Dark Reign is a 2008 to 2009 comic book branding used by Marvel Comics. It deals with the aftermath of the "Secret Invasion" storyline, which resulted in a shift of power in the Marvel Universe toward Norman Osborn. The title refers to Osborn's rise to national power and the ramifications thereof. Joe Quesada, then-editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, stated that "Dark Reign is not really an event, it's what's happening in the Marvel Universe." He believes that "Dark Reign leads to an interesting place in the Marvel Universe. I think you'll see a pulling back at the end of Dark Reign, but you'll understand at the end of it what we were trying to get to."
Publication history The story-line begins with the release of Secret Invasion: Dark Reign, a one-shot by Brian Michael Bendis (writer) and Alex Maleev (art), in December 2008. It continued in standalone mini-series and some individual issues of ongoing Marvel Comics titles throughout 2009. Selected ongoing Marvel titles were temporarily renamed to highlight their involvement in the story-line.
Initial promotional images for the story-line included a series of "We Lost, They Won" images showing: a severed robotic head of Iron Man, Emma Frost holding Cyclops's blood-covered visor, the new Captain America bowing to Norman Osborn's Iron Patriot form, Daken's Wolverine form looking down, Thor motionless on Loki's female form, Venom's Spider-Man appearance defeating Spider-Man, Hank Pym's Wasp alias (with Wasp's picture in the background), and the Green Goblin (which quotes that "He won").
There is no core limited series as there was in the preceding Secret Invasion event. Instead, the story-line is made up of one-shots that help fill in the gaps, limited series exploring the effect of the event on teams and individuals, as well as tie-ins with other ongoing series. The main story-line led into the 2010 "Siege" crossover event, although some plot elements are ongoing.
Plot Following the Skrull invasion of Earth during Secret Invasion, Norman Osborn leverages his success in defeating the Skrulls to replace Tony Stark as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Deadpool plays a large part in this, as he is supposed to send the information on how to kill the Skrull Queen Veranke to Nick Fury. An error occurs during the process and the information goes to Osborn instead. Osborn shoots Veranke in the head and becomes the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., which he replaces with H.A.M.M.E.R. Osborn simultaneously forms an alliance called the Cabal with Doctor Doom, Emma Frost, Namor, Loki, and the Hood. He uses H.A.M.M.E.R. to carry out his agenda and, at times, the Cabal's. However, Osborn's actions and his reputation influence a number of heroes and villains to attempt to resist Osborn's rule and remove him from power by force, if necessary.
Main characters Norman Osborn is the former Green Goblin and central focus of Dark Reign. He is featured in most of the ongoing series and mini-series linked to the Dark Reign story-line. Brian Bendis noted that "people know he's a bastard, but ignore it as long he gives them safety."Wizard Magazine #210 (April 2009) The character is shown as willing to destroy anything that threatens his public hero status. Writer Matt Fraction commented that as the Iron Patriot, he is a "showman in armor". Osborn keeps the more volatile members of the Cabal in line with a "secret weapon" which is revealed to be the Void.Wizard Magazine #212 (June 2009) Across multiple titles, the character is shown with ongoing mental instability from his days as the Goblin.Secret Invasion: Dark Reign (February 2009)The Mighty Avengers #24 (June 2009)Thunderbolts #131 (June 2009) The Hood is featured heavily during the Dark Reign story-line in both New Avengers and Punisher. In the first, Bendis explores the character's relationship with Dormammu and his quest to become the new Sorcerer Supreme. Rick Remender, writer of Punisher, focuses more on his activities as a gangster and criminal. During the event, the character also features in the Dark Reign: The Hood mini-series, written by Jeff Parker, and has a major role in Marvel Zombies 4. Writer Fred Van Lente explained that, "The Hood, of course, may not be acting of his own volition, since he has an unholy alliance with the Dread Dormammu, who may want the zombies and the virus that creates them for his own nefarious purposes. Plus, the Hood doesn't just bring any group of villains with him on this jaunt. He brings a very horror-oriented group of villains with him." (This group is the Night Shift.)
