It started with Elektra. When the leader of The Hand fell in battle, her body shimmered and shifted, revealing the green, chin-furrowed corpse of a Skrull. The Avengers stood over her body in a silence that felt like a death knell. The realization was a poison: Anyone could be a fake.
It ends the "Initiative" era and launches the "Dark Reign" saga. If you'd like, I can: List the essential tie-in issues included in the Omnibus. Explain which characters were Skrulls the longest. Summarize the aftermath for Norman Osborn . Secret Invasion by Brian Michael Bendis Omnibus...
The trust was gone before the first shot was even fired. For years, the Skrulls had been the universe’s greatest losers—their throne-world devoured by Galactus, their empire shattered. But Queen Veranke had a new prophecy. They wouldn't conquer Earth through a frontal assault; they would become it. It started with Elektra
It’s a psychological thriller disguised as a punch-fest. The realization was a poison: Anyone could be a fake
As Queen Veranke stood poised for victory, a single bullet from Norman Osborn—the former Green Goblin—tore through her skull on live television.
Iron Man looked at Captain America. Spider-Woman looked at Wolverine. The questions became a heartbeat. Are you you? Have I been sleeping next to the enemy? The Skrulls had spent years kidnapping heroes and replacing them with sleeper agents so perfect they didn't even know they were spies until a psychic "trigger" word was spoken. Then, the sky cracked open.
The invasion was over, but the world had changed. The heroes were seen as failures who let the enemy into their homes. Norman Osborn was the new national hero. The age of heroes was dead; the Dark Reign had begun. 💡