Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? #1
Secret Invasion continues from Secret Invasion #3….
Captain Marvel: Farewell
Now
Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) has left a letter to his friend Heather Sante, telling her that if he doesn’t survive this day, he wants her to know that his intentions were always noble and that he chose to save what he could of this world while also allowing for its destruction…
Earlier
Heather Sante had returned home to find Mar-Vell watching TV. She had her friends in SHIELD examine the data bank that he stole from the Skrulls.[1] It does detail plans for an invasion of Earth, at least part of one. While it shows how they intend to surround the Earth with warships, it doesn’t plan anything else. SHIELD hasn’t deemed this a serious threat since the Skrulls have wanted to invade Earth for years and this isn’t enough to say that a full scale invasion is happening.[2] When Mar-Vell suggests that they send it up the chain of command, Heather reminds him that trusting people is dangerous.
This strikes a chord with Mar-Vell, who is actually a Skrull spy named Khn’nr. Later, he uses a Negative Zone portal to travel to a Skrull base where he surrenders. The Skrulls there know all about Khn’nr, and how he thinks of himself as a Kree due to faulty conditioning and consider him a traitor. Khn’nr says that the only people he has betrayed are the people of Earth and that he has not come to stop the invasion, but to aid it.
As Heather finds “Mar-Vell’s” note, the phony Captain Marvel fights his way to Thunderbolts Mountain, his assigned target.[3]
Recurring Characters
“Captain Marvel”, Skrulls, (in flashback) Heather Sante, Radioactive Man
Continuity Notes
This would have been in Captain America (vol. 6) #4-5.
The Skrulls have been to Earth many times over the centuries. The earliest attempted invasion in the Modern Age was back in Fantastic Four #2.
“Mar-Vell’s” attack on Thunderbolts Mountain will be covered in Secret Invasion #1, 3 and Thunderbolts #122.
Agent Brand: In Plain Sight
After the Skrulls attacked SWORD and blew up its space station, Abigail Brand finds herself drifting in space, kept alive only by her environmental containment unit.[1] She is in a tight spot as she will be pulled into Earth’s gravity in 22 minutes and will burn up on re-entry, that is unless debris from the Peak satellite breaches her air bubble, that is. She grimly reminds her what her dad used to say, which is not a whole lot considering her only memory of him was some kind of violent battle when she was a child.[2] Floating with her in the void are some of her personal belongings.
She sees a photo of when she first became a part of SWORD, on her first day she was shown around by Agent Deems. The first place she is shown is the analytics facility where SWORD agents are going over a visit from a Skrull named Dalx. He was the cultural attaché from the Skrull Empire during an ongoing galactic summit. The meeting is to discuss the situation following the destruction of the Skrull homeworld and the desire to avoid another Kree/Skrull War.[3] One thing that has gotten their attention is the fact that Dalx has been tapping his finger on a stack of books from Earth. There are concerns that he is tapping out some kind of coded message, however they haven’t been able to decipher anything.
Deems then decided that they should watch some Skrull entertainment to try and see if they can gain any cultural insight on what that tapping might mean. The drama that unfolds is one about revenge that was planned via a planned poisoning that went on for years. Brand was not happy to be doing this as she wanted to celebrate her promotion. Later, at a party, Abigail is introduced to Skrull Ambassador Grrix. She notices him wearing a crystal around his neck and asks what it represents. Grixx explains that it is a symbol of his Dard’Van religion. It is the belief that the light of truth can be kindled in other races and that the “first one” loves them all alike.[4] Abigail doesn’t believe in anything but insurance, saying that if Earth gets burned somebody will pay. Grrix points out that insurance policies have exclusions, pointing out that you cannot be insured against a disease you have already contracted and that there is a difference between risk and destiny. Regardless of Brand’s misgivings, he is pleased that SWORD is endeavoring to broker peace with his people.
Later, after excusing herself from the party, Brand and Deems went over the footage again. Abigail had decided that there was nothing to decipher and instructed Deems to end the investigation.
However, now, as she floats in space, Abigail starts putting everything together. The Skrulls mentioning enemies acting as friends, Dalx’s tapping of the Illiad, the Skrull drama about war being waged before being declaired, and lastly Grixx’s comment about exclusions. She realizes that the Skrulls basically waved their planned invasion in her face as though they were mooning her. Furious, she drifts towards a Skrull ship and breaks in, promising that they will only ever get to do that to her once.[5]
Recurring Characters
SWORD (Abigail Brand), Skrulls, (in flashback) Agent Deems, Nick Fury, Black Bolt, Shi’ar,
Continuity Notes
SWORD was ambushed by the Skrulls in Secret Invasion #1.
