John the Skrull
John the Skrull is a male comic character who features in Marvel Comics.
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Biography
John was the name given to a member of the Skrull race who was sent to infiltrate the Earth and alongside his compatriots went to take the form of the original Beatles. As John Lenon, he and his fellow spies were to take the place of the original Beatles and use their position to help in an eventual invasion of the planet. At first, he thought that they could do more with the invasion if they were given a free reign and managed to convince his superiors to allow them to operate independently. However, the Skrull Beatles came to enjoy their time on Earth and their deviating interests saw their team disbanding to live among the humans. The John Lenon Skrull came to later embark on a relationship with Kree Captain Boko of the Free Kree Liberation Army. (Wisdom v1 #2)
He was later introduced as a member of MI-13, working alongside Pete Wisdom to combat supernatural and extraterrestrial threats to Britain. In this issue, John accompanied Wisdom and his team to Wales, where they investigated a series of fairy incursions. John fought directly against hostile fae, using both his shapeshifting powers and his blaster weapon to repel their attacks. He revealed his sardonic wit throughout the mission, making irreverent comments even in the midst of combat. Despite his comedic approach, he was effective in the field, shifting his form to gain an advantage in close quarters and deploying firepower to disperse the fae forces. (Wisdom v1 #1) John continued to aid MI-13 during their operations against the fae. When the situation escalated into open battle with invading armies from Otherworld, John played an active combat role, fighting alongside the Black Knight and Tink to repel the invaders. He alternated between human form and Skrull form, using the latter to intimidate his enemies with enhanced strength and reflexes. He was also shown coordinating with the team, demonstrating discipline despite his mocking exterior. During the chaos, John made pointed remarks about his past life and career, showing flashes of his complicated identity as a Skrull who modeled himself after John Lennon. His actions helped stabilize the battle, though he never lost his dry sense of humor. (Wisdom v1 #2) He was again part of MI-13’s continued campaign against the forces of Otherworld. He fought in several skirmishes, using his blaster and shapeshifting in tandem with his natural agility. The issue highlighted his resilience in the field, as he survived prolonged combat while covering for other team members. John was depicted as fearless in the face of overwhelming numbers, at one point charging into enemy forces to protect his allies. His attitude toward the mission remained caustic, cracking jokes about the absurdity of their circumstances, but he remained committed to fighting alongside MI-13 and carried his share of the battle with determination. (Wisdom v1 #3)
John then joined MI: 13 as a member of Pete Wisdom's superhuman team and helped to stop and interdimensional alien invasion among other weird happenings in the UK. At the beginning of the recent Skrull invasion of Earth, John was nearly killed as a possible traitor to Earth in his cell in Shoredditch by a Skrull impersonating MI:13 agent Grimsdale. Fortunately, Wisdom interceded to save him. The faux Grimsdale's assassination attempt was revealed to be part of a larger strategem by Skrull infiltrators to kill off Skrull defectors, which John helped Pete Wisdom in stopping. He remained a very important member of MI:13 in their fight against the Skrull invasion on England and Avalon. Bound with Wisdom, Spitfire, and Tink, he was executed as a traitor near the end of the battle for Avalon and British magic. John was so fixed on not being a fascist like the rest of the people, he did everything he could to undermine and insult them. He refused to shape shift back to his original Skrull form even when faced with death and even following his death his body did not revert back to its natural form.
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, John the Skrull was a male Skrull who modeled his human guise after John Lennon during his early Beatles period. In his default Skrull form, he bore the standard green skin, pointed ears, ridged chin, and pronounced brow common to his race. He frequently wore suits or casual British rock-inspired clothing, maintaining his adopted Lennon persona even when not disguised as a human. This gave him a distinctive look among Skrulls, combining his alien heritage with his affectation of a famous Earth cultural figure. (Wisdom v1 #1)
Personality-wise, John was characterized by his biting sarcasm, irreverence, and a constant stream of jokes, often mocking both his enemies and his own allies. He displayed cynicism toward authority but still acted as a dependable operative within MI-13. Beneath his flippant exterior, John showed loyalty to his teammates and a sense of honor in his work. His Lennon persona influenced his outlook, giving him a blend of rock-star bravado and counterculture skepticism, which made him unique even among his fellow Skrulls. (Wisdom v1 #1)
Powers and abilities
As a Skrull, John possessed the physiological traits of his species, including shapeshifting abilities that allowed him to alter his appearance at will. This ability granted him versatility in combat, enabling him to disguise himself, extend limbs, or take on partial transformations to enhance strength or agility. His natural Skrull physiology also gave him resilience and stamina beyond human norms. (Wisdom v1 #1)
Like other Skrulls, is a shape-shifter. They can mentally cause the unstable molecules that comprise his or her body to become pliant, enabling him or her to assume other forms through muscular expansion and contraction. Once a new shape has been assumed, it takes a conscious act of will to assume another form or revert to natural. Hence, Skrulls do not spontaneously lose their assumed form when asleep or unconscious. Skrulls in altered form will, however, revert to their original forms at the moment of death. Notably, John prefers his John Lennon form, and will take on any look the original Lennon used during his life. He's never been shown taking his original Skrull form.
In addition, John regularly wielded advanced Skrull weaponry, including energy-based blasters, which he used with expert proficiency. Combined, these traits made him a dangerous operative both in covert missions and open battle. (Wisdom v1 #1)
Notes
- John the Skrull was created by Paul Cornell and Trevor Hairsine where he made his first appearance in Wisdom v1 #1 (November, 2006).
Appearances
- Wisdom v1: (2006)
External Links
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