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Dark Avengers is a 2009–2013 American comic book ongoing series published by Marvel Comics. It is part of a series of titles that features various iterations of the superhero team the Avengers, with this version of the team – unbeknownst to the public in its stories – having several members who are actually and anti-heroes disguised as the established superheroes.
The series ended with Dark Avengers #16, at the culmination of the Siege storyline.
The Thunderbolts comic book was renamed Dark Avengers beginning with issue #175, but the creative team remained unchanged. Dark Avengers ended with issue #190.
The initial line-up consists of former Thunderbolts members and new recruits, including the Sentry, Ares, Noh-Varr (now Captain Marvel) as well as disguised super-villains Karla Sofen (portraying Ms. Marvel), Venom (Mac Gargan portraying Spider-Man after being given a formula that resets the symbiote to the size it was when it possessed Spider-Man), Bullseye (portraying Hawkeye) and Wolverine's disgruntled son Daken taking on the Wolverine mantle. Osborn also takes on the identity of Iron Patriot, wearing a red, white, and blue-themed Iron Man armor. Dark Avengers #1 (March 2009). Marvel Comics. The team goes to Latveria to rescue Doctor Doom from Morgan Le Fay. Dark Avengers #2 (April 2009). Marvel Comics. Upon returning from Latveria, Osborn deals Dark Avengers #5. Marvel Comics. with the aftermath of Hawkeye's appearance on live TV, under his "Ronin" alias, reminding the public of Osborn's murderous past and that he should not be trusted. New Avengers #50. Marvel Comics. Due to this action, Osborn is forced to "get rid of" this problem.
The Dark Avengers arrive in San Francisco to set up martial law and to quell the anti-mutant riots. In doing so, Norman sets up Dark X-Men consisting of Cloak and Dagger, Mimic, Emma Frost, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Daken, Weapon Omega and Mystique (posing as Professor X) much to the chagrin of his Avengers. Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia #1. Marvel Comics. After Emma Frost, Namor, and Cloak and Dagger betray the team, Norman swears vengeance on the X-Men. Dark Avengers #8. Marvel Comics.
A series of disappearances throughout Colorado causes Norman Osborn's Dark Avengers (except for Venom) to visit the small town of Dinosaur, Colorado. Everyone except Norman is teleported away, while Osborn finds himself in front of a throne with Molecule Man seated on it, flanked by the Beyonder, Mephisto, Zarathos, and the Enchantress. Dark Avengers #10 (2009). Marvel Comics. However, it is revealed that these others were merely Molecule Man's creations. Molecule Man tortures Norman mentally and physically and seemingly kills his Avengers. Dark Avengers #11. Marvel Comics. Osborn's assistant Victoria Hand successfully stalls Molecule Man with a false surrender until the Void is able to reform and kill Molecule Man. It is revealed that the Sentry and the Void have the same powers as Molecule Man. The Sentry regains control of himself and agrees to begin therapy with Moonstone, while Victoria Hand demands Norman to undergo therapy as well after being tortured. Inside his office, Loki is manipulating Norman into having a Green Goblin relapse. Dark Avengers #12. Marvel Comics.
After declaring war on the Asgardians, Norman Osborn has the Dark Avengers and those in prepare for the Siege of Asgard. Siege #1. Marvel Comics. Norman considers The Sentry, specifically his dark side, known as The Void, his secret weapon. Dark Avengers #13. Marvel Comics.
In flashback, it is told how Robert Reynolds received his vast powers from experimental drugs, using his might as the Sentry to live the life of a superhero, while his darker emotions manifested as the Void. Osborn has manipulated Reynolds into allowing the Void to take over, to do Osborn's murderous bidding. Osborn has somehow recreated the addictive serum that gave Reynolds his powers, making him dependent on Osborn and his approval. Meanwhile, Reynolds's wife Lindy has been a virtual prisoner in the Sentry's Watchtower, has even attempted to kill him, and begs Reynolds to either kill her or let her go. Reynolds's warring personalities, however, have stalemated. The Sentry even attempts suicide, flying into the heart of the sun, but such is his invulnerability that it doesn't work. He tires of struggling against the Void. Norman orders Bullseye to kill Lindy, blaming her for Sentry's uncertainty and weakness. Dark Avengers #14. Marvel Comics. When an emergency evacuation occurs, Bullseye takes Lindy on a helicopter, antagonizes her cruelly, then strangles her to death and dumps her body into the ocean. When Sentry arrives looking for Lindy, Bullseye claims that she committed suicide, out of fear of Reynolds, by jumping out of the helicopter in the countryside. Sentry leaves to look for her body. From this point on, it could be said that the murderous Void was in full control of Reynolds and his unprecedented power. Dark Avengers #15. Marvel Comics.
Following the events of Siege, Norman Osborn is incarcerated in the Raft. Moonstone, Bullseye and Venom are captured by the heroes, while Daken manages to escape capture by military personnel. After being interrogated by Captain America, Victoria Hand is informed that she has been reassigned. Dark Avengers #16. Marvel Comics. Moonstone joins Luke Cage's incarnation of the Thunderbolts. Thunderbolts #144. Marvel Comics. Noh-Varr is recruited into the Avengers team to help them build a time machine to save the future. Avengers #2. Marvel Comics. Victoria Hand is assigned by Steve Rogers to be the liaison for Luke Cage's team of Avengers, dubbed the New Avengers, because he feels that she can provide an important insight to the team. New Avengers #1 (2010). Marvel Comics. Bullseye escapes custody and is killed by his longtime nemesis Daredevil when he attacks his fortress of Shadowland during the storyline of the same name. Daken eludes capture at the conclusion of the Siege of Asgard and is confronted by Punisher (whom he had killed during the Dark Reign). Mac Gargan's symbiote is removed and he is taken into custody. Alistair Smythe breaks Gargan out of prison who is transformed back into the Scorpion. Amazing Spider-Man #651. Marvel Comics.