As of this writing (November, 2024), the details surrounding the memory from Abigail’s childhood are not explained. It is unknown if she was watching her father getting ripped apart, or if he was the one doing the killing. What we do know is that Abigail was born on the planet Axus (per SWORD (vol. 2) #11) and that her father was an alien (per SWORD #1). We don’t know much else other than that.
The Skrull throneworld was consumed by Galactus back in Fantastic Four #257. The Kree and the Skrulls have had animosity toward one another dating back centuries, as seen in Avengers #133-134.
The “First One” is Kly'bn, one of the primary gods of the Skrull Race. For more on him see Incredible Hercules #120.
From here, we’ll see Agent Brand again in Secret Invasion #4.
Wonder Man & The Beast: Seems Like Old Times
When the Mighty and New Avengers went to the Savage Land to investigate a Skrull ship, they found it loaded with what appeared to be abducted heroes. Unsure of who is real and who is a Skrull impostor a fight broke out between three groups that was interrupted by a stampeding t-rex.[1] Two of their number, Wonder Man (Simon Williams) and the Beast (Hank McCoy) end up falling into a cavern.
The Beast figures that this is like old times, that is, if the Wonder Man he is stuck with is the real Simon Williams and not a Skrull. Simon, on the other hand, is convinced that Hank is a Skrull, particularly since as far as he knows the real Beast has mutated further into a more feline form.[2] The two decide to put their concerns aside when they are attacked by giant insects that live in the tunnel. As they fight, the Beast is reminded of the time they fought the Red Ronin.[3] Simon says he isn’t going to be playing the memory game and promises that if Hank is a Skrull, he’ll spend his time rotting in a prison. After they defeat the bugs, Hank tries to bring up another old adventure, and Simon tells him to stop it.[4]
That’s when the Beast asks if he and this allegedly real Hank McCoy still pal around like they used to. Simon admits that they have lost touch recently. As they fight through an accidental cave in and a giant snake, Simon explains that between M-Day (where the majority of Earth’s mutants were de-powered) and the superhero civil war, they haven’t had much time to talk.[5] After fighting a giant snake, the two reach the mouth of the cavern that is about to cave in. However, before Simon can climb out, Hank kicks him back in and leaps to safety. As it turns out, McCoy couldn’t trust who Simon really is anymore than he can trust himself.
Recurring Characters
Mighty Avengers (Wonder Man, “Spider-Woman”, Ares), New Avengers (Luke Cage, Wolverine, Spider-Man), Skrull Prisoners (“Beast”, “Captain America”, “Iron Man”, “Power Man”“Spider-Man”, “Thor”, “Wolverine” “Wonder Man”)
Continuity Notes
At the start of the Skrull invasion of Earth, the Mighty and New Avengers were lured to the Savage Land to fight this battle. See Secret Invasion #1-4 for how it all pans out.
At the time of this story, the real Hank McCoy had mutated further into a cat like form in New X-Men #114. He will maintain this form until undergoing another change in All-New X-Men #5. The Hank McCoy present here has his original blue furred form that he has had almost consistently (other than a few reversions back to his hairless form) since Amazing Adventures (vol. 2) #15. We also confirm that he is a Skrull in Secret Invasion #4.
The real Wonder Man and Beast fought the Red Ronin when they served on the Avengers together in Avengers #197-198.
"Hank” is referring to when they fought strange creatures (dubbed “The Crawlers”) in Avengers #203.
The majority of the mutant population was de-powered by the Scarlet Witch following House of M #8 and Decimation: House of M - The Day After #1. Since then, the real Hank McCoy has been trying to find a way to restore the mutant gene. This will remain the status quo until Avengers vs X-Men #12. The civil war primarily took place in Civil War #1-7.
Topical References
The faux Beast makes light of the past comradery of the Beast and Wonder Man comparing them to Dean Martin and Sammy Hagar, Athos and Porthos of the Three Musketeers, as well as to Curly and Moe of the Three Stooges. He later refers to themselves as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Since these are well known or historic partnerships this wouldn’t necessarily be considered topical. Mind you, you could slot in contemporary examples in their place, it doesn’t really matter.
Wonder Man specifically states that the “Beast” will be incarcerated at Guantanamo and the Beast doesn’t catch the reference. Wonder Man is referring to the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center that was opened following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. The prison served as an off shore detention center for terrorists that were captured in Afghanistan and Iraq during the US’s War on Terror between 2001 and 2020. At least 780 people have been incarcerated there. Presently there are less than 40 prisoners left. The implication here is that the Beast was taken sometime before the prison was opened. This should be considered a topical reference as the Sliding Timescale has pushed the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe forward in time that it would be impossible for Hank (or rather his Skrull impostor) to not know about Guantanamo Bay. Modern readers should instead interpret this as a more contemporary or fictional prison instead so as not to date the story.
