| “ | You keep telling me what you're not gonna do, I'm gonna show you what I am going to do. | „ |
| ~ Raava to Varra in Beloved. |
| “ | Nick Fury: You must be outta your Skrull-ass mind, you think I'm gonna let you get anywhere near the President. Raava: Well, in order to out me, Nick, you're gonna have to kill me. And you don't wanna kill me because you're not ready to die. But being as I'm not one to pull a gun and not use it, let me give you a little heads-up. In about sixty seconds, the footage of you killing Maria Hill is gonna lead off every news program all across the hemisphere. And you're gonna become the most wanted and hated man on the planet. |
„ |
| ~ Nick Fury and Raava. |
Raava, also known as "James Rhodes" when impersonating him, is the secondary antagonist of the 2023 Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney+ miniseries Secret Invasion.
In her true form, she was portrayed by Nisha Aaliya. While impersonating James Rhodes, she was portrayed by Don Cheadle, who also played Snoop in Out of Sight and Al-G Rhythm in Space Jam: A New Legacy.
Biography[]
Raava was tasked by Gravik took to pose as Colonel James Rhodes and exert influence over the government of the United States. Raava went to the White House under the guise of Rhodes and informed Ritson about Nick Fury, who was furious because of the significance of the defensive system S.A.B.E.R. would have supplied, after learning that Fury had departed S.A.B.E.R.'s space station and received an encrypted letter sent to him by Maria Hill. Raava concurred and added Hill's message to the report, stating that both were absent without permission since they couldn't be reached. Ritson instructed "him" to handle the situation, and she concurred.
Raava, posing as James Rhodes, was ordered by President Ritson to England to attend a meeting about the recent bombing on Russian soil. Maria Hill said that although he was aware of the rumors of their presence and would be as private persons when the French Prime Minister questioned whether "he" was disputing Nick Fury and Maria Hill's attendance in Moscow during the attack. Raava questioned the veracity of the images due to their Russian provenance and offered to have them examined after another Prime Minister questioned whether the photographs were adequate evidence.
In response to the French Prime Minister's query on how "he" could justify Fury's presence in Moscow, Raava emphasized that it had not been confirmed. He threatened to carpet bomb Slovokia if their envoy rolled her eyes at him one more after the Slovakian delegate rolled her eyes at him. When the Skrull Pamela Lawton imitating the President inquired as to why "Rhodes" was present at the meeting rather than him, he responded that Ritson was occupied and that they would not be more forthcoming unless proof could be offered.
Raava had a call from Fury as she was leaving the meeting. Raava answered the call while pretending to be Rhodes and reprimanded Fury for the mishap he had been blamed for. Raava, nevertheless, consented to meet Fury at Burner's Tavern.
Raava informed Nick Fury that he should be concerned about going to jail during the meeting at Burner's Tavern. Fury suggested that "Rhodes" security detail might be Skrulls by asking how well "Rhodes" knew "his" security detail. Fury explained that the Skrulls were invading after Raava said that "he" knew about them in a briefing fifteen years before. Fury countered Raava's suggestion to contact the Avengers by saying that it was a poor idea because it would lead to their duplication. Raava declined to support Fury in his conflict with the Skrulls, but Fury argued that as powerful black men, they owed it to one another to aid.
Fury became irate when one of her guards informed him that his automobile was prepared. Fury's plea was summarized by Raava, who then insulted Fury by saying that they didn't take power away from mediocre white men to give it to mediocre black guys. Raava informed Fury that the US government was dismissing him, adding that he deserved the criticism. Fury then shattered her bodyguard's arm while announcing to "Rhodes" that he would continue the battle before departing.
When Varra received a call from Raava, she went to a bank and took a gun out of the safe. The next time Raava called, she was instructed to meet at St. James' Church in an hour. Raava insisted on speaking to Varra when Varra insisted on speaking to Gravik.
When she arrived at the chapel, Varra informed her that Nick Fury had been dismissed. They sat together. Raava feigned to be perplexed before admitting his guilt. When Varra questioned why Gravik needed her if he was the culprit, Raava said that she was asking her to kill Fury and threatened to kill Varra if she refused. Raava repeated her warning before departing, despite Varra's attempts to convince her that Fury was no longer a danger to the Skrull Resistance.
