The war is finally over. But could it really be that easy?
I rarely editorialise at the start of these, but I warn you now... SIEGE OF DARKNESS is bad. Unequivocally so. What was meant to be the beginning of a new ear for the Midnight Sons ended up being a 17-part death-knell. This is tough to get through.
- RISE OF THE MIDNIGHT SONS - Ghost Rider gathers the Nine
- MIDNIGHT MASSACRE - Blade turns against the Nine
- Nightstalkers #14 *
- Ghost Rider #44 *
- Marvel Comics Presents #143[1/4] *
- Marvel Comics Presents #143[2/4]
- Marvel Comics Presents #143[4/4]
- Darkhold #15 *
- Morbius, the Living Vampire #16 *
- Marvel Comics Presents #144[1/4] *
- Marvel Comics Presents #144[2/4] *
- Marvel Comics Presents #144[3/4]
- Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #18[1/2] (tie-in) *
- Marvel Comics Presents #143[3/4]
- Marvel Comics Presents #144[4/4] *
- Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #60 *
- Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #17 *
- Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #19[1/2] *
- Nightstalkers #15 *
- Ghost Rider #45 *
- Marvel Comics Presents #145[1/4] *
- Darkhold #16 *
- Marvel Comics Presents #145[2/4] *
- Marvel Comics Presents #145[4/4] *
- Marvel Comics Presents #145[3/4] *
- Morbius, the Living Vampire #17 *
- Marvel Comics Presents #146[4/4] *
- Marvel Comics Presents #146[2/4]
- Marvel Comics Presents #146[3/4] *
- Marvel Comics Presents #146[1/4] *
- Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #61 *
- Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #18 *
- Midnight Sons Unlimited #4 *
Nightstalkers #14 *
Ghost Rider and John Blaze summon the rest of the Nine to tell them Lilith and Zarathos are dead, but the argumentative Nightstalkers insist on seeing a body. Arriving at Cypress Hills Cemetery, they're besieged by mist that births previously unseen Lilin like Bad Timing. Ghost Rider, Blaze, Hannibal King, Vicki Montesi and Sam Buchanan seek out Lilith while Blade, Frank Drake, Louise Hastings, Jinx, Modred the Mystic and Morbius seek out the source of the mist. None are aware that Lilith is watching...
Ghost Rider #44 *
The mists spreads out beyond the cemetery and across the city where new Lilin being to attack innocents. Ghost Rider's team locate the fissure and find it open with Zarathos, Lilith and the Lilin ready to oppose them. Caretaker orders the team into his mausoleum and they discover just how far underground it goes. Returning to the surface in the city, they find Vengeance fighting the Lilin on the streets. Captain Arthur Dolan and Stacy Dolan of the NYPD are injured, but Doctor Strange arrives and encourages Ghost Rider to abandon them to ensure their safety.
Marvel Comics Presents #143[1/4] *
The Lilin Pilgrim messes with Doctor Strange's teleportation spell and Ghost Rider, Blaze and Vengeance find themselves in a warehouse where they face the Lilin Girth and Skitter. Girth is killed by the Ghost Rider. Lilin and Zarathos emerge and reveal that there's a traitor among the Nine, just as Doctor Strange teleports the three Spirits of Vengeance out of the warehouse to to Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum.
Marvel Comics Presents #143[2/4]
Jack Russell arrives in Morristown, New Jersey, and discovers Lilin disguised as trick or treaters terrorising the town. Jack transforms into the Werewolf By Night and gives chase...
Marvel Comics Presents #143[4/4]
The Devil-Slayer (Eric Payne) has resorted to living in a hovel and hitting the bottle. He has to don his Shadow Cloak when a tidal wave of Lilin burst out of his fridge. Despite trapping them back inside, his landlord bursts in and threatens to force him out of the apartment before reaching for the fridge himself...
Darkhold #15 *
Morbius' team have made their way to a lilin-infested Brooklyn Bridge. Narrowly escape, Morbius helps them find refuge in what turns out to be his old lab (destroyed during RISE OF THE MIDNIGHT SONS). After a little training from Modred, Jinx discover Louise Hastings has been murdered and interprets her final words to mean Modred was her killer, immediately attacking him. Lilith and Zarathos arrive and bring the group down, with the real traitor revealed as Morbius. Back at Doctor Strange's Sanctum, Vicki is repeatedly sick...
