View source for Siege (comics)

{{short description|Marvel comic book storyline dealing with the culmination of the "Dark Reign" storyline}}
{{For|the character|Siege (character)}}
{{italic title}}
{{in-universe|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox comics story arc <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|title          = Siege
|image          = Siege 1.jpg
|imagesize      = <!-- default 250 -->
|caption        = {{Descript-cvr|Siege||1|Mar 2010|feature=[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]], [[Iron Man]], [[Captain America]], [[Loki (Marvel Comics)|Loki]], and [[Green Goblin|Norman Osborn]]|art=[[Olivier Coipel]]}}
|alt            =
|publisher      = [[Marvel Comics]]
|startmo        = December
|startyr        = 2009
|endmo          = May
|endyr          = 2010
|Superhero      = y
|Crossover      = y
|titles         = ''[[Avengers: The Initiative]]'' #31-35<br><!--
-->''[[Dark Avengers]]'' #13-16<br><!--
-->''[[Dark Wolverine]]'' #82-84<br><!--
-->''[[The Mighty Avengers|Mighty Avengers]]'' #35-36<br><!--
-->''[[The New Avengers (comics)|New Avengers]]'' #61-64 Annual #3<br><!--
-->''[[New Mutants]]'' #11<br><!--
-->''Origins of Siege'' #1<br><!--
-->''Siege'' #1-4<br><!--
-->''Siege: The Cabal'' #1<br><!--
-->''Siege: Embedded'' #1-4<br><!--
-->''Siege: Storming Asgard - Heroes and Villains'' #1<br><!--
-->''Sentry: Fallen Sun''<br><!--
-->''[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]'' #607-610<br><!--
-->''[[Thunderbolts (comics)|Thunderbolts]]'' #141-143<br><!--
-->''Siege: Captain America'' #1<br><!--
-->''Siege: Loki'' #1<br><!--
-->''Siege: Secret Warriors'' #1<br><!--
-->''Siege: Spider-Man'' #1<br><!--
-->''Siege: Young Avengers'' #1
|main_char_team = [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]<br>[[The New Avengers (comics)|New Avengers]]<br>[[Dark Avengers]]<br>[[Young Avengers]]<br>[[Secret Warriors (2009 series)|Secret Warriors]]<br>[[Asgard (comics)|Asgardians]]<br>[[Loki (Marvel Comics)|Loki]]
|writers        = [[Brian Michael Bendis]]
|artists        = [[Olivier Coipel]]
|pencillers     =
|inkers         =
|letterers      =
|editors        =
|colorists      =
|TPB            = Siege Prelude
|ISBN           = 0-7851-4310-6
|TPB1           = Siege
|ISBN1          = 0-7851-4810-8
|cat            = Avengers (comics)
|cat+#          =
|limsub         = Marvel Comics
|sortkey        = Siege
|self-titled    = y
}}
'''''Siege''''' is an [[American comic book]], published by [[Marvel Comics]] from January to May 2010. It deals with the climax of the "[[Dark Reign (comics)|Dark Reign]]" storyline, which saw the character [[Norman Osborn]] become the United States primary defense officer, leading [[H.A.M.M.E.R.]] as well as employing his own evil [[Dark Avengers|Avengers]]. The story depicts [[Loki (Marvel Comics)|Loki]] manipulating Osborn into leading an all-out assault on [[Asgard (comics)|Asgard]], at the time located within a fictional United States. [[Captain America]] and his own [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] lead a rebellion against Osborn. The events in ''Siege'' led to Marvel Comics introducing the subsequent storyline "[[Heroic Age (comics)|Heroic Age]]".

==Publication history==
{{Expand section|date=March 2015}}
The "Siege" storyline consists of a four-issue [[miniseries|mini-series]] and a number of related tie-in books, including [[one-shot (comics)|one-shots]], miniseries, and existing [[ongoing series]].

