Contents
Summary
- Two fan theories disprove the notion that War Machine was replaced by a Skrull during Captain America: Civil War which combine with clues from the show to suggest it happened after Avengers: Endgame.
- One theory highlights that the hospital gown and disability apparatus can be explained by regular check-ups in hospitals due to Rhodes’ injuries and the Battle of Earth, indicating that the Skrull impersonated Rhodes after Endgame.
- Another theory points out that Talos, the Skrull general up until the events of Endgame, would have known if Rhodey was a Skrull before Secret Invasion and Gravik’s insurgency, suggesting that the replacement took place after the events of Avengers 4.
Secret Invasion‘s Rhodey-Skrull reveal led to several theories that the War Machine pilot was taken by Skrulls shortly after Captain America: Civil War, yet two MCU fan theories have disproven this. With Secret Invasion being based on the Marvel Comics story of the same name, many expected the Disney+ series to follow a similar plot. The opening episode of Secret Invasion confirmed this, with MCU mainstays like Everett Ross and even Nick Fury himself being impersonated by Skrulls at one point or another.
Undoubtedly the biggest reveal of Secret Invasion though, was that James Rhodes/War Machine was a Skrull also. Frustratingly, Secret Invasion episode 6’s ending refused to divulge when exactly Rhodes was captured and impersonated, leading several fans to assume a conclusion based on context clues provided throughout the show. One of these was the hospital gown that Rhodes was shown wearing when rescued, leading large swathes of MCU fans to believe he has been a Skrull since Captain America: Civil War. Despite these clues, two fan theories have disproven that this was the case, suggesting that Rhodes’ Skrull capture came after Avengers: Endgame.
2 MCU Theories Disprove A Civil War Origin For Skrull Rhodey
The first theory, posted on a subreddit for MCU theories by ForceAccomplished890, explains that the hospital gown Rhodey was seen wearing and the fact that he could not walk during the end of Secret Invasion does not necessarily mean he was replaced during Captain America: Civil War. As the theory rightly points out, all Avengers injured in the Battle of Earth during Avengers: Endgame likely were admitted to hospital to check the extent of their injuries. Rhodey’s disability from Civil War also likely means he regularly visits hospitals for check-ups, which could mean he was taken after Endgame rather than the sole time he was shown in a hospital gown.
Concerning his disability apparatus, the theory points out that the Skrull who impersonated Rhodey simply took them from his body to wear when portraying Rhodey so as to not arouse suspicion. The second theory, a comment beneath the original post from user jackfaire, supports this by pointing out that Talos was the Skrull general until after Avengers: Endgame. As such, Talos would have known if Rhodey was a Skrull before Endgame given his knowledge of the Skrull inhabitants of Earth. These two theories seem to disprove the widely-held belief that Rhodes was swapped out during Captain America: Civil War, supporting that it was more likely to happen after Endgame.
How Secret Invasion Supports A Post-Civil War Rhodey Skrull Replacement
Similarly, there is one significant Secret Invasion plot point that supports the idea of Rhodey being replaced after Avengers: Endgame that many forget when stating that he was replaced during Civil War. The plot point in question is that Gravik’s invasion of Earth only began after Avengers: Endgame and the Blip. Before the five-year Blip, the Skrulls – including Gravik – were still working under Fury’s command. Secret Invasion revealed that it was only after Endgame that Fury distanced himself from Earth and failed the Skrulls.
This is what caused Gravik to become radicalized, inciting his insurgency among the Skrulls on Earth. As such, Rhodey being replaced before Endgame as a means to help Gravik take Earth makes no sense. It is much more logical that someone as powerful as Rhodey was only replaced after Gravik conjured his plan to conquer Earth, which was directly inspired by Fury’s abandonment of the Skrulls and absence from Earth depicted after his return in Avengers: Endgame. Therefore, the implication that Rhodes’ Secret Invasion Skrull impostor took control of him during Captain America: Civil War simply makes little sense as supported by the two MCU fan theories.