2009 SDCC Day 3 - Marvel : Dark Reign

Today at the San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Editor-In-Chief, Joe Quesada, is hosting a panel of Marvel's best and brightest as they discuss Marvel's latest cross-title saga, Dark Reign. A cabal of super-villains, lead by the maniacal Norman Osbourn have taken control of law enforcement for the planet and you know they have a sinister agenda that bodes ill for our heroes.

Panelists include Rick Remender (Dark Reign: The List), Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man), Jason Aaron ( Dark Reign: The List), Fran Tieri (Dark Reign: Made Men), Joe Casey (Dark Reign: Zodiac), Jim McCann, and Marvel editor Alejandro Arbona.

The Dark Reign saga will be wrapping up in December of 2009. Will the Marvel Universe ever be the same?

The Utopia book, with Dark Avengers vs. the Uncanny X-Men, will be out this summer.

Dark Wolverine is going to a lot of dark places. Upcoming events in Dark Ms. Marvel are shocking.

Norman Osborn has a hit list. In the Iron Patriot Acts, consisting of 8 one shots, Norman goes after those he really, really wants dead.

First on the list - the Avengers. Ronin will be featured. Clint plays a huge role in this issue.

The X-Men are next on the list and Namor plays a large role.

3rd on the list - Daredevil. This follows from the huge twist coming up in Daredevil 500. Norman sends Bullseye, as Bullseye, after DD.

Wolverine is fourth on the List. Norman has discovered the lab that creates the Super-Sentinels and he decides he wants some. Phantom X is naturally involved. And there will be zombies.

Hulk follows. The teaser picture shows Skaar.

Next on the list is Punisher. Norman is miffed that Punisher tried to kill him, so he sends Wolerinve's son after him.

Of course Norman can't let Nick Fury continue running around, so he goes after Fury and his team, The Secret Warriors.

Finally, Norman goes after Spider-Man. This battle was of course inevitable.

Tony Stark will be fighting Iron Patriot in issue 18. It's going to be armor vs. armor as Tony's mind is dissolving due to the deletion process.

Baron Zemo is coming back in Thunderbolts. The original team meets Norman's new team. Sparks fly.

Norman has been holding his sanity together, but how much longer can he hold it together?

The Marvel creators had a long list of villains they wanted to include to don hero costumes for Norman's team. There was a long winnowing process to chose those who wound up in the Dark Avengers.

Dark Reign is meant to be the third act in the Civil War Saga. This will be the conclusion that should resolve the various ongoing plot lines as the Marvel Universe realigns itself.

Norman's ultimate motivation is going to be revealed in upcoming issues of Dark Reign.

Moonknight is coming back with a vengance as he fights to take back the streets from Norman.

When Norman finally faces Spider-Man, it may be as Green Goblin. Of all Norman's triggers, Spider-Man is the most provacative.

Magneto is coming back in Nation X in September.

Dr. Doom step out of the sidelines soon in the Dark Reign story.

Dark Reign, and Norman assisinating the Skrull Queen, was Bendis's idea.

Spider-Man's long simmering rage against Norman for killing Gwen Stacey is going to come to a boil soon.

There is some incredible stuff being done with Bullseye that will be out in the not too distant future.

There are no plans for Captain America, either one, to be in the upcoming World War Hulks story line.