The end of Dark Reign - what's looming around the corner?

[FlintEastwood]

After reading this weeks new releases, it appears that the beginning of the end is here for Norman Osborn. Between Spiderman fully committing himself to the demise of Osborn , the Dark Avengers starting to implode, and Harry Osborn playing a role in H.A.M.M.E.R., things are going to get tumultuous.

"Captain Marvel" was previously unaware of the criminal affiliations his fellow Avengers have, so is there a possibility he will no longer want a part of this team? What is Loki planning, and what part will she have in the equation? And with Doom's master now making an appearance in this dimension, what will happen to his spot on the Cabal?

What's going to be the result and how is the MU going to be shaped? What do you think the heroes are going to do - or not do - to affect the outcome of this struggle?

[Push You Down]

i don't get why people think Noh-Var is like some sort of secret hero. The dude is a douche. It's like everyone doesn't remember his appearences between his mini-series and Secret Invasion 7.

If anything, Ares is the one that wil turn on Osborn.

[ANewHope]

I wouldn't be so sure that the end of Dark Reign is coming to a close.

There's still the Dark Xmen / Avengers cross-over.

So that means it will last at least another 3-4 months.

[CaptainOtter]

With all the crossovers and releases ive seen, it does feel like Dark reign could go well on into next year. Im actually unsure of that they can even end it before then. As of right now, I think that if osborn is taken down it will mean going back to the status quo from say 10 years ago, with no initiative and government oversight. However, I think Marvel is going to set up for more than that and give something a bit more different. So I think we just cant tell what is coming after just yet.

[alf_to_the_rescue]

Only one of the Cabal members will come out on top. And I'm gunning for Loki.

[steveg887]

i don't get why people think Noh-Var is like some sort of secret hero. The dude is a douche. It's like everyone doesn't remember his appearences between his mini-series and Secret Invasion 7.

Noh-Varr circa his mini-series would not have joined up with Osborn, you're right about that. But having the Skrull Captain Marvel die in his arms has clearly changed something in him; he's trying to live up to a legacy. He may not be a true hero yet, but he's getting there.

If anything, Ares is the one that wil turn on Osborn.

I agree. Bendis has been planting the seeds for that for a while now.

[kindella2]

i think the Iron Patriot Act teaser shows that Osbourne stays on top for some time...

[FlintEastwood]

With all the crossovers and releases ive seen, it does feel like Dark reign could go well on into next year. Im actually unsure of that they can even end it before then. As of right now, I think that if osborn is taken down it will mean going back to the status quo from say 10 years ago, with no initiative and government oversight. However, I think Marvel is going to set up for more than that and give something a bit more different. So I think we just cant tell what is coming after just yet.

I don't disagree that Dark Reign could feasibly continue for an extended period of time, but until now there hasn't been anything that anyone has actively sat down and said, "OK, we're going to take down Osborn."

Up to this point, everyone has had the mindset of, "Oh no, Osborn is in power, we hate this guy, waaaaah!" People are starting to get fed up. Clint Barton has spoken up, and Osborn is doing damage control. Now things are starting to slip a little bit.

What I was intending to start is discussion on the end of Dark Reign now that we are showing cracks in the Osborn regime; maybe the battle is far off, maybe it's not, but the situation is not so dire now that we have characters, on panel, trying to take Osborn down.

[Make Mine Mar-Vell]

Look, it's fairly obvious Marvel is going to shove Noh-Varr as the Captain Marvel down your throats whether you like it or not. Hep up the art, give 'im biker shorts, he's kree and voila', there's captain marvel, but it isn't that simple. Sometimes the person makes the name, the costume rather than the other way around. It seems to be the trend now in comics and it's getting old IMHO.

Now, having said that, for Marvel Boy fans, I'm happy for you and that's no slight against you. It's just copying Mar-Vell by having another Kree ensign (he's not a Captain BTW). Now does that mean Noh-Varr can't be his own interesting character? Of course not, but there's only one Captain Mar-Vell I know of and to continually replace him demeans not only him, but the characters they use to do so. Don't take it as an insult, just see what I'm saying here, it makes sense.

Am I making sense here?

BUT...and I stand by this, Marvel Comics needs the real Mar-Vell to come back now more than ever.

Mar-Vell, the Captain Marvel, would fight evil no matter what, even if it's in vogue or not, you can copy that for a while, but when the smoke clears, there's only one Mar-Vell.

His death served a purpose, not only for Marvel for the entire comic industry, but....you know what?

That purpose has been fufilled and his real return would turn the tide.

