Talos the Untamed

Talos the Untamed is a

He returned during the Annihilation event, mainly in the four issue tie-in Annihilation: Ronan (2006). He joined the United Front, alongside characters like Star-Lord, Nova and Gamora.^[4][1]

He made his last appearances in the 2015 ongoing of Howard the Duck, where he infiltrated Earth with an actual, physical human disguise using an alter ego he called "Jonathan Richards".^[2]

Fictional character biography

Talos, considered a Mutant by his people, is a Skrull that was born without the ability to shapeshift. He made up for it by becoming one of the most feared Skrulls on his planet earning the title "Talos the Untamed" due to his savage and sinister nature. After getting captured by the Kree, he refused to commit suicide in the hopes of gaining glory for his survival. Instead, he was ridiculed and renamed the more humiliating "Talos the Tamed."^[5]

Talos soon found himself at the wedding of Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler, courtesy of the Impossible Man.^[6] He found himself confronted by the Hulk and tried to get him to fight him in an attempt to reclaim glory from his people. When the Hulk found out what he was up to, he ceased fighting him. Talos left in frustration, but the Skrulls found his attempt to battle him impressive.^[7]

Talos was called to the planet Godthab Omega by

Talos was once again humiliated, this time by his own people, when Queen Veranke refused to allow him to be a part of the "Secret Invasion" due to him not having the ability to shapeshift. Though Chancellor Kal'Dul didn't lose the hope of Talos's possible participation.^[11]

Talos became a member of the United Front to fight the Annihilation Wave.^[12]

Talos next showed up at Howard the Duck's private investigations in make up and a beard as Jonathan Richards. He tasks Howard with finding a necklace that was stolen by the Black Cat.^[13] When Howard finally retrieves it, Talos abandons his disguise to reveal that the necklace contains the Abundant Gems, less powerful versions of the Infinity Gems that can still make one "marginally" powerful, which he plans to use to gain favor with the Skrulls again. He was defeated by Howard and his friend Tara Tam, and apprehended by the Fantastic Four.^[14]

In the aftermath of the "Empyre" storyline, Emperor Hulkling dispatched Talos to investigate the Kree and Skrull bases that went dark with Av-Rom, Keeyah, M'lanz, Virtue, and Tarna. Two days later, a Kree/Skrull Alliance armada headed by General Kalamari finds Talos's escape pod. After recuperating in the sick bay, Talos recaps to Kalamari about what happened on his mission that involved an encounter with Knull. Talos then informs Kalamari that his distress beacon on his escape pod is a warning that Knull is coming. Outside the ship, Knull is riding a Symbiote Dragon as he swoops in for an attack.^[15]

Powers and abilities

Unlike his Skrull brethren, Talos is incapable of shapeshifting and has been branded as having a genetic defect by his people.^[1][11] To make up for this, he has been granted superhuman strength and durability and can hold his own against the likes of the Hulk. He possesses a cybernetic eye after losing his biological eye in combat.^[16]

In other media

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Talos appears in media set in the

• Talos first appears in the film
  S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Keller.^[19] They eventually find Danvers and Talos arranges a parley to reveal to Danvers and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury the truth of the Kree–Skrull War
  . Sympathizing with his cause, Danvers leaves Earth to help the Skrulls find a new home.
  • Mendelsohn described Talos in this appearance as "more laid back, a bit tougher, [and] a little bit nastier" compared to his human persona, Keller (also portrayed by Mendelsohn), who is more "buttoned-up". He further elaborated, "The thing is, when you're Skrullin', there's a kind of take-no-prisoners vibe about it, which is more relaxed. [As a human] This guy's got to follow protocol because it's S.H.I.E.L.D." Mendelsohn uses his native Australian accent while portraying Talos in his Skrull form and an American accent while he is posing as Keller, which Mendelsohn compared to that of American politician
    Den of Geek! considered Mendelsohn's portrayal of Talos a highlight of the film.^[22]
• In the film
  Maria Hill respectively to give Peter Parker an important device and recruit to fight the Elementals.^[23]
• In the
  Gravik
  who plots to orchestrate a nuclear war amongst humanity and manipulated G'iah into joining his side, until Talos is killed by Gravik. G'iah recovers his body, lays him to rest in a private funeral with help from Fury's wife Varra, and later avenges his death by killing Gravik in a duel.