The centuries-spanning enmity between the Kree and the Skrulls may have come to an end, at least temporarily during THE KREE-SKRULL WAR (1971-1972), but these two galactic empires will always be at odds with one another. Since that time, the Skrulls have lost their throneworld to the planet-devouring Galactus during THE TRIAL OF REED RICHARDS (1983-1984), before a power-obsessed Skrull cost them their shapeshifting abilities at the end of THE WAR TO END ALL SKRULLS (1985). For the Kree, this is the perfect opportunity to overcome their long-term foes and absorb what’s left of their empire into their own.
After the Silver Surfer escaped the barrier that trapped him on Earth, he immediately discovered a plot to kill his former master, Galactus. These events have led to the reignition of the Kree-Skrull War. While the Skrull have become the underdogs, the return of the Super-Skrull, the secret held by the Kree ruler Nenora, the apparent death of the Supreme Intelligence and the machinations of one of the Elders of the Universe could alter the balance of power. Is this a war that will ever see an end? And how does a former-nemesis of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu play into this?
Minor Crossover: With one non-essential tie-in issue, the Kree-Skrull War II could be considered a minor crossover.
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
- THE WAR TO END ALL SKRULLS (1985) – The Skrulls lose their shapeshifting abilities
- THE WAR OF THE ELDERS OF THE UNIVERSE (1987-1988) – The Kree-Skrull War reignites
- I DIE LIKE THE STARS (1988-1989) – The Super-Skrull returns as the war continues
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- Silver Surfer #25-27
- Silver Surfer Annual #2 [1/7]
(also see ATLANTIS ATTACKS) - Silver Surfer #28-31
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| Title & Issue Number | Synopsis & First Appearances |
| Silver Surfer #25 | The Skrull leader Empress S’Byll has failed to form an alliance with the Badoon against the far-larger Kree Empire. The Super-Skrull begs the Silver Surfer to help S’Byll and her troops escape Badoon space alive. He eventually agrees to assist, not realising the Badoon had allied with the Kree. The Skrulls’ duplicity has pulled the neutral Surfer into the renewed Kree-Skrull War! With Zenn-La now under threat, the Surfer rushes to his home planet where he faces the Kree Ronan the Accuser and a his armada. The Skrulls arrive and help the Surfer see off the Kree and explain that he holds the key to restoring their shapeshifting abilities. The Super-Skrull and the Silver Surfer combine their powers through a genetics machine to make S’Byll the first to regain her powers. On another world, space pirate Clumsy Foulup is approached by a mystery figure, encouraging him to betray his master, Cap’n Reptyl. |
| Silver Surfer #26 | As Empress S’Byll slowly learns to regain her true form, Nenora leads a massive Kree fleet to Zenn-La. The Super-Skrull, the Silver Surfer and the cosmically-powered and formless S’Byll lead the Skrull forces in the peaceful planet’s defence. The Surfer breaches Nenora’s ship and finds she’s controlling it from afar. Via comms, Nenora agrees to leave Zenn-La alone if he promises never to return there. She also promises to kill him either way. In the depths of the galaxy, Clumsy Foulup is horrified to see the face of his new ally… |
| Silver Surfer #27 | On the Skrull Throneworld of Satriani, Empress S’Byll spreads her ability to change shape to other Skrulls, one at a time. The enigmatic Stranger arrives and takes S’Byll for study, just as the Badoon show up and attack the Skrulls. Cap’n Reptyl offers up his crew to the Stranger in exchange for S’Byll. She accepts his offer to fight alongside the Skrulls. On Hala, Clumsy Foulup turns to Nenora for help, watched by his invisible mentor, the resurrected Contemplator who seeks revenge for his murder at the hands of Reptyl. On Zenn-La, Empress Shalla-Bal hears whispers that Nenora is a Skrull… |
