Marvel's Dark Reign narrative was one of the most memorable runs in the comic book company's history, partially because it arguably marked the end of a key Marvel strategy. Throughout Marvel's history, there have been multiple eras which define a period of time for the comic book company. While the eras were often used as a marketing strategy, they usually incorporated a narrative atmosphere that impacted the character's storylines. These time periods were often launched through major events that would have a long-term impact on a huge range of comic runs.
But, it might be fair to say that after Dark Reign, there are very few definitive eras that have had the same impact on Marvel Comics as the Norman Osborn takeover. Marvel might have attempted to create a similar atmosphere in recent years but has failed to come up with a concept that truly rivals what it had done in the past. The comic book publisher has lost its touch, but strangely the Marvel Cinematic Universe is copying the same formula. With Marvel Studios organizing its releases into different phases it is creating distinctive time periods such as Phase 1's Origins Era, the Infinity Gauntlet Era, and now the Multiverse Era. Perhaps the comics can learn something from that strategy.
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The Importance Of Eras
Eras are incredibly important for comic book companies as they indicate to the audience where they are taking their fictional universes. Traditionally Marvel has been organized into different ages known as the Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Modern ages. Each age marked periods of significant change for the comic industry. But within that wider tapestry of ages, there are specific eras that run across multiple titles in Marvel's publishing timetable. A perfect example took place after the Civil War event.
With the heroes scattered and divided because of the tumultuous Superhuman Registration Act, it paved the way for a new status quo to take hold. With Team Iron Man firmly in the lead, some heroes went into hiding while schemes like the Avengers Initiative were launched. The consequences of Civil War had a significant and compelling impact on most of Marvel's most prominent characters, leading to an era of distrust and bold new beginnings. This example is a perfect indication of why eras are so valuable. They act as a change of the status quo, that can freshen up Marvel's ongoing titles and bring together the shared universe in a single story that will elevate each character's arc. Dark Reign did exactly the same thing, bettering underutilized heroes like Moon Knight while building toward the next big game-changing event.
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Dark Reign's Standout Run
Dark Reign is up for debate as the last great era in Marvel's modern run. After the Secret Invasion narrative, Norman Osborn took advantage of his increased power. Placed as the head of the United States defense programs, Osborn formed his own Dark Avengers, replaced the Illuminati with his Cabal, and corrupted S.H.I.E.L.D. with H.A.M.M.E.R. He changed the game completely, forcing vigilantes into hiding and empowering street-level thugs like The Hood. It created a period of unease for the superhuman community, which radiated in most of Marvel's ongoing titles. Dark Reign was absolutely expansive, inspiring dozens of spinoff one-shots and influencing runs such as Punisher, S.W.O.R.D., Avengers: The Initiative, Incredible Hercules, Hulk, Mighty Avengers, Dark Avengers, New Avengers, Spider-Woman and the list goes on.
It was hard to pick up a Marvel comic without getting hit with another chapter of the Dark Reign story. But that was exciting and created a unique aura around all of those heroes. It pushed their backs up against the wall in a way that had rarely been seen before and switched up the status quo to put the villains in charge. It was an earned moment, that was organically forged and paved the way for the tumultuous and outstanding Siege event. It laid the groundwork for personal tales such as The Sentry's struggle with his inner Void, or Osborn's return to the Green Goblin mindset. It was an opportunity to take risks, place the spotlight on lesser-used characters and create new figures that are forged by such a turbulent time. There's speculation that the MCU may be looking to adapt the narrative with Thunderbolt Ross at the helm, and it's clear to see why there's so much excitement around that possibility. Unfortunately, Marvel has failed to meet its own standards in the years since.
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Marvel Should Return To Creating Defining Eras
Marvel just doesn't create defining eras anymore. It's certainly tried to, but they haven't had the impact that Dark Reign did, nor those periods that came before. The closest Marvel has come is through the Reign of X storyline, with mutantkind's rise through the creation of Krakoa. It's an arc that swept through almost every X-Men-related title and has had some smaller effects on outside runs like Captain Marvel. But it doesn't switch up the status quo of the Universe as a whole, largely limiting itself to mutantkind. Captain America's life doesn't particularly change with the collapse of Krakoa. She-Hulk's world isn't turned upside-down if the mutants no longer hold on to their international influence. Compare that to Dark Reign, and it's obvious why that narrative was so all-encompassing. It dealt with issues that everyone could be impacted by, not just a small portion of Marvel's comic book characters.
From the Marvel Now! relaunch to the arrival of the Inhuman's Terrigen Cloud, Marvel has explored methods to freshen their shared universe and switch up its most familiar elements. But readers are crying out for a new era that is going to genuinely shift things for everyone; one that will be looked back on as an instrumental time period for the publisher and its releases, steeped heavily in nostalgia. Marvel should be capable because they've demonstrated it in the past. But it remains to be seen if a defining era like Dark Reign can begin anew.
