Skrull Kill Krew
Encyclopedia
The Skrull Kill Krew are a fictional group from Marvel Comics
who first appeared in their own limited series
published in 1995
. They were created by Grant Morrison
, Mark Millar
and Steve Yeowell
.
The group are humans modified by eating Skrull
-infected beef. Some of the team returned during the Skrull Secret Invasion
, which led to another mini-series.
ous series written by Grant Morrison
and Mark Millar
, published in 1995. It was one of Tom Brevoort
's first projects and came about when Morrison and Millar faxed the Marvel offices looking for work:
The original idea for the team name was Skrull Kill Kult, based on the band Thrill Kill Kult, but Marvel's Editor-in-Chief Tom DeFalco
objected to the use of "Kult" because "he felt that it made the series seem like too much of an endorsement of murder cults". Brendan McCarthy
designed the characters and Steve Yeowell
was brought on board to provide the pencils, the same division of labor on Morrison's Zenith
, because of "a lukewarm reception to Steve's initial visualizations".
The series was originally announced as an ongoing series. However, it was changed to a mini-series, because of wider problems in American comic book
market in the mid-nineties and changes at Marvel, with DeFalco leaving. There were four issues-worth of scripts done at the time and Brevoort managed to argue for a fifth to close the series.
They then made an appearance in Avengers: The Initiative
#16 as part of the Secret Invasion
tie-in and writer Dan Slott
announced at the 2008 Baltimore Comic-Con
that they would be getting a new mini-series featuring the new line-up. It is a five issue limited series written by Adam Felber
, and will see the original team being brought back together to fight the descendants of the original Cow-Skrulls.
, at the beginning of their superhero career defeated a group of Skrull
spies. Reed Richards brainwashed them into becoming cows and retaining that form for life. The Skrull-cows at one point regained their memories leading to the death of one of them. The other three were turned over to the U.S. government and restored to cows in shape and mind.
The milk from these cows affected a small dairy town named King's Crossing. The Fantastic Four, via a girl Johnny Storm was dating, ended up investigating the town and neutralizing the threat.
They were then (apparently by accident) shipped to a slaughterhouse
and butchered as beef
. Some of the meat eaten by people transferred the Skrull's adaptable DNA
code into the human's cells, resulting in a bizarre condition called Skrullovoria Induced Skrullophobia, in which these individuals not only gained shape-shifting powers equal to, or greater than, actual Skrulls, but also developed an intense fear or hatred of Skrulls. Only a small number of humans proved susceptible to this syndrome, and most did not survive the initial stages of infection. But several people who proved somewhat longer-lived (though still dying) were gathered together by a man known only as Ryder, who was himself a victim of the disease, to act out their increasingly irrational impulses to seek out and destroy the ones who did this to them (by "letting" themselves get turned into cows), usually by graphically "blowing away" the Skrulls with high-powered weapons.
Their desire to kill Skrulls not only stopped many plots which endangered humans, it also led them to fight other well known Marvel characters, such as Baron Von Strucker and Captain America
.
, another Skrull, and killing him as well. They were next seen helping Nevada
's Fifty State Initiative
team, The Heavy Hitters
deal with a Skrull posing as an unnamed team member. They found out that in every Initiative state team is one Skrull-imposter and decided to kill them all. Komodo and her lover Hardball both join with the team as well. The Skrull Kill Crew thought they would not be able to track Skrulls through all the states on time, but then former Avenger Jocasta
appeared with Devil-Slayer
, who is a member of the Hawaiian Initiative
team, the Point Men. Devil-Slayer has teleportation powers, thus allowing the group to speed up their plans. Most Skrull-killing incidents end with a few more ad-hoc recruits.
Later, Ryder reveals to still have the heads of Moonstomp, Dice and Catwalk, who can also track down Skrulls. He gives the three heads to speedsters Whiz Kid, Spinner and Nonstop. The team splits up in six different squads, for each to search for the six remaining Skrull sleeper agents within the Initiative teams. Also, they are to destroy the decides within each Initiative building that could assist the Skrulls in destroying the United States
. Despite multiple failures (including the death of Spinner), the devices are never set off.
After the Skrulls are defeated, Moonstomp, Dice and Catwalk's heads all die, and Riot reverts back to human form, dying as well. 3-D Man and Ryder then leave her behind and set out to find and kill any Skrulls that might still be on Earth.
Ryder is working alone, attacking nightclub
s for Skrulls. Riot is revealed to have survived and is looking on Match.com
for a woman. 3-D Man is not an active participant. It was later revealed that Ryder has obtained some means of reviving his former team via an unknown liquid. The mini-series' second issue ends with Moonstomp's head reanimating as his body begins to grow back and Ryder prepares to inform him that the current president is African-American
. Ryder succeeds in reviving Moonstomp, Dice, and Catwalk. The reunited team then faces off against the descendants of the Skrulls that were hypnotized into being cows. Following the battle against the Skrulls, Moonstomp leaves the team.