| Silver Surfer Annual #2 [1/7] | The Silver Surfer’s involvement in the renewed Kree-Skrull War is interrupted when he reconstitutes space fungus to its original form, which turns out to be that of the Earthly Deviant called Ghaur. Alive again since he was discorporated by the Eternals and Avengers, Ghaur heads back to Earth. The Surfer sends a mental warning Talisman of Alpha Flight and Doctor Strange. Ghaur heads to the undersea kingdom Lemuria and recruits Llyra to assist him in locating the Serpent Crown, planning to use it to bring the serpent god Set to the Earthly plane and destroy his enemies. Set seems more intent on destroying all life on Earth… |
| Title & Issue Number | Synopsis & First Appearances |
| Silver Surfer #28 | Clumsy Foulup sets a trap for Cap’n Reptyl to earn favour with the Kree. Nenora sends a Sentry to capture Shalla-Bal. The formless Contemplator discovers Nenora is secretly keeping the broken Supreme Intelligence alive. Following the Silver Surfer’s encounter with Ghaur, he witnesses the end of a clash between Reptyl and a jealous Super-Skrull’s over the pirate’s closeness to S’Byll. Reptyl triumphs and tears out the Super-Skrull’s throat with his teeth. S’Byll makes Reptyl the new Warlord of the Skrull Empire. The Surfer takes the Super-Skrull’s body into space and allows it to burn up as it falls back down to Satriani, unaware that a Skrull ship flies after it… |
| Silver Surfer #29 | Shalla-Bal is the only person who knows Nenora is a Skrull, but now she’s Nenora’s prisoner. The Contemplator’s spectre plans to revive the Supreme Intelligence and prompt the pink Kree to rise against Nenora. The Kree fleet attacks Satriani. Kree scientists have resurrected Shang-Chi’s nemesis Midnight and given him the strength and power to face the Silver Surfer. Renamed Midnight Sun, the Kung Fu warrior has been upgraded to manipulate darkness and block the source of the Surfer’s powers. Before Reptyl can enact his plan to defeat the Kree, he’s run through with his own sword by Clumsy Foulup. The Surfer defeats Midnight Sun, but he’s too late to save the Skrull Empire… |
| Silver Surfer #30 | The Silver Surfer sees off the last of the Kree ships who remain behind and try to destroy him. On Hala, Clumsy Foulup is hailed as a war hero under the influence of the Contemplator who has also reconstituted a Supreme Intelligence under his control. The Cotati free Shalla-Bal who also learns of the Contemplator’s plot. The Surfer approaches Hala, and has a rematch with Midnight Sun and wins. The distraction allows S’Byll to sabotage the Kree ships. The Surfer & S’Byll happen upon Shalla-Bal who reveals Nenora’s Skrull nature. The Stranger arrives when S’Byll restores Nemora’s shape-shifting powers… |
| Silver Surfer #31 | Empress S’Byll reveals Nenora’s Skrull origins to the Kree and sows for peace. Clumsy Foulup betrays the Contemplator and forms an alliance with the Cotati and pink Kree. The Cotati take control of the ‘resurrected’ Supreme Intelligence who appoints Clumsy Foulup as Supreme Leader and destroy the Contemplator. The Silver Surfer confronts the Stranger over his involvement in the Kree-Skrull War, prompting the arrival of the Living Tribunal. The Surfer doesn’t learn why the Stranger interfered in the war, but the Tribunal briefly allows him to experience godhood and earn an understanding of the true complexities of the universe before he returns to fly free in space… |
| Must Reads | Issue & Fallout | Event / Crossover |
| Iron Man Annual #10 (1989) Ghaur continues his plan to bring Set forth from the Earthly plane as he forms an alliance with Attuma of Atlantis to attack the surface world | ATLANTIS ATTACKS HEARTBEATEN | |
