Skrull
The Skrulls are an advanced shapeshifting extraterrestrial species that feature in Marvel Comics.
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History
Comic Continuity
The species that became known as the Skrull race evolved in the Andromeda galaxy in the Drax system on the planet Skrullos into a green skinned reptilian race of humanoids. Millions of years ago, their ancestors were subject to a number of genetic experiments conducted by the highly powerful Celestials who brought about the creation of three subspecies of Skrulls. These included Deviants, Eternals and normal Skrulls after which the Celestials departed the planet. After leaving, the three branches of the Skrull race began warring with one another for dominance of the planet. Ultimately, it was the shapeshifting Deviant branch of the species who were the victors whereupon they wiped out every member of the other two races. There were only a single survivor of the two Skrull branches; the Eternal Kly'bn and the original Skrull who became known as Prime Skrull.
When the Deviant Skrulls came for Kly'bn, he implored them to spare his life as by killing him they would be killing part of their own heritage. It was then that the Deviants leader Sl'gur't fell in love with him and the two eventually ascended into the Skrull pantheon of gods. The Prime Skrull escaped his homeworld and managed to arrive on Earth in the 20th century where he became a member of the Underground Legion. After that time, the Deviant Skrulls became the modern race of Skrulls who began to expand into space and their territory grew. However, once again the race changed with a new splinter race called the Dire Wraiths forming. This race were parasitic and whilst they could still shapeshift as well as had the use of magic, they were technologically inferior to their kin. The larger Skrulls drove off their Dire Wraith vampiric cousins who fled into the Dark Nebula where they made their new homeworld on Wraithworld
After this chain of events, the Skrulls continued expanding where they became one of the oldest space farring races in the universe. They formed a peaceful mercantile empire who expanded through trade and began a process of educating other races to becoming partners within their growing interstellar state. Their travels took them to the Greater Magellanic Cloud where they scouted the world of Hala which was home to not one but two native primitive sentient races who were the war-like Kree and the peaceful Cotati. As both were sentient, the Skrulls were unsure on who to choose as parnters and thus decided on a peaceful contest. Taking representatives from both races, they journeyed into the Milky Way galaxy where they went the moon orbiting a prehistoric Earth. Once there, the Skrulls created the Blue Area on the Moon after which the Kree and Cotati representatives were placed with a task of using what resources they could find and create something worthy whereupon they said they would return at a certain time. When the Skrulls returned, they saw the Kree had built a magnificent city whilst the Cotati created a beautiful garden. Thus, it was decided that the Cotati's were the victors of the contest but their decision angered the Kree who slaughtered the Cotati and Skrulls after which they took the Skrulls spaceship back to their homeworld in order to pillage it of its advanced technology..
At some point in their history, the Skrull Throneworld was attacked by the planet devourer known as Galactus.
Silver Surfer Cartoon Continuity
Similar to their comic continuity, the Skrull Confederacy was at war with the Kree for many years with neither side gaining the advantage. It was noted that they were one of the most brutal species that inhabited the stars with them earning many enemies. A delegation was sent with a single ambassador from both sides meeting on the planet Zenn-La in order to create a lasting peace. Ironically, these ambassadors would work together to defend the planet against the threat of Galactus which resulted in their deaths and the continuation of the war between the two races.
The Skrull Hive Mother had grown increasingly angry with her subjects ver the lack of victory against the Kree species. This prompted in her near move to remove the Admiral and Prime Minister from their positions as well as destroy their nests. As such, a coup resulted with the Cabal eliminating the Hive Mother and attempting to maintain their control over the Confederation.
In order to maintain power, the Cabal maintained the illusion that the Hive Mother was still alive though this was a lie only known to a few such as the Caretaker. This was dangerous for the Skrull as it was the Hive Mother that maintained the species with no new generation of eggs being born without a replacement who was still in her egg. The Caretaker and the elders were reluctant to hatch the Royal Egg as they feared that the usurpers would either kill her, make her into their puppet or do something much worse.
With the aid of Nova and the Silver Surfer, the Caretaker was able to ensure the new Royal Egg was transported to another world where it would be safe. The Silver Surfer deposited on a planet with a caretaker to watch over it in the hopes that the new Hive Mother will grow to be respectful of life and peaceful so that she would change the nature of the Skrull Confederation when she took power.
