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Dark Reign (Collected Editions)
Dark Reign: Accept Change
The Invasion is over, and the shape of the world has changed, with new and returning players now center stage. Get the lowdown on what's going on across the Marvel Universe as we enter Dark Reign! In Dark Reign: New Nation, we meet the Secret Warriors, the Skrull Kill Krew, and other Marvel players as they embark on their own adventures in the wake of Secret Invasion. Then, Dark Avengers #1 kicks off an explosive new era in the Avengers mythos. Who are the Dark Avengers? A simple question with a shocking answer! Plus, learn the truth about Emma Frost's secret past in Uncanny X-Men Annual #2. Collects Dark Reign: New Nation, Secret Invasion: Dark Reign, Dark Avengers #1, Uncanny X-Men Annual #2, Dark Reign Files, and Marvel Spotlight: Dark Reign
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2009
6 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Brian Michael Bendis
4,414 books2,575 followersA comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 19, 2023
Warning, if you are reading the New Avengers' run / Marvel 2000s' events for the first time please swerve this book as it's chock full of spoilers. The Secret Invasion is over . This is a new Dark Reign for the Marvel Universe and it spread across and into the majority of Marvel serials! As well a few informative comic books this volume includes Marvel Spotlight: Dark Reign which details the upcoming Dark Reign and features with interviews about the Reign with Brian Michael Bendis and Dan Slott amongst others that really give a lot of insight into Dark Reign and Marvel at the time. 7.5 out of 12, Three Star read across all the books in this volume.
2023 read
2023 read
January 22, 2018
For Christmas, Santa gave me a gaggle of Dark Reign stuff.
Was I naughty or nice last year?
The jury is still out.
The Dark Reign merry marching Marvel mega event is what happened when the Marvel universe goes a-flippity and head case Norman Osborn is now running the show.
As with all comic book cross-over events, your mileage may vary depending upon which creative team is in charge – here, it’s a mixed bag – only three complete issues are included – all available elsewhere.
Bendis introduces The Cabal, Osborn’s twisted version of the Illuminati.
I’d bet even money, that it’s not really Dr. Doom, but a Doombot. Also:
It’s Loki as a babe-goddess. If I were transformed into a woman, would I wear low cut outfits?
Also, Maleev, what the hell’s going on with Namor?
Fish man boobs? Really?
And who cut his hair? Wolverine? "A little off the top, Bub?" SNIKT!!
The Uncanny X-Men Annual #2 is included and reveals an Emma Frost-Namor backstory about punking Sebastian Shaw and trying to get a head in the game of mutant politics and infighting.
“A head…” *cough* *bangs on microphone* Is this thing on? *sigh*
The last full length re-re-published comic is the origin of the Dark Avengers - Osborn’s attempt to mollify Joe-Public, by dressing up a bunch of psychos in Avenger costumes and fobbing them off as the real thing.
Bendis gives another reveal to how unstable (as if we didn’t know already) Osborn is.
This way Osborn didn’t have to deal with severance pay. Well played, you lunatic, well played.
The hunting and gathering process reveals just how the new Avengers are going to play out.
Is there an “I” in team? You betcha.
T-I-A-M.
T-E-I-M.
T-E-A-I-M.
Okay, we’ll make it work…
One of the big draws for me in Dark Reign was just watching Osborn’s regime start inevitably folding like a cheap pup tent over time, with Osborn eventually having his head handed to him.
Also, the obligatory Osborn hair jokes.
Bottom line: This volume functions as an introduction to the Dark Reign crossover event and in that respect it’s worth picking up for readers who have an interest in the dark and crazy highlights laid out above. Also, included are snippets of some of Marvel’s “B” titles that run concurrently with this event, interviews with some of the creators and the Dark Reign Files, which feature a character named Quasimodo, who reports to Norman on every single character that’s featured in this event. The Dark Reign Files are strictly bathroom reading fodder and would be of interest to only the most hardened Dark Reign fan boy.
Bonus review content:
What do aquatic superheroes really smell like? This question, for Namor, came up a few times.
Food (tuna on rye anyone?) for thought, no?
Was I naughty or nice last year?
The jury is still out.
The Dark Reign merry marching Marvel mega event is what happened when the Marvel universe goes a-flippity and head case Norman Osborn is now running the show.
