The new Hawkeye streaming series returns to the Battle Of New York, the devastating invasion by the Chitauri in the first Avengers movie in 2012. The MCU continues to make this epic event foundational in the lives and origins of many characters like Kate Bishop, but in Marvel Comics, New York City has been the subject of numerous alien invasions over the years.
New York City has been more or less the epicenter of the Marvel Universe since the beginning, with most of its early superheroes based in the city. As a result, aliens like the Skrulls have been invading New York City early and often, with massive and devastating attacks occurring right up until the present in major events in ongoing Marvel titles.
King In Black
A major alien invasion of New York City occurred earlier this year in the massive King In Black crossover event. In this storyline, Knull, the god of the alien symbiotes that produced Venom and one of the most powerful cosmic beings in the Marvel Universe, leads an all-out attack on Earth.
Much of the fighting occurs in New York City, with the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and elements of the X-Men combining their forces to fend off the symbiotes. The situation is made worse by the fact New York City isn't evacuated, thanks to its mayor, Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin. The resulting chaos sees the city almost destroyed by the battle and Eddie Brock perish trying to protect his son Dylan.
Secret Wars
An even more powerful cosmic force attacked the city in Secret Wars, the 1984 crossover event. The Beyonder struck the city and the world by abducting all of its heroes and villains, too. The attack began in Central Park, where the Beyonder had placed a giant egg-like vessel.
The vessel was actually a Trojan Horse of sorts, transporting all of the heroes and villains away to Battleworld. There, the Beyonder pitted the heroes and villains against each other. It left Earth defenseless against other threats until the situation was resolved. While the city itself was relatively undamaged, the brief invasion endangered the entire world as there were few heroes left to defend it.
The Brood
The Brood is one of the most dangerous alien species in Marvel Comics. That was on full display in the X-Men/Fantastic Four limited series from 2005. The Brood launch an invasion of New York City after first infecting the crew of a space station. The two superhero teams combine forces to investigate, but the terrifying nature of the Brood makes it difficult.
The Brood plant embryos in host bodies, which then take over and eventually transform the hosts into full Brood. Their rapid reproduction process and ability to impersonate people make them especially dangerous in large urban environments. This invasion was unique as it was less offensive and more strategic than others. The Brood's purpose was to infect and colonize their species first, not destroy everything in their initial assault of the city.
Empyre
Another major alien invasion of New York City occurred in early 2021 when the Cotati attacked Earth. The tree-like alien race attacked numerous cities in the Empyre storyline and initiated their strike against New York in the East Village in Manhattan.
Captain Marvel led the effort to repel them and was eventually joined by Doctor Strange, Spider-Woman, War Machine, and others. They were able to fend off the Cotati with the Universal Weapon, a major magical spell. The Cotati's invasion focused on a particular neighborhood rather than the entire city at once. Similar to the Brood, their goal was to invade strategically and stealthily rather than with sheer power.
The Fantastic Four Meet the Skrulls From Outer Space!
The first real alien invasion in Marvel Comics history happens almost right away, in Fantastic Four #2 from 1961. This issue introduced the Skrulls, the shape-shifting aliens who would go on to become major antagonists in the comics and potentially in the MCU.
In this issue, the Skrulls impersonate the Fantastic Four, and each imposter launches a separate attack, making it seem like the team has gone bad. This is an early example of how effective the Skrulls could be as villains, sowing dissension through deceit. While not focusing on NYC itself, the Skrulls instead decided to strike at the city's most powerful defenders in the hopes of conquering it and the rest of the world.
Terrax The Untamed
Christmas in New York City is difficult in the new Hawkeye streaming series. It was nightmarish in Fantastic Four #242 when Terrax invaded the city. Terrax, one of the most powerful heralds of Galactus, launches a brutal assault against the Fantastic Four that leads to devastating results for the city.
In an attempt to protect the rest of the world from the cosmic wrath of Terrax, the Invisible Woman extends an invisible force field around Manhattan, which instantly severs all of its bridges and tunnels. It's a rare example of a time when most of the destruction is a result of a hero defending NYC instead of a villain attacking it.
Maximum Security
A variety of alien races team up to invade New York City in Maximum Security, a crossover event from early 2001. In the story, Ronan the Accuser ends up as the warden of Earth after it's turned into a penal colony by an alliance of alien races including the Skrulls.
The streets of New York City become a battlefield as Ego the Living Planet slowly integrates with the Earth, and numerous Avengers and other heroes fight alien invaders all across the city, including Captain America at the Statue of Liberty. Unlike other invasions, this one is notable for its unique threat: a miniaturized Ego that is quickly growing into a size that will destroy New York City and the rest of the world in a week. It's an invasion with a countdown, and the resulting effect is a tense rush for the heroes to defeat a seemingly unstoppable enemy.
Secret Invasion
A major alien invasion from the comics that fans are bound to see in the MCU occurred in Secret Invasion, a major Marvel crossover that is set to become its own streaming series. The Skrulls initiate a long-planned invasion of Earth with one of the major battles occurring in New York.
This battle could very well occur in the MCU as well as the fight takes place between the Skrull invaders and many heroes, including the Young Avengers. Most notably, the final showdown occurs in Central Park, with almost all of Marvel's top-tier heroes facing off against the deadly alien invaders. With Kate Bishop and most of that team in place in live-action, it's likely they'll defend New York City on screen as well.
What If? Annihilation
One of the most destructive alien invasions in Marvel Comics was the Annihilation Wave, spurred by Annihilus, one of the most powerful Fantastic Four villains. The wave reached Earth with ruinous consequences for New York City in What If? Annihilation, a comic that explored a different outcome for the event.
The wave arrives as the forces of Iron Man and Captain America face off in the climax of the Civil War comic book storyline, turning an already wrecked New York City into a war zone with scores of casualties. Because this is an alternate reality with no real consequences, New York City is decimated in the ensuring conflict with no hope of rescue from the heroes, who are themselves dying at an astonishing rate.
The Galactus Trilogy
Perhaps the greatest alien invasion in Marvel Comics history is also one of its all-time best stories. "The Galactus Trilogy" from Fantastic Four #48-50 sees the Silver Surfer arrive on Earth in advance of Galactus, who is intent on consuming the planet in the same way he has countless others since the beginning of time.
The Fantastic Four confront Galactus in New York City and are mostly helpless despite their superpowers. It's only with the help of The Watcher that they're able to spare the planet from Galactus' hunger. The city itself experiences strange phenomena heralding the arrival of Galactus, such as fires erupting at random in the sky. While the damage was minimal, this was one of the first, and most iconic, invasions from another alien race in Marvel Comics history.