Super-Skrull

Super-Skrull

Cover of Annihilation: Super-Skrull #4.
Art by Gabriele Dell'Otto.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Fantastic Four #18 (Sep. 1963)
Created by Stan Lee (Writer)
Jack Kirby (Artist)
In-story information
Full name Kl'rt
Species Skrull (Mutate)
Place of origin Tarnax IV
Team affiliations Secret Defenders
United Front
Notable aliases Invincible Man, Dr. Franklin Storm, Carol Danvers, the Thing, Captain Hero, Bobby Wright, Daniel Rand/Iron Fist
Abilities Superb impersonator
Excellent tactician and hand to hand combatant
Competent pilot
Superhuman strength, stamina and durability
Elasticity
Pyrokinesis
Flight
Invisibility
Force field generation
Shapeshifting
Hypnosis

The Super-Skrull (Kl'rt) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appeared in Fantastic Four #18 (September 1963). The character has also appeared on television and in video games and novels.

Character biography

The Super-Skrull is from the Skrull world of Tarnax IV (in the Tarnax system of the Andromeda Galaxy), which has been destroyed by Galactus. Skrull emperor Dorrek VII wanted to avenge the Fantastic Four, who thwarted the Empire's attempt to invade Earth. Dorrek chose the warrior Kl'rt, who was given the combined abilities of the Fantastic Four. Kl'rt was stronger than the Thing; had superior flight and greater pyrokinetic ability than the Human Torch; had better control of invisibility and telekinesis than the Invisible Woman, and could stretch further than Mr. Fantastic. The Super-Skrull retained his shape-shifting and hypnotic abilities, and was sent to Earth to defeat the Fantastic Four and pave the way for a Skrull Empire invasion.

During their first encounter, the Super-Skrull keeps the Fantastic Four at bay and forces them to run away. Mr. Fantastic senses that Kl'rt's powers are augmented by an energy beam from the Skrull home world. Blocking the beam with a device placed on him by the Invisible Girl deprives Kl'rt of his new powers. Defeated, he is imprisoned in a crater by the Human Torch when he pursues the Invisible Girl.[1]

The Super-Skrull returns as the Invincible Man after the Skrulls restored his powers to fight the Fantastic Four. He breaks out of his prison, travels to New York and kidnaps Johnny and Sue Storm's jailed father Franklin Storm. The Fantastic Four recognize his deception and return him in exchange for Storm. Storm dies when a bomb placed on him by a Skrull (in a final attempt to kill the Four) explodes, but he saves the Four.[2] The Super-Skrull was among the villains summoned by Doctor Doom to attack Reed and Sue at their wedding, but Mister Fantastic used a machine to remove the villain's memories.[3] Repeatedly sent back to Earth, he battles Thor,[4] and Captain Marvel.[5] The Super-Skrull is the Empire's agent on Earth during the Kree-Skrull War, temporarily disbands the Avengers and kidnaps Mar-Vell, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.[6] With the war ending in a truce, the disgraced Super-Skrull sides with the Titan Thanos and (with Skragg) aids Thanos in his quest for the Cosmic Cube. The Super-Skrull, attempting to capture Rick Jones for Thanos, fights Mar-Vell and the Thing; Mar-Vell defeats him and Thanos.[7] After a skirmish with Spider-Man, the Human Torch and Ms. Marvel, Kl'rt is trapped in the Van Allen radiation belt.[8]

A Canadian research team accidentally pulls Kl'rt back from deep space. He kills the group except for the physicist superhero, Sasquatch. Kl'rt discovers that the radiation belt has given him cancer. Sasquatch is initially defeated by the Super-Skrull but tricks him, converting him into a stream of dissociated particles and sending him back into deep space.[9] The Super-Skrull, later freed by the Silver Surfer, discovers that his cancer is in remission (apparently due to a "chronal anomaly" which reverted his cellular makeup to its precancerous state.[10]

Kl'rt is freed from the Van Allen belt and cured of cancer by the sorcerer Master Khan,[11] and used against hero Iron Fist. Khan brainwashes the Super-Skrull into believing that he is Bobby Wright, a twelve-year-old boy who acquires superhuman powers and a terminal disease from exposure to an alien spore. "Bobby" uses his powers to assume the identity of adult superhuman Captain Hero and ingratiate himself with Iron Fist and his crime-fighting partner, Power Man. Captain Hero's misuse of powers leaves Iron Fist apparently dead and triggers his disintegration.[12]

The Super-Skrull's imprisonment shielded him from the effects of Zabyk's Disaster, when the Skrulls lost their shape-shifting ability.[13] When the Empire falls into disarray, Kl'rt goes into hiding on Earth and later attacks the Fantastic Four.