As with all comic book cross-over events, your mileage may vary depending upon which creative team is in charge – here, it’s a mixed bag – only three complete issues are included – all available elsewhere.
Bendis introduces The Cabal, Osborn’s twisted version of the Illuminati.
I’d bet even money, that it’s not really Dr. Doom, but a Doombot. Also:
It’s Loki as a babe-goddess. If I were transformed into a woman, would I wear low cut outfits?
Also, Maleev, what the hell’s going on with Namor?
Fish man boobs? Really?
And who cut his hair? Wolverine? "A little off the top, Bub?" SNIKT!!
The Uncanny X-Men Annual #2 is included and reveals an Emma Frost-Namor backstory about punking Sebastian Shaw and trying to get a head in the game of mutant politics and infighting.
“A head…” *cough* *bangs on microphone* Is this thing on? *sigh*
The last full length re-re-published comic is the origin of the Dark Avengers - Osborn’s attempt to mollify Joe-Public, by dressing up a bunch of psychos in Avenger costumes and fobbing them off as the real thing.
Bendis gives another reveal to how unstable (as if we didn’t know already) Osborn is.
This way Osborn didn’t have to deal with severance pay. Well played, you lunatic, well played.
The hunting and gathering process reveals just how the new Avengers are going to play out.
Is there an “I” in team? You betcha.
T-I-A-M.
T-E-I-M.
T-E-A-I-M.
Okay, we’ll make it work…
One of the big draws for me in Dark Reign was just watching Osborn’s regime start inevitably folding like a cheap pup tent over time, with Osborn eventually having his head handed to him.
Also, the obligatory Osborn hair jokes.
Bottom line: This volume functions as an introduction to the Dark Reign crossover event and in that respect it’s worth picking up for readers who have an interest in the dark and crazy highlights laid out above. Also, included are snippets of some of Marvel’s “B” titles that run concurrently with this event, interviews with some of the creators and the Dark Reign Files, which feature a character named Quasimodo, who reports to Norman on every single character that’s featured in this event. The Dark Reign Files are strictly bathroom reading fodder and would be of interest to only the most hardened Dark Reign fan boy.
Bonus review content:
What do aquatic superheroes really smell like? This question, for Namor, came up a few times.
Food (tuna on rye anyone?) for thought, no?
May 29, 2010
Not much in the way of a story here. Mostly snippets of issues and several interviews. I really got frustrated at the end trying to read through all of the villains' biographies...courtesy of MODOK. It was presented like MODOK was reporting to Osborn, giving him a detailed list of potential individuals and teams,that might or might not prove useful to his cause. I found it tedious and boring, mainly because it was roughly three million pages long. This might be something that a collector would find interesting.
January 6, 2023
Essentially a bound advertisement for the Dark Reign books, this collection only really holds value for those who are up on their Secret Invasion backstory and invested in following the continuing story. This is especially clear when you find that half of this collection is made up of interviews spruiking writer plans for the major books, and summary-level dossiers on a range of Marvel characters.
I enjoyed it nonetheless, as I’m enjoying a fairly comprehensive read through the Marvel Bendis years at the moment. Dark Reign, here we come …
I enjoyed it nonetheless, as I’m enjoying a fairly comprehensive read through the Marvel Bendis years at the moment. Dark Reign, here we come …
April 14, 2012
The first half of this book contains key points in the 'Dark Reign' story line while the last half provides some interviews with the creators and a mini-encyclopedia of the 'Dark Reign' characters.
This book will probably appeal to hard-core fans looking for every bit of information they can collect. Others will likely find this confusing.
Learning Curve
High: Likely to confuse new readers.
Reading Order
Try reading this after completing the 'Dark Reign' story line.
This book will probably appeal to hard-core fans looking for every bit of information they can collect. Others will likely find this confusing.
Learning Curve
High: Likely to confuse new readers.
Reading Order
Try reading this after completing the 'Dark Reign' story line.
October 22, 2010
Should have been called "Dark Reign: Accept REPRINT"
Yeah literally half of the book is filler crap, interviews and recaps, and aside from that I had already read the other 4/5ths of the book, it is ALL REPRINTED material.
The material itself is excellent, and if I had not got this book for next to nothing I would have REALLY been ticked off!
but it is ALL REPRINT!
Lame!
