Veranke

Veranke
Queen Veranke of the Skrull.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	New Avengers #1 (2005) (as "Spider-Woman") New Avengers #40 (as Veranke)
Created by	Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Jim Cheung (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Veranke
Species	Skrull
Team affiliations	Skrull Empire Mighty Avengers New Avengers S.H.I.E.L.D. HYDRA
Notable aliases	Skrull Queen, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), Sybil Dvorak
Abilities	Shapeshifting Spider-Woman's powers

New Avengers #1 (2005) (as "Spider-Woman")

Veranke is a fictional character created by Marvel Comics who serves as the queen of the Skrull empire in the Marvel Universe. She is the main antagonist of Secret Invasion, in which she leads her empire to invade and conquer Earth.

Veranke's first appearance is a cameo appearance as a cloaked figure at the beginning of Secret Invasion #1. Her character is named and fleshed out in New Avengers #40 as she is seen rising to the Skrull throne.

Although the "Spider-Woman" appearing in New Avengers #1 is actually Veranke in disguise, this is not revealed until some time later.

After the group of Earth superheroes known as the Illuminati escape from the Skrull palace, Emperor Dorrek VII is scolded by Veranke, a princess from the Tyeranx 7 province, for not heeding the words of the Skrull prophecies, which state the attack upon the palace, then the destruction of the Skrull homeworld, 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 ignores her warnings, Veranke declares if he is unable to heed the writings of the Skrull's scriptures and the will of the Skrull people, he should be removed from the throne. For her defiance, Dorrek banishes Veranke 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.

Years later, the Skrull throneworld is destroyed by Galactus. The next prophecy fulfilled, the Skrulls elevate Veranke, still on the prison world, to the throne of the Skrull Empire. As Queen, Veranke declares that the scriptures foretell Earth as the new Skrull homeland. As such, the Skrulls undergo a major operation to take over Earth through infiltrating the facets of Earth, thereby weakening them 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 the infiltration of Earth. When she asks who among the candidates for replacement is most capable of inflicting damage, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) is recommended as the prime choice.