I mean, really....it's Mar-Vell we're talking about here. Why do we have to accept substitutions year after year?

Imagine if they killed off the X-Men in the 70's, c'mon guys...we can agree on that.

This character Mar-Vell and what he stands for deserves a shot.

Kindest regards*

[coconutphone]

Meh. He served his purpose. I don't really see a need for him to come back right now. I think he's served better as a dead hero.

[Make Mine Mar-Vell]

Meh. He served his purpose. I don't really see a need for him to come back right now. I think he's served better as a dead hero.


Fair enough that's your opinion...but tell me, then why continually replace him if he meant so little as that?

Replacing characters is a trend not only in Marvel but in DC as well, I mean that can work with some characters but it's become so predictable, what a plot twist if the real Mar-Vell came back and laid the smack down. The talent in comics has reached an apex of sorts, Mar-Vell would be a great addition.

He hasn't been tainted, there's so many things new and compelling stories to be told, and with the success of the mini, it's obvious there's a market for it, I mean imagine if they actually got behind the character.

[steveg887]

Fair enough that's your opinion...but tell me, then why continually replace him if he meant so little as that?

So Marvel can keep the rights to the name.

[coconutphone]

There's that.

I enjoyed the mini but wasn't too upset when it was revealed he was a Skrull either.

[FlintEastwood]

Look, it's fairly obvious Marvel is going to shove Noh-Varr as the Captain Marvel down your throats whether you like it or not. Hep up the art, give 'im biker shorts, he's kree and voila', there's captain marvel, but it isn't that simple. Sometimes the person makes the name, the costume rather than the other way around. It seems to be the trend now in comics and it's getting old IMHO.

I enjoy reading your posts, but I have not yet taken a drink from the "Mar-Vell" Kool-Aid.

[Make Mine Mar-Vell]

I enjoy reading your posts, but I have not yet taken a drink from the "Mar-Vell" Kool-Aid.

Look, I appreciate your compliment if that's what it was, but Is that some kind of suicide reference (Kool-Aid)?What the hell are you talking about?

I'm talking about an underutilized hero that defines the word itself here...you need to explain that one.

EDIT:

After thinking more about your response, I understood it was a Ms. Marvel #36 reference and was probably a joke, which is cool, man. Thing is, though, suicide is not a joking matter. I almost find it an attempt of character assasination the reference itself, you see, for whatever reason, some people out there in internet land that are real Mar-Vell fans listen to what I write, but the truth is, it's not about me, it's about this great character that stands for an idea and that same character is getting the shaft once again, Now, some people don't get it or don't like it, that's okay, but you know what? Some people do. I'm not some Mar-Vell cult leader, I'm a comic reader who like many just wants their Captain Mar-Vell comics back, I say what enough people out there are thinking, I just do it in an extreme way. So what, I'm not perfect.

It would be cool to see the original versions of the dark avengers battle them.
Steve, Mar-Vell, Tony, Logan, Peter, Carol, the whole gang.

But personally speaking, Suicide is NOT something to laugh at.

It's not like Marvel's gonna look me up and give me a job when I'm speaking out against what they're doing in keeping Captain Marvel, the real Mar-Vell dead. This isn't about me, it's about the 30, 000 people a month for 5 months or whatever who bought Captain Marvel in 2008. It's about the real Captain Marvel of the MU, Mar-Vell.

Kind of amazing for a 'dead' character who hasn't seen a monthly since 1979, never been animated, no movie, especially in this economy is it not?

Having said that, though, this character deserves better and suicide is nothing to make fun of. I have received letters, artwork, I've even spoken with various people this Marvel superhero and the comic book medium and I've come to a conclusion: Suicide isn't funny and Captain Mar-Vell doesn't stand for that, fictional character or not, doesn't matter. I'm not down with that.

As fat as you're concerned I'm a nobody comic reading geek and I have no problem with that, hell, it's true. I'm okay with that, but his character should be brought back and I'm not alone, as far as I can tell there's at least 50,000 strong who feel the same way regardless if they post on this site or not.

More important than all of that is that suicide should not be glorified, if anybody out there feels like that, message me, I'm here, not just as a Mar-Vell fan, but as a human being.

I didn't mean to take this that route, but suicide is nothing to play with and every day above ground is a good day, I'm here if you need me, don't believe this hype.

I'm just saying that this character should be brought back rather than giving the fans a copy. It's even BS for fans of the character they're using as the copy.

You know that, and so do I.