Morbius' body is now fully under the influence of the Lilin Bloodthirst while the vampire Martine Mancroft (controlled by the Lilin Parasite) keeps him on Lilith's path. He rejoins Ghost Rider's team at the Sanctum Sanctorum with Martine, Lilith and Zarathos in tow. In the ensuing battle, Doctor Strange helps Morbius suppress Bloodthirst and regain control of his body. Strange comes under psychic assault, leaving Morbius to convince the Midnight Sons that he's an ally or pretend to still be loyal to Lilith...
Marvel Comics Presents #144[1/4] *
Morbius breaks away from the relentless assault by the Midnight Sons. Martine Bancroft confronts him, rightly accusing him of regaining control. He defeats her but decides against feeding on her in favour of freeing her from Parasite's control, later.
Marvel Comics Presents #144[2/4] *
Morbius tries to convince Blade of his innocence, but it's Ghost Rider who starts thinking he may be an ally again. Modred and Jinx try and fail to cast Zarathos and Lilith out of the Sanctum Sanctorum and teleport to safety instead...
As the Werewolf, Jack Russell tears the Lilin trick or treaters apart on the stage of a school play and demands the small town residents open their eyes to the world around them before departing.
Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #18[1/2] (tie-in)
They failed to take down Venom (during LETHAL PROTECTOR) and the rogue Human Torch (during RISE OF DOOM!) and it's left their reputation in tatters. Now, Silver Sable orders the Wild Pack to apprehend Venom or be replaced. Arriving in San Francisco, the Wild Pack successfully take Venom down but the mist overpowers them all...
Marvel Comics Presents #143[3/4]
The mist spreads to the Avengers West Coast compound in California, where the Lilin Pixel draws the Scarlet Witch into his cyber realm. But they soon find themselves facing something more powerful than both of them...
Marvel Comics Presents #144[4/4]
Ars Magna was created by alchemist Ramon Lull in the 17th century to divine the mind of God. Ars Magna absorbs Pixel in the quest for knowledge, but the Scarlet Witch manages to escape.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #60 *
Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum comes under attack from the speedster Lilin Scatter and the succubus Sister Nil. Strange's efforts to repel the Lilin show him glimpses of the future. Wong and his fiancée Imei Chang chose to stand by Strange when he makes a last ditch attempt to magically defend his home, but Imei is killed by Sister Nil and the Sanctum Sanctorum explodes leaving the Midnight Sons standing in rubble, surrounded by Lilin...
The Midnight Sons cut their battle with the Lilith short and escape to the Blood's bar. Tiring of the Caretaker's quip's, taunts and enigmatic references, the Midnights Sons ignore his advice and leave to take Zarathos on directly. He soon rejoins them at Cypress Hills Cemetery where he helps Ghost Rider, Blaze and Vengeance use the power of the Medallion of Power to send Lilith and the Lilin (except Blackout) back into the fissure. But Zarathos remains and he's joined by the Fallen - former members of the Blood who are loyal to him - who take Caretaker hostage...
Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #19[1/2]
The Midnight Sons return to their in-fighting as Doctor Strange struggles to draw their focus to the threat of the Fallen. The Nightstalkers decide to head underground and rescue the Caretaker themselves, only to fail dismally and leave Frank Drake behind in the catacombs beneath the cemetery. Hannibal King decides to return to the Midnight Sons while Blade goes back for Drake...
Ghost Rider #45 *
Ghost RIder checks in on Stacy Dolan who can't understand why she's so drawn to him. Hannibal King arrives at the Blood's bar where he delivers Caretaker's psychic message to locate the lost members of the Blood to oppose the Fallen. Ghost Rider, Vengeance and Seer use the bar's teleportation doors to travel to Scotland and find Patriarch of the Blood only for him to decide to ally himself with Zarathos...
