Dark Reign (comics)

Did You Know?

• Deadpool played a large part in Norman Osborn's rise, as an error caused information on how to kill the Skrull Queen Veranke to go to Osborn instead of Nick Fury.
• Norman Osborn's reign ended in the Siege story arc, which details Osborn's invasion of Asgard and the reunion of the Avengers, leading into a new era called The Heroic Age.

Main characters

Norman Osborn, the former Green Goblin, is the central focus of Dark Reign, appearing in most ongoing series and mini-series linked to the storyline. Brian Bendis noted that people know he is a bastard but ignore it as long as he gives them safety, and the character is shown willing to destroy anything that threatens his public hero status. As the Iron Patriot, writer Matt Fraction described him as a showman in armor. Osborn keeps the more volatile members of the Cabal in line with a secret weapon later revealed to be the Void, and across multiple titles he is shown with ongoing mental instability from his days as the Goblin. The Hood features heavily in New Avengers and Punisher, with Bendis exploring his relationship with Dormammu and his quest to become the new Sorcerer Supreme, while Rick Remender focuses on his gangster activities. The Hood also appears in the Dark Reign: The Hood mini-series and has a major role in Marvel Zombies 4. Doctor Doom hopes to use the Cabal to conquer the world, aided by Namor, and plans to kill or enslave his Cabal allies in the near future. Doom uses Latveria to house the Asgardians as part of an agreement with Loki, but makes clear he trusts neither Loki nor Namor, merely finding them useful. In Siege: The Cabal, Doom leaves the Cabal after one of his Doombot duplicates is attacked by Osborn's secret weapon.

One-shots

One-shots help transition from Secret Invasion and fill in details behind the main storyline. Quasimodo enters Norman Osborn's services, compiling a dossier of villains according to threat, loyalty, influence, power, and expendability. A one-shot written by Rick Remender, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction, Kieron Gillen, and Peter Milligan features five vignettes providing further information about the motivations of Cabal members, and is reprinted in the Siege Prelude trade paperback. Another one-shot, written by Frank Tieri, includes vignettes exploring the impact of Osborn's rise, such as Attuma's resurrection, the appearance of the new Enforcer, the return of the original Spymaster, and a new Jack O'Lantern. This one-shot kicks off the ongoing series Secret Warriors, Agents of Atlas, and War Machine, as well as the limited series Skrull Kill Krew and New Avengers: The Reunion. A comic written and drawn by Ryan Dunlavey shows M.O.D.O.K.'s attempt to take over his hometown Erie, Pennsylvania, serialized on Marvel Digital Comics before appearing as a one-shot.

Ongoing titles

Dark Reign was used as a springboard to launch several ongoing series. The Agents of Atlas oppose Osborn's agenda by taking on the role of super-villains, first attacking Fort Knox to steal the gold reserve Osborn planned to use for a secret weapons system. In Black Panther, Prince Namor attempts to recruit T'Challa for the Cabal, but T'Challa is left comatose after an attack by Doctor Doom's forces; his sister Shuri is trained as the next Panther, with the mantle passing to her after T'Challa awakens. Dark Avengers, written by Bendis, chronicles the aftermath of the U.S. government disbanding the federally sanctioned Avengers and its reconstruction under Osborn's control, with their first mission to save Doctor Doom and Latveria from Morgan le Fay. The Punisher series sees Punisher attempting to kill Osborn, leading the Goblin to send the Hood against him.

Limited series

Dark Reign limited series examine the impact of the storyline on specific characters and groups. In Dark Reign: The Book of the Skrull Kill Krew, Lyra is dispatched back in time to the era of Dark Reign on Earth-616 to prevent the extinction of her people after a key component of the male genetic birthing matrix is destroyed. Dark Reign: Ares sees Ares training H.A.M.M.E.R. agents and tackling enemies from his past. Dark Reign: Elektra, a five-issue limited series by Zeb Wells, explores the world's reaction to Elektra's return after Secret Invasion. Dark Reign: Hawkeye, written by Andy Diggle, follows Bullseye in his identity as Dark Avengers member Hawkeye, with the premise of what happens when a monster is hidden behind a hero mask. Dark Reign: Lethal Legion, written by Frank Tieri, shows Grim Reaper assembling a new Lethal Legion to combat Osborn. Dark Reign: Mister Negative, a three-issue mini-series by Fred Van Lente, covers a gang-war between the Hood and Mister Negative, revealing more about the character. Dark Reign: The Hood, a five-issue mini-series, details the actions of the Hood and the entity possessing him, showing his weakness in the form of his family.