SIEGE: what came before it?

[Mikegraham6]

i honestly think that the main thing you need to read before SIEGE will be The Cabal one-shot, it will probably bring you up to speed and then i'd go from there. if you want more info after that, i suggest catching up with the THOR series, it's not too far in and if Asgard is going to play a big part, it might be a good idea to get some background info on it (i think you'd be safe to start from the 600th issue). other than that, maybe Dark Avengers would be a good idea, but honestly it will probably be a new-reader friendly book so i wouldn't worry too much

[Mikegraham6]

Originally Posted by holden

Well, I think they were going on the idea of public perception. Osborn became a hero once he killed the queen. Similar things have happened in human history. So I don't think it's too far of a reach. It just sucks that the whole Osborn thing has been dragged out as long as it has, but I've enjoyed it for the most part.

i just re-read the Ellis Thunderbolts series and the New Ways to Die Spider-Man storyline and what people tend to forget is that Osborn was pretty damn popular before he shot the Skrull Queen. Hell, the Thunderbolts had their own damn action figures for god sakes. He was holding press conferences with Mayoral candidates and his team was more popular than spider-man and the avengers. So the "sudden love" isn't really that out of place.

What REALLY bothers me, is that they never explained how he rose to power to control the Thunderbolts. Why would they trust him with a team of psychos in the first place? it's hinted that Tony Stark first gave Osborn the job but they never give any real background on why. this also leads to the question that if Stark gave Osborn the first position of power, why would he hate him so much in the Most Wanted arc in Invincible Iron Man.

People get too caught up on the Secret Invasion ending not making sense. Personally, i think it fits in perfectly with what came before it. It's the storylines after Civil War that dont make sense to me

[johnferrigno]

Originally Posted by Mikegraham6

i just re-read the Ellis Thunderbolts series and the New Ways to Die Spider-Man storyline and what people tend to forget is that Osborn was pretty damn popular before he shot the Skrull Queen. Hell, the Thunderbolts had their own damn action figures for god sakes. He was holding press conferences with Mayoral candidates and his team was more popular than spider-man and the avengers. So the "sudden love" isn't really that out of place.

What REALLY bothers me, is that they never explained how he rose to power to control the Thunderbolts. Why would they trust him with a team of psychos in the first place? it's hinted that Tony Stark first gave Osborn the job but they never give any real background on why. this also leads to the question that if Stark gave Osborn the first position of power, why would he hate him so much in the Most Wanted arc in Invincible Iron Man.

People get too caught up on the Secret Invasion ending not making sense. Personally, i think it fits in perfectly with what came before it. It's the storylines after Civil War that dont make sense to me

I read Secret Invasion three times and I STILL don't know what happened to the Wasp....

[Diabhol]

Originally Posted by Mikegraham6

What REALLY bothers me, is that they never explained how he rose to power to control the Thunderbolts. Why would they trust him with a team of psychos in the first place? it's hinted that Tony Stark first gave Osborn the job but they never give any real background on why.

Actually, it's hinted that Stark used Osborn as a puppet, possibly using nano-machines to force him to attempt to assassinate the Atlantean diplomats in order to scare the crap out of the public and drum up more (unnecessary) support for Registration. However, none of this is shown (though a shadowy figure does give him a serum that supposedly lets him off his "nanochain") or confirmed and it doesn't actually make any sense.

Regardless, Osborn is put in charge of the Thunderbolts by the U.S. government (for reasons that are *never* explained) and works for the Commission for Superhuman Activities. Stark, on the other hand, was put in charge of SHIELD, which is an international organization (though it's Director is apparently appointed by the U.S.) and lacks direct authority over the Thunderbolts (and presumably the other 50 State teams).

It's a huge mess that *should* have been properly strung together, but wasn't. However, it's still got a place on that very long list of great stories that just happens to have plot holes you could drive a truck through.