Caretaker sends the undead Speakeasy towards the members of the Blood they need to track down and ally with. Elsewhere, Zarathos almost tortures Caretaker to death...
Darkhold #16 *
The Darkhold Redeemers (Modred, Jinx, Sam Buchanan and VickI Montesi) travel through one of the clubs doors to the Central American jungle where they find the Blood Truthsayer who's become the target of the Fallen shapeshifter, Metarchus. Truthsayer unleashes a wave of truth before she's killed by Metarchus. Modred discovers the Malachy Prophecy has come true and Chthon is on the Earthly plane.
Marvel Comics Presents #145[2/4] *
Frank Drake regains consciousness in the catacombs beneath Cypress Hills Cemetery, where beings called the Dust emerge from the walls now that they're free of the Caretaker's imprisonment. Blade arrives in time to stop the Dust from consuming him, but the duo are surrounded...
Marvel Comics Presents #145[4/4] *
Sam Buchanan stops Vicki Montesi from committing suicide when she learns that she is pregnant with Chthon. Her father, Vittorio Montesi, used a page of the Darkhold to counter his sterility and sire a daughter to carry on his cause, only for her to turn out to be Chthon's daughter. And eventual mother. Sam and Vicki are attacked by demons, but Doctor Strange comes to their aid...
Morbius tries to save a dying Lilin child while Hannibal King demands that it be killed. When the child dies, King realises how simplistic his viewpoint has become and is assured that Morbius is to be trusted...
Morbius, the Living Vampire #17 *
Marvel Comics Presents #146[4/4] *
Blade and Frank Drake inadvertently summon the Saints who mystically oppose the Dust, saving themselves in the process. They return to the surface where they're reunited with Hannibal King...
Marvel Comics Presents #146[2/4]
Devil-Slayer arrives at the ruins of the Sanctum Sanctorum where's he's teleported to a bar in another dimension. There, the Lilith try to coerce Devil-Slayer into returning them to the Earthly plane but, after a fierce battle with Meatmarket, he teleports back to Earth alone.
Marvel Comics Presents #146[3/4] *
Nightmare tries to warn Doctor Strange of the arrival of the Fallen Salomé on the Earthly plane. Having broken free of her connection to Zarathos and amplified her own magical powers, Salomé is potentially more of a threat than Zarathos himself...
Marvel Comics Presents #146[1/4] *
Metarchus fails in her attempt to infiltrate the Midnight Sons by disguising herself as an 'escaped' Caretaker. Metarchus escapes he bar, inspiring the Midnight Sons to tackle Zararthos head-on...
The emotion vampire Salomé bursts forth from the rift in Cypress Hills Cemetery. She decides not to rejoin her fellow Fallen and opts instead to reclaim her mantle of Sorcerer Supreme which she lost when the Fallen were originally banished hundreds of years ago. Doctor Strange has struggled to maintain his hold on the title (since losing access to much of his magical power during WAR OF THE SEVEN SPHERES) and comes under attack from Salomé when he and the Midnight Sons return to the ruins of his Sanctum Sanctorum. Doctor Strange puts Vicki Montesi into stasis and disappears into a magical rift, taking most of his mystical artefacts with him. A new being emerges from the rubble and relentless assaults Salomé, forcing her to retreat. The being doesn't speak, ignoring questions about his connection to Doctor Strange. He joins the Midnight Sons as they head to Zarathos for the final confrontation...
Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #18 *
The Midnight Sons and their new ally, Strange, deal with a magical attack from Zarathos on the surface of the Cypress Hills Cemetery while Ghost Rider, Blaze and Vengeance head underground via the Caretaker's mausoleum, followed by Stacy Dolan. They free Caretaker, but Zarathos teleports himself and Ghost Rider to Glastonbury Tor, followed again by Stacy who watches as Zarathos gains the upper hand in his clash with Ghost Rider. The skewered Ghost Rider unleashes his essence at Zarathos, only for him to absorb it. Stacy witnesses his transformation back to Danny Ketch (finally learning of their connection) before he's reduced to a smouldering skeleton. Zarathos turns to see the rest of the Midnight Sons ready to fight...