He escapes his imprisonment and resumes contact with the Skrull Empire. The Super-Skrull seeks to take Young Avengers member Hulkling into protective custody because he has Skrullian heritage on his mother's side as the son of Princess Anelle. He impersonates the willing Hulkling (who wishes to remain on Earth) and returns to space able to spy on the Skrulls and the Kree, who also have a stake in Hulkling's mixed parentage since he is the son of Kree hero Mar-Vell.[14]

During the Annihilation War, Kl'rt tries to stop the destructive wave before it reaches the Skrull world. After he is nearly overwhelmed by the forces of Annihilus, he sacrifices himself by destroying the warship Harvester of Sorrow. Kl'rt meets Praxagora, a Negative Zone android who becomes his lover.[15] His body is later recovered and revived.[16]

Kl'rt joins Ronan the Accuser to reclaim the Kree home world from a Phalanx invasion.[17] In defeating the Phalanx their leader, Ultron, causes Praxagora's death.[18]

During the Skrulls' Secret Invasion of Earth, Super-Skrull aids Nova against the Skrulls.[19] After an unexplained capture, Kl'rt is seen as a prisoner on The Raft.[20]

During the "Infinity" storyline, Super-Skrull is a member of the Galactic Council.[21] To repay the Avengers' efforts in the war and attain glory, Kl'rt accompanies Alliance forces to Earth to free it from occupation by Thanos and they liberate the Peak.[22] After his victory in the war against the Builders, Kl'rt is crowned emperor of a reborn Skrull Empire as the alien race is settled on the planet Tarnax II.[23]

Powers and abilities

Kl'rt can shapeshift (like all Skrulls) but, thanks to his re-engineering by Skrull scientists, he has versions of the Fantastic Four's superpowers. These include greater malleability; superhuman strength, stamina and durability; flight, heat manipulation and energy projection (in the forms of plasma, concussive force and anti-matter blasts); invisibility and the creation of invisible force fields. He has developed his expertise over time. The Super-Skrull also has a unique power: the ability to control the minds of others or paralyze them by emitting hypnotic force from his eyes.

He is an accomplished hand-to-hand combatant, expert in armed and unarmed combat and highly trained in the martial applications of his powers. A tactician, the Super-Skrull has detailed knowledge of (and access to) technology which is centuries ahead of Marvel Earth science. He is a competent starship pilot and a talented impersonator.

Other Super-Skrulls

Kl'rt is not the only Super-Skrull serving the Skrull Empire. They are immune to detection by Wolverine's senses, Doctor Strange's magic, Spider-Man's spider-sense, Professor X's telepathy and Iron Man's technology, due to the effects of the Skrull infiltration ritual. Super-Skrulls include:

Chrell
Skrull training instructor and commander. Like Kl'rt, Chrell possessed the powers of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and Thing.[24]
Criti Noll
Skrull with the powers of Hank Pym, who was chosen to infiltrate Earth disguised as Hank. When Criti Nol tried to warn a diner owner, she was killed by a Skrull posing as Dum Dum Dugan.[25] After Criti Noll's death, a clone replaced Hank Pym with Black Panther's reflexes, Quicksilver's speed and Vision's density and mass control. The clone, which captured Mister Fantastic, was killed by Crusader in the final battle against Veranke.[26]
Godkiller
Specially-bred female Super-Skrull with the powers of Battleaxe, Thundra, Titania and Volcana and genetically modified to use Beta Ray Bill's hammer, Stormbreaker.[27]
Khn'nr
Skrull who posed as Captain Marvel, with a copy of his Nega-Bands.[28]
Pagon
Super-Skrull which replaced Elektra and Veranke's male lover. With Elektra's abilities, Pagon also had those of Colossus and Invisible Woman. He was killed by Echo in a suicide mission.[29]
Rl'nnd
Skrull with the powers of Colossus, Cyclops, Nightcrawler and Wolverine.[30][31]
Siri
Skrull which tried to replace Elektra, who killed her. She had the powers of Elektra and Ghost Rider.[32]
Veranke
Skrull Queen and main villain of the Secret Invasion, who posed as Spider-Woman and had a copy of her powers.
Xavin
Super-Skrull in training with the powers of the Fantastic Four (but able to use only one at a time), and a member of the Runaways.
X'iv
Skrull assassin, with the abilities of Daredevil, Elektra and Cloak and Dagger, who was sent by Chrell to assassinate Hulkling.[24]
Unnamed Super-Skrulls
During Secret Invasion several dozen Super-Skrull soldiers appear, with powers of numerous heroes differing from soldier to soldier.[33][34][35]

Other versions

In addition to his mainstream incarnation, Super-Skrull has appeared in other fictional universes:

