Information AboutSkrull |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SKRULL | |
| characters introduced in 1962 | |
| fictional extraterrestrial species | |
| fictional shapeshifters | |
| marvel comics species | |
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The Skrulls are a Fictional race of Extraterrestrial shapeshifters that appear in the Marvel Universe . The Skrulls first appeared in ''Fantastic Four'' vol. 1, #2 (Jan. 1962) and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby . The Skrull civilization is organized into a highly aggressive and Militaristic Empire that has been the dominant power in the Andromeda Galaxy for thousands of years. In the known Marvel Universe, only the Kree and the Shi'ar have the resources to match the Skrull Empire. CONCEPTION In creating the Skrulls, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby drew upon stereotypes of Extraterrestrial Life common in Science Fiction . Skrull skin color suggested the concept of Little Green Men , and Skrull Shapeshifting and infiltration abilities recalled the then-recent horror-thriller film '' Invasion Of The Body Snatchers ''.Released in 1956 The name "Skrull" also hints at the word " Skull ", bringing to mind images of death (in the Portuguese versions of Marvel Comics, the Skrulls are known as ''os caveiras'' - literally "the skulls"). The cover of the first issue of the Fantastic Four to feature the Skrulls is also highly evocative of the Skrulls' origins as Pulp Fiction alien invaders: Though originally nothing more than stereotypical Alien Invaders bent on conquest, writers have over the years written Skrull characters into more complex and multifaceted roles. FICTIONAL SPECIES BIOGRAPHY Millions of years ago, the Celestials performed genetic experiments on the Reptilian ancestors of the Skrulls, resulting in three branches of Skrulls that eventually warred with one another. The Deviant branch - possessing the innate ability to Shapeshift - were triumphant, and after wiping out all other Skrulls began to expand their territory. The Deviant branch would later split into two more groups, being the modern Skrulls and an anomaly called the Dire Wraiths , a parasitic race that could still shapeshift and had use of magic, but were not as technologically advanced as the Skrulls (the Dire Wraiths were eventually exterminated through the efforts of Rom Spaceknight ). The modern Skrulls originate from the planet of Skrullos, and were originally a mercantile civilization, primarily interested in Free Trade and willing to share their Technology with all races they deemed worthy. A Skrull delegation to the planet Hala, home to the then barbaric Kree and the peaceful Cotati , held a contest between the two races to determine with whom the Skrulls would trade. The Cotati won, but the vengeful Kree massacred the Skrull delegation, took over the Skrull landing spaceship by force, and developed their own technology from it with which to begin waging war against the Skrulls. Kree aggression forces the Skrulls to become a militaristic civilization, and the Kree-Skrull War continues for thousands of years with only brief interruptions.Avengers vol. 1, #133 - 134 (March - April 1975) About 100,000 years ago, the Skrull Throneworld was moved from Skrullos to the more central Tarnax IV. The Skrull Empire eventually decides to conquer Earth, but fails to take into account the appearance of the modern Superhero . As a result, the Skrulls are repeatedly drawn into conflicts with metahumans such as the Fantastic Four and the Avengers:
]] Ironically, it is revealed years later that the conflict actually produced a Kree-Skrull hybrid - Hulkling - who is the child of one-time lovers Captain Marvel and the Skrull princess Anelle.''Young Avengers'' vol. 1, #9 - 12 Galactus and Zabyk's Disaster Years later Emperor Dorrek VII's wife, Empress R'klll, stages a coup and kills him to become ruling Empress herself.''Fantastic Four'' #209 (August 1979) Empress R'klll's reign is short-lived, however, due to the arrival of the World Devourer Galactus . After his Herald Nova (Frankie Raye) annihilates the Skrull fleet, Galactus devours Tarnax IV, killing millions of Skrulls - including R'klll and the Princess Anelle.''Fantastic Four'' vol. 1, #257 Galactus's consumption of Tarnax IV throws the entire Skrull Empire into disarray and Civil War . Five warlords vie for leadership of the Empire and the ensuing conflict sparks the second Kree-Skrull War.Throughout ''Silver Surfer'' Vol. 3, #1 - 31 It is during this time of civil war that the Skrulls Zabyk and Myrn detonate a genetic "hyperwave bomb" which prevents all Skrulls, everywhere in the universe, from shapeshifting, trapping them in whatever form they occupied at the time.''Avengers'' vol. 1, Annual #14 (1985) & ''Fantastic Four'' vol. 