Despite initially having the upper hand, Zarathos and the Fallen leave the fight in favour of enacting their plan to create misery across the Earth so the negative emotions will empower them. Raydar helps the Midnight Sons locate the last lost member of the Blood, Foundry, who ultimately sacrifices herself to mystically charge the sword Justiciar. The Fallen have the Midnight Sons on the ropes until Blade uses Justiciar to wipe them out, reducing Zarathos' power.
Embyrre and Raydar allow themselves to be killed to damage Zarathos' power base further, enabling the Midnight Sons (each carrying the mystical mark of the Order of the Midnight Sons) to strike. Ghost Rider's essence starts tearing at Zarathos from within and Blade delivers the final blow with Justiciar. The sword remains embedded in the stone statue that was once Zarathos, while the Ghost Rider's vacant clothing lands on the ground beside it.
Later, at the mausoleum, Caretaker encourages Frank Drake to take a step back and return to his family, naming Blade, Blaze, Hannibal King, Morbius and Vengeance as the new Midnight Sons. When they receive the call to come together again, they must answer or feel pain. They go their separate ways, unaware that Lilith is just outside, whispering to the statue of Zarathos that she's pregnant with his child...
MCG Note: The entries in blue and black are the stories that are directly impacted by the major events of 'Siege of Darkness'. The issues in grey are stories impacted by the sub-plots, tie-ins and moments that aren't key to the main event.
Ghost Rider #46 (1994)
Rak steals Ghost Rider's skull; Vengeance retrieves the skull and becomes the new Spirit of Vengeance; Stacy Dolan and Francis Ketch struggle to deal with Danny Ketch's death.
Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #19 (1994)
Vengeance and John Blaze become occasional allies.
Marvel Comics Presents #148 (1994)
Sam Buchanan's next assignment is the impossible task of apprehending Vengeance.
Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #20-21 (1994)
The Foreigner frames Silver Sable's boyfriend Jacques Girard; Lightbright joins Silver Sable's Intruders.
Nightstalkers #16-18 (1994)
Hannibal King and Frank Drake die during a mission to stop Varnae and the Dracula clone Bloodstorm One.
Spectacular Spider-Man #207-208 (1994)
A gunrunner finds the Mask of Cyttorak in the ruins of Doctor Strange's mansion and becomes possessed by it until it feeds off his soul.Midnight Sons Unlimited #5 (1994)
Modred the Mystic takes on Wildpride (Kyllian Boddicker) as his new disciple.
Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #23 (1994)
Silver Sable's agents track down embezzler Jonathan Lee.
Secret Defenders #15 (1994)
Doctor Strange relinquishes leadership of the Secret Defenders to Doctor Druid.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #62-63 (1994)
A seemingly powerless doppelganger of Doctor Strange emerges, calling himself Dr Vincent Stevens; Strange clashes with Nathaniel Richards in his search for magical items; the Midnight Sons locate the real Doctor Strange who is in hiding while recovering from his battle with Salomé; Sister Nil is revealed to be among the Lilin who remained on Earth and stays in Doctor Strange's 'care' during STRANGERS AMONG US.
Morbius: The Living Vampire #20 (1994)
Martiner Bancroft tries to regain her lost emotions, but proves she has retained a killer instinct; Morbius filters out the Lilin blood which takes the humanoid form of Bloodthirst; Morbius kills Bloodthirst.
Blade #1 (1994)
With his friends dead, Blade continues to fight supernatural foes alone.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #64-66 (1994)
Salomé does what Doctor Strange refuses to do and resurrects Imei Chang for Wong; Wong seeks revenge against Doctor Strange for refusing to help him; Strange continues to lay claim to mystical items, coming into conflict with Doctor Strange's former ally Namor the Sub-Mariner during STRANGERS AMONG US.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme Annual #4 (1994)
Doctor Strange clashes with Salomé again; Dr Vincent Stevens and Strange are revealed to be constructs created from Doctor Strange's soul - Stevens to build up finances and investigate new forms of magic and Strange to locate magical items on Doctor Strange's behalf during STRANGERS AMONG US.
