Veranke is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The queen of the Skrull Empire, she is the main antagonist of Secret Invasion in which she leads her empire to invade and conquer Earth.
The character has made occasional appearances in media depictions.
Publication history
Veranke's first official appearance is in Secret Invasion #1, but was disguised as "Spider-Woman" in New Avengers #1 while her character is named and fleshed out in New Avengers #40.
Fictional character biography
Veranke was a Skrull princess who scolded Emperor Dorrek VII from the Tyeranx 7 province after the Illuminati superhero group escape from the Skrull palace for not heeding the words of the Skrull prophecies, which state the attack upon the palace, then the Skrull homeworld's destruction, the coming of a "wave of devastation" through Skrull space, and the need to take "a world of blue" as their new home. As Dorrek VII ignores her warnings, Veranke declares if Dorrek VII is unable to heed the writings of the Skrull's scriptures and the Skrull people's will, Dorrek VII should be removed from the throne. For her defiance, Dorrek VII banishes her to a prison planet, brushing her off as an insane fanatic and a traitor while acknowledging executing her would only turn her into a martyr for her cause.
Planning the Secret Invasion and impersonating Spider-Woman
Years later, the Skrull throneworld is destroyed by Galactus and the next prophecy fulfilled, the Skrulls elevate Veranke to the throne of the Skrull Empire while she is still on the prison world. As the Skrull Queen, Veranke declares that the scriptures foretell Earth as the Skrull's new homeland, thus the Skrulls undergo a major operation to take over Earth through infiltrating Earth's facets, thereby weakening Earth enough to employ a military invasion to conquer the planet. In addition, Veranke decides to be one of the agents, deciding to play a direct part in Earth's infiltration. She asks who among the candidates for replacement is most capable of inflicting damage and Jessica Drew is recommended as the prime choice thanks to Skrulls posing as HYDRA agents in order for her to be a double agent of Nick Fury.
While impersonating "Spider-Woman", Veranke is appointed to working at the Raft, and was at there when Electro unleashed a mass break-out attempt of the prisoners inside. This event unintentionally led to the New Avengers's reformation, which she later joins after Captain America offers membership to her. Fury instructs her to continue as a personal agent, now within the New Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., and HYDRA simultaneously; she eventually confesses this triple agent arrangement to the Avengers.
During an adventure with the New Avengers, Veranke learns of her rule's greatest threat: Dorrek VIII / Hulkling of the Young Avengers and the son of the Kree hero Mar-Vell and the Skrull princess Anelle who is a likely heir to the throne. During the invasion, she orders Dorrek VIII to be executed, keeping the identity a secret.
House of M
During the House of M, it was revealed that Veranke, along with all the other undercover Skrulls, knew that the world had been altered. She tries to assassinate the Scarlet Witch, but is unsuccessful and deconstructed in a way similar to Clint Barton; both come back afterward. In the aftermath, news reaches her that the Skrull Empire itself has almost entirely been destroyed by the Annihilation Wave, killing billions of Skrulls which further fulfilling their prophecies. Distressed, Veranke and her agents are more determined to continue their takeover of Earth.
Civil War
Soon after the identity of Spider-Man is revealed to the world during the Civil War storyline, Iron Man discloses her triple agent status to Maria Hill. Troubled by her potentially treasonous allegiance to Fury, Hill orders her apprehension. Hiding as Sybil Dvorak, she is captured and taken aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. Deploying an electromagnetic pulse device, a HYDRA commando team disables the Helicarrier and rescues her. She makes her way to the hidden base of Captain America's Secret Avengers and tearfully pleads to join the resistance, having lost her connection to S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fury.