The Dark Avengers capture Captain America during their successful attack on both Avengers teams with the intention of executing him for his 'crimes'. Gorgon and Superia are already planning to betray the team, while Victoria Hand, apparently Norman's double agent inside the team, reveals to the New Avengers her real allegiance to Captain America and Skaar turns on his teammates after they confirm their intentions to assault Captain America, exclaiming the famous battle cry, "Avengers Assemble!" as he does so. New Avengers vol. 2 #22. Marvel Comics. Skaar reveals that he is a double agent for Captain America, allowing the New Avengers to defeat the rest of the team. New Avengers vol. 2 #23. Marvel Comics. Norman Osborn is shown to have developed the abilities of the Super-Adaptoid, enabling him to copy the abilities of the other Avengers. The Avengers find a way to overload this power, which puts Norman Osborn into a coma. After Osborn is defeated, the rest of the Dark Avengers are detained. It is suggested in a conversation with Captain America that they be considered for the Thunderbolts Program. Avengers vol. 4 #24. Marvel Comics.
As of #175, Thunderbolts is renamed Dark Avengers with writer Jeff Parker and the art team of Kev Walker and Declan Shalvey remaining on the title. When the Thunderbolts are missing in the time stream, the Dark Avengers were recruited as a replacement team. In order to keep the Dark Avengers in line, they were implanted with nanites and placed under the leadership of Luke Cage. Dark Avengers #175. Marvel Comics.
The Dark Avengers team are thrown into the alternate world of Earth-13584 with John Walker (U.S. Agent) where they are captured by that reality's version of Iron Man. Dark Avengers #184. Marvel Comics. It turns out that A.I.M. is behind the reality manipulation. Due to the Dark Avengers' arrival, the Solar System is starting to disappear. The Dark Avengers enter the A.I.M. base and accelerate the sliver's destruction. The Dark Avengers arrive back in their world. Skaar hops away, but the rest of the team ponders what to do as most of them are still criminals. June Covington bewitches U.S. Agent into believing they could still work as a team and steps on a still miniaturized Ai Apaec. Dark Avengers #190. Marvel Comics.
| Iron Patriot | Norman Osborn|rowspan="8" Dark Avengers #1 (March 2009) | AKA the Green Goblin. Former leader, captured in Dark Avengers #16. Redesigned Stark armor to represent both Iron Man and Captain America. Rejoined in New Avengers #18. Acquired the power of the Super-Adaptoid after reassembling the team. |
| "Spider-Man" | Mac Gargan | AKA Scorpion. Captured in "Dark Avengers" #16. Became Scorpion again after Venom suit was taken by government. |
| "Ms. Marvel" a.k.a. Captain Marvel | Karla Sofen | AKA Moonstone. Captured in Dark Avengers #16 and joined Luke Cage's Thunderbolts in Thunderbolts #144. Rejoins the team in Dark Avengers #184. |
| "Hawkeye" | Lester | AKA Bullseye. Captured in Dark Avengers #16. Killed by Daredevil in Shadowland #1. |
| "Wolverine" | Daken | Wolverine's psychopathic son, Daken. He avoided capture in Dark Avengers #16 and remains at large. |
| Noh-Varr | Noh-Varr | Left the team in Dark Avengers #6 and joined the Avengers. |
| Ares | Killed in Siege #2 by the Sentry. | |
| Sentry | Robert Reynolds | AKA Void. Went rogue in Siege #3 before being killed by Thor in Siege #4. |
| "Wolverine" | Tomi Shishido|rowspan="7" New Avengers #18 (November 2011) | Fought and killed by Wolverine in Wolverine #31. Revived by the Hand in Secret Warriors #2. Leaves the team in New Avengers vol. 2, #23. |
| "Hulk" | Skaar/Hiro-Kala | Recruited by Osborn in the Savage Land, Skaar was actually double agent working for Captain America in secret, along with his twin brother Hiro-Kala. Both rejoined the team in Dark Avengers #175 and left again in Dark Avengers #190. |
| "Ms. Marvel" | Deidre Wentworth | Led a H.A.M.M.E.R. team after Norman Osborn's incarceration. Leaves the team in New Avengers vol. 2, #23. |
| "Hawkeye" | Barney Barton | Joined after having his death in a hospital bed faked by Osborn. |
| "Spider-Man" | Ai Apaec | South American spider god. First encountered by Osborn in Osborn #1. Changed into a six-armed humanoid form resembling the black suit version of Spider-Man by an unknown substance. |
| "Scarlet Witch" | June Covington | Biologist and geneticist. First encountered by Osborn in Osborn #1 following the Siege of Asgard. |
| "Thor" | Ragnarok | Currently held and being repaired by A.I.M. on Norman Osborn's behalf. He was repaired in time to help the Dark Avengers fight the New Avengers. |
| U.S. Agent | John Walker | Dark Avengers #185 (2013) | Former warden of the Raft swept along with the Dark Avengers to an alternate reality. Resumes his role as U.S. Agent after receiving a lobotomized alternate reality version of the Venom symbiote that recreates his missing limbs. |
All the issues (except the Utopia crossover) were collected into one hardback book:
As were the spin-offs:
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