From Secret Invasion to Dark Reign

The springboard for Dark Reign is "Secret Invasion Dark Reign". In case you've been living under a rock, Secret Invasion involves the shape-shifting alien race known as Skrulls who have infiltrated the Earth intending to take the earth as their new homeworld after their own world was destroyed. They have replaced several of the earth's superhero community in order to fortify their position when they launch their attack. In the end, though, the Skrulls have been soundly defeated when the world's superheroes and supervillains joined forces.

Anyway, after the secret invasion, here's the status quo:

• Tony Stark aka Iron-Man loses his Extremis powers (i.e., basically he becomes a techno-organic being, with his brain becoming more akin to a computer's CPU -- with Extremis, he can multitask control of machines such as his many armors as easily as he can breath) after the Skrulls unleashed a computer virus that specifically targetted Extremis and Starktech -- which rendered all Stark Industries, S.H.I.E.L.D., and his extremis armor inoperable. He is now a fugitive, becoming the most wanted man in the world. [Invincible Iron Man #8]


• S.H.I.E.L.D. is decommissioned because of its inability to deal with the alien threat -- in part due to the anti-Stark computer virus and in part due to many of the S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives were replaced by Skrull agents.


• Janet Van Dyne aka the Wasp, one of the founding members of the Avengers, dies. The Skrull YellowJacket aka Henry Pym modified her growth formula to become a biological weapon -- sort of an ace up his sleeve when things got desperate for the Skrulls -- which did. After the activation, bio-weapon in Wasp was killing everyone, Skrull and human alike, forcing Thor to finish her off. [Secret Invasion #8]


• The Inhumans - after recoving their king Blackbolt from the Skrulls - have been pushed over the proverbial edge and, launched a cosmic conquest. More on WAR OF KINGS saga. [Secret Invasion - Inhumans #3, War of Kings]


• Norman Osborn becomes the most powerful man in the world. The former Green Goblin becomes the hero in the final showdown of the Secret Invasion after the world saw he blasted the head off of the Skrull Queen. And thus, begins DARK RIEGN! [Secret Invasion Dark Reign]


• Norman Osborn formed a gathering of sorts similar to the New Avengers Illuminati. His gathering consists of Emma Frost - X-Men leader and former Hellfire Club White Queen, Namor - Lord of Atlantis, Victor Von Doom - monarch of Latveria, Loki - Norse God of Mischief, and The Hood - the new Kingpin of Crime in New York [Secret Invasion Dark Reign]


• Several Avengers teams are formed, each with their own comics line: New Avengers consisting of the fugitive heroes led by the new Captain America; Mighty Avengers formed by Scarlet Witch and led by the new Wasp, Hank Pym aka Yellow Jacket [Secret Invasion Requiem]; and Dark Avengers led by the Iron Patriot aka Norman Osborn.


• Solo heroes/anti-heroes Deadpool , Punisher, and War Machine each have their own run-ins with Norman Osborn. Osborn unleashes the new Yelena Belova/Black Widow-led Thunderbolts on Deadpool, the Hood against Punsiher, and Ares on War Machine [Deadpool #7, Punisher #2, War Machine #2].


• Ms. Marvel aka Carol Danvers is on a personal vendetta trying to get the truth about Norman Osborn and the new Captain Marvel Noh-Varr. [Ms Marvel #34-35]


• Emma Frost, perhaps in her own bid for power, secures an alliance with Namor at the expense of the Sebastian Shaw of the Hellfire Club. [Uncanny X-Men Annual #2].


• Nick Fury resurfaces with his team of Secret Warriors for the first time since his disappearance at the conclusion of Secret Wars (2005). In the wake of Norman Osborn's rise to power, he stumbles into the most shocking truth about the S.H.I.E.L.D. [Secret Warriors #1]

With Norman Osborn being handed the keys of power, he begins his campaign of solidifying his power on so many fronts -- building his public image in the media, forming a new Avengers team, hunting down the superhero fugitives, forming his own version of the illuminati, among other things.

Here's the Dark Reign checklist, so far.

December 2008:

• Avengers the Initiative #20


• Dark Reign New Nation


• Invincible Iron Man #8


• Ms. Marvel #34


• New Avengers #48


• Secret Invasion Dark Reign


• Secret Invasion Requiem


• War Machine #1

January 2009

• Avengers the Initiative #21


• Dark Avengers #1


• Deadpool #6


• Invincible Iron Man#9


• Marvel Spotlight: Dark Reign


• Mighty Avengers #21


• Ms. Marvel #35


• New Avengers #49


• Punisher #1


• Thunderbolts #128


• Uncanny X-Men Annual #2


• War Machine #2


• Dark Avengers Poster

February 2009

• Agents of Atlas


• Avengers the Initiative


• Black Panther #1


• Dark Avengers #2


• Dark Reign Files


• Deadpool #7


• Invincible Iron Man #10


• Mighty Avengers #22


• Ms. Marvel #36


• New Avengers #50


• Punisher #2


• Secret Warriors #1


• Thunderbolts #129


• War Machine #3


• Wolverine Origins #33

That's all the info I can cram in one post...