If you were napping during the Skrull Invasion, you may have missed the new status quo in the Marvel Universe: Villains are the new heroes. This is all thanks to the dramatic and effective efforts of pretty much every relevant villain in the Marvel Universe against the Skrull attack on NYC. With television cameras poised on the action, the world witnessed the ‘bravery’ of Norman Osborn, current leader of the Thunderbolts and perpetual Spidey-foe, as he took out the leader of the Skrulls.
Results: Tony Stark and SHIELD are OUT; Norman Osborn and the Thunderbolts are IN.
With Osborn at the helm of the country’s newest defense initiative, super-criminals have a new lease on life and super-heroes are in trouble. Brian M. Bendis’ ‘Dark Reign’ has begun!
Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato’s Thunderbolts run was an effective mix of extreme action and character exploration. They dissected and ‘resected’ each member of the team and generated well-deserved buzz for their run. Deodato’s assignment to Dark Reign is particularly relevant as his darker, visceral characterizations of these villains will infuse the storyline with sinister suspense. Ellis’ take on the villain-inside-the-villain was just what the title needed, a framework that Bendis can now capitalize on as these characters take center-stage on many flagship titles (i.e., New Avengers, X-Men, Invincible Iron-Man to name a few).
Dark Reign was ushered in at the conclusion of Skrull Invasion, as Osborn approached a table of dubious heroes and current villains (Namor, Dr. Doom, Emma Frost, The Hood, Loki) reminiscent of the inner-circle of heroes that started this mess - the Illuminati. Initially, the ‘good’ Illuminati seemed like a great way for the Earth’s best and most powerful heroes to come together and protect ‘behind the curtains.’
But when you surround the table with this group of villains, it reminds us of the seediest of backroom deals. Fear creeps in - these people are in control and no one knows what to expect. Osborn, the ‘Dark’ Illuminati, the ‘Dark Avengers’: they can serve and protect, while also covertly getting away with incredible acts of violence and evil in the name of good. Does the possibility that real ‘government’ is conducted in this manner scare the pants off anyone else? Responsibility for all lies in the hands of the self-chosen few: it didn’t go too well for the ‘good’ guys. Let’s see how it works out with this clandestine group.
Get ready for Dark Reign: a study of “how good it is to be bad” in the Marvel U!
I really dislike these mega universe crossovers. I feel like all the main titles get thrown to the wind and you end up with way less quality stories.it is one thing to do say an all batman and batman family (nightwing, robin, detective) crossover. You just can’t make it global, because everything gets neglected.
I honestly think Humans in the Marvel Universe are just dumb, for letting Norman take control.
And why did Marvel kind of jump on the Villains Win bandwagon that DC was selling for so long?
I’m looking forward to Dark Reign. Secret Invasion - meh. I didn’t like the mini-series. It was ok. I just thought the lead in and everything around it was great. Marvel has a history of having these great build-ups that just ends in a fight.
I do think that what comes out of Secret Invasion may be a really rockin’ story. So, i’m anxious!