In the aftermath of Secret Invasion (see reading order), Norman Osborn came out as a hero and rise to national power. This led us to Dark Reign, a period in the Marvel Universe where the former Green Goblin was in control. A branding used by Marvel Comics during 2008-2009, Dark Reign is not really what we would call an event, as stated by then-editor-in-chief Joe Quesada. This branding refers more to an era in the Marvel Universe, a troubled one where everyone is affected.
With more than 200 issues, Marvel explored a whole year of Osborn’s rise to power and its ramifications. After defeating the Skrull, Norman becomes the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., which he replaces with H.A.M.M.E.R. Then, he created the Cabal alongside Doctor Doom, Emma Frost, Namor, Loki, and the Hood and used H.A.M.M.E.R. to carry out his and the Cabal agenda. 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.
What to read before?
To know exactly how Norman Osborn became a national hero, you have to read Secret Invasion, as stated above.
- Secret Invasion by Brian Michael Bendis Omnibus
Collects Secret Invasion #1-8, Prologue; New Avengers (2004) #31-32, #39-49; Mighty Avengers (2007) #7, #12-20; New Avengers: Illuminati (2007) #1, #5.
Dark Reign Reading Order
What follows is not a proper chronological reading order, as you can find that on other sites. In fact, this reading order is inspired by the work of BlakeCzirr from the now defunct Squidoo website and Dave Molyneauw from The Marvel Comics Guide. Both of them offer a more issue-by-issue reading order, so we will invite you to check them out if you want this more immersive experience.
With that said, see below for our own trade reading order, focused first on giving the most essential part of this era, and then a listing of the other titles happening at the same time.
I. Dark Reign, The essential
If Civil War was huge, Dark Reign was Massive – yes, with a Capital M. Though not with an official main title like a classic event, Dark Reign’s core story is mainly told in Dark Avengers. Brian Michael Bendis was still the main writer on Avengers at the time, and for a really short reading order, check out our Brian Michael Bendis’ Avengers Reading Order.
The suggested listing is a more detailed essential reading order to help readers navigate this era. The titles chosen provide the most important information and understanding of what was happening and what was really 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 this trade paperback, offering a decent entry point in this era.
- Dark Reign: Accept Change (entry point)
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.
New Avengers/Dark Avengers – Jump right into the Dark Reign era by meeting the New Avengers, the Dark Avengers, Iron Patriot and discover what their place in the Dark Reign is.
- New Avengers Vol. 10: Power
Collects Secret Invasion Dark Reign & New Avengers #48-50. - Dark Avengers Vol. 1: Assemble
Collects Dark Avengers (2009) #1-6.- Thor Vol.3
Collects Thor #601-603 & Giant-Size Finale #1. Those issues take place before Dark Avengers #5. - Mighty Avengers Vol. 5: Earth’s Mightiest
Collects Mighty Avengers #21-26. Those issues take place before Dark Avengers #5.
- Thor Vol.3
Thunderbolts VS. Deadpool – Deadpool thinks Osborn owes him money, and Norman has been trying to have him killed. Business as usual right? This story arc issue by issue read as follows: Thunderbolts #126-127, Deadpool #6-7, Thunderbolts #128-129, Deadpool #8 Thunderbolts #130, Deadpool #9, Thunderbolts #131, Deadpool #10-12.