Ghost Rider #49-50 (1994)
Ghost Rider returns and Danny Ketch is revealed to have returned along with him; Johnny Blaze's wife, Roxanne Blaze, is killed by Hellgate.
Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #23 (1994)
Despite Ghost Rider's return, John Blaze decides to ride solo in dearch of his missing kids.
Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #30-33 (1994-1995)
The Foreigner makes his final move against Silver Sable, blocking her activities in the US; Sable manages to counter the Foreigner's plans partly by announcing she will no longer be taking an active part in missions.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #75 (1995)
Dr Vincent Stevens becomes a part of Doctor Strange again; Strange refuses to rejoin Strange but helps him defeat Salomé; Strange instead merges with Nobel the Progenitor (a dying member of Clea's band of rebels), takes the name Paradox and joins the war against Dormammu in the Dark Dimension.
Marvel Comics Presents #173-175 (1995)
Despite finally helping capture Vengeance, Sam Buchanan turns against his employers when he realises their goals are far from pure.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #77-78 (1995)
Doctor Strange stops Modred the Mystic from trying to wake Vicki Montesi from stasis to summon Chthon.
Ghost Rider #62 (1995)
Skinner is revealed to be one of the Lilin who remained on Earth.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #80 (1995)
Doctor Strange regains his full magical powers and title 'Sorcerer Supreme' after taking part in the War of the Seven Spheres.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #81 (1995)
Doctor Strange restores his Sanctum Sanctorum during OVER THE EDGE.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #88-89 (1996)
Doctor Strange destroys the demon Xaos who has been posing as Imei Chang since Salomé 'resurrected' her; Doctor Strange shows Wong Imei's true spirit, content in the afterlife; agents of Chthon wake Vicki Montesi from stasis so she can give birth to their master.
Over the Edge #2 (1995)
Devil-Slayer finally catches up with Doctor Strange, turning to him when Silver Dagger stabs Devil-Slayer with a magic blade; Devil-Slayer is taken to hospital.
Ghost Riders: Crossroads #1 (1995)
Blackheart briefly bonds Johnny Blaze to the Zarathos again.
Ghost Rider #75-76 (1996)
Vengeance loses self-control and sacrifices himself to end the threat of Hellgate.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #90 (1996)
Doctor Strange prevents the birth of Chthon through Victoria Montesi, using her purity against Chthon.
Ghost Rider #1-6 (2001-2002)
Johnny Blaze is revealed to have been bonded with Zarathos again, regaining the role of the Ghost Rider.
Witches #1 (2004)
While we don't see the offspring of Lilith and Zarathos, she manages to birth more Lilin in an attempt to interfere with Doctor Strange, Jennifer Kale, Topaz and Satana's efforts to thwart Hellphyr.
Avengers: the Initiative #14 (2008)
Devil-Slayer is revealed to have gotten his act together enough to be accepted into the Fifty-State Initiative team the Point Men during SECRET INVASION.
Ghost Rider #26-28 (2008)
Caretaker dies and his daughter, Sara, becomes the new Caretaker; it's revealed that the origin of the Spirits of Vengeance that the original Caretaker revealed was a lie; the Spirits of Vengeance are revealed to be black ops angels in the service of Heaven.
Amazing Spider-Man #622 (2010)
Martin Bancroft is revealed to has become a true vampire in order to be with Morbius, hoping to turn him into a true vampire, too; Morbius pushes Martine onto a stake, killing her during THE GAUNTLET.
Shadowland: Blood on the Streets #3 (2010)
Anastasia Sablinova is revealed to have become a valued member of Silver Sable's team during SHADOWLAND.
New Avengers Annual #1 (2011)
Devil-Slayer's loses his sanity once again due to his exposure to so many realities; he joins Wonder Man's Revengers who aim to make the Avengers accountable for their actions during REVENGERS.
Darkhold: Pages From The Book of Sins - The Complete Collection
Includes...
Darkhold #15-16
Marvel Comics Presents #145
Avengers: The Death of Mockingbird
Scarlet Witch by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Include...
Marvel Comics Presents #143-144
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