# Aliens that can shape-shift into human form **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 11, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655 "2019-10-11T21:55:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/21 "2019-10-12T14:57:34Z")
The Chitauri, from Marvel Comics’ _Ultimate_ line, although they’re basically alternate universe versions of the Skrulls mentioned upthread. Reptilians, from modern UFO folklore (David Icke, et al). Serpent Men, from Robert E. Howard’s King Kull and Conan stories, although they’re a prehuman terrestrial species, not extraterrestrial. Also, although they can’t quite perfectly imitate humans - they can’t say the phrase “Ka Nama Kaa Lajerama”. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/22 "2019-10-12T14:59:09Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Hank Henshaw is badass enough in the first season of Supergirl, but every once in a while, his eyes glow red (out of sight of everyone but the camera, and often at the end of an episode, so you’re watching and you yell, “Oh, come onnnnn, we want to see what happens next!”) > > Turns out, he’s an _alien that can shape-shift back and forth from human to alien form at will._ [Here’s the big reveal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az7rrdzPOdk), with a bonus whammy at the end. > The writer and actor discuss it [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSa7oaAs9-I). He’s a Green Martian, already mentioned upthread by Kamino Neko. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/23 "2019-10-12T15:04:58Z")
Two more from Marvel Comics: Poppupians (exemplified by Impossible Man) originally could perfectly imitate virtually anyone or anything. In later appearances they couldn’t change color (so they could perfectly imitate a human except they would be green). The Technarchy, “techno-organic” beings with…inconsistent shapeshifting abilities, exemplified by Warlock of the New Mutants. In at least some appearances, they could flawlessly imitate humans. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/24 "2019-10-12T15:06:26Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Skrulls, in Marvel comics and movies. Skrulls were the first thing that occurred to me for some reason. Seems like about half of all alien species can shape shift to human form, and half of the rest already have human form. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/25 "2019-10-12T15:30:49Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Skrulls were the first thing that occurred to me for some reason. Seems like about half of all alien species can shape shift to human form, and half of the rest already have human form. [Church lady]How _convenient_![/Church lady] ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/26 "2019-10-12T17:46:47Z")
Since we’re of course mentioning fictional aliens, maybe someone should bring up the [space zombies from Pluto](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GW98p3Rq0cg). _“It’s already mutated into human form! Shoot it!”_ ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/27 "2019-10-12T18:17:10Z")
Scarlett Johansson plays an alien in human form in _Under the Skin_ (2014). Other than seeing Scarlett Johansson nude, there’s not much reason to watch it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/28 "2019-10-12T19:09:36Z")
The unnamed aliens in Matt Haig’s novel _The Humans_. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/29 "2019-10-12T19:12:00Z")
But was Johansson’s character a shapeshifter, or did her natural form just happen to resemble a human? ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/30 "2019-10-12T19:23:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But was Johansson’s character a shapeshifter, or did her natural form just happen to resemble a human? There’s a part at the end where she sheds her human skin. It’s never really clear what she is, but she’s been formed to resemble a human. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/31 "2019-10-12T19:42:15Z")
Cocoon Animorphs - not limited to humans My Favorite Martian - movie version Contact - “a form you’re comfortable with” Dreamcatcher - not the villainous ones that need to possess humans, but the good one that opposes them V ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/32 "2019-10-12T19:49:43Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > It’s never really clear what she is, but she’s been formed to resemble a human. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve said this about old girlfriends. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/33 "2019-10-12T20:35:22Z")
X-Files? Did I miss it? Or was it mentioned? Surprised it wasn’t suggested early on, or does X-Files not count? Also, the guy from UHF. ������ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/34 "2019-10-12T20:53:01Z")
Wasn’t there a shapeshifting assassin in one of the Star Wars prequels? _Attack of the Clones_, I think? And the female lead in _Cowboys and Aliens_ usually looked human, but IIRC we get a glimpse of her true form (and she admits that her true form doesn’t actually look human). ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/35 "2019-10-12T21:26:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Skrulls were the first thing that occurred to me for some reason. Seems like about half of all alien species can shape shift to human form, and half of the rest already have human form. If we’re talking superhero media (as the Skrulls being the only example suggests) it’s the other way around. More than half look passably human (non-blue Kree, Shi’ar, Kryptonians, Thanagarians, etc) and probably half of the ones that don’t can shape shift (Skrulls, Martians, Durlans, etc) , or easily disguise themselves as human with a bit of makeup (blue Kree, Coluans, etc). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/36 "2019-10-12T22:37:27Z")
Many of the monsters & spirits in the webcomic _[White Noise](http://www.white-noise-comic.com/about)_ can shape-shift into a perfectly passable human form. Some can shape-shift into other forms as well. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/37 "2019-10-12T23:33:49Z")
> [@Trancephalic](#): > > Cocoon > V The ones in _Cocoon_ and _V_ (like the Slitheen) wear special suits to look Time Lord, so not shape-shifters. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/38 "2019-10-13T01:23:04Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Scarlett Johansson plays an alien in human form in _Under the Skin_ (2014). Other than seeing Scarlett Johansson nude, there’s not much reason to watch it. 🙂 You say that as if I _need_ another reason. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/39 "2019-10-13T02:29:08Z")
From DOCTOR WHO, [Carrionites](https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Carrionite) “resembled a giant skeletal raven or crow”, but one who messed with William Shakespeare “could assume the form of a beautiful young woman” and worked as part of a trio — and you get the idea, right? When wearing a hooded robe, can morph to a form that could pass for ‘old hunched crone with a beaklike nose’; uses alien tech that’s built around biological samples and voice commands, which looks a lot like ‘getting a lock of hair from someone before casting a magic spell’; and their other accoutrements run the gamut from ‘oh, the crystal happens to be shaped like a ball’ all the way over to ‘okay, that right there is clearly a cauldron’. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/40 "2019-10-13T14:06:33Z")
Lyekka, the carnivorous plant in _Lexx_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655.md?page=3)