Marvel Boy: Master of the Cube
The Cube is a maximum security prison for aliens that have been captured on Earth. After months of being imprisoned there, Marvel Boy (Noh-Varr) has taken over the facility, with the intents of making it the capital of his new Kree empire.[1] He has all the staff on his side, well most of them, anyway. When Maria Hill — Deputy Director of SHIELD — comes in for a status report, he orders the former warden to be taken out of his cell.[2] As he is brought out, Noh checks on what’s left of Plex, the sentient computer that came to Earth with him. He has uploaded it to the Cube’s computers but unfortunately it is not powerful enough to make an omniwave transmission to the Kree galaxy. The warden boasts that he was there when Plex was destroyed and that it screamed out in many languages. Marvel Boy says nothing, merely spits in the warden’s face.
However, this isn’t merely an insult, Noh-Varr’s saliva also makes the warden compliant to orders. While the warden is assuring that everything is safe and secure at the Cube, its staff is warning Noh-Varr that their computer systems have been compromised by an alien computer virus.[3] He tells them to handle it and to put the warden back in his cell when he is finished his report.
Marvel Boy then goes out into the general population. After installing omniwave technology within the prison facility, everyone in the prison has been able to live without fear and prisoners and guards alike coexist peacefully. That all changes when the virus completely takes over the Cube’s computers. Suddenly, everyone around Noh-Varr becomes violent and starts attacking one another.
Racing back to the control room, Noh-Varr sees a trail of blood coming out of the warden’s office. Checking inside, he sees that the warden has been killed by a Skrull. The invader tells Noh-Varr that his people have invaded the Earth and its heroes will not be able to stop them. As the Skrulls are mortal enemies of the Kree, Noh-Varr attacks the Skrull and blows him up. He decides that if the humans can’t defend their world, then he should do it instead.[4]
Recurring Characters
Marvel Boy, Cube Warden, Skrull, Maria Hill, Plex
Continuity Notes
Noh-Varr has been imprisoned at the Cube since the events of Marvel Boy (vol. 2) #1-6.
Marvel Boy has imprisoned the warden ever since he was used as a weapon in Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways #1-4.
The Skrulls unleashed this virus to compromise every piece of infrastructure on Earth, especially Starktech. See Secret Invasion #1.
For more on Noh-Varr’s activities during this event see Mighty Avengers #19 and Secret Invasion #6-7.
Agents of Atlas: The Resistance
The city of Portland is under attack as part of the larger Skrull invasion of the Earth. First they take out PDX International Airport and then the military. With only ground resistance, the Skrulls unleash a gas that cows the humans into returning to their homes without further opposition. The only superhero resistance they have faced so far is from Namora, the Atlantean cousin of the Sub-Mariner. They have captured her and strapped her to a massive heat lamp to dry her out and sap her of her super-human strength.
They don’t expect an ambush from Namora’s allies in the Agents of Atlas. Posing as two gas induced human technicians, both Gorilla Man (Ken Hale) and the Living Robot (M-11) get close enough to smash the lamp and a fire hydrant, providing water Namor needs to restore her strength. Namora then grabs one of the Skrull soldiers and the trio flee back out to a nearby river where the rest of their team is waiting out in the Uranian (Bob Grayson)’s Flying Saucer. There, Bob uses Uranian technology to dissect the Skrull and learn how they have managed to adapt their shapeshifting abilities to be untraceable and their ability to mimic the powers of Earth’s various superhumans.[1] As a bit of punishment, Bob keeps the Skrull’s head alive so it can watch its own dissection.
Moments later, their ship is attacked, prompting Atlas leader Jimmy Woo to order everyone to their battle stations. As their flying saucer surfaces, the Agents of Atlas return fire on their Skrull attackers. While their enemy is pre-occupied, the Uranian establishes a mental link between the severed Skrull head and Venus so that she can send out her siren’s son in the Skrull language. She then commands the Skrulls to walk into the river and drown themselves. However, this reminds Venus too much of the many of the innocent sailors to their deaths at sea over the centuries.[2] This is because the mental link has showed her that the Skrulls genuinely believe that they are doing the right thing and are victims of propaganda. She lets them go as she tells this to Jimmy Woo. While Jimmy understands, his mind keeps telling him that it is 1958, even though he knows it is not, and that mindset knows how to handle “Little Green Men”.[3] When he gives the order, M-11 unleashes a powerful heat ray that incinerates the invaders instead.
