Dark Reign: The Underside

In 2009, Marvel's Dark Reign event cast a long shadow, and this one-shot from Frank Tieri and John Paul Leon peered into the grimy corners the spotlight missed. Rather than following the big-name heroes, it focused on the street-level chaos and criminal fallout left in the wake of Norman Osborn's rise to power, with Spider-Man caught in the middle. A tight, atmospheric crime story, it stands as a quiet but essential chapter of the era, showcasing Leon's moody art and Tieri's knack for the underworld.