Them listening to fand and Captain Marvel saving the day, you have a better chance of being struck by lightning thrice.

They just don't care about the Marvelites who put Marvel on the map, why go through the controversy and the hard work and love of comics by writing the bangin' story that he and the others come back, when they can just copy him and capatilize on trends to use it to further their TV writing careers?

Does any writer or artist care about Marvel comics anymore?

I mean I'm not trying to rant and rave, really I'm not, I'm just saying that what they're doing with Captain Marvel, relaunching the character without using the real guy and cutting him off when the character was actually generating a legit buzz is total BS, that's obvious...but even more importantly than that, making fun of suicide is even worse.

It'd be like starting the James Bond franchise over again but instead of using a different actor they're using a different guy altogether who just looks like a younger Bond with a different name and calling it 007.

There is a loyal Mar-Vell fanbase even to this day, and if I go out there sometimes it's because someone should. I mean this is Captain Marvel, guys, he's one of the original Marvel heros who trailblazed Marvel cosmic, and he never even got a chance to be in the original Secret Wars, yet he's still somehow relevant.

I don't see any reason why a great story bringing him back couldn't be done, it's not like the character ever got old or anything almost ala James Dean if you get my analogy. (One of my fave actors, just an analogy saying he was robbed of the chance to see him develope over the years) Comics hit lulls sometimes, it's cyclical, happens with just about everyone, it'd be great to see him and Steve and Spidey and Wolvie and the guys end the Dark Reign, which I'm hoping is really about The Void.

What a showdown that would be.

[paulski]

I wouldn't be so sure that the end of Dark Reign is coming to a close.

I agree. Regardless of what people may have said, I can see Marvel continuing to milk this thing for some time to come. Certainly into next year at least.

[Monty_Cristo]

i don't know but Dexter Bennet is eventually going to reveal himself to be the Devil (Marvel's version). he's totally behind Norman's rise to power.
http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/40/287314-101659-dexter-bennet_large.jpg

before you scoff, why did they introduce Dexter? his first act was to take advantage of the competition's weakness, steal the paper, and try to corrupt Peter. so now he controls where the marvel populace gets its information. he discredited Ben Urich as well. Miriam Sharpe may have been another vessel.

[Themasething]

Honestly, after Dark Reign, I'm hoping for a peroid of non-event driven storylines

[Rurik]

Hoping for non-event stories, yes. Unfortunately what I'm expecting is yet another Secret Dark World Civil War Crisis Super Ultra Mega Uber Cross-over Event That Will Change the Marvel Universe Forever! Probably something involving all the heroes turning into villains, well, the ones who haven't already done so like Stark that is, except for Squirrel Girl, who will proceed to slap them all down.

[Babylon23]

Honestly, after Dark Reign, I'm hoping for a peroid of non-event driven storylines

Same here. Unfortunately it's not going to happen. The sales on Marvel's Neverending Event are too high. Dark Reign will lead into the next event...which will ignite the event after that...etc.

[Blackhawkk]

Far as I care, Dark Reign can go on indefinitely. This is the best comics Marvel has produced in ages. Norman Osborn is the cat's whisker!

[Rurik]

Let's see, Civil War... Secret Invasion... That's sort of like saying Scary Movie 3 was the best Scary Movie film they had produced in a while, it doesn't take much to be the best, when the material you have to compare it to stinks.

[NickFury90]

I'm also really enjoying Dark Reign across the various books. Its not even a real "event", its a status quo; a fun one at that.

When did this turn into ANOTHER Mar-val resurrection topic :mad:

[jackolover]

I'm hoping Norman Osborn hires all the renegades and the MA and the FF and the Hulk and X-Men, so all the super humans are under one umbrella. Right now, Norman has to fight a lot oflittle battles over a long front. If he could eliminate those fronts, the system would run a whole lot smoother.

There's just one problem with that. The heroes wouldn't agree with the criminal activity part. Osborn would have to blackmail all the super humans to work for him, either with a carrot or a stick.

[Adam K]

IWhen did this turn into ANOTHER Mar-val resurrection topic :mad:

It's getting REALLY OLD, isn't it?

[Maestro]

nothing is gonna happen to Norman. people think he's going to fail but thta's probably what they want you to think

[Andrew T]

I've never read anything about Mer-Vell. Did he commit suicide? I thought he got cancer or something.

I believe the term "drinking the kool-aid" has taken on a meaning apart from the situation in which it was spawned. When used in casual conversation it simply means to subscribe or buy into a train of thought. I don't think any suicide references were intended. In fact, I don't even think it was kool-aid they were drinking. It was some off brand like Fresh-Aid or something.