Marvel announced in early 2010 that the company's "Siege" storyline would be followed by the "[[Heroic Age (comics)|Heroic Age]]" storyline.<ref name="heroic_age">{{cite web |last=Goellner |first=Caleb |date=December 10, 2009 |title=Is Marvel Shelving The Mega-Event After 'Siege'? |url=http://www.comicsalliance.com/2009/12/10/is-marvel-shelving-the-mega-event-after-siege/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118010912/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2009/12/10/is-marvel-shelving-the-mega-event-after-siege/ |archive-date=January 18, 2010 |access-date=January 7, 2010 |website=[[ComicsAlliance]] |publisher=}}</ref> This was first hinted at in the story by [[Athena (Marvel Comics)|Athena]] to [[Amadeus Cho]].<ref>''Incredible Hercules'' #127. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Publication aftermath===
The end of the story was described as what would be the start of a new "''Heroic Age''" in the Marvel Universe.<ref name=heroic_age />

The final tie-in issues of the four Avengers titles, ''Mighty Avengers'' #36, ''New Avengers'' #64, ''Dark Avengers'' #16 and ''Avengers: The Initiative'' #35 were the last ones of those series, along with a ''New Avengers: Finale'' one-shot, with illustrations by [[Bryan Hitch]].<ref>{{cite web |last=George |first=Richard |date=January 15, 2010 |title=Siege Ends the Avengers |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/106/1061476p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119181509/http://comics.ign.com/articles/106/1061476p1.html |archive-date=January 19, 2010 |access-date=January 15, 2010 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=}}</ref>

In June 2010 Marvel published ''Avengers Prime: Siege Aftermath''. This five-part series focused on [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]], [[Iron Man]], and [[Captain America]] and bridged the gap between "Siege" and "Heroic Age".

Though not badged as an aftermath series, a limited series starting in May 2010 examined the fall of [[Norman Osborn]] and effects upon his son [[Harry Osborn]]. The series was titled ''Amazing Spider-Man Presents: American Son''.<ref>Rogers, Vaneta (February 8, 2010). [https://web.archive.org/web/20100211012908/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/spider-man-american-son-100208.html "The AMERICAN SON Returns to SPIDER-MAN's World in May"]. [[Newsarama]].</ref>

==Plot==
The storyline opens with [[Norman Osborn]] calling a meeting of the [[supervillain|super-villain]] [[Cabal (comics)|Cabal]], consisting of [[Doctor Doom]], [[the Hood]], [[Taskmaster (character)|Taskmaster]], and [[Loki (Marvel Comics)|Loki]], to discuss [[Asgard (comics)|Asgard]] (the home of the [[Æsir|Norse gods]]), which is now hovering above [[Broxton, Oklahoma]], and the last holdout in Osborn's consolidation of power. A rift develops between Doom and Osborn, creating mayhem that appears to break up the group. Later, under his pretense of respectability, Osborn attempts in vain to secure permission from the [[President of the United States]] to invade Asgard, claiming it poses a national security threat. On Loki's advice, Osborn manipulates [[Volstagg]] into battling the [[U-Foes]], causing an explosion that kills everyone in the [[Soldier Field]] football stadium. This gives Osborn the justification to lay siege on Asgard with military troops as well as with the [[Dark Avengers]] — his team of supervillains posing as superheroes and with loyalists planted amid the various [[Avengers: The Initiative|50-State Initiative]] teams of heroes. Osborn's aide-de-camp, [[Victoria Hand]], suggests unsuccessfully that Osborn seek therapy for his instability. Shortly thereafter, the President realizes that Osborn is unstable and orders Hand to produce him.

In the meantime, in order to better control the highly powerful but psychologically fragile superhero the [[Sentry (Robert Reynolds)|Sentry]], who has allowed himself to be under Osborn's care, Osborn has [[Bullseye (Marvel Comics)|Bullseye]] kill Sentry's wife, Lindy Reynolds. He then claims that she committed suicide. Concurrently, Loki prepares Asgard for invasion through selective assassination and by neutralizing [[Heimdall (character)|Heimdall]], the city's guardian.

