Hail, fellow Foomers! Before I commence with the reviews, I’d like to take a look at the state of the Marvel Universe as it presently stands. Earth 616 of the Marvel U. is currently embroiled in the events of Dark Reign. Former Green Goblin Norman Osborn is the Big Man on Campus, having become a national hero by killing the Skrull Queen during the Secret Invasion Event. He disbanded S.H.I.E.L.D, sending its former leader, Tony Stark, into exile and instituted his own version of a peacekeeping force, H.A.M.M.E.R. He has his own Illuminati-like team of behind the scenes power players, the Cabal. And he’s even Assembled his own version of Dark Avengers, having criminals usurp the hero’s identities. It’s a dubious time to be a good guy in the Marvel U. right now.
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Good guys like Spiderman and the New Avengers are in more danger now than they were as unregistered heroes during the Superhuman Registration Act. They are in hiding and must act as renegades, while criminals are brazenly running rampant and getting out of jail easily when they DO get caught. Some have criticized Dark Reign as just an extension in what was going on during Warren Ellis’ run on Thunderbolts. That’s more or less the truth, but it doesn’t lessen my enjoyment of Dark Reign.
Osborn’s transformation from a psychopathic Spiderman villain to being in Nick Fury’s shoes may be more than a bit far-fetched, but his abuse of said power and the resulting reactions of others have been hilarious. Dark Avengers has been a stand-out title, and having Osborn be the field leader of the team while dressed in modified Iron Man armor is s stroke of genius. But those are digressions better left to the reviews.
The introduction of the Illuminati-like Cabal has also led to a wealth of storyline possibilities. Cosmically, the Inhumans-led Kree and the Vulcan commanded Shi’ar clash in a War of Kings. Marvel’s cosmic heroes and villains like the Guardians of the Galaxy and Blastaar also abound in this arc. Whatever the outcome, this is a status changing event of an epic scale.
Initially, I hadn’t planned to pick up this series and it’s tie-ins. I’m glad I changed my mind and picked it up. Again, I’ll be reviewing the series as a whole, so that’s all I’ll say about its quality for now. I’m hoping that this simplistic little summing up will allow those that may have taken a break from Marvel books to be able to follow along with what I’m blathering about. I also hope it wasn’t dumbed down to the point of insult for those in the know.
See you at the Comics shop…
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