History
The Skrulls are a race of green-skinned, humanoid shapeshifters from the Andromeda Galaxy. They are a ferocious warrior race[11] and maybe the most devious race in the cosmos[12] who carved for themselves the oldest interstellar empire in the universe's history. The Skrulls conquered or colonized every suitable world in the Andromeda Galaxy[13] and conquered almost a 1000 races[14] spread throughout the Andromeda Galaxy[15]. During the reign of Dorrek, 10s of millions of years ago, the empire reached neighboring galaxies becoming an intergalactic empire[16]. Skrull science is generally at a higher level than the science of human civilization, having achieved a high level of science before life emerged on Earth[17] at least 2.5 billion years ago. Skrull science created the first Cosmic Cube. The Skrulls were ruled by an Emperor or Empress, who had absolute power.[5]
The ancestors of the Skrulls were allegedly created by the Xorrians (along with all humanoid life-forms, such as Kree and Humans) from their own DNA.[18][1] These Skrull ancestors resided on Skrullos, a planet in the Drox system. The Skrulls were once a peaceful race, until the Celestials arrived at Skrullos over a 100 million years ago.[19] The Celestials went on to create three Skrull races; the baseline Skrulls with no special abilities but the potential to evolve into Celestials, the Deviant Skrulls with shapeshifting abilities, and the Eternal Skrulls who were given longevity and super powers.[19] Almost immediately this led to war, in which the Deviant Skrulls exterminated the other two races.[19] Thus all modern Skrulls are descendants of the Deviant branch. The Skrulls later split again, giving rise to the Dire Wraiths, a parasitic race that could still shape-shift and had use of magic, but were not as technologically advanced as the Skrulls. Dire Wraith's are analogous to the Skrulls as vampires are to humans.[20] Recently some Skrulls have mutated, given rise to a Skrull sub-species (Skrull Mutants).[19] At some point, the Skrulls became genetically frozen in place, unable to evolve further, as punishment for a single Skrull abusing the power of the Crystal of Ultimate Vision, located within the Citadel of Light and Shadow.[21] The fact that Skrull Mutants now exist may mean that is now longer the case.
Biology
Reproduction
The Skrulls are oviparous.[2] Skrull females do not give live birth; instead, they lay eggs like their reptilian evolutionary ancestors. Skrull children are known as "hatchlings". Despite their reptilian evolutionary roots, however, Skrulls have hair and the females have mammary glands and nurse their young.[5]
Hybrids
- See also: Category:Skrull Hybrids
Skrulls are capable of producing hybrid offspring with humans and Kree.[2]
On Earth-9997, it was revealed that Thanos was a hybrid of Eternals and Skrulls, as his mother Sui-San was in fact a Skrull.[22]
Diseases and Genetic Conditions
Shape-Shifting Deficiency
An uncommon birth defect in Skrulls is being born without the ability to shape-shift. Skrulls afflicted with this abnormality include Raze,[23][24] Titannus,[25] and Talos the Tamed.[26][27] That genetic defect can also grant upper strength and endurance to some of those afflicted, including Talos the Tamed.[27]
Cancer
The Skrull prince Klundirk was diagnosed with cancer.[28]
Tuberculosis
On Earth-829, Skyppi contracted a form of tuberculosis common to the Skrull species.[29]
Evolution and Mutation
The Skrulls are evolutionarily stagnant. They can not evolve naturally and can only move forward genetically through artificial means.[30]
Despite this, mutants (a.k.a K-class deviants) have been observed, particularly on Carpiax-IV, where Lord Merek's fecundity-supplement program resulted a higher number of K-class births. It was common to cull Skrull mutants in the interest of genetic purity. One group of Skrull mutants, Cadre K, was rescued and trained by Professor X.[31]
Alternate Realities
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Skrulls using their shape-shifting to fly
- Shapeshifting: Skrulls are able to alter their forms into that of anything they can imagine, be it organic or inorganic. It must, however, be solid. They can also use their abilities to grow extra limbs. They have no apparent size limit, as they are been seen to assume the form of a common housefly[37], and shapes many times larger than their normal selves. Skrulls can also use their shape-shifting capabilities to change their sex: males can become females and vice versa.[38]
- Elasticity, Plasticity, Elongation: Their shape-shifting abilities allow them to alter their bodies in much the same way as Mr. Fantastic, so that they can stretch to great lengths, or form other shapes with their bodies, such as balls, parachutes, or anything else.
- Flight: They are able to fly by shape-shifting a pair of wings onto their back, or turning their arms into wings.[39]
- Size Alteration: They are also capable of altering their size independently of altering their form, allowing them to grow or shrink while maintaining their current form.
- Mimicry: Skrulls are cunning spies due to their ability to mimic sounds and voices. This is mainly used in conjunction with the shapes they shift into.