Raava went back to her apartment and took a shower. Before returning to her identity as James Rhodes, she experienced and delighted in being comfortable in her own skin. Nick Fury, who had broken in, greeted her outside after she had dressed.
Fury said that he was there because he did not like how they had ended things when Raava questioned his presence. Raava enquired about poison after being offered a drink. Fury made fun of the possibility of nanotechnology but cautioned against wasting the drink by purging it.
Fury answered Raava's question about the real reason he was there by saying that he had learnt that Skrulls were infiltrating the American administration close to President Ritson. Raava drank Fury's drink and showed him video of Gravik killing Maria Hill while posing as Fury, threatening to leak the video if he didn't promise to keep quiet about it in exchange for his job. Raava claimed that no one would believe Fury when he claimed that they both knew it was Gravik. He agreed to stop talking about Skrulls in exchange for her accepting the drink, asking him to leave, and keeping the film private. Before getting into a car outside and driving past a few protesters, Raava drank the drink.
President Ritson communicated his concern about the situation, so Raava travelled to the airport to meet him. Ritson was informed by Raava that he had a briefing book in his vehicle, and he also provided negotiation tips. When Ritson noticed that Raava had alcohol on his breath, he questioned him about it, but Raava just scoffed.
Raava scented her breath as she got into her own car and asked "Ruben Steiner" for a mint. A bomb then detonated inside the motorcade when Raava called to report their whereabouts. As the Skrulls attacked and gave the impression that the Russians were to blame, Raava sat comfortably in her automobile.
Raava got a call from Gravik as she was being taken to King George VII Private Hospital to meet with Ritson. Raava was instructed by Gravik to keep Ritson alive while revealing the Skrulls' presence in Russia and giving Ritson instructions to eliminate them all. Gravik responded to Raava's scepticism by saying that Nick Fury would accede to their demands because he didn't want World War III to break out or innocent Skrulls to perish. Gravik responded that the Skrulls would sacrifice themselves for the cause in response to Raava's question about what would happen if they did not get what they wanted. Raava was appalled at the idea as the two hung up.
Raava inquired about the President's whereabouts as he approached the hospital. When a hospital staffer pointed him in the appropriate direction, Raava mocked her for divulging sensitive information and gave the order to shut down the institution. Raava was forced against the wall by Fury, who unexpectedly arrived while putting a gun to the throat. Fury emphasized that he would not let Raava get close to Ritson after Raava ordered his security guard to back off. Raava, however, calmly said that Fury would have to murder her in order to expose her as a Skrull, knowing that Fury would not do it. When she admitted to having shared the video showing "Fury" killing Maria Hill, Fury departed.
Raava threatened to shoot Fury if he went near the President and had the on-site agents point their firearms in his direction. Raava instructed Fury to relay his intention to assault the Skrull to Gravik directly when Fury asked him to do so. Ritson's surgery went well, so Raava called Gravik to let him know, pledging to confirm the strike as soon as the President awoke. Before the two of them hung up, Gravik remarked that Raava understood what would occur if she did not. Raava requested confirmation from Sonya Falsworth that New Skrullos existed, and she gave it.
As Ritson was getting better, Raava entered his hospital room and gave him a chance to stop feeling helpless. She informed Ritson that Skrulls were collaborating with the Russian government while on Earth. Ritson was shown New Skrullos by Raava, who recommended him to assault the facility and promised him the backing of NATO allies England and the rest of the alliance. Ritson hesitated to attack Russia and start a World War, but Raava argued that doing so would be preferable than humanity's destruction.
Several members of the US military came to consult with Raava about the situation, and Raava demanded that they concentrate on Ritson's reaction. Despite the fact that Russian President Vladimov had denied culpability, an admiral stated that they did not know whether Russia had actually launched the attack. Raava alleged that Vladimov was lying, but the admiral stated that a false flag strike could not be ruled out. She criticized Raava for asking that they take more time to reply, but he was cut off when someone showed up carrying satellite footage of Russian tanks close to the borders of Finland and Ukraine.
