There Is A Superior Adaptation Of Marvel’s ‘Secret Invasion’ On Disney+

The concept of an alien invasion on our planet is nothing new. From the very first time when the 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds by Orson Welles, as an adaptation of H. G. Wells’s novel The War of the Worlds (1898), triggered an actual panic in New York, audiences have been enamoured by the idea of an off-world species trying to occupy our planet.

The premise in comics has also been surfaced many times, but there has been nothing quite like 2008’s Secret Invasion crossover series by Brian Michael Bendis, and illustrated by Leinil Francis Yu. The premise of the Skrulls, a group of shapeshifters, infiltrating our planet by taking over keys political, and business leaders, and even superheroes, provided a rich field to grow the seeds of a strong story that even brought back several long-dead heroes. 

And the key were the superheroes, because few things are as captivating as a good ol’ alien infiltration plotline involving folks with super powers. The idea of a hidden menace secretly taking over the ranks of Earth’s mightiest protectors is undoubtedly compelling, and the resulting uncertainty over which characters are trustworthy is more relevant than ever in an age of misinformation and disinformation.

The premise was recently adapted in Marvel’s eponymous TV series on Disney+, but while the series borrowed the concept and name, the show lacked the one thing that the comic crossover had – superheroes, leaving many fans wanting more. While the Secret Invasion concept is intriguing, the TV show adaptation sadly falls short of its potential. Despite its ensemble cast and bold premise, the series never quite captures the ominous atmosphere of a hidden enemy lurking within. The narrative struggles to maintain its momentum, leaving viewers yearning for the tight and suspenseful storytelling they anticipated.

But here’s the twist – there is an adaption of Secret Invasion on Disney+ that does justice to the original source material, but it’s not live-action. The animated The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes series truly nailed the essence of this gripping narrative, leaving the other iterations looking like mere shadow plays in comparison.

On the comic front, the Secret Invasion arc certainly brought the heat, but even then, some fans felt it fell short of its promise. Amid the thrilling spectacle, some of the subtlety and suspense got lost along the way. The intricate layers of deception could sometimes feel overshadowed by the grandeur of the crossover event.

Enter The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, an animated gem that managed to grasp the essence of the Secret Invasion concept and craft an experience that truly resonates with audiences. The animated series began in 2010 and ran for two 26-episode seasons.

It might be strange to say that a cartoon did Secret Invasion more justice than the original comic that spawned the idea, but the former’s genius lies in its ability to build tension meticulously, expertly unveiling the Skrull conspiracy in a way that keeps viewers guessing. Unlike the live-action TV show and even the comics, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes succinctly captures the sense of camaraderie and unity, making the invasion’s betrayal all the more impactful when it unfolds.

Spoilers ahead for The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Amidst the frenzy of Kang’s time-travel shenanigans and the looming threat of the Kree, the Avengers found themselves entrapped in a web of deceit far more sinister. Little did they know, an insidious enemy had infiltrated their very midst: the Skrulls. This wasn’t just a simple breach, but alien subterfuge at its finest. With a masterful stroke of covert genius, the Skrulls seeped into every corner of the superhero world. Even A.I.M., S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra, and the esteemed Fantastic Four were not spared.

The infiltration was so profound that even the noblest of them all, Captain America, found himself duplicated by this sinister species. In fact, the season one finale saw Steve Rogers taken by a Skrull, leaving audiences with just the ominous words “The infiltration has begun” as a shocking cliffhanger.

While the storyline unfurled over a gripping season and a half, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes teased and tantalised, peppering the story with clues that pointed to the impending revelation of a horror that would shake the very core of their existence. Subtle differences in behaviour, like a character’s increased aggression towards Kree enemies (due to the Skrulls’ long-time conflict with the Kree), would pay off later in astonishing Skrull reveals.

For example, Mockingbird, a trusted S.H.I.E.L.D. black-ops agent who worked alongside Nick Fury, was revealed to have been replaced by the Skrull queen Veranke, proving that the Skrull infiltration ran deep. Nick Fury himself only discovers that Captain America had been replaced by a Skrull after the imposter yelled “Avengers, attack!” instead of the iconic “Avengers Assemble!” Eventually, Carol Danvers and Black Panther would even get tangled up with a whole team of Skrulls-posing-as-Avengers — including Iron Man, Hawkeye, and Wasp — making it difficult to determine who to trust, particularly when the real counterparts arrive to the scene.

Overall, the animated series managed to strike a balance between action-packed superhero moments and a character-driven narrative. The stakes were assuredly high, thanks to the emotional investment in each Avenger’s journey. In this iteration, the Secret Invasion isn’t just about the spectacle; it’s a personal journey for both heroes and fans alike.

What’s more, the consequences of the invasion were genuinely felt. While appropriately epic, the culmination of the Secret Invasion arc was not the final episode of the second season. Instead, the series continued for thirteen more episodes, revealing that the Avengers’ victory over the Skrulls came at a cost. The trust that once adorned the heroes like a gleaming shield was shattered, as the insidious Skrull infiltration cast a shadow of doubt over their heroic identities. In the eyes of the public, anyone among them could still be a Skrull in clever disguise.

These pivotal episodes of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes expertly captured the spirit of Secret Invasion and sowed the seeds of a captivating arc centred around none other than Captain America himself. A pawn in the Skrulls’ sinister game, he subsequently faced the daunting task of redeeming himself, proving his loyalty to a world that began to see heroes through a lens of mistrust. Ultimately, the aftermath of the Secret Invasion saw Captain America embarking on a powerful journey to reclaim his place in a world tainted by the Skrull deception.

In contrast, the live-action Secret Invasion series was often lacking in meaningful twists and suspense, and found itself missing that element of ‘Who can we trust?’. Gravik was quickly set up as the main antagonist in the first episode and, along with his team of radicalised Skrulls, would frequently maintain the same, identifiable face throughout the series (despite being a group of shape-shifting aliens). In addition, the fallout of an alien invasion hidden in plain sight was only glimpsed in the final moments of the show.

Unfortunately, the animated series was not renewed for a third season after its second season ended in 2012. Thankfully, we won’t be getting a second season of the abysmal live-action version.

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is streaming on Disney+.