- Thunderbolts: Burning Down the House
Collects Thunderbolts #126-129 and #132. - Deadpool: Dark Reign
Collects Deadpool (vol. 2) #6–7 and 10–12. To read later. - Dark Reign: Deadpool/Thunderbolts
Collects Deadpool (vol. 2) #8–9 and Thunderbolts #130–131
- Avengers: The Initiative, Vol. 4: Disassembled
Collects Avengers: The Initiative #20-25, and Avengers: The Initiative Featuring Reptil. - Secret Warriors, Vol. 1: Nick Fury, Agent of Nothing
Collects Secret Warriors #1-6, and Dark Reign New Nation story. - New Avengers Vol. 11: Search for the Sorcerer Supreme
Collects New Avengers #51-54. - Invincible Iron Man Vol. 2: World’s Most Wanted Book 1
Collects Invincible Iron Man (2008) #8-13 - Mighty Avengers Vol. 6: The Unspoken
Collects Mighty Avengers #27-31. - Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia
Collects Uncanny X-Men (1963) #513-514, X-Men: Legacy (2008) #226-227, Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus, Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia; Dark Avengers (2009) #7-8, Dark X-Men: The Beginning (2009) #1-3, Dark X-Men: The Confession. - Dark X-Men
Collects Dark X-Men (2009) #1-5. - New Avengers Vol. 12: Powerloss
Collects New Avengers #55-60. - Dark Avengers Vol. 2: Molecule Man
Collects Dark Avengers (2009) #9-12.
New Collection Alert! You will find all of Dark Avengers in the new Dark Avengers Modern Era Epic Collection: Osborn’s Reign.
God of Fear, God of War – Baron Strucker and Norman Osborn team up to drive out the Marvel Universe’s ultimate covert superteam. It’s wall-to-wall insanity as the Dark Avengers and the Thunderbolts go after the Secret Warriors. This story arc issue by issue read as follows: Thunderbolts #134, Secret Warriors #7, Thunderbolts #135, Secret Warriors #8-9, Thunderbolts #136, ark Reign – The List: Secret Warriors #1, Secret Warriors #10
- Secret Warriors Vol. 2: God of Fear, God of War
Collects Secret Warriors #7-10 & Dark Reign: The List – Secret Warriors. - Thunderbolts: Widowmaker
Collects Thunderbolts #133-137.
The List – After a betrayal, Norman Osborn decides to take it to the next level and makes a list of people he needs to kill.
- Dark Reign: The List
Collects: Dark Reign: The List – Avengers, Secret Warriors, Daredevil, Amazing Spider-Man, Hulk, X-Men, Punisher, Wolverine.
The Road to Siege – The Dark Reign era is nearing its conclusion, and introduces us to Norman’s big plan, leading us to the Siege event…
- Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3: World’s Most Wanted Book 2
Collects Invincible Iron Man (2008) #14-19 - Siege: Thunderbolts
Collects Thunderbolts #138-143. - Invincible Iron Man Vol. 4: Stark Disassembled
Collects Invincible Iron Man (2008) #20-24 - Siege: The Mighty Avengers
Collects Mighty Avengers #32-36, and material from Secret Invasion: Requiem- Captain America: Reborn
Collects Captain America: Reborn #1-6. This miniseries takes place before Mighty Avengers #34
- Captain America: Reborn
- Thor: Latverian Prometheus
Collects Thor #600, #604-606, Sif #1, and material from Thor #600.
II. Dark Reign era, the other stories
Want more Dark Reign stories? We have you covered! If you want to complete your reading order with other ongoing series and limited series, discover what was doing your favorite characters during those events, you can find the answer below, organized by period. You can then read the story whenever you want, after having read the big chunk or place it during your reading at its chronological place.
Dark Reign era, the earlier stories: Before Dark Avengers #4
Those stories take place during the beginning of Osborn’s reign, when he sets up and introduces to the public his new team of Avengers.
- Wolverine: Origins, Volume 6: Dark Reign
Collects: Wolverine: Origins 31-36 - Dark Reign: Young Avengers
Collects Dark Reign: Young Avengers 1-5. - Dark Reign: Fantastic Four
Collects Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5 - Dark Wolverine Vol. 1: The Prince
Collects Dark Wolverine Issues #75-77 and the backup stories from Wolverine Issues #73-74. - Ms. Marvel, Volume 7: Dark Reign
Collects Ms. Marvel 35-41 - Ms. Marvel Vol. 8: War of the Marvels
Collects: Ms. Marvel (2005) #42-46. - Dark Reign: Elektra
Collects Dark Reign: Elektra #1-5. - Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D.
