(These binds take place at the same time as the recently updated Avengers vol 5-6 Dark Reign).

Dark Reign: Mercs

Most fight for money, some fight for power or fame. Others fight for the thrill while some have to fight just to stay alive. In the deadly new Marvel Universe Norman Osborn’s reign reaches far and wide. The New Thunderbolts are his Black Ops squad while rogue elements such as Deadpool become a constant thorn in his side.

Others such as Elektra and Spider-Woman whose lives have been devastated by the Skrull imposters try to find their place in the new Marvel Universe. As the only person to be studied and experimented on by the remnant Skrulls Elektra finds herself the center of Norman’s attention. While Spider-Woman leans on her rage, hate and self destruction as she hunts Skrulls for S.W.O.R.D. Can either women find the answers to their lives?

Follow the Thunderbolts in Secret Warriors and Deadpool in his series of binds!

Secret Warriors: Agents of Chaos

Nick Fury was the first person to discover the Skrull infiltration but threats to the world does not end there. Hydra has resurfaced and Fury has learned just how powerful the organization really is. With S.H.I.E.L.D dismantled and Norman Osborn in his old position Fury begins an intricate plot to protect the free world. But a third power has surfaced and may destroy both Fury and Hydra. Can the teenage Secret Warriors tip the scale in Fury’s favor? And once the battle begins how many of them will survive?

(Secret Warriors was supposed to run around 60 issues. But writer Jonathan Hickman decided to kick his story in high gear and end the series with issue 28. Since I went all out with volume 1 and included all kinds of related material it left volume 2 with very little material in comparison.  I would have bound it in one volume.)

You can also include the Mighty Avengers issues #13 and #18 from Secret Invasion which shows how Nick Fury recruited the team.

Thunderbolts appear in Agents of Atlas while the Secret Warriors go to war in Siege.

Agents of Atlas: 

hen Federal enforcers under the hand of Norman Osborn bust into an armory under control of the Atlas Foundation, Jimmy Woo’s Agents go head-to-head with the new powers that be.  Then as disturbing visions plucked from the malignant mind of Norman Osborn lead the intrepid Agents to the darkest depths of the Atlantic Ocean, where Namora must have words with her infamous cousin – The Sub-Mariner! What happens next shocks her team, who must prepare to say goodbye to their aquatic avenger!

Dark Reign: War Machine/Black Panther 

The Black Panther is back… and she’s badder than ever! That’s right – she! What happened to T’Challa? Who is the new Black Panther? Find out why the female is the deadliest of the species! Wakanda has been attacked on every front. Heroes have fallen, old alliances have been betrayed, the country is in turmoil.

After stopping mercenaries from using a re-purposed Sentinel to slaughter innocents, Jim Rhodes decides that for his next mission, he’ll do what no court in the land will: bring the corrupt conglomerate responsible to justice! But before he can do that, Norman Osborn introduces the Dark Avenger known as Ares into the mix to take on War Machine!

Incredible Hercules: Incredible Adventures

In the wake of World War Hulk, the Mighty Avengers are hot on the heels of unrepentant renegades Hercules and Amadeus Cho. Driven into a mindless berserker rage by Ares, Herc has become the critical piece of Cho’s plan to utterly destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. What is Cho’s master plan to wipe out the spy agency…and is he willing to get Herc killed to do it? Follow Hercules and Amadeus through their many incredible and perilous adventures! Witness the creation of the most powerful super-team ever assembled to counter-attack the Skrull gods! Marvel as the Prince of Power takes the fight to his villainous stepmother Hera and the forces of the Olympus Group as she unleashes the most terrifying threat the Marvel Universe has ever seen! And when terrible threats rise in Svartalfheim, the land of the Dark Elves, only Mighty Thor, Son of Asgard, can hope to triumph! But what happens if the Odinson is temporarily…unavailable? It’s Hammer Time for Hercules as the Lion of Olympus gets his thunder on!

Dark Reign: Ms. Marvel / Dark Wolverine 

WAR OF THE MARVELS begins! Karla Sofen battles for her life in the streets of Los Angeles as an exciting new chapter in the history of Ms. Marvel begins! Guest starring the New Avengers and…someone we can’t tell you about.

He’s got the costume. But not the character. He’s got the claws. But not the compassion. He’s got the healing factor. But not the heart. He’s everything his dad feared himself capable of being, but never wanted to be — the inverse of the real Wolverine: Cold. Ruthless. Clinically savage. And now he’s Norman Osborn’s shiny new toy in the Dark Avengers, with unbelievable power at his command — all the way to the tips of his razor-sharp claws.