Ritson was given an explanation by Raava, who also played a speech she had written to address the US on the room's screen. Ritson was instructed to make the call after she stressed that the American people wanted to hear from him that Russia was to blame for the attempt on his life.
While Raava remained with Ritson, Sonya Falsworth called to inform him that Nick Fury had returned to the hospital and was prepared to execute Ritson in order to prevent him from bombing New Skrullos. Ritson was escorted out his hospital room by Raava and Ruben Steiner, a Skrull posing as Ruben Steiner. She informed "Steiner" to direct the remaining agents to seek for Fury and informed Ritson and the other guards that he was being taken upstairs. Ritson was hurried upstairs by Raava, who began inspecting each room as soon as she stepped into the elevator. Raava located a vacant room for the President, but Falsworth interrupted her and ordered her to enter the hallway while brandishing a revolver.
When Fury finally revealed himself, Raava ordered Ritson to shoot him. Ritson questioned Rhodes after Fury reassured the President that it was him, not Fury, who wished to be injured. Ritson pointed his rifle at Raava and demanded that she denies being a Skrull when Fury informed him of Raava's position as one. Raava complied. Ritson reluctantly concurred after she argued that if he kept strong, their enemies would be vanquished. Ritson was interrupted by Fury, who insisted that Raava was Ritson's opponent and pointed out that Ritson's hesitancy would give the Skrulls the upper hand. Raava was able to seize Falsworth's weapon and point it towards Fury despite Fury's instructions to Ritson to delay the missile strike and arrest him if he turned out to be mistaken.
Raava was killed and transformed back into a Skrull after Fury grabbed Ritson's gun and shot her in the head. Ritson called off the missile strike after realizing Fury was correct after witnessing Raava change into a Skrull.
Personality[]
Like Gravik, Raava is completely willing to incite a nuclear global war to eradicate humanity for the Skrulls’ freedom. While posing as Rhodey, Raava assumed his basic mannerisms, but also exhibited a snarkier and more unforgiving demeanor, frequently growing frustrated and anger. This is best shown when she threatens to incite violent military action against Slovakia just because the nation’s representative disapproved of her statements. Raava is also skilled at manipulating Rhodey’s position to assert her authority within the government, using it to fire Fury. She also blackmailed Fury by threatening to leak the footage of Maria Hill’s death to prevent Fury from exposing her, although Fury was able to find more ways to expose her. This shows that Raava also has a hatred of Fury since she seems to revel in spiting him and is nothing but a troublemaker. She also showed no care in ordering Varra to kill Fury, her own husband.
Raava is also genuinely loyal to Gravik as she follows his orders without question, despite being clearly against Gravik’s willingness to get New Skrullos destroyed just to get the Harvest from Fury.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In the comics, Raava was a space pirate who defected from the Skrull Empire after they caused the deaths of her children, and later helped Black Bolt, Absorbing Man and several other characters escape a deep space torture prison.
- Since the release of Secret Invasion, Raava has become one of the most polarizing characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe given the implications behind her character and her impersonation of War Machine. As James Rhodes gets rescued at the end of "Home", he mentions that he can't feel his legs, leading fans to assume that he may have been captured by Gravik's army after the events of the Infinity Saga, where Rhodey gets sent to the hospital after suffering a spinal injury at Falcon's hands.
- Although in Fridge Brilliance in Secret Invasion (2023) Rhodey couldn't be a Skrull during the Infinity Saga, is that Disney doesn't have the rights to use the Skrulls due to 20th Century Fox having the rights at the time before the buyout. Also after the accident he had during the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016) he was wearing advanced cybernetic leg reinforcements during the rest of the Infinity Saga of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Captain Marvel (2019) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), also in the Multiverse Saga The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) was his previous appearance. So it's safe to say that he was captured sometime after the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The Skrull Raava posing as him is the only dead giveaway is the missing leg braces and the War Machine armor. According to the Marvel's and MCU's Wikipedia's Raava only debut in Secret Invasion (2023), not in any other previous MCU projects.
External Links[]
- Raava on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
- Raava on the Marvel Wiki
