thunderbolts Mountain, yet Norman Osborn convinced him to turn on the Skrulls. After taking down several Skrull armada, "Captain Marvel" ultimately died a hero.
Mockingbird
Barbara "Bobbi" Morse was originally believed to have died in 1993's Avengers West Coast #100, by Roy Thomas and David Ross. In truth, Mockingbird was replaced by a Skrull impostor. When Bobbi appeared in a ship full of Skrulls, pretending to be heroes, her ex-husband, Clint Barton, thought this might be the real Mockingbird. Of course, it was later discovered that this version of Mockingbird was a Skrull. It wasn't until the end of "Secret Invasion" that the real Bobbi appeared, among a ship full of heroes who were replaced by Skrulls.
Longshot
The X-Men's Longshot was replaced by a Skrull in 2008's X-Factor #33, by Peter David and Larry Stroman. During this story arc, Nogor the Talisman had taken Longshot's place, misleading Darwin by claiming that they were looking for Charles Xavier after the events of "Messiah Complex." Nogor was actually a living representation of the Skrull gods. The Talisman's presence was required on Earth to ensure the gods' blessings, including the impending invasion. Ultimately, X-Factor, She-Hulk and Jazinda, a Skrull bounty hunter, captured Nogor in an attempt to lower Skrull morale. Nogor was eventually saved by the Super-Skrull in 2008's She-Hulk #33, by Peter David and Vincenzo Cucca.
Brother Voodoo
Jericho Drumm was discovered as a Skrull in 2008's Black Panther #38. by Reginald Hudlin, Francis Portela, Carlos Rodriguez and Kevin Sharpe. Brother Voodoo was replaced so the Skrulls could infiltrate Wakanda. This plan made sense, considering Drumm was a close adviser of King T'Challa at the time. Eventually, "Brother Voodoo" tried to kill the Cannibal so the villain wouldn't reveal his true identity. Of course, this killed both "Voodoo" and the Cannibal, revealing the Skrull impostor and preparing Black Panther for the Skrull invasion.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents
Two major S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were revealed as Skrull impostors: Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine and Dum Dum Dugan. The Contessa was revealed as a Skrull during a flashback in 2008's Mighty Avengers #12, by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev. This impostor attempted to get close to Nick Fury while he was in hiding. Fury saw through the "Contessa," killing her and preparing him for the Skrull invasion. Later, in 2008's Secret Invasion: Prologue, by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu, Dum Dum Dugan was captured by a Skrull following the death of Captain America. Dugan was replaced, allowing a Skrull impostor to destroy the Peak, headquarters of S.W.O.R.D.
Avengers: Initiative
Hank Pym's Skrull impostor also set his sights on the Fifty-State Initiative, as the director of the program. During his time on the Initiative, "Hank" placed Skrull agents on every superhero team in the Initiative. The entire Initiative was forced to band together in order to fight the various Skurlls on their respective teams. One Skrull, in particular, took the form of the Crusader, an Initiative hero who actually helped his teammates fight the Skrull invasion. In 2009's Avengers: The Initiative #19, by Dan Slott, Christos Gage, Harvey Talibao and Bong Dazo, Crusader even killed the Hank Pym impostor, before he was discovered and tragically killed by 3-D Man.
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