Dark Reign: New Nation

Marvel's 2009 one-shot Dark Reign: New Nation served as a launch pad for several new series during the "Dark Reign" era, with writer Jeff Parker and artist Carlo Pagulayan leading the charge. This single issue introduced readers to the post-Secret Invasion status quo, spotlighting new teams and heroes operating under Norman Osborn's shadow. It's a concise but essential snapshot of Marvel's direction at the time, setting the stage for books like Agents of Atlas and The Mighty Avengers without spoiling their individual stories.