- Elasticity, Plasticity, Elongation: Their shape-shifting abilities allow them to alter their bodies in much the same way as Mr. Fantastic, so that they can stretch to great lengths, or form other shapes with their bodies, such as balls, parachutes, or anything else.
Abilities
Weaknesses
Shapeshifting Limitations: Skrulls can only take on the appearance of person and none of that person’s characteristics or, in the case of superhumans, their powers.[40] When they imitate an inorganic object, they take on its appearance, but not its properties. The inability to replicate powers does not apply to genetically modified Super-Skrulls.[41]
There is a limit to the size of the object or person a Skrull can imitate. The average Skrull cannot distend his or her mass any more than 1.5 times as large a volume as his or her original volume, nor can he or she contract his or her mass any more than 0.75 a volume as his or her original.[5]
At the moment of death, Skrulls revert to their original form.[42]
Culture
Habitat
Gravity
Atmosphere
Population
trillions (spread throughout the intergalactic Skrull empire)[19]
Planets
- Aks'lo - Paradisaical vacation planet, destroyed by the Annihilation Wave.[32]
- Hy'lt Minor - Home of K'eel R'kt, destroyed by the Builders.[33]
- Kral IV - The highly-unusual Kral system is populated by Skrulls fascinated with the culture of 1930s Earth and who have attempted to duplicate that time period. Skrull inhabitants of Kral maintain human rather than Skrull form.
- Skrullos - Original Skrull home-world.
- Tarnax IV - Former Skrull Throneworld, consumed by Galactus.[34]
- Tarnax VII - Home of Xavin; engaged in a war with the non-Skrull planet Majesdane.
- Throneworld - It can refer to either the former Throneworld, Tarnax IV, or the newer, unnamed Throneworld which was destroyed by Devos the Devastator.[35]
- Zaragz'na - Home of the Super-Skrull's son, destroyed by Annihilation Wave.[36]
- Satriani - Throneworld under Empress S'Byll and Queen Veranke.
- Tarnax II - The new throneworld under Emperor Kl'rt.
- Tarnax X - Base of operations for the religious sect Dard'van.
- Skrell - World dominated by the Skrull Scientist caste, where the organic super-computer Intelligentsia is located.
Miscellaneous
Type of Government
Level of Technology
Cultural Traits
Representatives
- See also: Category:Deviant Skrulls
- Emperor Dorrek - He reigned during the first Skrull contact with the Kree.[55]
- Emperor Dorrek VII
- Prince Dezan - The younger brother of Dorrek VII, he is a highly-unusual (for Skrulls) pacifist, and as such, was long imprisoned as a traitor to the Empire.[56]
- Super Skrull (K'lrt) - He was the first Super-Skrull, and was later crowned new Emperor of the Skrull Empire following the war with the Builders.
- Anelle - Princess and daughter of R'Klll and Dorrek VII. Super-Skrull wanted her for his mate. She died along with her mother and Throneworld.
- Hagar - The High Judicator, the leader of the Skrull judiciary.
- Jaketch - An apprentice executioner who shot Reed, Sue, and the Thing with an accelerated-aging ray. He detests Hagar and yearns for the day he can execute him.
- R'Klll - A Skrull Empress. She avenged her father by assassinating her husband, the Emperor Dorrek. Her reign following Dorrek's death was marked by several attempts at peace, the end of the war against Xandar, the treaty ending the war against the Kree, and the destruction of Throneworld. She died along with several billion of her people.
- Empress S'Byll - She acclaimed as Empress following successful restoration of shape-shifting abilities to Skrulls,[11] killed in destruction of new Throneworld by Devos the Devastator.[35][57]
- Jazinda - A Super-Skrull who is the daughter of Kl'rt.
- Ethan Edwards
- Flaw - Warskrull member of the Shi'ar Death Commandos.
- De'Lila
- Talos - A Skrull who cannot shape-shift due to a birth defect he had. The defect also gave him super-strength.
- Lyja the Lazerfist.
- Paibok the Power Skrull.
- Replica - Member of the Galactic Guardians, power mimicker.
- Skrull Cows - A group of Skrulls who initially tried to frame the Fantastic Four, but were eventually turned into Cows and slaughtered.
- Skrullian Skymaster (Sk'ym'x) - Member of the Squadron Supreme.
- Crusader
- Titannus - A Skrull who cannot shapeshift.
- Xavin - A Super-Skrull in-training.
- Cadre K - A group of Mutant Skrulls.
- Veranke - The former Skrull Queen. She posed as Spider-Woman and orchestrated the Secret Invasion.
