Which Dark Reigners want off of Norman's crazy train?

[Monty_Cristo]

speculate. we know that Ozzie still has some serious support going into Siege. but it's all going to end at some point. So who is just waiting to jump ship?

roll-call (and my own thoughts on the matter):

Iron Patriot - yeah, he's fully on board. there's no one more insanely behind this plan than Norman.

Loki - in no hurry for the chaos to end.

The Hood - desperate to hold himself and his gang together. if Parker weren't so blinded by ambition he'd realize that hitching his wagon to Osborn is career suicide. He's already being edged out by Taskmaster.

Taskmaster - if he weren't joining the Cabal i'd put him at the front of the list of people ready to jump ship. Taskmaster is not a risk taker; he's a survivor. i'm not sure what changed but he looks to be going down with Osborn.

Ms. Marvel - the Dark Avengers are her safety net, at the moment. Karla's done a lot of bad things as Ms. Marvel. redemption doesn't seem to be part of her story any more. in some ways she's more ambitious than the Hood. i think it might be her downfall, this time.

Wolverine - Daken has no loyalties to anyone. he's thinking ahead to his own agenda. that, of course, means he's not really in a hurry to leave the Dark Avengers. this is a platform for bigger stuff.

Hawkeye - he loves any opportunity to kill. and he loves not being in prison. Osborn has arranged both. he's not going anywhere.

Sentry - too crazy and unsure of himself to leave. he'll snap or be killed first.

Spider-man - if symbiote doesn't kill him one of his teammates will. i think the medication is making Gargan at least consider leaving. but i think he knows how personal Osborn would take it. so that would be sure suicide.

Ares - completely amoral. but i think he wants out for his kid's sake. it's only a matter of time.

Mystique - she's an unwilling member of Osborn's crew. not only does she want out; she wants Norman's blood. it was a bad move on his part to try to control her. she's long lives but one thing she's never learned is how to let go of a grudge (ask Wolverine, Professor X, or Legion).

Dark Beast - he's a psychopath and a sadist. he could go either way. but i'm betting that he prefers living & dismembering test subjects above ground.

Omega - crazier & more self-loathing than the Sentry. he's likely to die serving the 'cause.'

Mimic - that glimpse at the future Calvin got makes it a toss up. he wants to be better. but he's kind of a weak & somewhat impulsive guy. he might off himself before getting another clean shot at redemption. same since he hasn't done anything all that villainous, despite working for Norman.

Black Widow - too early to tell. can't even say it's the real Yelena just yet.

Ghost - i think part of him enjoys the current state of the MU. he needs a giant to slay. of course it might be a moot point. his health (mental & physical) seems to be deteriorating.

Scourge - he's more machine than man, at this point. and the human side of him is having flashbacks to the war. he needs Dark Reign & a bad person giving him orders. anyone else would have "johnny 5" disassembled.

Mister X - same story as bullseye except i think X would just crawl right back into the woodwork if Norman's empire were to fall. he's a blue blood who's unable to control his murderous impulses. it's quite puzzling that he'd accept confinement within the Cube.

Headsman - he's stupid enough to stick with Osborn's outfit until someone (maybe Norman, himself) puts a knife in his back. the alternative's no better. his aspirations are to be muscle for hire. Dark Reign is his glass ceiling. without him he's rotting in prison.

Paladin - i'm sure that he can't wait to be out. this experience could be what steers Paladin back in the right direction; if it doesn't kill him. the Wasp liked him. that's got to count for something, right?

Ant-Man - total bias on my part but Eric's the "Peter Parker" of this event. remember Peter's uh oh moment during Civil War; where he realized that demasking and representing registration was going to eff his world up? that's Eric. he was the prototypical Camp Hammond graduate. he was gung ho to make it to the 'Big Game.' and the game turned out to be joining up w/ a deathsquad. Eric wants out but doesn't have the courage to do so. this could go a number of ways.



so what's your opinion on these folks? on another note, i would love to read a series involving a lot of these folks being tried for their crimes and being placed in a new supermax prison for supervillains. it'd be like the tv series Oz but without the R-rating/rutt baping.

[DarienA]

I pretty much agree with all those assessments... I'm glad we're getting to the point in Dark Reign where the cracks are starting to appear. Honestly I was getting tired of just about EVERYTHING going Norman's way....

[Monty_Cristo]

Originally Posted by DarienA

I pretty much agree with all those assessments... I'm glad we're getting to the point in Dark Reign where the cracks are starting to appear. Honestly I was getting tired of just about EVERYTHING going Norman's way....

well in-comic Norman hasn't really been in power all that long. he's just very proactive so it seems that way.

[Iron Maiden]

The two I think have to think that hooking up with Norman was a bad move is Paladin and Taskmaster. I haven't been keeping up with their appearances over the years but Paladin is a guy that at one point, Jan was going to nominate for a spot on the Avengers. This has got to be a low point for him. As for Taskmaster, I remember his limited series from some years back where he tried it on his own for a while and it looked Marvel was going in a different direction with him. In that sense, you can see why he signed up because it's a continuation down that path. But he's kind of sadistic in his manipulation of Penance/Speedball in that Avengers Intiative #30 preview. Additionally, we know Norman's going to elevate him in the ranks to where he has a seat on the Cabal. It seems like the old Taskmaster would find a back door to slink out of instead.