:
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
who first appeared in their own limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
published in 1995
1995 in comics
-January:*After Xavier: The Age of Apocalypse is launched. All X-titles change to different names for the next four months.* Thor marks his 400th appearance in Marvel Comics with issue #482....
. They were created by Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
, Mark Millar
Mark Millar
Mark Millar is a Scottish comic book writer, known for his work on books such as The Authority, The Ultimates, Marvel Knights Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Civil War, Wanted, and Kick-Ass, the latter two of which have been adapted into feature films...
and Steve Yeowell
Steve Yeowell
Steve Yeowell is a British comics artist, well-known for his work on the long-running science fiction and fantasy weekly comic 2000 AD.-Biography:...
.
The group are humans modified by eating Skrull
Skrull
The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The Skrulls first appeared in Fantastic Four #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
-infected beef. Some of the team returned during the Skrull Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion
"Secret Invasion" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self-titled eight issue limited series and several tie-in books published by Marvel Comics from April through December 2008....
, which led to another mini-series.
Publication history
The team first appeared in their own eponymEponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous series written by Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
and Mark Millar
Mark Millar
Mark Millar is a Scottish comic book writer, known for his work on books such as The Authority, The Ultimates, Marvel Knights Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Civil War, Wanted, and Kick-Ass, the latter two of which have been adapted into feature films...
, published in 1995. It was one of Tom Brevoort
Tom Brevoort
Tom Brevoort is an American comic book editor, known for his work for Marvel Comics, where he has overseen titles such as New Avengers, Civil War, and Fantastic Four. He became Executive Editor in 2007, and in January 2011 was promoted to Senior Vice President of Publishing...
's first projects and came about when Morrison and Millar faxed the Marvel offices looking for work:
The original idea for the team name was Skrull Kill Kult, based on the band Thrill Kill Kult, but Marvel's Editor-in-Chief Tom DeFalco
Tom DeFalco
Tom DeFalco is an American comics writer and editor, well known for his association with Marvel Comics and in particular for his work with Spider-Man.-Career:...
objected to the use of "Kult" because "he felt that it made the series seem like too much of an endorsement of murder cults". Brendan McCarthy
Brendan McCarthy
Brendan McCarthy is a British artist and designer best known for his work in comic books, film and television.- Biography :Brendan McCarthy, of Irish descent, was born in London. Brendan soon began painting and drawing his own home-made comics....
designed the characters and Steve Yeowell
Steve Yeowell
Steve Yeowell is a British comics artist, well-known for his work on the long-running science fiction and fantasy weekly comic 2000 AD.-Biography:...
was brought on board to provide the pencils, the same division of labor on Morrison's Zenith
Zenith (comics)
Zenith is a British superhero, who appeared in the science fiction comic 2000 AD. Created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Steve Yeowell, with original character designs by Brendan McCarthy, he first appeared in 2000 AD #536 .Shallow and sarcastic, Zenith was a distinctly Generation X superhero...
, because of "a lukewarm reception to Steve's initial visualizations".
The series was originally announced as an ongoing series. However, it was changed to a mini-series, because of wider problems in American comic book
American comic book
An American comic book is a small magazine originating in the United States and containing a narrative in the form of comics. Since 1975 the dimensions have standardized at 6 5/8" x 10 ¼" , down from 6 ¾" x 10 ¼" in the Silver Age, although larger formats appeared in the past...
market in the mid-nineties and changes at Marvel, with DeFalco leaving. There were four issues-worth of scripts done at the time and Brevoort managed to argue for a fifth to close the series.
They then made an appearance in Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, the series dealt with the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War crossover Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series...
#16 as part of the Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion
"Secret Invasion" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self-titled eight issue limited series and several tie-in books published by Marvel Comics from April through December 2008....
tie-in and writer Dan Slott
Dan Slott
Dan Slott is an American comic book writer best known for The Amazing Spider-Man, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell and She-Hulk. He is the current writer of the twice monthly The Amazing Spider-Man.-Early writing:...
announced at the 2008 Baltimore Comic-Con
Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is a comic book-oriented fan convention held in the fall of every year since its inception in 2000. Founded by Marc Nathan, owner of Cards, Comics, and Collectibles of Reistertown, MD, the show was originally a one-day show held at the Sheraton Hotel in the Baltimore...
that they would be getting a new mini-series featuring the new line-up. It is a five issue limited series written by Adam Felber
Adam Felber
Adam Felber is an American political satirist, author, radio personality, actor, humorist, novelist, television writer, and comic book writer.Felber attended Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, and graduated as an English major in 1989...
