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.[1][2][3] The title refers to Osborn's rise to national power and the ramifications thereof.[4] 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."[4]
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.[5]
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.
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.[6] 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.[7]
Main characters
"'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.[13])"
- 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."[8] 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.[9] Across multiple titles, the character is shown with ongoing mental instability from his days as the Goblin.
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.[21]
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.
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.[24]
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
Limited series
Dark Reign limited series look at the impact of the story-line on specific characters and groups.
All-New Savage She-Hulk
Following the failed assassination attempt during which a key component of the male genetic birthing matrix—stolen to replace an identical component of the Femizon's matrix—is destroyed, Lyra is dispatched back in time to the era of Dark Reign on Earth-616 in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the extinction of her people.
Captain America: Reborn
A six-issue limited series.
Dark Avengers: Ares
This saw Ares training H.A.M.M.E.R agents and then tackling some enemies from the past, including his son.
Dark Reign: Elektra
A five-issue limited series written by Zeb Wells with artwork by Clay Mann, the series explores the reaction of the world to the return of Elektra in the aftermath of the Secret Invasion.[33]
Issues
As of November 2009, the following issues had been announced as being part of Dark Reign:[28]
Aftermath
Starting in January 2010, Norman Osborn's reign ended in the "Siege" story arc, which details Osborn's invasion of Asgard and the reunion of the Avengers. This then leads into a new era, called The Heroic Age.[91]
In other media
The plot of Dark Reign was adapted as the twelve Spec-Ops Mission of Marvel: Avengers Alliance. It was also the basis for Marvel Puzzle Quest.[92]
See also
- List of events of the Marvel Universe
External links
- Dark Reign mini-site at IGN
- Dark Reign at comiXology
References
- Getting Dark: Brian Bendis on Dark Avengers & Dark Reign Newsarama, September 29, 2008^
- Marvel Announces 'Dark Reign' at Diamond Retailer Summit Newsarama, September 9, 2008^
- Prepare for a Dark Reign Marvel.com, September 9, 2008