[Monty_Cristo]

Originally Posted by Iron Maiden

The two I think have to think that hooking up with Norman was a bad move is Paladin and Taskmaster. I haven't been keeping up with their appearances over the years but Paladin is a guy that at one point, Jan was going to nominate for a spot on the Avengers. This has got to be a low point for him. As for Taskmaster, I remember his limited series from some years back where he tried it on his own for a while and it looked Marvel was going in a different direction with him. In that sense, you can see why he signed up because it's a continuation down that path. But he's kind of sadistic in his manipulation of Penance/Speedball in that Avengers Intiative #30 preview. Additionally, we know Norman's going to elevate him in the ranks to where he has a seat on the Cabal. It seems like the old Taskmaster would find a back door to slink out of instead.

good points. i think it's an issue of some of these character being written darker to fit the new villain-y theme. Paladin, especially, has been on a downward spiral since breaking up with Jan; aiding terrorists, working for the Hellfire Club, selling out Heroes for Hire to bring in Captain America. and he found himself sort of an unwilling recruit into the Thunderbolts by being caugh redhanded trying to avenge a friend (assassinating Elektra). i'm not sure what's up with Taskmaster. he's never been a real "moral" individual; kind of an opportunistic weasel w/ a "heart of gold." but i wouldn't have called him a sadist before this, either.

[Sighphi]

You forgot that Marvel Boy left when Ms Marvel did third input on him.

[kindella2]

i dont think it is a question of whether they want the train ride to end versus them knowing that IT WILL end in a matter of time and that they need to cause as much chaos and evil as they can...

[Monty_Cristo]

Originally Posted by kindella2

i dont think it is a question of whether they want the train ride to end versus them knowing that IT WILL end in a matter of time and that they need to cause as much chaos and evil as they can...

possibly. i guess what i'm getting at is that not all of them desire chaos. some of them are working stiffs who have gotten caught up in this. some of them sided with Norman to get out of jail or because they were afraid of retaliation.

[The Cool Thatguy]

Who wants off? Anyone with common sense now. Norman's already given out his bribes and has little else to offer.

[Zero Hunter]

First one to bail is going to be Ms. Marvel/Moonstone. She is smart enough that when she sees the ride is about to come crashing down she is going to hightail it out of there. She is too smart and cunning not to.

[The Cool Thatguy]

Originally Posted by Zero Hunter

First one to bail is going to be Ms. Marvel/Moonstone. She is smart enough that when she sees the ride is about to come crashing down she is going to hightail it out of there. She is too smart and cunning not to.

Yeah, but she's being written by Bendis. So she'll stay on until the end.

[classicgmer]

Originally Posted by Monty_Cristo

The Hood - desperate to hold himself and his gang together. if Parker weren't so blinded by ambition he'd realize that hitching his wagon to Osborn is career suicide. He's already being edged out by Taskmaster.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on The Hood during seige because while I don't think he'll make a play agianst Osborn I really I don't think he gives a crap about Osborn one way or the other. In the DR Mr Negative mini he tried to kill Mr. Negative despite Osborn's wishes and obviously Osborn has lost confidence in him in favor of folks like Dr. Harrow and Taskmaster

Originally Posted by Monty_Cristo

Taskmaster - if he weren't joining the Cabal i'd put him at the front of the list of people ready to jump ship. Taskmaster is not a risk taker; he's a survivor. i'm not sure what changed but he looks to be going down with Osborn.

Taskmaster is just along for this ride until it gets too crazy and then he'll most assuredly jump ship as he could care less about Osborn or anyone else but himself.

Originally Posted by Monty_Cristo

Headsman - he's stupid enough to stick with Osborn's outfit until someone (maybe Norman, himself) puts a knife in his back. the alternative's no better. his aspirations are to be muscle for hire. Dark Reign is his glass ceiling. without him he's rotting in prison.

I'm surprised Headsman is still alive to be quite honest, the man has expendability written all over him and I expect him to be killed before Seige.

[Monty_Cristo]

Originally Posted by classicgmer

I'm surprised Headsman is still alive to be quite honest, the man has expendability written all over him and I expect him to be killed before Seige.

i think Ghost is keeping him around as a human shield.

[classicgmer]

Originally Posted by Monty_Cristo

i think Ghost is keeping him around as a human shield.

Why does a man who can turn intangible need a human shield though

[StoneGold]

Originally Posted by classicgmer

Why does a man who can turn intangible need a human shield though

Less shield, more bait. Someone gets too busy trying to kill Headsman, then Ghost can slip in the knife.

And Monty, I'd think Jan liking someone would be the last thing you would say is a good sign in someone, given your predilections towards Hank.