The rumor mill is swirling about the Skrulls invading the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

If you haven’t heard, the Skrulls were announced at San Diego Comic Con to be the adversary in 2019’s “Captain Marvel.” While that date is a long way off, the big question is whether or not the Skrulls have already made their debut in the MCU.

Speculation is that Marvel Studios is going to cherry pick from the “Secret Invasion” storyline by Brian Michael Bendis. In that story, the Skrulls quietly took the places of key characters and manipulated the Marvel Universe for years before beginning the full onslaught.

With “Infinity War” on the horizon, it’s possible that the MCU will see the first Skrulls Easter eggs left in that movie. By the time “Captain Marvel” hits theaters, we may be seeing the Marvel version of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”

So with all this Skrulls talk, where do you start picking up the key issues?

FANTASTIC FOUR #2

If you have the money to spend, go ahead and put your hands on this historic Marvel comic.

Back in 1962, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby gave us our first collective glimpse of the Skrulls as they invaded the cosmic world of the Fantastic Four. Originally, these guys were none-too-threatening. Frankly, Dobby the House Elf and Gizmo probably bullied them in the school lunch line. As the years went on and other artists and writers put the Skrulls to use, they gradually became more menacing, but the seed was planted back in the ‘60s.

I mentioned having extra money to spend for this one. You’re going to need it. It was only in July that a CGC 0.5 sold for a penny shy of $500. Want a higher grade? Pony up over $1,000 for anything over a 5.0.

SECRET INVASION

Despite the Skrulls’ lengthy history in Marvel comics, they didn’t become a major threat until 2008 when the aforementioned Bendis polished off an old idea and gave us “Secret Invasion.”

Although not the first time the Skrulls tried to replace people on Earth, it was the best written and most engaging of the stories. We saw Elektra revealed to be an impostor after she died, and later, Spider-Woman turned out to be the Skrull Queen as the full invasion took place after the Skrulls planted seeds of doubt in the minds of all the superheroes. In what was one of the more dramatic moments of the story, they even had Iron Man convinced that he might well be a Skrull himself.

A single issue of “Secret Invasion” isn’t going to earn major cash, but it’s steadily climbing. Back in April 2016, a CGC 9.8 “Secret Invasion” #1 sold for just $15. Since then, copies have gradually risen, topping out at $50 just last month due to the hype from the “Captain Marvel” film announcement. What you’ll want to do is pick up the full eight-issue set. When you have all eight in a complete, high-grade package, you’ll get more for it.

FANTASTIC FOUR #261

Unless the Disney/Twentieth Century Fox deal suddenly gains traction, you won’t be seeing any member of the Fantastic Four appearing in the MCU. Still, the “Trial of Reed Richards” storyline is a major key in the Skrulls storyline, and I would imagine it will be adapted to fit with the on-screen Avengers.

You see, the Skrulls - and everyone else whose worlds were devoured by the Purple-Hatted Giant - were not pleased with Mr. Fantastic when he saved Galactus’s life. Galactus, who was just doing what he does, ate the Skrulls’ homeworld which held a few billion of their people. It’s understandable that they wanted to see him pay for this, but Reed Richards kept the eating machine from hitting the eternal buffet. So, in “Fantastic Four” #261-262, the survivors of Galactus’s binging put Richards on trial.

How Marvel will adapt a storyline that centers on two characters they don’t have the rights to will be interesting. Still, it is foreseeable that some variation of this classic story be brought to life. Who knows? Maybe Tony Stark and Thanos will take the places of Reed Richards and Galactus. We shall see.

On the collecting side of things, now is when you’ll want to grab your copy of “FF” #261. Earlier this month, a CGC 9.8 sold for $85, and it’s likely the value for that issue will continue to rise, especially if the MCU hints at using the story.