- Criti Noll - One of the Skrulls who posed as Henry Pym during the Secret Invasion. He not only has the abilities matching Henry Pym, he also has the powers of Black Panther, Quicksilver and Vision.
- John the Skrull - The last surviving member of the Skrull "Beatles". A member of MI-13.
- Khn'nr - A Skrull who posed as the original Captain Marvel. He turned against the other Skrulls during the Secret Invasion.
- Pagon - A Skrull who posed as Elektra after Siri's demise. Killed by Echo as part of a suicide mission.
- Pitt'o Nili - A Skrull who posed as the Captain America (and brainwashed to be him) who came from a downed ship in the Savage Land. Killed by Shanna the She-Devil after being hit by a poisonous dart that has a huge effect on Skrulls.
- Kreddik - Skrull Ambassador to the Intergalactic Council.
- Krimonn - Conspired against Dorrek VII, failed, was condemned to be imprisoned in a crystalline form. The Grandmaster turned him into Doctor Spectrum's Power Prism.
Notes
- The Skrulls are somewhat associated with the Chitauri.
Trivia
- The adjective form is both "Skrull"[citation needed] and "skrullian".[58]
- The Deviant branch of their species;[5] it is kind of ironic that they considered Dire Wraiths as a "Deviant branch of Skrullkind",[6] and the Mutant Skrulls "Deviants".[59][60]
Recommended Readings
- Fantastic Four #2 - First Appearance
- Fantastic Four #18 - First Super-Skrull
- Fantastic Four #37 - First look at the Skrull home-world.
- Avengers #89-97 First Kree-Skrull War
- Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) #1-31 Second Kree Skrull War
See Also
- 1106 appearance(s) of Deviant Skrulls
- 19 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Deviant Skrulls
- 201 minor appearance(s) of Deviant Skrulls
- 392 mention(s) of Deviant Skrulls
- 22 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Deviant Skrulls
- 1 invocation(s) of Deviant Skrulls
- 451 image(s) of Deviant Skrulls
- 3 quotation(s) by or about Deviant Skrulls
- 3 victim(s) killed by Deviant Skrulls
- 660 representative(s) of Deviant Skrulls
- 3 item(s) used/owned by Deviant Skrulls
Links and References
- Skrulls at the Marvel Universe Wiki
- Skrulls at the MarvelDirectory
- List of less well-known Skrulls on the Appendix at marvunapp.com
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Skrulls! #1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Marvel Fact Files #2
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Update #2 ; Dire Wraiths' entry
- ↑ Uncanny X-Men #376, opposed to Mutant Skrulls
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #12 ; Skrulls entry
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rom #50
- ↑ Ultimate Secrets #1
- ↑ Ultimate Fantastic Four #27
- ↑ Ultimate Fantastic Four #28
- ↑ Incredible Hercules #120
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) #25
- ↑ Fantastic Four Annual #19
- ↑ Fantastic Four #19
- ↑ Incredible Hercules #118
- ↑ Annihilation: Super-Skrull #1
- ↑ Avengers #133
- ↑ Captain America Annual #7
- ↑ Thor #215
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Marvel Fact Files #2
- ↑ Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) #5
- ↑ Uncanny X-Men Annual #1987
- ↑ Universe X #X
- ↑ Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) #89
- ↑ Skrulls! #1 ; Raze's entry
- ↑ Marvel Team-Up (Vol. 3) #12
- ↑ Incredible Hulk #419
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Skrulls! #1 ; Talos the Tamed's entry
- ↑ Spider-Woman (Vol. 6) #3–4
- ↑ Hercules: Twilight of a God #1
- ↑ Skrulls! #1 ; Citadel of Light and Shadow's entry
- ↑ Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet #1
- ↑ Annihilation: Super-Skrull #1
- ↑ Infinity: Against the Tide: Infinite Comic #2
- ↑ Fantastic Four #257
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Fantastic Four #383
- ↑ Annihilation: Super-Skrull #3
- ↑ Fantastic Four: Unplugged #4
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 2) #8
- ↑ Young Avengers #11
- ↑ Fantastic Four #2
- ↑ New Avengers #40
- ↑ Mighty Avengers #16
- ↑ Avengers #94
- ↑ Force Works #13
- ↑ Secret Invasion 6
- ↑ Fantastic Four #90
- ↑ X-Men (Vol. 3) #29
- ↑ Black Panther (Vol. 4) #34
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 3) #12
- ↑ Avengers (Vol. 4) #18
- ↑ Avengers #258
- ↑ Captain Marvel #2
- ↑ Avengers Annual #14
- ↑ Fantastic Four The Universal Guide
- ↑ Avengers #133–134
- ↑ Avengers Annual #14
- ↑ Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
- ↑ Skrulls! #1 ; Flaw's entry
- ↑ Uncanny X-Men #376
- ↑ A + X #16