With this pocket of invasion dealt with, the Agents of Atlas head off to figure out their next move. Their lone Skrull prisoner watching as a mute witness to their plans. He realizes to his horror that the humans have mastered the art of subterfuge and are now fighting like Skrulls.
Recurring Characters
Agents of Atlas (Jimmy Woo, Gorilla Man, Living Robot, Namora, the Uranian, Venus), Skrulls
Continuity Notes
It was revealed in New Avengers: Illuminati (vol. 2) #1 that the Skrulls gleaned this mastery of their power after capturing the Illuminati years earlier and getting every scrap of data on human DNA, magic, and science they could get.
Per Agents of Atlas #5, Venus was once a Siren of Greek myth and used her song to lure men into the sea. She was given human form and freedom from her lot in life by Yao, the sorcerer who would later go on to become the Ancient One and tutor Doctor Strange in the mystic arts.
Per Agents of Atlas #1, when Jimmy Woo was seriously injured on a SHIELD mission. His injuries were healed using Uranian technology which also restored his youth. It also had the unexpected side effect of making him forget everything he experienced after the year 1958.
… Secret Invasion continues in Captain Britain and MI13 #2.
Secret Invasion Reading Order
Prelude:
New Avengers #31, Mighty Avengers #7, New Avengers #34, New Avengers: Illuminati (vol. 2) #5, Secret Invasion: Prologue #1
The Invasion
Secret Invasion #1, Mighty Avengers #12, New Avengers #40, Secret Invasion: Home Invasion #1, Secret Invasion #2, Mighty Avengers #13, Captain Britain and MI13 #1, Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #1, Mighty Avengers #14, Incredible Hercules #117, New Avengers #41, Secret Invasion #3, Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? #1, Captain Britain and MI13 #2, Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #2, Incredible Hercules #118, Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #1, Secret Invasion: Home Invasion #2, Avengers: The Initiative #14, Mighty Avengers #15, Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #28, New Avengers #42, Secret Invasion: Front Line #1, Secret Invasion #4, Mighty Avengers #16, X-Factor (vol. 3) #33, Incredible Hercules #119, New Warriors (vol. 4) #14, Avengers: The Initiative #15, She-Hulk (vol. 2) #31, New Avengers #43, Thunderbolts #122, Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #3, Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #29, Black Panther (vol. 4) #39, Secret Invasion: Front Line #2, Secret Invasion: Home Invasion #3, Secret Invasion: X-Men #1, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1, Secret Invasion: Thor #1, Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #2, Captain Britain and MI13 #3, Secret Invasion: Home Invasion #4
Fighting Back
Secret Invasion #5, Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #4, X-Factor (vol. 3) #34, Incredible Hercules #120, Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man #1, New Warriors (vol. 4) #15, Nova (vol. 4) #16, Avengers: The Initiative #16, Mighty Avengers #17, She-Hulk (vol. 2) #32, Black Panther (vol. 4) #40, New Avengers #44, Thunderbolts #123, Secret Invasion: Front Line #3, Deadpool (vol. 4) #1, Secret Invasion: X-Men #2, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #2, Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #3, Secret Invasion #6, Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #30, Secret Invasion: Thor #2, Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #5, Mighty Avengers #18, War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD #33, Deadpool (vol. 4) #2, Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man #2, Nova (vol. 4) #17, Secret Invasion: Home Invasion #5, Avengers: The Initiative #17, She-Hulk (vol. 2) #33, Black Panther (vol. 4) #41, New Avengers #45, Thunderbolts #124, Deadpool (vol. 4) #3, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #3, Secret Invasion: Front Line #4, Secret Invasion: Home Invasion #6, Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #6, Mighty Avengers #19, War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD #34, Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man #3, Secret Invasion: Home Invasion #7
The Final Battle
Secret Invasion #7, New Avengers #46, Thunderbolts #125, Secret Invasion: X-Men #3, Secret Invasion: Home Invasion #6, Nova (vol. 4) #18, Avengers: The Initiative #18, Punisher: War Journal (vol. 2) #25, War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD #35, Secret Invasion: X-Men #4, Secret Invasion: Thor #3, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #3, Secret Invasion: Front Line #5, Secret Invasion: Home Invasion #8, Secret Invasion #8
Epilogue
New Avengers #47, Secret Invasion: War of Kings #1, Secret Invasion: Requiem #1, Secret Invasion Aftermath: Beta Ray Bill #1, Secret Invasion: Dark Reign #1, Avengers: The Initiative #19