, and will see the original team being brought back together to fight the descendants of the original Cow-Skrulls.
Fictional team biography
The Fantastic FourFantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, at the beginning of their superhero career defeated a group of Skrull
Skrull
The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The Skrulls first appeared in Fantastic Four #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
spies. Reed Richards brainwashed them into becoming cows and retaining that form for life. The Skrull-cows at one point regained their memories leading to the death of one of them. The other three were turned over to the U.S. government and restored to cows in shape and mind.
The milk from these cows affected a small dairy town named King's Crossing. The Fantastic Four, via a girl Johnny Storm was dating, ended up investigating the town and neutralizing the threat.
They were then (apparently by accident) shipped to a slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
and butchered as beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
. Some of the meat eaten by people transferred the Skrull's adaptable DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
code into the human's cells, resulting in a bizarre condition called Skrullovoria Induced Skrullophobia, in which these individuals not only gained shape-shifting powers equal to, or greater than, actual Skrulls, but also developed an intense fear or hatred of Skrulls. Only a small number of humans proved susceptible to this syndrome, and most did not survive the initial stages of infection. But several people who proved somewhat longer-lived (though still dying) were gathered together by a man known only as Ryder, who was himself a victim of the disease, to act out their increasingly irrational impulses to seek out and destroy the ones who did this to them (by "letting" themselves get turned into cows), usually by graphically "blowing away" the Skrulls with high-powered weapons.
Their desire to kill Skrulls not only stopped many plots which endangered humans, it also led them to fight other well known Marvel characters, such as Baron Von Strucker and Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
.
Secret Invasion
Ryder and Riot return to ferret out more Skrulls. The other three are still alive, their heads kept in jars, their Skrull infestation has resulted in the loss of their bodies. They encounter the new 3-D Man in the New Mexico desert and save him from a Skrull posing as 'She-Thing'. 3-D Man joins them in rooting out Blacksmith of the Desert StarsDesert Stars
Desert Stars is a fictional superhero team in the Marvel Comics universe. The group of heroes are the official Arizona Fifty State Initiative team and were created by Christos Gage and Stefano Caselli.-Fictional history:...
, another Skrull, and killing him as well. They were next seen helping Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
's Fifty State Initiative
Fifty State Initiative
The Fifty State Initiative, often referred to as simply The Initiative, is a fictional governmental plan that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics, in particular those related to The Avengers...
team, The Heavy Hitters
Heavy Hitters (comics)
Heavy Hitters is a fictional superhero team in the Marvel Comics universe. The group of heroes first appear as the official Nevada Fifty State Initiative team and were created by Christos Gage and Stefano Caselli.-Fictional history:...
deal with a Skrull posing as an unnamed team member. They found out that in every Initiative state team is one Skrull-imposter and decided to kill them all. Komodo and her lover Hardball both join with the team as well. The Skrull Kill Crew thought they would not be able to track Skrulls through all the states on time, but then former Avenger Jocasta
Jocasta (comics)
Jocasta is a fictional, comic book superhero appearing books published by Marvel Comics. A member of the Avengers, the character is a robot created by the villain Ultron.-Publication history:Jocasta first appears in The Avengers Jocasta is a fictional, comic book superhero appearing books published...
appeared with Devil-Slayer
Devil-Slayer (comics)
Devil-Slayer is a fictional character that has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The character exists in Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe...
, who is a member of the Hawaiian Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, the series dealt with the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War crossover Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series...
team, the Point Men. Devil-Slayer has teleportation powers, thus allowing the group to speed up their plans. Most Skrull-killing incidents end with a few more ad-hoc recruits.
Later, Ryder reveals to still have the heads of Moonstomp, Dice and Catwalk, who can also track down Skrulls. He gives the three heads to speedsters Whiz Kid, Spinner and Nonstop. The team splits up in six different squads, for each to search for the six remaining Skrull sleeper agents within the Initiative teams. Also, they are to destroy the decides within each Initiative building that could assist the Skrulls in destroying the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Despite multiple failures (including the death of Spinner), the devices are never set off.
After the Skrulls are defeated, Moonstomp, Dice and Catwalk's heads all die, and Riot reverts back to human form, dying as well. 3-D Man and Ryder then leave her behind and set out to find and kill any Skrulls that might still be on Earth.