Earth-6309
In this reality, Kl'rt is the Skrull lord of Colony UK7 and a Captain Britain Corps member.[36]
Heroes Reborn
In the Heroes Reborn universe created by Franklin Richards, Super-Skrull masquerades as Wyatt Wingfoot, tricks Doctor Doom into capturing the Silver Surfer and steals the power of cosmic deity Galactus. When the Fantastic Four release the Surfer from Doom, he defeats Kl'rt.[37]
Marvel Zombies
Super-Skrull appears in the Marvel Zombies series. He is infected by a zombified Spider-Man; Zombie Thing rips off his right arm, and he is apparently killed in battle.[38] Another infected version appears in Marvel Zombies Return. He later fights Zombie Spider-Man and his New (Zombie) Avengers with other Avengers, and is killed by Iron Man (James Rhodes).[39]
When the Fantastic Four of Earth-616 (Black Panther, Storm, the Thing, and the Human Torch) visited the Marvel Zombies universe, they encountered four Skrulls who had been given the powers of the Fantastic Four in an attempt to replace the Super-Skrull.[40] They are turned into zombies when the Galactus attacks,[41] and the Fantastic Four take them apart before moving on to another dimension.[42]
Professor W’s X-Men
In this two-issue limited series, Super-Skrull has been killed by Rogue and his powers have been stolen. His abilities, superpowers and darker personality traits remain in Rogue as she joins Cyclops' Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.[43] Professor W's X-Men appear in X-Men: Millennial Visions (2000) #2000 (Aug. 2000) and X-Men: Millennial Visions (2001) #2001 (Jan. 2002).
Squadron Supreme
The Skrullian Skymaster (real name Skymax), a member of the Squadron Supreme, has the same powers as the Super-Skrull.[44]
Ultimate Marvel
In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Kl'rt is the Skrull emperor and oldest living Skrull. In an alternate timeline, created when the Ultimate Fantastic Four attempt to undo the accident that gave them their powers, their teleportation experiments allowed them to contact the apparently-benevolent Skrulls. This is part of the Skrulls' plan to use Earth's technology to further their plans for conquest. Although the Super-Skrull wears an anti-assassination suit, he is defeated by Ben Grimm (the last human on Earth). Ben takes his suit and travels back in time to the teleportation accident, allowing it to happen and sacrificing himself to save humanity.[45]

In other media

Television

Video games

Novels

Merchandise

Super-Skrull is a playable character in the Marvel HeroClix Supernova and Galactic Guardians sets.[49]

References

  1. ↑ Fantastic Four #18 (Sep. 1963)
  2. ↑ Fantastic Four #32
  3. ↑ Fantastic four Annual #3
  4. ↑ Thor #142 (Jul. 1967)
  5. ↑ Captain Marvel #2 - 3 (Jun. - Jul. 1968)
  6. ↑ Avengers #89 - 97 (Jun. 1971 - Mar. 1972)
  7. ↑ Captain Marvel #25 - 33 (Nov. 1970 - Apr. 1971)
  8. ↑ Marvel Team-Up #62 (Oct. 1977)
  9. ↑ Alpha Flight #9 - 10 (Apr. - May 1984)
  10. ↑ Silver Surfer #25 - 31 (Jul. - Dec. (last two issues in one month) 1989)
  11. ↑ Namor the Sub-Mariner #25
  12. ↑ Namor the Sub-Mariner #15 - 18 (Jun. - Sep. 1991)
  13. ↑ Avengers Annual #14 (1985)
  14. ↑ Young Avengers #9 - 12 (2005)
  15. ↑ Annihilation: Super-Skrull #1-4 (2006)
  16. ↑ Annihilation #2 (2006)
  17. ↑ Annihilation: Conquest: Wraith #1-4 (Jul-Oct 2007)
  18. ↑ Annihilation: Conquest #6
  19. ↑ Nova vol. 4, #16 (Oct. 2008)
  20. ↑ Thunderbolts #156 (Apr. 2011)
  21. ↑ Infinity #3
  22. ↑ Avengers Vol. 5 #22
  23. ↑ Infinity #6
  24. 1 2 Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #1
  25. ↑ Mighty Avengers #15-17
  26. ↑ Secret Invasion #1
  27. ↑ Secret Invasion: Thor #2
  28. ↑ Captain Marvel #1-6
  29. ↑ New Avengers #29
  30. ↑ Ms. Marvel volume 2 #25
  31. ↑ Ms. Marvel volume 2 #26
  32. ↑ New Avengers #27
  33. ↑ Secret Invasion #1-8 (2009)
  34. ↑ New Avengers #39
  35. ↑ Secret Invasion: The Amazing Spider-Man #1-3
  36. ↑ Excalibur #49
  37. ↑ Fantastic Four: Heroes Reborn vol. 2, #1 - 13
  38. ↑ Marvel Zombies #5 of 5 (July, 2006)
  39. ↑ Marvel Zombies Return #5
  40. ↑ Black Panther vol. 4 #28
  41. ↑ Black Panther vol. 4 #29
  42. ↑ Black Panther vol. 4 #30
  43. ↑ "Exiles" #42
  44. ↑ Squadron Supreme: New World Order (1998)
  45. ↑ Ultimate Fantastic Four #27-#29
  46. ↑ "Comics Continuum". Comics Continuum. 2009-07-28. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
  47. ↑ "Deathlok". Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Season 1. Episode 21. March 14, 2014. Disney XD.
  48. ↑ Galactus Lands in New LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Trailer Marvel.com
  49. ↑ More Galactic Guardian Heroclix Spoilers, Heroclixworld.com
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