Yesterday I went through part one of my Dark Reign reading guide, today I’m going to be focusing on part two.

There is pre-reading for a lot of these, but it’s basically just the previous volumes in each of these character’s previous series/Secret Invasion/previous comics in the Dark Reign event. I’ll list which is which for each one.

Remember when Deadpool saved the Earth from those pesky Skrulls? Well, the guy who stole the intel Deadpool worked so hard to acquire – and positioned himself as Earth’s Number One War Hero – wants to make sure you don’t. The last thing this guy needs is a certain “Merc with a Mouth” letting everyone know the truth of how he saved the day, and he’s hired a certain maniacal man-eater to make sure Deadpool never does. Here comes Tiger-Shark.

You’ll want Deadpool: Secret Invasion as well as Dark Reign: Deadpool/Thunderbolts. Secret Invasion needs to be first first, then Deadpool/Thunderbolts annoyingly comes in the middle of this volume, as Marvel decided for some reason, to publish four Deadpool issues from this run in that bind up. It’s frustrating, but worth it.

There are three volumes before this one: The Incredible Hercules, Against The World, Secret Invasion and Love And War, all by Greg Park.

Iron Man is on the run from Norman Osborn’s agents, since all Osborn needs to make his power complete is the database containing the secret identities of every registered hero in the country, which is kept in Iron Man’s head.

First one in this series is The Five Nightmares. You’ll also want part two to World’s Most Wanted, which is conveniently called World’s Most Wanted Part Two.

A new team of Avengers has assembled but with the Scarlet Witch on the scene leading them to their destiny, and Hank Pym perhaps going a little too far in his tribute to his deceased ex-wife, is there something sinister lurking beneath this heroic undertaking? Featuring the Hulk, Iron Man, Quicksilver, Hercules and more of your classic Avenger favourites! PLUS: The Unspoken speaks – and a world trembles! The Inhumans recently escaped to the stars to fight the War of Kings, leaving behind a secret that will consume the world in terror. Find out the true nature of this dark, terrible secret.

I’d pick up Brian Michael Bendis’ Mighty Avengers: Complete Collection first, just to get a better hold on this team and what’s been happening to them in the run up to this particular comic.

A mass suicide by a branch of the Church of Hala has claimed the lives of twenty families. With Captain Marvel gone, Carol Danvers investigates this tragedy performed in his name, putting her directly in the path of would be Captain Marvel replacement: Noh Varr.

Trigger warnings for suicide for this one. The previous volumes are: Best Of The Best, Civil War: Ms Marvel, Operation Lightning Storm, Monster Smash, Secret Invasion and Ascension.

The Invasion is over! But who are the New Avengers!??!
The first major roster change since the very first issue!! See here who the New Avengers are and what their place in the Dark Reign is!

Previous volumes are: Breakout, Sentry, Secrets And Lies, The Collective, Civil War, Revolution, The Trust and Secret Invasion Book One and Two.

Thought dead when she was imprisoned on an alien world, Mockingbird’s home again – but the reunion is bittersweet as she finds that this Earth is a much harsher place than the one she left behind. The world is desperate for heroes – and after being caged for years, Mockingbird is eager to punch some bad guys. But when her ex-husband Clint Barton, the Avenger Ronin, tags along on her new secret mission, old wounds reopen fast. Can these two great heroes set aside their feelings long enough to save the day? If not, they might find it’s hard to cheat death a second time.

Definitely one to read post Secret Invasion.

The team of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev return to a Marvel comic for the first time since their Eisner award-winning run on Daredevil. Ripped from the pages of Secret Invasion and New Avengers, this explosive chapter follows the new adventures of Jessica Drew, aka: Spider-Woman, as she rediscovers her life in a world she did not make. 

Like the synopsis says, this one comes after Secret Invasion and New Avengers.

Agent Brand is no longer the top dog at S.W.O.R.D. Forced to share her leadership post with former Avengers-liaison Henry Gyrich, Brand is less than pleased. Will the arrival of her boyfriend, X-Man Beast, help her out? Not when she discovers Gyrich’s plan for fixing S.W.O.R.D. is to rid Earth of all aliens!

For more on S.W.O.R.D., check out my guide here.

Rhodey versus Ares! Man versus Immortal! War Machine versus God of War! With the life of one of his oldest friends in the balance, Marvel’s one man army must face the only warrior who can outdo his thirst for battle!

Volume 2 of this series is named Dark Reign, so I’d plan on picking that one up too.

