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Ahead of its June 21st debut, Secret Invasion is already the talk of the Marvel community. The series features the return of Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and is the first show since Disney+’s slowdown of Marvel content. This show will mark almost a year after the previous series (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law). With an A-List cast, strong early reactions, good marketing, and fans eager for another MCU miniseries, Secret Invasion has the potential to keep the franchise on the right track after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
However, before one can start watching Secret Invasion, there are a lot of things to know and keep in mind. Even though it is based on the comic series of the same name, it’s assumed the series won’t go in the same direction. In the comics, Secret Invasion was on the same level as Infinity War, but that’s not the case anymore. Disney+’s mini-series shows itself to be smaller scale and without the Avengers. Like all Marvel entries, one can expect the show to make several callbacks and references to other Marvel titles.
Marvel’s Secret Invasion: The Plot and Characters
Marvel’s Secret Invasion was first announced in late 2020. The series is set to follow Fury, who returns to Earth after a long space mission. However, upon his return he finds the entire planet has been infiltrated by Skrulls. From there, he joins forces with Maria Hill, former CIA agent Everett K. K Ross, and Talos to address the invasion.
Though the Skrull invasion is something to be concerned about, there is only one confirmed member of the Avengers. Don Cheadle’s James “Rhodey” Rhodes (War Machine) is the only superhero confirmed to be a part of the series. This could be because Fury wants a small group of his closest allies to deal with the Skrull threat. It also looks like Secret Invasion won’t deal with the multiverse timeline (a main concept in the current MCU). Instead, the series will bring together Captain Marvel and its sequel The Marvels. However, there is no confirmation that the character of Miss Marvel will be involved.
What to Know Before Watching Secret Invasion
While the easy answer to that question is “Watch the entire MCU,” that isn’t technically necessary. It’s hard to say stick to the answer of the titles just because all Marvel movies and shows reference each other/lead into each other/ have cameos. Assuming one has watched the Infinity Saga (all of the movies leading into Avengers: Endgame), the short version of the timeline leading up to Secret Invasion is;
The Start: Phase 1
- Iron Man introduced us to the world of S.H.I.E.L.D. through the character of Agent Coulson. In a post-credit scene, Nick Fury made a cameo appearance, informing Tony Stark that there are other superheroes and expressing his desire to discuss the “Avengers Initiative” with him. Additionally, we were introduced to James “Rhodey” Rhodes, portrayed by Terrance Howard at the time.
- Iron Man 2 sees the introduction of Black Widow, War Machine, and more of Fury.
- The Avengers saw the formation of the Avengers super team. This is also where we meet Agent Maria Hill.
The Change: Phase 2
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier has SHIELD holding the position as the primary superhuman law enforcement agency in the MCU. However, everything changed with the release of The Winter Soldier, which unveiled the infiltration of Hydra within SHIELD, leading to its disbandment. Amidst the ensuing chaos, we witness Nick Fury transitioning from the world’s foremost spy to a figure lurking in the shadows, safeguarding against evil. Since the events of that Phase 2 movie, Fury has been operating covertly, offering support to key allies while simultaneously confronting his own personal battles.
The Setup: Phase 3
- The ending of Avengers: Infinity War has Fury using his beeper to summon Captain Marvel to help with Thanos.
- Captain Marvel introduces key characters who will make appearances. This includes Talos, his daughter G’iah, and the Skrull group they were associated with. Additionally, fans catch a glimpse of Nick Fury’s life in the 1990s, prior to his assuming the leadership role at SHIELD.
- Avengers: Endgame shows the death of Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff, two characters that were close to Nick Fury.
- Spider-Man: Far From Home’s core plot lies in Nick Fury assigning Peter Parker a task to assist Quentin Beck, who, at that time, posed as a multiversal hero, in dealing with various threats across Europe. We also discover that Fury has been stationed on a space station manned by Skrulls throughout the events of Far From Home. The version of Fury seen alongside Maria Hill is none other than Talos and his wife, Soren.
The Last: Phase 4
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Joining Nick Fury, Talos, G’iah, and James Rhodes, Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross is set to make his MCU return in Secret Invasion. To fully comprehend his journey leading up to this Disney Plus series, it is essential to watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever first.