The siege begins with Sentry attacking Asgard, followed by a massive aerial assault led by Osborn in his [[Iron Patriot]] armor. [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]], who has been banished from Asgard for some time, is stunned and falls in battle. With the attack on Asgard instantly becoming a major news story, [[Captain America|Steve Rogers]], the erstwhile Captain America, assembles a group of Avengers in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], to battle the Dark Avengers, help defend Asgard, and aid their comrade, Thor. At the same time, the Avengers resistance led by Tigra, Justice, and Gauntlet launch their own attack on Camp H.A.M.M.E.R., aimed at eliminating Osborn's Initiative.

Osborn's people offer Todd Keller, a conservative [[talk show]] host, exclusive official coverage of the siege, in order to mold public opinion. Meanwhile, longtime investigative journalist [[Ben Urich]], editor of the New York City newspaper ''The Front Line'', heads to the Oklahoma battle site with cameraman Will Stern. Volstagg, whom they meet in a chance encounter along the way, accompanies them and gives the reporters his own perspective.

As the battle in Asgard intensifies, the [[Olympians (Marvel Comics)|Olympian]] warrior [[Ares (Marvel Comics)|Ares]], whom Osborn had deceptively recruited to his Dark Avengers, realizes the truth about Osborn and vows to kill him. Osborn has Sentry kill Ares instead. Osborn declares [[martial law]] just as Rogers and a contingent of Avengers arrive.<ref>''Siege'' #2</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Richards |first=Dave |date=February 17, 2010 |title=Storming Heaven: ''Siege'' #2 |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24874 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220171451/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24874 |archive-date=February 20, 2010 |access-date=September 26, 2010 |work=[[Comic Book Resources]]}}</ref> Volstagg, with the aid of a local sheriff who is suspicious of Osborn, speaks to the public from a webcam video. This leads to the beginning of public disenchantment with the increasingly volatile Osborn.

The siege continues with the super-villain [[Nuke (Marvel Comics)|Scourge]] using the enchanted spear of Asgard's ruler, [[Odin (Marvel Comics)|Odin]], to sever the left limbs of the superhero [[U.S. Agent]].<ref>''Thunderbolts'' #142</ref> [[Donyell Taylor|Night Thrasher]], who had been compelled to make a [[deal with the Devil|Faustian bargain]] with Osborn, turns on him by battling the Hood.<ref name="ATI #34">''Avengers: The Initiative'' #34</ref> In Washington, the President orders the [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] to dispatch military forces to Oklahoma to have Osborn and the Dark Avengers arrested for treason. At that moment in Asgard, Osborn is struck down by Captain America's shield,<ref name="Siege #3">''Siege'' #3</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Richards |first=Dave |date=March 29, 2010 |title=Storming Heaven: ''Siege'' #3 |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25450 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401095721/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25450 |archive-date=April 1, 2010 |access-date=September 26, 2010 |work=Comic Book Resources}}</ref> yet manages to order Sentry to destroy the infrastructure of Asgard. Sentry, having survived a flurry of brutal blows from Thor, unscathed and on the verge of tearing Thor apart, transforms into the Void and leaves Thor. He then annihilates Asgard, bringing it crashing down to Earth.<ref name="Siege #3"/><ref>''Thor'' #608</ref> Rogers finds Osborn in the wreckage and places him under arrest. Before anyone can react further, Osborn's armor, now under the control of its creator [[Iron Man|Tony Stark]], explodes off his body on live television, revealing his face painted in the image of the [[Green Goblin]].  Osborn screams that the Avengers do not know what they have done, only for [[Spider-Man]] to knock him down. He tells them they are all dead as the Void is released. He is convinced that the Void is the [[Destroying angel (Bible)|Angel of Death]].<ref name="Siege #3"/>

As the Void battles the Avengers, Loki repents and begs Odin to let him use the [[Norn Stones]] to give the heroes the strength to win the day. The Void, realizing that the heroes' enhanced power is being granted to them by Loki, kills him. Spurred on by Loki's sacrifice, Thor, and the others battle the Void to the point that it reverts to Sentry's human form. Sentry begs the heroes to kill him, and Thor regretfully complies, striking Sentry down with a lightning blast that leaves only a charred skeleton.<ref name="Siege #4">''Siege'' #4</ref> As Thor takes Sentry's body to the sun, the [[The New Avengers (comics)|New Avengers]] round up the Dark Avengers (with the exception of [[Daken]], who managed to escape unnoticed). Victoria Hand, the renegade members of the Initiative, the remaining members of the Cabal, and others are placed under arrest. Rogers gives his former partner, [[Bucky Barnes]], his Captain America shield, passing him the mantle.<ref name="Dark Avengers #16">''Dark Avengers'' #16</ref>