1, Annual'' #19 (1985) The Skrull Empire is on the verge of collapse, until the Kl'rt The Super-Skrull is rescued from the Van Allen Radiation Belt , where he had been trapped as a stream of dissociated particles. The Super Skrull is not affected as he is not in physical form at the time of detonation. After reintegration, the Super Skrull joins forces with the Silver Surfer , who introduces him to S'byll, one of the five claimants to the Skrull Throne. Using Kl'rt as a template, S'byll is able to regain her shapeshifting abilities and then to restore them to all Skrulls.''Silver Surfer'' vol. 3 #25 S'byll is then soon acclaimed as the new Empress by the Skrull race, and negotiates a truce with the Kree after defeating them in a decisive battle.''Silver Surfer'' vol. 3 #31 Setbacks Some time later a Skrull called Paibok mounts a campaign to invade Earth, using another Skrull called Lyja as an infiltrator. The plan, however, fails, and ends with the Fantastic Four destroying the "Skrull War World", the Skrulls' largest attack ship.''Fantastic Four'' vol. 1, #358 This loss is compounded when the villain Devos The Devastator destroys the new Skrull Throneworld - which was established after Galactus devoured Tarnax IV.''Fantastic Four'' vol. 1, #383 S'byll is killed when the Throneworld is destroyed, causing the collapse of the Skrull Empire once more. The Skrull Empire is also the first of the major interstellar empires to be invaded by the forces of Annihilus . The Annihilation Wave has laid waste to much of the Empire, with its superweapon, the Harvester of Sorrow, destroying dozens of Skrull planets.''Annihilation: Prologue'' (May 2006) and ''Annihilation'' : ''Super-Skrull'' #1 - 4 (June-September 2006) The Skrulls are now attempting to convince Hulkling to become the new Emperor,''Young Avengers'' vol. 1, #9 - 12 although this is opposed by the Baroness S'Bak, who wishes to take power herself. Secret Invasion During a battle with the New Avengers , Elektra - the then leader of the criminal ninja organisation The Hand , was stabbed through the stomach by Echo , killing her and revealing her to be a Skrull. Despite their superior senses, Wolverine , Spider-Man and Doctor Strange were completely unaware of her true nature prior to her death.''New Avengers'' vol. 1, #31''New Avengers'' vol. 1, #32 This incident provoked speculation amongst the New Avengers as to who else might be a Skrull - with Tony Stark being one of the prime candidates due to his actions over the last few months, as well as infighting. While returning to the United States aboard Danny Rand's aircraft, the massive power outage caused by the Mighty Avengers ' battle with Ultron caused the aircraft to lose power. As the only New Avenger able to fly Spider-Woman abandoned the aircraft (thrown out against her will by Wolverine). However, once the plane had crashed she returned, took the Skrull corpse, fighting off Wolverine in order to do so. Despite Cage's belief that this was evidence that she is a Skrull herself, Wolverine stated that it was far more likely that she was taking the corpse to Tony Stark as she had suggested earlier.''New Avengers'' vol. 1, #32 APPEARANCE & ABILITIES Skrulls are green-skinned Reptilian Humanoid s, of roughly the same height and weight as humans, with large pointed ears and corrugated chins. The Skrulls are known for their ability to Shapeshift , and are able to assume virtually any form, be it organic (e.g., cows''Fantastic Four'' vol. 1, #2) or inorganic (e.g., lamp''Avengers Annual'' #14). As a result, the Skrulls excel at spying and infiltration. Skrulls are also able to use their shapeshifting abilities to form weapons (eg. blades and clubs) with parts of their bodies, making them dangerous hand-to-hand combatants. The Skrull have also recently gained the ability to render themselves undetectable, when using their shapeshifting abilities, from those with superior senses such as Wolverine, Spider-Man or Doctor Strange. ''New Avengers'' vol. 1, #31 Courtesy of their advanced technology, the Skrulls have also been able to augment their abilities in certain warriors, such as the Super Skrull and Warskrulls - an elite group who with special encoding are able to emulate the powers as well as appearance of their templates.''Uncanny X-Men'' vol. 1, #274 - 277 NOTABLE SKRULL PLANETS The Skrull empire is made up of several planets within the Andromeda Galaxy. The Kree warrior Captain Marvel once claimed that the Skrulls would trade fifty worlds to possess a certain Kree artifact, which is an indication as to the extent of their Empire.The Omni-Wave Projector, in ''Captain Marvel'' vol. 1, #51 Some of the planets under Skrull control include:
ALTERNATE VERSIONS Ultimate Skrulls
IN OTHER MEDIA
FOOTNOTES REFERENCES
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