Doctor Doom hopes to use the Cabal to conquer the world and, aided by his ally Namor, seize power when Osborn implodes, preferring to consider the Cabal as an association rather than as partners. A short story written by Jonathan HickmanDark Reign: The Cabal (June 2009) reveals that he plans to kill or enslave his Cabal allies in the near future. Doom is shown almost killing the Black Panther when the latter rejects a chair in the Cabal.Black Panther (vol. 5) #2 (May 2009) Doom also uses Latveria to house the Asgardians as part of an agreement with Loki, which allows them to get rid of Thor, then exiled from Asgard. However, Doom makes it clear that he trusts neither LokiThor #603 (November 2009) nor Namor,Dark Reign: Made Men (digital comics) #1 (April 2009) but merely finds them useful. In Siege: The Cabal, Doom leaves the Cabal after one of his Doombot duplicates he sent in his place is attacked by Osborn's secret weapon.Siege: The Cabal Vol 1 (February, 2010) Loki is often shown as a manipulator. He uses Osborn's help to make Thor kill Bor (Odin's father), and cause Thor's banishment.Thor #600 (April 2009) Then, with Doom's help, Loki realizes his plan of taking the throne of Asgard. However, during Chthon's attack on Earth, Loki, disguised as the Scarlet Witch, gathers a new Mighty Avengers team, which defeats the evil god.The Mighty Avengers #21–23 (March – May 2009) Loki then subtly manipulates them to disturb Osborn's mental state and quicken his fall. Namor has possibly the smallest role in the Cabal, appearing mostly in titles written by Matt Fraction. Fraction shows him as a warrior with great pride, and builds a sexual relationship between him and Emma Frost. Namor becomes one of the leaders of the Dark X-Men, as shown in Fraction's Uncanny X-Men as well as their own Dark Reign tie-in series. Namor was written as a loyal member of the Cabal until "Utopia", where he and Emma Frost betray Osborn and help the X-Men create their own island. Emma Frost wants the mutant community to have a position of power in Osborn's new world order. Multiple stories indicate that her relationship with Cyclops suffers because of secrets they keep from each other. Frost and Namor become the leaders of the Dark X-Men. She helps lead the Dark X-Men until the regular X-Men are captured. She and Namor turn against Osborn and help establish the Utopia island. During a battle with the Dark Avengers, Frost uses her telepathy to defeat the Sentry by taking part of the Void into herself and frightening him away. She had to remain in her diamond form in order to keep the Void trapped. Victoria Hand is a former S.H.I.E.L.D. Business Affairs Operative. She is now Osborn's Deputy Director of H.A.M.M.E.R. Osborn has given her a list of jobs for building "a new world peacekeeping task force from scratch," including, but not limited to: creating an acronym for H.A.M.M.E.R., writing a full report on the Fifty State Initiative, and stripping down and rebuilding Camp Hammond. Osborn calls her "my eyes and ears and mouth," and names her his second-in-command over his team of Avengers. She is sent by Osborn himself to take on Bruce Banner and his son, Skaar, where she shows great battle skills.
One-shots One-shots help the transition from Secret Invasion and fill in other details behind the main story-line.
Dark Reign Files Quasimodo enters the services of Norman Osborn as he puts together a dossier of different villains on which ones are a threat, should be locked up, or would be of use to Osborn. He compiles each villains according to threat, loyalty, influence, power, and expendability that are mentioned in their final assessment.Dark Reign Files #1. Marvel Comics.
Dark Reign: The Cabal
Written by Rick Remender, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction, Kieron Gillen, and Peter Milligan, this one-shot features five vignettes that provide further information about the motivations of the members of the Cabal.
It is reprinted in the Siege Prelude trade paperback.
Dark Reign: Made Men Written by Frank Tieri, this one-shot features vignettes that explore the impact of Osborn's rise, such as Attuma's resurrection, the appearance of the new Enforcer, the return of the original Spymaster, and the appearance of a new Jack O'Lantern.
Dark Reign: New Nation This kicks off ongoing series Secret Warriors, Agents of Atlas and War Machine and limited series Skrull Kill Krew and New Avengers: The Reunion.
Dark Reign: Goblin Legacy The comic sees Victoria Hand collecting info about Norman Osborn's past.
Marvel Spotlight: Dark Reign
M.O.D.O.K.: Reign Delay
This story was written and drawn by Ryan Dunlavey and shows M.O.D.O.K.'s attempt to take over his home town Erie, Pennsylvania. It was serialized on Marvel Digital Comics before appearing as a one-shot.
Other one-shots
Captain America Who Will Wield the Shield Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia Dark X-Men: The Confession Secret Invasion Dark Reign Secret Invasion Requiem Free Comic Book Day Avengers Planet Skaar Thor Defining Moments Uncanny X-Men Annual 2
Ongoing titles Dark Reign was used as a springboard to launch these ongoing series.
Agents of Atlas
The Agents of Atlas are shown opposing Osborn's agenda by taking on the role of "super-villains". Their first act is to attack Fort Knox and steal the gold reserve, which Osborn planned on using to finance a secret weapons system.Dark Reign: New Nation (February 2009)
Black Panther
Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, attempts to recruit T'Challa for the Cabal, a secret council of super-villains. Attacked by the forces of fellow Cabal member Doctor Doom, T'Challa is left comatose. His sister Shuri is trained as the next Panther, with the mantle passing onto her officially after T'Challa awakens from his coma and attempts to recover from his injuries. This then leads to Doomwar.
Dark Avengers
Written by Bendis, the series chronicles the aftermath of the U.S. government's disbanding of the federally sanctioned superhero team, the Avengers, and its reconstruction under Osborn's control. Their first mission is to save Doctor Doom and Latveria from Morgan le Fay.
Punisher
Marvel relaunched The Punisher War Journal in 2009 as simply Punisher, with a thematic link to the events of the Dark Reign story-line. It sees Punisher attempting to kill Osborn, but Goblin sends his cabal member Hood against Punisher. Punisher then goes against Hood's gang.
Secret Warriors
This series, co-plotted by Bendis with Jonathan Hickman writing, was launched as part of the Dark Reign story-line. Following their introduction in the Secret Invasion tie-in issues of The Mighty Avengers, Fury and the Secret Warriors discover that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been controlled by Hydra since its creation, and set out to defeat both Hydra and Norman Osborn's H.A.M.M.E.R.
Spider Woman
After Veranke's actions leave her feeling mistreated, Jessica joins S.W.O.R.D. after she is recruited by Abigail Brand. Her first mission takes her to Madripoor where she takes on a Skrull posing as Spider-Man. After run-ins with Hydra, another Skrull, and the new Thunderbolts, Jessica eventually finds a wayward Skrull and she takes it down with the help of her teammates in the New Avengers. After the mission, Brand offers her different, new opportunities within S.W.O.R.D
S.W.O.R.D