As the Avengers and their allies celebrate their victory at [[Stark Tower]], the [[Superhuman Registration Act]] is abolished and Thor and his fellow [[Asgardians (Marvel Universe)|Asgardian]] warriors offer an alliance with Earth, creating a portal to Asgard atop Stark Tower. The President asks Rogers to take over Osborn's position.<ref name="Siege #4"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Richards |first=Dave |date=May 18, 2010 |title=Storming Heaven: ''Siege'' #4 |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26287 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520163237/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26287 |archive-date=May 20, 2010 |access-date=September 26, 2010 |work=Comic Book Resources}}</ref> A large group of heroes later attend Sentry's memorial service.<ref>''The Sentry: Fallen Sun'' one-shot</ref> Rogers says that he will continue the 50 State Initiative and reform the original Avengers group with Bucky (as Captain America), Stark, and Thor as its main members.<ref name="Avengers: The Initiative #35">''Avengers: The Initiative'' #35</ref> He also assigns Victoria Hand to work with the New Avengers.<ref name="Dark Avengers #16"/> U.S. Agent is made warden of the maximum security super-villain prison the [[Raft (comics)|Raft]].<ref name="Thunderbolts #143">''Thunderbolts'' #143</ref>

==''What If?''==
The non-canon series [[What If (comics)|"What If..."]] features an alternate universe version of the story, "What if Osborn won the Siege of Asgard", in issue #200. [[Ares (Marvel Comics)|Ares]] gives in to his intuition before the Siege of Asgard, attacking Osborn in his own office after realizing Osborn lied to him. Sentry murders Ares on the spot allowing him to rest up between battles and head into battle fully powered. In turn, this leads to him being able to kill Thor as well as Captain America. Most of the heroes present are subsequently slaughtered by the Dark Avengers. Doom devises a fresh plan of attack after teleporting [[Emma Frost]] and himself away from the conflict. Emma will scan the Dark Avengers as part of the new plan to learn the truth about Lindy's death. Bullseye is exposed, and Emma tells Sentry the whole story, with disastrous outcomes. Sentry's fragile psyche is shattered entirely, and he goes on a murderous rampage, killing both Frost and Bullseye, before transforming into a fully powered Void, who then kills Doom, Taskmaster, and the Hood. He then confronts Osborn and thanks him for releasing him, only to kill him too. With the Avengers, Dark Avengers, and the Gods all defeated, none is left to fight the Void and he consumes Earth before spreading out to the rest of the universe.

==Reception==
* The first issue received a rating of 5.9 out of 10 from Comic Book Roundup<ref>{{cite web |date=January 6, 2010 |title=''Siege'' #1 Review |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/siege/1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908053558/https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/siege/1 |archive-date=September 8, 2013 |website=Comic Book Roundup |publisher=}}</ref> and a rating of 7.9 out of 10 from [[IGN]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=January 6, 2010 |title=''Siege'' #1 Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/12/30/siege-1-review |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=}}</ref>
* The second issue received a 6.6 out of 10 from Comic Book Roundup<ref>{{cite web |date=February 3, 2010 |title=''Siege'' #2 Review |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/siege/2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614091416/https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/siege/2 |archive-date=June 14, 2013 |website=Comic Book Roundup |publisher=}}</ref> and a rating of 7.4 out of 10 from IGN.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lenaghan |first=Tim |date=January 6, 2010 |title=''Siege'' #2 Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/04/siege-2-review |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=}}</ref>
* The third issue received a 7.5 rating out of 10 from Comic Book Roundup<ref>{{cite web |date=May 17, 2010 |title=''Siege'' #3 Review |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/siege/3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614153035/https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/siege/3 |archive-date=June 14, 2013 |website=Comic Book Roundup |publisher=}}</ref> and a rating of 7.2 out of 10 from IGN.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=January 6, 2010 |title=''Siege'' #3 Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/04/siege-3-review |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=}}</ref>
* The fourth issue received a 6.2 rating out of 10 from Comic Book Roundup<ref>{{cite web |date=September 8, 2010 |title=''Siege'' #4 Review |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/siege/4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614122739/https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/siege/4 |archive-date=June 14, 2013 |website=Comic Book Roundup |publisher=}}</ref> and a rating of 6.9 out of 10 from IGN.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=January 6, 2010 |title=''Siege'' #4 Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/05/13/siege-4-review |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=}}</ref>