Collects Spider-Woman Vol. 4 #1-7. To read after Elektra.
Dark Reign era, the early stories: Before Dark Avengers #5 and Mighty Avengers #24-26, New Avengers #50-54
We’re still in the early part of Osborn’s Reign, but with now Norman Osborn running HAMMER, The Avengers Franchise, and The Avengers Fifty State Initiative. Following Dark Reign: New Nation #1, the story expands in different directions.
- Dark Reign: Skrull Kill Krew
Collects Dark Reign: Skrull Kill Krew #1-5 - New Avengers: The Reunion
Collects New Avengers: The Reunion #1-4. - Agents of Atlas: Dark Reign
Collects Agents of Atlas 1-5, Wolverine: Agent of Atlas, material from Dark Reign: New Nation. - Agents of Atlas: Turf Wars
Collects Agents of Atlas #6-10. - Black Panther: The Deadliest of the Species
Collects Black Panther #1-6. - All-New Savage She-Hulk
Collects Savage She-Hulk #1-4. - Vengeance of Moon Knight, Vol. 1: Shock and Awe
Collects Vengeance of the Moon Knight #1-6. - Dark Reign: The Hood
Collects Dark Reign: The Hood #1-5 and material from Dark Reign: The Cabal - Dark Reign: The Underside
Collects Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #1-3, Dark Reign: Zodiac #1-3, Dark Reign: Mister Negative #1-3. - Punisher, Vol. 1: Dark Reign
Collects Punisher #1-5 - Punisher, Vol. 2: Dead End
Collects Punisher #6-10 And Punisher Annual #1 - Dark Reign: Hawkeye
Collects Dark Reign: Hawkeye #1-5
Dark Reign era, the story continues: After New Avengers #50
The Dark Reign event intensifies from all sides. Those stories take between New Avengers #50 & #55, before Dark Avengers #9 and the List.
- The Incredible Hercules: Dark Reign
Collects The Incredible Hercules 126-131. At least After Mighty Avengers #21. - Spider-Man: American Son
Collects Amazing Spider-Man #595-599. Begins shortly after New Avengers #50. - Dark Reign: Sinister Spider-Man
Collects Dark Reign: The Sinister Spider-Man #1-4. Takes place after American Son. - Dark Wolverine, Vol. 2: My Hero
Collects Dark Wolverine #78-81. - War Machine, vol.1: Iron Heart
Collects War Machine #1-5, Dark Reign: New Nation #1 - War Machine, Vol. 2: Dark Reign
Collects War Machine #6-12 - X-Men: S.W.O.R.D. – No Time To Breathe
Collects S.W.O.R.D. #1-5. - Avengers: The Initiative- Dreams & Nightmares
Collects Avengers: The Initiative #26-31. - Dark Avengers: Ares
Collects Dark Avengers: Ares #1-3, and Thor #129. Before Secret Warriors #7 and Dark Avengers #9
What’s missing in this reading order?
Some issues/storylines took place during the Dark Reign era, but are not listed above, per choice. Don’t hesitate to tell me in the comments if you think otherwise.
- Captain America: Road to Reborn – A prelude to Reborn and a celebration of Captain America. The Reborn storyline stands on its own.
- The Planet Skaar event took place during this era, collected in Hulk: Planet Skaar and The Incredible Hulk 1: Son of Banner for all Hulk lovers out there! But it can be considered not part of the Dark Reign era.
- Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural is a limited series following Jericho Drumm while he’s the sorcerer supreme, launching from the pages of New Avengers.
- Timestorm 2009 / 2099 is a Marvel crossover between the mainstream universe and an alternate version of 2099 which happens during the Dark Reign era but this has no incidence in the story.
Next: Siege
But wait, The Dark Reign era is not over yet, Norman Osborn’s reign ended in the “Siege” story arc which details Osborn’s invasion of Asgard and the reunion of the Avengers… Go check out our Siege Reading Order!
Did we forget something? Did we make a mistake? Write to us or Let us know in the comments!