[Omega Alpha]

i think the Iron Patriot Act teaser shows that Osbourne stays on top for some time...

He will most likely until next year's big summer crossover, whatever that is.

But he'll begin to fall in this DR/UXM crossover. None of the heroes so far went directly against Osborn, and he has been able to simply delegate when they tried to (Hood with Punisher, Namor with Iron Man, etc). But now the X-men will and almost certainly defeat him, force him to get more agressive.

[Paladin573]

He will most likely until next year's big summer crossover, whatever that is.

But he'll begin to fall in this DR/UXM crossover. None of the heroes so far went directly against Osborn, and he has been able to simply delegate when they tried to (Hood with Punisher, Namor with Iron Man, etc). But now the X-men will and almost certainly defeat him, force him to get more agressive.

If Spidy does not take him down...


(hate crossovers)

[FlintEastwood]

Look, I appreciate your compliment if that's what it was, but Is that some kind of suicide reference (Kool-Aid)?What the hell are you talking about?


Chill out, man. I was suggesting that your behavior and love for Mar-Vell is so intense that it appears you are part of a cult that accepts Mar-Vell as deity.

I'm also pointing out that almost everything you have to say relates to Mar-Vell in some way, shape, or form, even if the discussion has nothing to do with him. I enjoy the fact that when I see your name I can almost immediately tell what the post is about. No offense to you.

Of course, drinking the Kool-aid would indicate that you are not the only one who has joined the cult so maybe that is not the most appropriate colloquialism. Again, no offense.

[mikekerr3]

I'm hoping Norman Osborn hires all the renegades and the MA and the FF and the Hulk and X-Men, so all the super humans are under one umbrella. Right now, Norman has to fight a lot oflittle battles over a long front. If he could eliminate those fronts, the system would run a whole lot smoother.

There's just one problem with that. The heroes wouldn't agree with the criminal activity part. Osborn would have to blackmail all the super humans to work for him, either with a carrot or a stick.


The problem with the Blackmail part is too many of them would require killing and not submit to the Carrot or the stick. unless Marvel gets rid of the rest of the Heroic characters like they did Steve. I don't think marvel can afford to corrupt too many more characters or kill off name characters.

Can you see Osborn blackmailing the FF, Storm, Bucky, Falcon,T'challa, or Thor? Those guys would go down fighting and for some of them with results that Osborn would not definitely like, "Samson at the Temple" style results.

[Superbeast]

I think they've said after Dark Reign there is going to be a magic heavy event that I expect will lead into Scarlet Witch's proper return. Hopefully we'll see Hell's Council, Doom, Loki, The Hood, Ian McNee, Magik and the other power players involved.

[FlintEastwood]

I'd like to point out what I was originally trying to propose with the first post.

I don't think Dark Reign is neccesarily going to stop anytime soon - I mean, looking at how long it took for Secret Invasion to finish when the events only lasted a few days should indicate how long these things can be stretched.

I just see that the events of DR are shifting from "hopeless abandon" to "let's gear up and get ready to fight back."

I really like the "three act" explanation of DR that someone else has posted in another thread. I think that's a pretty cool theory.

[vitruvian]

i don't get why people think Noh-Var is like some sort of secret hero. The dude is a douche. It's like everyone doesn't remember his appearences between his mini-series and Secret Invasion 7.

If anything, Ares is the one that wil turn on Osborn.

No, it's more like we remember the miniseries.

[Brother Justin Crowe]

More than likely Marvel's big magic event they've been hyping since Nightcrawler had his own series (which, if I recall, was when Lincoln was in office). I'd much prefer a non-event-driven world for at least five to seven years, but, well...

[jackolover]

The problem with the Blackmail part is too many of them would require killing and not submit to the Carrot or the stick. unless Marvel gets rid of the rest of the Heroic characters like they did Steve. I don't think marvel can afford to corrupt too many more characters or kill off name characters.

Can you see Osborn blackmailing the FF, Storm, Bucky, Falcon,T'challa, or Thor? Those guys would go down fighting and for some of them with results that Osborn would not definitely like, "Samson at the Temple" style results.

We did see those promo pics where in one of them, Bucky is bowing to Iron Patriot on a thrown. Now unless Steve Rogers is in that iron Patriot suit, James Barnes is bowing to Osborn. So yes. I can see Peter Parker and James Barnes bowing to pressure. Black Panther has already been taken care of, and Storm is dead as of today. Falcon can be marginalized and be insignificant. And we've all seen the government took all Reed Richards money away from him, and they can do it again, so Reed would jump threw hoops. Thor can be distracted enough by Loki and Asgard issue, not to be a problem.