Background
Comic Continuity
Whilst normal Skrulls were able to change their appearance of their natural form to that of another one, they were unable to duplicate the special abilities of a super powered person. Thus, they developed a special encoding form of technology that granted powers to an elite group of soldiers called the Warskrulls who had the gift to emulate the powers as well as the forms of their enemies. (Uncanny X-Men #274-277 March-June 1991)
All members of the modern Skrull race are descendants of the Deviant branch of their species.
Silver Surfer Cartoon Continuity
Skrulls appear very much like their comic counterparts appear as green skinned reptilians with three fingers and the capacity to change their shape allowing them to mimic inanimate structures like stone pillars to changing their skin to stone to becoming dragonic caterpillar creatures.
In this continuity, its revealed that only a set number of planets are suitable to handle Skrull reproduction. The young hatchlings appear as small near velociraptor style light green skinned creatures with an animalistic behavior. Its revealed that these young hatchlings are watched over by their elders known as Caretakers until they gain sentience and are capable of actual thought at which point they are taken to the Hive Mother who witnessed the hatching of the hundreds of eggs on their hive world.
The Hive Mother was vital to the Skrulls as it was she who laid the eyes for the next generation of Skrulls to be born. Without her, the Skrulls would have no future which was why there was always a Royal Egg ready to hatch in case of such a situation.
Splinter Species
Society and Culture
Comic Continuity
The Skrull Empire and government was rule by a member of their kind who held the title of Emperor or Empress who had absolute power. Below them were a number of governors each of which ruled a planet within the Empire. Below them were the nobility and lastly there were the commoners who were subservient to the nobles.
The Skrull race had a number of religious beliefs and mythologies. According to their teachings, their gods consisted of the last of the Skrull Eternals called Kly'bn who was being hunted by the Deviant Skrull armies led by Sl'gur't. As they approached him, he gave a patriotic speech telling them that he represented a part of their heritage and by killing him, they would lose what it meant to be Skrull. He stated that by being constant and unchanging, it was his destiny to bring the about the destiny of the Skrull race by transforming other worlds according to their truths which the Deviant Skrulls accepted. Sl'gur't fell in love with him and he took her as his bride whereupon they ascended into the Skrull pantheon of gods. As the Skrull conquered other races, those species gods became servants of Kly'bn and Sl'gur't who's power grew with each defeated people's pantheon.
After their ascension into their heavenly dimension, the two were worshipped for millions of years by the Skrulls where they were known to have been the emperor along with the empress of the Skrull pantheon. It was also said that the two wrote the holy text called the Book of World which included the prophecy that stated the Skrull homeworld would be destroyed and that a new home awaited them on Earth. This led to a justification for an invasion and holy war for the planet as the Skrulls believed the planet to be rightfully theirs to rule.
There are a number of different groups and sects within the Skrull race. This includes the mutant group of outcast Skrulls called Cadre K who were hated and the religious sect called the Dard'van. There was also a hostile group called the Chitauri.
Silver Surfer Cartoon Continuity
The government of the Skrulls is referred to as the Confederation which differs to their comic counterparts. One of the high ranking members of this state appear to hold the title of Prime Minister though ultimate power was in the hands of the Hive Mother who was capable of removing the Prime Minister from their post.
At one point, it was customary for the Hive Mother to witness the hatching of the young born until the Cabal took power which eliminated the Hive Mother. These Skrull dissidents were intent on keeping their power which was solidified in an Admiral and the Prime Ministers hands.
The Caretaker was charged with looking after the next generation of Skrulls and ensuring that the young reach sentience. Because of this, he was seen as a father to most of the Confederation.
Shocktroopers of the Skrull military wore white silvery suits in combat situations.
Tactics
Comic Continuity
Silver Surfer Cartoon Continuity
On a primary hive world, the Skrulls were known to deploy powerful pulsar mines in order to protect the planet.
The Skrulls believed themselves to be experts at "persuasion" thanks to their ruthless nature.
Technology
Comic Continuity
The race had managed to create their own version of the Kree's Supreme Intelligence which was a female cybernetic construct called the Intelligencia
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