==Collected editions==
Comics in the storyline have been collected into individual [[trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] volumes:

* ''Siege Prelude'' (collects ''Dark Avengers'' #1, ''Dark Reign: The Cabal'', ''Thor'' #600, ''Dark Reign: The List - Avengers'', ''New Avengers Annual'' #3, ''Dark Reign: The Goblin Legacy'', and ''[[Marvel Spotlight]]'' #30, 264 pages, Marvel Comics, softcover, January 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4310-6}})
* ''Siege'' (148 pages, [[Panini Comics|Panini]], May 2010, {{ISBN|1-84653-452-6}})
* ''Siege'' (collects ''Siege'' #1-4, ''Siege: The Cabal'', and ''Siege Digital Prologue'', 144 pages, hardcover, August 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4810-8}})
* ''Siege'' (collects ''Siege: The Cabal'', ''Siege'' #1-4, and ''Avengers: The Way Things are'', Marvel Comics, softcover, 2010, {{ISBN|978-0-7851-4079-5}})
* ''Siege: X-Men - Dark Wolverine & New Mutants'' (collects ''Dark Wolverine'' #82-84, ''New Mutants'' #11, and ''Siege: Storming Asgard - Heroes & Villains'', 128 pages, Marvel Comics, premiere hardcover, August 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4815-9}})
* ''Siege: Embedded'' (collects ''Siege: Embedded'' #1-4'', 112 pages, premiere hardcover, August 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4764-0}})
* ''Siege: Battlefield'' (collects ''Siege: Spider-Man'', ''Siege: Young Avengers'', ''Siege: Loki'', ''Siege: Captain America'', and ''Siege: Secret Warriors'', 120 pages, premiere hardcover, August 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4598-2}})
* ''Siege: New Avengers'' (collects ''New Avengers'' #61-64, ''New Avengers Annual'' #3, ''The List - New Avengers'', and ''New Avengers Finale'', 192 pages, premiere hardcover, September 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4577-X}})
* ''Siege: Avengers - The Initiative'' (collects ''Avengers: The Initiative'' #31-35, 120 pages, Marvel Comics, premiere hardcover, September 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4817-5}})
* ''Siege: Thunderbolts'' (collects ''Thunderbolts'' #138-143, 144 pages, premiere hardcover, September 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4373-4}})
* ''Siege: Thor'' (collects ''Thor'' #607-610, "New Mutants" #11 and "Siege: Loki", 144 pages, September 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4813-2}})
* ''Siege: Mighty Avengers'' (collects ''Mighty Avengers'' #32-36, 120 pages, premiere hardcover, October 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4800-0}})
* ''Dark Avengers: Siege'' (collects ''Dark Avengers'' #13-16, and ''Dark Avengers Annual'', 144 pages, Marvel Comics, premiere hardcover, October 2010, {{ISBN|0-7851-4811-6}})

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.10792.read_the_siege_digital_prologue_for_free~excl~ Read the SIEGE Digital Prologue for FREE!], Marvel.com, December 29, 2009
* {{cite web |url=http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.10966.siege_post-game_with_brian_bendis_%231 |title=Siege Post-Game with Brian Bendis #1 |publisher=Marvel.com |date=January 15, 2010 |access-date=January 15, 2010 }}
* {{comicbookdb|type=storyarc|id=3823|title=Siege}}
* {{gcdb series|id=41474|title=Siege}}

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