Super-Skrull


Super-Skrull

(pop culture)Panic sweeps Manhattan in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's Fantastic Four vol. 1 #18 (1963) when a repugnant alien stormtrooper with a furrowed green face and pointy ears touches down in Times Square, claiming Earth for his warrior race of shapeshifters, the Skrulls. Zipping to the scene is the FF, but to their surprise this “Super-Skrull” not only mimics and mixes but bests their amazing superpowers—the Thing's super-strength, Mr. Fantastic's elasticity, Invisible Girl's imperceptibility, and the Human Torch's flame! The product of Skrull bioengineering, Super-Skrull bushwhacks the Four with his bonus talent, “the blinding power of irresistible hypnotism.” Big brain Mr. Fantastic cobbles together a jamming device that blocks a spaceship- transmitted signal boosting Super-Skrull's energy, and the team seals the weakened extraterrestrial in an island crater. Super-Skrull—known among his people as Kl'rt—was liberated by the Skrulls and given opportunities to redeem himself in a return match with the FF and a battle with the thunder god Thor, but was routed both times. Yet the disgraced Super-Skrull was conscripted into the Kree/Skrull War, and has been dispatched against or encountered numerous heroes including Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, the Silver Surfer, and the Incredible Hulk. Super-Skrull became a free agent after his homeworld was devoured by Galactus. Fantastic Four: Foes #3 (2005) offered his skewed perspective on his ongoing war with the Four. The popular villain has been featured in the 1967, 1978, and 1994 Fantastic Four animated television series, and has appeared in several action-figure lines.