Ryder is working alone, attacking nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s for Skrulls. Riot is revealed to have survived and is looking on Match.com
Match.com
Match.com is an online dating company which reportedly has more than 20 million members, made up of a 49/51 male/female ratio, and Web sites serving 25 countries in more than 8 different languages. Its headquarters are in Dallas, Texas and the company also has offices in West Hollywood, Tokyo, Rio,...
for a woman. 3-D Man is not an active participant. It was later revealed that Ryder has obtained some means of reviving his former team via an unknown liquid. The mini-series' second issue ends with Moonstomp's head reanimating as his body begins to grow back and Ryder prepares to inform him that the current president is African-American
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. Ryder succeeds in reviving Moonstomp, Dice, and Catwalk. The reunited team then faces off against the descendants of the Skrulls that were hypnotized into being cows. Following the battle against the Skrulls, Moonstomp leaves the team.
Current
- RyderRyder (comics)Ryder is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. He was the leader and founder of the Skrull Kill Krew.-Fictional character biography:...
- Leader and founder. In addition to shapeshifting, he can teleportTeleportationTeleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
, has enhanced strength and reflexes, and carries lots of firearms. He prefers to animate his hair into snakelike tentacles. In the relaunched Skrull Kill Krew (vol. 2) it's implied he may be one of the Skrulls turned into cows who ultimately was able to grant himself a human appearance, but losing his memory in the process and believing himself a regular human affected by Skrullovoria Induced Skrullophobia.
- 3-D Man - An African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
who inherited his powers from the original 3-D Man3-D Man-Publication history:Although his adventures take place in the 1950s, the character was created by Roy Thomas in the 1970s in the anthology series Marvel Premiere...
, a 1950's anti-Skrull hero. Able to recognize Skrulls with his powers, used the original 3-D Man3-D Man-Publication history:Although his adventures take place in the 1950s, the character was created by Roy Thomas in the 1970s in the anthology series Marvel Premiere...
glasses to focus his ability, ultimately believing them granted by the item, until their destruction forced him to rely on himself.
- RiotRiot (comics)Riot is the name of two characters from Marvel Comics.-Second Riot:The second Riot is a member of Joseph Manfredi's Heavy Mettle.During the Dark Reign storyline, Norman Osborn recruited him to join the Shadow Initiative.-Powers and abilities:...
- Punk rockPunk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
er. Turns into an armored insectoid form. In this form she has great strength and sharp spines. Was stuck in that form for an extended period. Appeared to have died at Camp Hammond, after finally reverting to human form. It is later revealed that she survived working with Ryder grudgingly. Riot's also looking on Match.comMatch.comMatch.com is an online dating company which reportedly has more than 20 million members, made up of a 49/51 male/female ratio, and Web sites serving 25 countries in more than 8 different languages. Its headquarters are in Dallas, Texas and the company also has offices in West Hollywood, Tokyo, Rio,...
for a lesbianLesbianLesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
dating partner, though she has trouble reverting back to her human form again.
- Catwalk - Former fashion model who transforms into a felineFelidaeFelidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...
humanoid form. In this shape she has enhanced athletic abilities, with claws and fangs.
- Dice - Former surfer. He can breathe underwater and transform his limbs into weapons which project explosive blasts.
Former
- Moonstomp - British Neo-Nazi skinheadNazi-SkinheadsWhite power skinheads are a white supremacist and antisemitic offshoot of the skinhead subculture. Many of them are affiliated with white nationalist organizations....
. Hates Skrulls so much that he's willing to work with Ryder (a black man) even though he feels like he's compromising his values in doing so. He has some shapeshifting powers, but prefers to bash his foes with a normal claw hammerHammerA hammer is a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object. The most common uses are for driving nails, fitting parts, forging metal and breaking up objects. Hammers are often designed for a specific purpose, and vary widely in their shape and structure. The usual features are a handle and a head,...
. During the series, his degenerative condition worsens, causing him to develop patches of dark skin, which displeases him immensely.
Collected editions
The series are being collected as a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Skrull Kill Krew (collects Skrull Kill Krew (vol. 1) #1-5, 120 pages, June 20062006 in comics-January:*January 1, 2006: Newsweek offer a look back at 2005 through editorial cartoons. *January 2, 2006: The Cincinnati Enquirer cartoonist Jim Borgman starts a blog to detail his creative process...
ISBN 0-7851-2120-X) - Dark Reign: Skrull Kill Krew (collects Skrull Kill Krew (vol. 2) #1-5, 136 pages, December 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3849-8)
External links
- Review of trade paperback and another, Comics BulletinComics BulletinComics Bulletin is a website with an emphasis on the American comic book industry, updated daily with news, reviews, interviews, and editorial content. Coverage ranges from mainstream to independent/small press comic book and graphic novel publishers.-History:...
- Review of Skrull Kill Krew (vol. 2) #1, Comics BulletinComics BulletinComics Bulletin is a website with an emphasis on the American comic book industry, updated daily with news, reviews, interviews, and editorial content. Coverage ranges from mainstream to independent/small press comic book and graphic novel publishers.-History:...