After the stunning revelations of the last volume, Daken now knows that he is merely a pawn and that his hatred of his father, Wolverine, is based upon a lie. Now, Daken and Wolverine – father and son – unite to track down the most fearsome being Daken has ever known. But they’re not the only ones looking for him. Plus, Daken battles the X-Men for possession of the deadly Muramasa Blade!

The previous volumes are: Born In Blood, Saviour, Swift and Terrible, Our War, Deadpool and X-Men: Original Sin.

Has Thor turned his back on Asgard… ? Has Asgard turned its back on Thor? After the monumental and cataclysmic events of Thor 600, the God of Thunder’s life has changed completely.

The previous volumes are just numbered one and two.

Dr. Doom has committed barbaric atrocities against the Asgardians living in his realm of Latveria. Now Balder has marshalled his forces, and called upon the counsel of his general, Tyr, the God of War. Even the outcast Thor has rallied to the defence of his people. But what secret weapon has Doom wrought with secrets plundered from Asgard? And whose side is the duplicitous Loki truly on? Also, finally restored to her own body, Sif sets out with Beta Ray Bill to fight her way back to true warrior’s glory.

These two Thor comics are more of a bridge between Thor’s story and Siege, but Loki’s story more ties in with Osborne.

Pulled from the ashes of 1994, straight to the 21st century, the Skrull Kill Krew is back… more brutal than ever Television writer and novelist Adam Felber (HBO’s Real Time, Schrodinger’s Cat) and superstar artist Paulo Siqueira (Ms.Marvel, Amazing Spider-Man) bring you a disturbing and violent tale of a man with a couple of big guns and a bunch of alien shape shifters who harkens back to the earliest days of the Marvel Universe. Pull up a chain gun and join us, won’t you?

The general consensus here is that this is a very confusing comic, even for long time Marvel fans, so, maybe give it a miss, unless you’re a fan of confusing, incredibly violent, weird comics.

Launching from the pages of New Avengers, Jericho Drumm assumes the role of Marvel’s new Sorcerer Supreme as DOCTOR VOODOO! Having foreseen an unimaginable evil that will soon envelop the Marvel Universe, the Eye of Agamotto has passed the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme on to the one man who has the unique gifts to stave off the coming darkness – but is Doctor Voodoo ready for the momentous duty as avenger of the supernatural? As Jericho begins to grapple with his colossal new position, malevolent beings of vast power see his arrival as an opportunity to strike. Rising star Rick Remender (Punisher) cracks open a new chapter in the Book of Vishanti to tell the ongoing adventures of the new Sorcerer Supreme in the Mighty Marvel fashion!

Definitely one to read after New Avengers.

The heroes of the 1950’s are back with big plans for the 21st Century!
When Federal enforcers under the hand of Norman Osborn bust into an armoury under control of the Atlas Foundation, Jimmy Woo’s Agents go head-to-head with the new powers that be. How it all goes down will make the playing field of the modern Marvel universe more volatile than ever!

You should read Jeff Parker’s 2006 Agents Of Atlas run first, to get an idea as to who these characters are.

Following immediately on the heels of “24/7”, Spider-Man’s world has become more messed-up and stressful than ever and the fact that his biggest enemy is in charge of the world – and the Avengers – is only the icing on a really dangerous cake. Now faced with hard choices about family and friendship, Spider-Man knows exactly what he has to do to save the world – it’s time to take down Norman Osborn! 

Turns out, this is the 27th book in a Spider-Man series! The previous volumes are: The Next Chapter 1, 2, 3, Revenge Of The Green Goblin, Coming Home, Revelations, Until The Stars Grow Cold, The Life And Death Of Spiders, Unintended Consequences, Happy Birthday, The Book Of Ezekiel, Sins Past, Skin Deep, New Avengers, The Other, Road To Civil War, Civil War, Back In Black, One More Day, Brand New Day 1, 2, 3, Kraven’s First Hunt, New Ways To Die, Crime And Punisher, Death and Dating, Election Day and 24/7.

Moon Knight is back in the Big Apple and looking to pick a fight with the man who chased him out of town in the first place: Norman Osborn. Freed of his demons and armed with an arsenal of incredible new weapons, Moon Knight is finally the hero he always aspired to be – taking out criminals with massive flair and throwing down the gauntlet to his old nemesis. Is Osborn ready for Round Two?

This is a continuation of Hurwitz’s previous series, so check that out first.

And that’s the end of part two – this is every tie-in to Dark Reign that I can find, so it’s a very long list. But, like I said yesterday, you can just follow the characters you want to follow if you so wish!

As always though, if you have any questions, please do drop them in the comments and I’m more than happy to answer!