The List (Trade Paperback)
Writer
Jason AaronBrian Michael BendisAndy DiggleMatt FractionJonathan HickmanGreg PakRick RemenderDan Slott
Penciller
Frank ChoAlan DavisMarko DjurdjevicEd McguinnessBen OliverBrandon PetersonEsad RibicJohn Romita Jr.Billy Tan
Back when Marvel’s Dark Reign came out, I found it really hard to think that someone who is a convicted felon would have the reins of the most powerful nation and that nobody would have a problem with it.
Reading this today is an entirely different experience.
The comic—centered on Norman Osborn, a former villain turned head of national security—mirrors the unsettling reality of power being placed in the hands of deeply controversial figures. Osborn’s manipulative grip on institutions, public image, and ruthless agenda eerily reflects modern political anxieties. As for the comic itself, The List is a sharp, fast-paced collection of one-shots spotlighting Marvel heroes targeted by Osborn’s regime.
While not all stories hit equally hard, the overall tone is dark, politically charged, and gripping—worth reading. Dark Reign: The List stands out as a politically resonant and tonally cohesive collection, though not without its uneven moments. The Spider-Man, Avengers, and X-Men one-shots are to me particularly compelling, offering eerily prophetic echoes of our current geopolitical tensions—especially the X-Men issue, with its unsettling parallels between the destruction of Atlantis and the ongoing Palestinian crisis.
These stories carry a sharp narrative weight and social commentary that feels disturbingly relevant. John Romita Jr.’s artwork, especially in the Punisher issue, is raw and unapologetically visceral—it’s not for the faint of heart, but it suits the brutal story perfectly. That said, Romita’s style remains divisive; his heavy lines and exaggerated anatomy can be off-putting for some, yet they lend a kinetic energy that’s hard to ignore. Unfortunately, the Secret Warriors and Hulk issues fall flat by comparison, feeling more like filler than essential chapters. Overall, The List is ambitious and thought-provoking, marred only slightly by a couple of uninspired entries.