[Omega Alpha]

We did see those promo pics where in one of them, Bucky is bowing to Iron Patriot on a thrown. Now unless Steve Rogers is in that iron Patriot suit, James Barnes is bowing to Osborn. So yes. I can see Peter Parker and James Barnes bowing to pressure. Black Panther has already been taken care of, and Storm is dead as of today. Falcon can be marginalized and be insignificant. And we've all seen the government took all Reed Richards money away from him, and they can do it again, so Reed would jump threw hoops. Thor can be distracted enough by Loki and Asgard issue, not to be a problem.

Oh, sure, covers and promo images are extremely reliable, and yes, Marvel will have Captain America becoming the slave of a villain, and take Spider-Man with him:rolleyes:

You know man, you just trust too much covers and things Marvel try to imply (like "hero X is gonna die", or "the heroes will have no chance") and ignoring Marvel's commercial logic, or plain simply the story ones (like, again, you're saying "the heroes won't stand a chance against Osborn" in the other thread)

[BugsySig]

I think if "The Return" ends up being the return of Steve Rogers, then that would lead to a mini-event within Dark Reign where Cap leads a united front of heroes (unlike CW) against Osborn. Once Cap wins, things will go back to status quo, like they always do: Tony Stark will be redeemed, Steve will be Cap, Bucky will become the new Ronin or something, and "Dark Avengers" will become just plain old "The Avengers" again...just in time for the movie and a new #1 issue to boost sales even further only to eventually return to the original numbering when it gets near #600.

[Mark_S]

I'd like to point out what I was originally trying to propose with the first post.

I don't think Dark Reign is neccesarily going to stop anytime soon - I mean, looking at how long it took for Secret Invasion to finish when the events only lasted a few days should indicate how long these things can be stretched.

I just see that the events of DR are shifting from "hopeless abandon" to "let's gear up and get ready to fight back."

I really like the "three act" explanation of DR that someone else has posted in another thread. I think that's a pretty cool theory.

I don't really see that. I also don't see much that the heroes can do about Norman. Also if dark marvel sells I don't see them turning on the light. I think the most that might happen is that Norman gets taken out and someone just as bad or worse gets put in his place.

Mark_S

[BugsySig]

I don't really see that. I also don't see much that the heroes can do about Norman. Also if dark marvel sells I don't see them turning on the light. I think the most that might happen is that Norman gets taken out and someone just as bad or worse gets put in his place.

Mark_S

The thing is, eventually they will loose the casual fan. Not everyone wants to read their favorite book and have some over-arching story leak into it all the time which you don't fully understand if you are only buying 1 or 2 books a month. Marvel might think it will boost their sales by peaking the casual reader's interest and getting them to buy other books, but in my experience it has the opposite effect. In this economy, people might rather drop 1 or 2 of the books they're reading rather than add to their pull list so they can make sense of the "Dark Reign." Just my humble opinion.

[Omega Alpha]

I also don't see much that the heroes can do about Norman.

Kill him (and since Osborn really has no cause, it doesn't matter if he turns into a martyr)

Expose the true identity of his Avengers

Expose what HAMMER has been doing

Switch his meds

Anyway, lots of ways.

Also if dark marvel sells I don't see them turning on the light.

But the Initiative under Stark's command sold pretty well too, and it changed. Cap, Iron Man, Wolverine and Spidey also sold a lot, but changed.

[mikekerr3]

More than likely Marvel's big magic event they've been hyping since Nightcrawler had his own series (which, if I recall, was when Lincoln was in office). I'd much prefer a non-event-driven world for at least five to seven years, but, well...

One year without events would be nice. A year of stories not having to fit into events.

[mikekerr3]

I don't really see that. I also don't see much that the heroes can do about Norman. Also if dark marvel sells I don't see them turning on the light. I think the most that might happen is that Norman gets taken out and someone just as bad or worse gets put in his place.

Mark_S

Too msny of them can squash him like a bug,

But I would bet real money that someone worse replaces him and more heroes are corrupted,

[Rurik]

I still say the next event should be World War Squirrel Girl, where she beats down the entire Marvel universe for being too bloody emo.

