Dark Reign Updateby Elisabeth@TFAW

We're sure enjoying blogging about Dark Reign every week! If you like reading it, do us a favor: if you're thinking about making a purchase from us, make sure to click a link in this post and then go buy something! We've got some awesome deals this month, including 30% off Marvel and DC pre-orders and free domestic shipping on in-stock orders of $30 or more. Just make sure to click one of these links, so we know you're reading! We've got five titles this week, and as always, we try not to give away too much in these recaps, but beware: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Dark Avengers #7Dark Avengers #7 takes place in San Francisco. The Dark X-Men have assembled and they've shot to the top of Osborn's favorites list. Sure, they're going up against a bunch of nobodys, D-listers at best, but they're doing their job without having to be told over and over again. There's trouble in paradise, though as Emma starts to take issue with the treatment of detained mutants.

Dark Beast, Cyclops and Xavier make appearances, so that's nice. This issue that starts out a little slow, but it picks up pretty well about half way through. See you next month for Dark Dark Avengers #8!


Ms Marvel #41Wow. Amazing Spider-Man #599 was an excellent finale to the "American Son" story arc. In the previous issue, Harry Osborn realized that he had sold out Spider-Man and joined forces with his father, Norman, for naught! He thought he was protecting his girlfriend, Lily, and their unborn child–only to find out that she was plotting with Stormin' Norman to manipulate Harry. And the baby is Norman's. Everyone together now: EWWWWW!!!!!!

So Harry puts on the "American Son" suit, not to join his father–but to try to destroy him. My heart broke when I realized that Norman had nothing but contempt for his son, and in fact was hoping he would die so that he could gain public sympathy. I felt no such remorse on behalf of Lily–she looked a little freaked out in the end when she realized how obsessed Norman is with their baby. You deserve what you get, lady! Looking forward to Amazing Spider-Man #600, but this is the end of the line for this title's Dark Reign run!


Deadpool #12Deadpool #12 is wonderful. Daniel way knows how to tell a story and the Medina, Vlasco and Gracia do a great job with the art. We discover that Bullseye and the Crimson Comedian have a past.

I'm not going to give it away, you wouldn't want me to anyway. Trust me, this issue is well worth the price of admission.

That's it for Deadpool's stint in Dark Reign. Thanks for reading! To continue your Deadpool fix, check out Merc with a Mouth.


Dark Reign Mister Negative #2Dark Reign Mister Negative #2 was way more exciting than I thought it would be, but you guys must have already known–we’ve sold out of this issue! As we ended the last issue, Mister Negative, a.k.a. Martin Li, businessman (and Aunt May’s boss), had taken over Spider-Man. And it turns out, the more noble and upright someone is, the darker they turn under his influence.

This was pretty darn interesting, because we actually got to see Spider-Man’s thoughts, and his twisted worldview under Negative’s control. He’s not simply under someone else’s thumb–the way he’s acting is totally plausible, if he were a darker character. In any case, he totally takes out Hood’s flunkies, and is primed to kill his erstwhile love, Betty Brant! Tune in to Dark Reign Mister Negative #3 for more!



Ms Marvel #41Holy cow! Ms. Marvel #41 is full of excitement. If you've been following the adventures of the "new" "Ms. Marvel," this is one issue you won't want to miss! Turns out there are several beings of light in different colors, but they're all trying to communicate with the same symbol: a lightning bolt! Hey, isn't that the symbol used by–hey, I'm getting ahead of myself here. So these beings of light have been attacking Ms. Marvel and the Dark Avengers, and trying to lead Spider-Man and Wolverine to the weird test tube babies, which are actually mini M.O.D.O.K.s (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killings)!

When the multiple light beings are close together, all of their gobbledygook becomes coherent speech, and "their" motivation becomes clear: they want to protect the babies, and they need the babies to be made whole again. However, Moonstone (the "new" Ms. Marvel), can't leave well enough alone, crashing in to fight the New Avengers but faced with the simple fact that the "babies" were calling for Ms. Marvel, but they didn't mean her. They meant Carol Danvers. Tune in next month for Ms. Marvel #42.


Punisher #7We end this week's Dark Reign update on a down note. Punisher #7 starts off pretty well, but it quickly turns into a mess.

The Hood shows Castle just what his life could be if his family were alive. That sends him into a downward spiral. Then a bunch of D-listers take up about nine pages of the issue. We'll see if they can get it back on track in Punisher #8!

So what do you guys think of the X-Men (or the Dark X-Men) entering the fray? Are there too many darn resurrections happening in comics today? Post your comments below!