Comic natterings: Skrulls Abound!

Now that the dust has settled and everyone’s come to terms with the awesomeness that is the return of Bill, I thought I’d voice some of the thoughts that have come to mind after reading Secret Invasion: Thor #1, and Guardians of the Galaxy #4.

For the record, these natterings assume you’ve already gone out and read the issues; this is the only spoiler warning you’re getting. Nyah.

First up, lets cut our teeth on what could have been titled Secret Invasion: Beta Ray Bill #1

So… SI: Thor. We already know that this is several colours of AWESOME with the return of Lost Hemisphere’s own adopted spokesalien, Beta Ray Bill.

What this DOESN’T tell us is what’s bugging me.

When we last saw Bill, he was fighting other-dimensional nasties at the end of the Omega Flight mini, sacrificing himself for the sake of our own world, and launching heedlessly into the realm of the Great Beasts.

Now, according to SI: Thor, Bill’s been the prisoner of a Skrull armada, tortured and abused as a message to the Asgardians to leave Earth. This doesn’t jibe.

We can safely assume that the Bill of Omega Flight wasn’t a Skrull – not only was Simon Walters, his human host, present, but I don’t see the Skrulls as being able to duplicate Stormbreaker and the magical transformation from Simon to Bill.

Thus, if SI: Thor’s Bill is in fact the real Bill, how did he escape and return to our own dimension? How did he end up in space, to return to Earth hurtling through the atmosphere like a meteor?

Further, Bill looks like a Korbinite. Well, he is, isn’t he? Not quite. Bill’s “natural” form includes the horselike face – he was cybernetically enhanced into that form when he became the champion of the Korbinites, even before be gained Stormbreaker and became Thor II.

Additionally, where’s Simon? Not only has this new Bill shown a regular Korbinite form, but it appears he’s devoid of his human host now.

This makes it all seem rather suspect to me, leading me to think that this Bill is a Skrull imposter – Bill was born a Korbinite, so it makes sense they’d assume his depowered form was that of a Korbinite. Much like the other Skrull imposters on Earth, he may well fully believe himself to be Bill.

Yet, there’s one spanner in the works. Mjolnir. You can’t lift the bloody thing if you’re not worthy (despite what the Red Hulk might try and pull).

If this ISN’T our Bill, if this is a Skrull fake, how the smeg is he able to heft Mjolnir? Can Mjolnir be fooled???

Okay, moving on, theories on skrulls in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Something’s out of whack here. The Skrulls are on a religious crusade against Earth. Earth. Not Knowhere.

The residents of Knowhere seem to consist of a grand total of one standard human - Peter Quill. I’m not counting Adam, Mantis or Rocket (one’s a fake human, one’s green, and the other’s an oversized rodent).

Based on this, why are the skrulls in Knowhere? The Guardians have made it clear their directive is on a cosmic scale, what happens on one planet really doesn’t warrant their attention unless a rift is triggering Adam’s danger sense.

Next, what’s Drax up to? I don’t think he’s a Skrull, don’t ask me why, so what’s he really doing? Remnant of the Phalanx infection maybe? Generally being pissed off, especially after overhearing about Mantis’ mind-nudge?

This brings up the bigger question – who, if anyone, is likely to be a Skrull. I understand where Gamora’s jealousy over Phyla and Adam is coming from, but Gamora hasn’t exactly remained true to Adam while he was out of the picture, and to be honest, I didn’t read any flirtatious intentions into any of Phyla’s interactions with Adam. At all. The Jealousy seems to be coming a little out of the blue.

I think the only people on the team I’m really certain aren’t Skrulls are Rocket, Groot, Peter and Mantis. There’s definitely something going on with the coccoon revealed an ish or two back – does the Church of Universal Truth have one of the coccoons built by UItron, are we looking at the return of the Magus, or do we have  Skrull who’s managed to duplicate Adam’s powers?

Just to be tossed further into the confusion -Starhawk. I’m getting a vibe that he may turn out to be a skrull hunter, and Major victory may be a little greener than he would appear. No basis for that at all, just a vibe.

Anyway, good comics leave you thinking, right? Wondering what’s coming next, holding out for the next issue?

Bring ‘em on, Marvel.