Yeah literally half of the book is filler crap, interviews and recaps, and aside from that I had already read the other 4/5ths of the book, it is ALL REPRINTED material.
The material itself is excellent, and if I had not got this book for next to nothing I would have REALLY been ticked off!
but it is ALL REPRINT!
Lame!
May 8, 2017
Collects Dark Reign: New Nation, Secret Invasion: Dark Reign, Dark Avengers #1, Uncanny X-Men Annual #1, and lots of other promotional material.
I imagine that this was used as a promotional piece when "Dark Reign" first started. There are four issues in this collection, and then the whole second half of the book is articles about "Dark Reign" and other new titles coming out around the same time. This doesn't seem like a very worthwhile collection because "Secret Invasion: Dark Reign" can be found in "The New Avengers - Volume 10: Power," and "Dark Avengers #1" is in the first volume of "Dark Avengers." This almost seems like something that comic book stores could have been giving away for free when this storyline started in 2008, but it has a cover price of $24.99.
I imagine that this was used as a promotional piece when "Dark Reign" first started. There are four issues in this collection, and then the whole second half of the book is articles about "Dark Reign" and other new titles coming out around the same time. This doesn't seem like a very worthwhile collection because "Secret Invasion: Dark Reign" can be found in "The New Avengers - Volume 10: Power," and "Dark Avengers #1" is in the first volume of "Dark Avengers." This almost seems like something that comic book stores could have been giving away for free when this storyline started in 2008, but it has a cover price of $24.99.
April 30, 2022
The Fight continues from Secret Invasion, but now it is with the most notorious criminals running the world. Osborne (aka: The Green Goblin) and others.
Dr. Doom back in Latveria. Namor in league with The White Queen. Sebastian Shaw being manipulated, The Hood not wanting to get involved and of course the "New" Avengers or raather DARK AVENGERS in Avengers tower.
I like the list of villains and so-called villains and their power levels and abilities listed in the book.
Dr. Doom back in Latveria. Namor in league with The White Queen. Sebastian Shaw being manipulated, The Hood not wanting to get involved and of course the "New" Avengers or raather DARK AVENGERS in Avengers tower.
I like the list of villains and so-called villains and their power levels and abilities listed in the book.
June 29, 2021
Secret Invasion: Dark Reign is good. Dark Avengers #1 is too, but widely reprinted everywhere else. Dark Reign: New Nation is an ad. So two comics for the price of a trade paperback.
March 24, 2010
Reprints Dark Reign: New Nation #1, Secret Invasion: Dark Reign #1, Dark Reign, Dark Avengers #1, Uncanny X-Men Annual #2, and Dark Reign Files. Osborn begins his push to take over the Marvel Universe through a cadre of super-villains. This is a prime example of Marvel's recent failures. Not only is book a complete rip off ($25 for poor art, a cheap Marvel Universe preview magazine, and a "Secret Files" review of random characters), but the stories that are present are also really poorly done. Dark Reign, Secret Invasion, and Civil War were possibly the worst Marvel storylines in years.
November 6, 2015
Two stars for the Emma Frost and Namor stories (my first introduction to the Hellfire club) that I did enjoy, but otherwise this is really short and not a lot more than a few snippets to set up Dark Reign. A lot of that I found confusing, especially the Ronin and Mockingbird story and the (re)introduction of Agents of Atlas whose motive I didn't understand at all.
The rest is interviews with the creators and a million pages of tedious character biographies which aren't that interesting to read without the context of a story to place them in!
Probably not the best place to start Dark Reign.
The rest is interviews with the creators and a million pages of tedious character biographies which aren't that interesting to read without the context of a story to place them in!
Probably not the best place to start Dark Reign.
May 30, 2010
I finished reading Secret Invasion, New Avengers Secret Invasion Books I and II, Mighty Avengers Secret Invasion and Iron Man/War Machine's Secret Invasion and I thought Dark Reign was following up that story line; however, I feel as though I might have missed something in the mix...a deeper explanation as to how things got where they are.
August 7, 2011
","This volume is interesting in that it sets the scene for Dark Reign, Marvel’s post Secret Invasion scene. Due to this, this volume does not contain any real complete story arcs, but effectively reveals several very interesting starts of Dark Reign stories.
February 18, 2011
Reprints, sometimes of material that has been reprinted elsewhere.
Meh.
Meh.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews