Spider-Woman Fact — November 4, 2026

Today's Fact

Readers met the twist in 2008, but it had been sitting in plain sight since 2005 — wearing Jessica Drew's face in every Avengers panel.

FOR YEARS, THE SPIDER-WOMAN ON THE AVENGERS WAS NOT JESSICA DREW — SHE WAS THE SKRULL QUEEN LEADING AN INVASION!

The Featured Fact

When Jessica Drew joined the New Avengers in New Avengers Vol. 1 #1 (2005), she arrived with a suspicious résumé: ex-Hydra, ex-S.H.I.E.L.D., reporting to Nick Fury on the side. The suspicion was justified — just not in the direction anyone guessed. New Avengers Vol. 1 #40 (2008) by Brian Michael Bendis and Jim Cheung revealed that the woman in the red-and-yellow suit was Veranke, queen of the Skrull Empire, and the real Jessica had been her prisoner the whole time.

Veranke had not picked the identity at random. Skrull agents posing as Hydra operatives reported that Drew — a double agent trusted by Fury, wanted by everyone, believed by no one completely — was the perfect hole in Earth's defences. Veranke underwent the infiltration ritual that copied Jessica's powers and memories, then took her place inside S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra and the Avengers simultaneously, feeding each organisation exactly what kept the invasion on schedule.

So the architect of Secret Invasion (2008) spent years sitting in Avengers meetings, surviving the Raft breakout, and whispering to Iron Man that he might be the Skrull. When the invasion finally broke cover, Jessica Drew herself had to be rescued from captivity and returned to a world where her own face had spent years committing treason — a debt the real Spider-Woman spent a long time paying down.

Why It's Obscure

Plenty of heroes were replaced during Secret Invasion. Only one replacement was the invasion's commander, hiding inside the team hunting her.

2005–2008

Three years in the chair — Every Spider-Woman appearance from New Avengers #1 onward was Veranke until the reveal — one of the longest impostor runs Marvel has ever committed to print.

The ritual

More than a costume — The Skrull infiltration ritual copied powers and memories, not just a face: Veranke could pass as Jessica to people who had known Jessica for years.

Triple agent

Trusted everywhere, loyal nowhere — As Drew, Veranke held positions inside the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra at once — each credential vouched for by the other two.

The real Jessica

The bill came due — Freed after the invasion, the genuine Drew inherited the suspicion her impostor had earned — strangers had worn her face before, but never this well, or this long.

Gallery

Two queens, one face: Veranke in both of her forms, and the invasion she led from inside the Avengers.

Queen Veranke in her Skrull form beside Veranke disguised as Spider-Woman Jessica Drew on a throne comic art — **Both of her faces**Veranke as she is — and as Jessica Drew, crowned and enthroned in the identity she stole for the invasion.

Secret Invasion number 3 variant cover showing Veranke as Spider-Woman seated on a throne — **The queen in stolen colours**The Secret Invasion #3 variant cover: the impostor Spider-Woman on a throne, goblet in hand, entirely too comfortable.

Queen Veranke Skrull comic art — **The commander herself**Veranke undisguised — the religious zealot who turned a prophecy about Earth into a years-long infiltration.

Sources

Every fact on this page was checked against at least two independent sources before publication.

Bullpen Bulletins

'Secret Invasion': The Greatest Reveals and Most Surprising Skrull Moments — Marvel.com Marvel's official account: New Avengers #40 revealed Veranke had replaced Jessica Drew, a choice built for psychological warfare against the Avengers.
Veranke — Wikipedia Confirms Veranke impersonated Spider-Woman from New Avengers #1, chosen because of Drew's double-agent status with Nick Fury.
Veranke (Earth-616) — Marvel Database Details the capture of the real Jessica at a Hydra base, the infiltration ritual copying her powers and memories, and Veranke's triple-agent position.