| Fantastic Four Annual #22 (1989) Ghaur’s plans are thwarted by the Avengers and Fantastic Four. | ATLANTIS ATTACKS | |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four Annual #24 (1991) The Super-Skrull and Reptyl are both revealed to be alive; the Super-Skrull ignores S’Byll’s orders him to keep his return and his dishonourable defeat at Reptyl’s hand a secret and, instead, tracks down Reptyl and kills him; S’Byll strips the Super-Skrull of his rank and banishes him. | |
| ✔ | Incredible Hulk #375 (1990) The Super-Skrull reveals that the ship that picked up his ‘corpse’ was piloted by the Badoon who discovered he was very much alive before they died at his hands. | |
| ✔ | Silver Surfer Annual #4 (1991) Midnight Sun regains his memories and aggressively breaks free of the Kree, determined to discover who he now is. | |
| ✔ | Silver Surfer #53 (1991) Clumsy Foulup is killed by an android Silver Surfer controlled by Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn of the Kree; with Foulup dead, Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn become co-Emperors of the Kree Empire. Silver Surfer #57 (1991) Floating in space, Cap’n Reptyl’s corpse begins to evolve. Silver Surfer #60 (1991) The silent Midnight Sun approaches the Silver Surfer for help who mistakes this as an attack and the two of them fight on Earth’s moon; the Inhumans offer to help Midnight Sun. | THE INFINITY GAUNTLET |
| ✔ | Silver Surfer #64-65 (1992) The Silver Surfer is confronted by Reptyl in a monstrous new form. | |
| ✔ | Captain America #398 (1992) The Supreme Intelligence is revealed to have returned, having absorbed the minds of Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn. | OPERATION: GALACTIC STORM |
| ✔ | Quasar #37 (1992) The real Contemplator returns, explaining that someone had been impersonating him up to and during the second Kree-Skrull War. | THE INFINITY WAR |
| ✔ | Silver Surfer: Homecoming (1991) The Silver Surfer finally returns to Zenn-La only to learn it has been taken by the self-styled Great One; Shalla-Bal is lost to the Surfer once again when she sacrifices herself to save Zenn-La. | |
| ✔ | Silver Surfer/Warlock: Resurrection #1-4 (1993) The Silver Surfer and Adam Warlock free Shalla-Bal’s soul from Mephisto’s realm, returning her to life; the Surfer and Shalla-Bal are only briefly reunited before she returns to her role as Empress of Zenn-La. | |
| ✔ | Quasar #47-48 (1993) The Judicator confirms that the Contemplator who was killed by Cap’n Reptyl and manipulated Clumsy Foulup in the Kree-Skrull War was actually a Skrull called Tath Ki; the Skrull is taken away to stand trial. | |
| Silver Surfer #130-131 (1997) A trip into the past reveals that ‘Zenn-La’ and it’s inhabitants – including Shalla-Bal – are actually copies of the real thing; the duplicate Zenn-La was created by Galactus in the 1940s to disguise the fact that the planet had been destroyed by a being called the Other. | THE MESSIAH SYNDROME | |
| Galactus the Devourer #1-6 (1999) The Silver Surfer and Earth’s heroes defeat Galactus’ merciless new Herald Red Shift when he leads his master to Earth to consume it; the Surfer briefly becomes Galactus’ Herald again to prevent him from devouring the Earth; Mantis is reunited with the Silver Surfer, though she can’t condone his retaking his role as Herald of Galactus and they part ways. | ||
| Heroes Reborn: Ashema #1 (2000) The Dreaming Celestial finds a loophole that allows him to briefly wake up. | HEROES REBORN: DOOMSDAY | |
| ✔ | Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu #1 (2009) Midnight Sun returns to Earth and reconciles with Shang-Chi (though this reconciliation doesn’t hold for long). |
A list of Collected Editions that bring the Kree-Skrull War II together…
Silver Surfer Epic Collection: The Return of Thanos (vol.5)
- Silver Surfer #23-38
- Silver Surfer: The Enslavers
Atlantis Attacks Omnibus
Atlantis Attacks: The Original Epic
Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Parable (vol.4)
All includes…
- Silver Surfer Annual #2
Reading Order ©OmniverseComicsGuide 2023
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