Secret Invasion Simplified One Aspect of the Comic Event

Secret Invasion has focused heavily on the theme of trust. But the Disney+ series has already redefined what the comic event did with trust.

When the Secret Invasion comic by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu was released, it was a deeply personal story about heroes fighting the Skrull Empire. It was a tale of desperation where the Skrull race were more victims than villains yet still antagonists. As a result, it became one of the most turbulent events, as trust became the only tool that could separate friend from foe. It also formed the foundation on which the entire television series was based.

The Secret Invasion show does away with capes and masks and focuses on Nick Fury, who, after returning to Earth from S.A.B.E.R., finds himself in a war against a rogue Skrull army. Unlike the comics, the show is more of Fury answering for the mistakes of his past rather than the world's heroes fighting a war before it reached civilians. Secret Invasion uses the theme of trust to enhance its storytelling but adapts it in a way that simplifies what the comics have done.

Secret Invasion Has Redefined Trust

In the comics, Secret Invasion showed how the Skrulls had infiltrated some of the most important roles in the hero community, from Hank Pym to Sue Storm. Through the heroes, the Skrulls planned to overthrow the world's governments and take over with force. However, this led to an out war between the real heroes and the Skrulls. It forced audiences to ask themselves how long the Skrulls had infiltrated these classic teams and whether those that learned this could ever move on. It was a great twist but one that could never work as well in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as heroes were more a risk than a benefit.

The Secret Invasion series opts to use trust in a more traditional sense, as it reveals to audiences how Skrulls had infiltrated world governments and the media, showing that civilians were caught in a web of deceit for some time. The death of Maria Hill by the Skrull, Gravik, also sets up the idea that even allies can be enemies. Now, when a character like Fury appears asking Talos for help, the seed has been planted about whether he's a Skrull in disguise. Plus, with spy organizations unsure who to trust, it only adds to the tension that's been built since the series began.

Secret Invasion's Use of Trust Affects More Than Heroes

One of the best things about the Secret Invasion series has been how it's not solely about who Fury or the audience can trust. It's a spy game where even Gravik has to question who's on his side. With G'iah acting as a spy, it was clear he was on edge before he learned where her allegiances were, and it forced him to act violently, shooting anyone who might've betrayed the cause. Gravik's behavior proves that trust is the only currency in his war, and resources are in short supply.

Trust has always been the backbone of every Secret Invasion story, and the series, while taking a more traditional route with its definition, has elevated the theme to a new level. Rather than a human vs. Skrull story, it's about good people trying to stop radicals from ending a world of innocents. Now, rather than Fury learning his wife was a Skrull, it's more about him learning the wife he knows is a Skrull potentially helping Gravik. These simple ideas show that Secret Invasion, while a tale about aliens, is wildly grounded, which has added to the stakes and proved that trust and allies are all that matter in a battle in the shadows.