[mikekerr3]

We did see those promo pics where in one of them, Bucky is bowing to Iron Patriot on a thrown. Now unless Steve Rogers is in that iron Patriot suit, James Barnes is bowing to Osborn. So yes. I can see Peter Parker and James Barnes bowing to pressure. Black Panther has already been taken care of, and Storm is dead as of today. Falcon can be marginalized and be insignificant. And we've all seen the government took all Reed Richards money away from him, and they can do it again, so Reed would jump threw hoops. Thor can be distracted enough by Loki and Asgard issue, not to be a problem.

James Barnes will not bow to Osborn except as a tactic, that would forever end the idea that he is really Captain America. I think Bru would have something to say about that,

Reed Richards doesn't care about money enough to turn into a toady to Osborn, he cares more about his family and doing that would make him lose them. Reed values science as much as family but he's not stupid enough to put money at that level. He can always make more of that.

Sue would die first as would Ben, The torch would fight also, And when they fight reed will, Sue is showing up more places and her character was not damaged much by the CW and it's aftermath.

And if he goes hard after the Richards kids, he's just toast. Valeria's probably his match anyway. If nothing else she would ffirgure uout how to give bbig Bro back his powers:biggrin:

There another Black Panther, and Thor could take enough time off from Loki to smash Osborne and Hammer by just skipping lunch:biggrin:

Can you Imagine how short Osborn's life would be if he killed Sue?:biggrin:

[ANewHope]

What's next?? The Iron Patriot Act !! Enjoy!

[jackolover]

Oh, sure, covers and promo images are extremely reliable, and yes, Marvel will have Captain America becoming the slave of a villain, and take Spider-Man with him:rolleyes:

You know man, you just trust too much covers and things Marvel try to imply (like "hero X is gonna die", or "the heroes will have no chance") and ignoring Marvel's commercial logic, or plain simply the story ones (like, again, you're saying "the heroes won't stand a chance against Osborn" in the other thread)

Well, a lot of it's speculation, yeah. But at least it's not a cover with Osborn bowing to Cap, so there would have to be some acceptance that Osborn is still in charge, and not that the heroes are winning.

[Omega Alpha]

Well, a lot of it's speculation, yeah. But at least it's not a cover with Osborn bowing to Cap, so there would have to be some acceptance that Osborn is still in charge, and not that the heroes are winning.

Or is just a promoting cover that means nothing. Do you really see Bucky giving up? Surrendering? Of course not. It's both out of character and bad for business. People don't buy New Avengers to see Spider-Man becoming Green Gobin's slave, they buy because they want him and the team to kick Osborn's ass.

[Rurik]

I don't know, I'd prefer Osborn in charge over Stark. At least Osborn can never betray you.

[jackolover]

Or is just a promoting cover that means nothing. Do you really see Bucky giving up? Surrendering? Of course not. It's both out of character and bad for business. People don't buy New Avengers to see Spider-Man becoming Green Gobin's slave, they buy because they want him and the team to kick Osborn's ass.


I don't know. I'd buy it, just to see how this works.

[Spiffy]

The end of Dark Reign may be a dramatic shift for the worse, not better. Nobody says this story will be wrapped up by the end of this "event". Marvel is infamous in the past few years for stringing readers along into sequels.

Perhaps a more active conflict, more formalized "sides" could be the next step. Norman seizes power more actively instead of pretending he's doing the business of the government. He makes himself dictator, and the fight turns into one to overthrow him.

[Omega Alpha]

The end of Dark Reign may be a dramatic shift for the worse, not better. Nobody says this story will be wrapped up by the end of this "event". Marvel is infamous in the past few years for stringing readers along into sequels.

Perhaps a more active conflict, more formalized "sides" could be the next step. Norman seizes power more actively instead of pretending he's doing the business of the government. He makes himself dictator, and the fight turns into one to overthrow him.

Dark Reign ends in the fall. And Marvel has been teasing about this Iron Patriot acts. It might as well be something like that. Not him turning into a dictator per se, but getting more power, becoming more agressive and beginning to actively go against the heroes instead of just leaving them be or having others deal with them (and like I said before, losing to the X-men could be the perfect cataclyst for this changes).

[Zeraze]

What's next after Dark Reign? Another Bendis/Quesada-planned company-wide crossover!

[FlintEastwood]

What's next after Dark Reign? Another Bendis/Quesada-planned company-wide crossover!

I'd prefer if Bendis finally got a deal to make a movie and handed the keys to the kingdom over to Brubaker.

A cross-over event with Brubaker would be great because it would take so long to tell that you would forget there's an event going on at all. ;D

Just kidding, this guy is the best thing Marvel has going for it.