Captain Britain & the MI-13

The Skrull Invasion isn’t restricted to the US. When the Skrull Invasion hits England, only Captain Britain and MI13 stand in their way. Can they find out what the Skrulls are after before it’s too late?  Then the king of the vampires is back! As if the hoards of demons that Pete Wisdom let out in order to defeat the Skrulls in England weren’t enough, now DRACULA has entered the scene. What does he want with Spitfire? And how will an election help his cause? You better hope that Captain Britain and the rest of MI13 have a way to defeat him!

Dark Reign: Dark Reflections

The Melter, The Executioner, The Enchantress, Egghead, Big Zero, and Coat of Arms: they call themselves the Young Avengers, teenage rebels, on the run from the authorities, hated and feared by a world they’ve sworn to protect. Their interests include interspecies romance, modern art, and bloody murder. Everything is permitted, and so are they. Until they meet the original Young Avengers. And then their grey areas will come home to roost.

Mr. Negative has carved out a substantial slice of the big apple for himself over the past year. But when the super-villain mastermind The Hood strikes at the heart of Mr. Negative’s criminal operations with a whole horde of classic Arachno-Foes (including The Scorcher, Speed Demon, The Squid and the long awaited return of the White Rabbit), Spider-Man is left to clean up the mess between these two violent nemeses.

He ain’t friendly and this ain’t your neighborhood! Yes, Mac Gargan, America’s favorite sociopath-turned-symbiote-host-turned-hero-hunter now takes the spotlight as Norman Osborn’s sinister Spider-Man. Now, Mac’s a beloved hero, but nobody wants to run into him after midnight because the symbiote is still pretty darn hungry.  Plus more stories from the Dark Reign era!

Continues in Siege!

Back to Avengers Volume 5-6: Dark Reign!

Back to Secret Invasion!

Volume 5: The Dark Avengers

From the ashes of Secret Invasion Norman Osborn has risen to power and has now been proclaimed the protector of the world.  What plans does his Cabal have in store?  What will the heroes of the Marvel Universe do now that the villains are on top?  Can Norman keep the Green Goblin in check?  And who are his Dark Avengers?  As the dark clouds cover the Marvel Universe his reign has begun.From here you can take a tour of the Marvel Universe in Dark Reign: Marvel Universe

Dark Reign: Avengers Prime

Tony Stark has lost everything. The Avengers, his fortune and his position as lead of S.H.I.E.L.D. However he does not leave Stark Tower empty handed. After storing the S.H.R.A. (Super Hero Registration Act) Database in his mind he goes on the run from Norman Osborn to protect the identities of the registered super humans. As he slowly erases the database from his mind he is also erasing his mind…

Loki’s schemes begin to build as Thor is banished from Asgard! Can he find Sif in die before the body she inhabits expires? And as Dr. Doom’s continues his twisted experiments it ultimately leads to a confrontation with the Asgardians and Thor!

Finally the new Captain America settles into his new uniform when someone from his past forces him to lay down his shield. The Winter Soldier has returned! And what has Sharon Carter remembered? A figure in the light?

Dark Reign:  Mighty Avengers Initiative

Hank Pym picks up the pieces of his life after Secret Invasion but where does he belong? The woman he loved is gone and a Skrull imposter has been living his life everything has changed. But when the return of an old enemy threatens all life on the planet Pym forms his own Avengers, the Mighty Avengers! But what is the Scarlet Witch up to?

The 50 State Initiative promised to train young heroes and put a Super Hero team in every state. However Norman Osborn has some plans of his own as he takes over and adds known villains to the roster! And wait until you see who he puts in charge! Will the Initiative recruits take a stand against the corruption? And what is the Avengers Resistance?

Volume 6: The New Avengers Strike Back

Lines have been crossed. As Osborn tries to strengthen his grip on the Marvel Universe things and people begin slipping through his fingers. As new laws are drafted to restrict mutant rights Norman finds an opportunity to boost his public standing. However he faces the mutant militia known as the X-Men and their leader Cyclops. Forming a mutant group of his own Norman unveils his Dark X-Men. It’s a chess game of war but who will be the victor?

Then New Avengers find themselves once again facing off against the Hood’s crew but where is the Hood? Things go from bad to worse as the Avengers are stripped of their powers and then the Dark Avengers arrive! A ray of light shines through Norman’s reign as the greatest Avenger is reborn! And what exactly is going on with the Sentry?

I mainly put Mighty Avengers 34 here as the round table discussion talks about recent events that are in this volume. If I put it with the rest of Mighty it would spoil things that happen before you get to this volume. If you’re not binding Mighty Avengers then you can leave it out.

Continues in Dark Reign Marvel Universe!

Or jump to Siege!

Back to Secret Invasion!

back to Avengers Vol 4 The Initiative Era 

Back to Avengers Vol 1-3 Bendis Era