History ComicBook / SecretEmpire

* BrokenAesop:
** A story about the consequences of trusting in a single heroic man ends with... the heroes all trusting in a single heroic man to save the day.
** People having to deal with the damage they cause, which is why [[spoiler: Kobik leaves the world in ruin]], doesn't really work considering that the damage only ''existed in the first place'' because of the reactions to Hydra Cap.

* Ares returns from the dead in US Avengers #7, years after his last appearance. Even Squirrel Girl acknowledged this when she first saw him back.

The main series was a ten-issue mini-series that started with an issue 0 in April, then continued on bi-monthly until August. There were multiple tie-ins involving, at the very least, ComicBook/XMen, ComicBook/SpiderMan, ComicBook/TheAvengers, ComicBook/Champions|MarvelComics}}, ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy, ComicBook/TheInhumans and ComicBook/TheDefenders.

** Averted. After the numerous hero vs. hero fights since the original ''ComicBook/CivilWar'', ''Secret Empire'' will be a more straight forward superhero story.

** In the final [[spoiler:Good!Steve vs. Evil!Steve match, the latter sets off his armor's HandBlast ability directly into the former's shield, mimicking the famous image for ''ComicBook/CivilWar'', where Iron Man is in Evil!Steve's position.]]

-->'''Hank:''' '''''[[BerserkButton How dare you?!]]''''' ''I'' discovered Pym particles. ''I'' took artificial intelligence to the next level. ''I'' founded the ComicBook/AvengersAcademy! What have ''you'' ever done?! ''You'' were a ''lout'' and a ''cretin'' who made his fortune [[ArmsDealer selling weapons to]] ''[[ArmsDealer murderers]]''. Your arrogance started ''[[ComicBook/CivilWar two]]'' [[ComicBook/CivilWarII wars]] -- your [[ComicBook/SecretInvasion incompetence]] put ''ComicBook/NormanOsborn'' [[ComicBook/DarkReign in power]]! And you try to lecture ''me''?! Every day I had to hold this [[ComicBook/{{Ultron}} monster]] inside me at bay -- do you understand what he would ''do'' if I let him loose? He would [[KillAllHumans incinerate the flesh of every man, woman, and child on Earth]] and ''laugh'' about it! [[WhatYouAreInTheDark Every day I live with this, and I save the world a hundred times over!]] But I made ''one'' mistake -- '''one mistake'''! ''Years'' ago! And it's all any of you will ever remember me for -- all you ever say about me! You think I can't hear the whispers?! The way you ''look'' at me when I walk into the room?

* {{Retcon}}: A minor one, in accordance with ComicBookTime. When Sally Floyd originally interviewed Steve Rogers during ComicBook/CivilWar, she asked him what Website/MySpace was. This story briefly revisits that moment in a flashback, but probably because of how [=MySpace's=] popularity in the real world petered out, she asks about Website/{{Twitter}} instead.

-->'''Pymtron:''' Oh, of course, it will, Steve, of course... Just like Tony's grand plans for [[ComicBook/CivilWar superhuman registration]] made everything so much better. Or perhaps you mean like when Wanda here [[ComicBook/HouseOfM tried to fix everything]]? That got a bit messy as I recall... You always have such big ideas for solving all the world's problems. Funny then, how you just keep making everything worse.

The main series was a ten-issue mini-series that started with an issue 0 in April, then continued on bi-monthly until August. There were multiple tie-ins involving, at the very least, ComicBook/XMen, ComicBook/SpiderMan, ComicBook/{{The Avengers|MarkWaid}}, ComicBook/{{Champions|2016}}, ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy, ComicBook/TheInhumans and ComicBook/TheDefenders.

* AreYouPonderingWhatImPondering: [[Comicbook/TheUnbelievableGwenpool Gwenpool]] attends a news program that underwent a HYDRA HostileShowTakeover. The host asks "are you thinking what I'm thinking?", she goes "you know it"... and then she goes "[[Creator/HowardStern Baba booey!]]" for the camera as the host kicks the HYDRA soldiers keeping the two hostage.

* CoversAlwaysLie: The cover of Issue #1 features, ComicBook/SpiderMan, ComicBook/OldManLogan, ComicBook/{{Thor|2014}}, ComicBook/{{Storm}}, [[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Ms. Marvel]], [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Human Torch]], ComicBook/{{Medusa|MarvelComics}}, and ComicBook/RocketRaccoon despite that none of them actually show up.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler:Despite everything Steve's done to get to this point, he's initially not keen on the entire authoritarian push Zemo and the other villains want, preferring to settle people in slowly. This changes over the course of the event, as the constant deaths and continued pressure cause him to grow increasingly unstable.]]

[[folder:A–D]]

* EleventhHourRanger: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] pretty hilariously with Peter Parker. Due to having to deal with the Hydra-aligned Otto Octavious attempting a Hostile Takeover of Parker's Industries in his own series, Peter ends up the missing majority of the Event. He literally doesn't appear until the penultimate issue, asking what he's missed out on.

* ShiningGoodness: Invoked literally with Dagger of ComicBook/CloakAndDagger. She is the only source of light in a New York City overcome by the Darkforce Dimension and provides periods of artificial sunlight from atop the Empire State Building. As the series has gone on, she has been able to provide light to the city for less and less time.

* UnexplainedRecovery: InUniverse, Squirrel Girl is confused as to how Ares is still alive, seeing as the last time she heard about him was when the Sentry tore him in half during ''ComicBook/{{Siege}}''. This is because no one realized he was revived during ''ComicBook/ContestOfChampions''.

* ''Secret Empire: Omega'' [[labelnote:E]] This issue is part of the ''Aftermath'' epilogue. [[/labelnote]]

* ''ComicBook/{{The Avengers|MarkWaid}}'' #9-11 [[labelnote:E ]] Last issue is part of the ''Aftermath'' epilogue. [[/labelnote]]

* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmericaSteveRogers'' #16-19 [[labelnote:P]] First issue is part of the ''Opening Salvo'' prologue. [[/labelnote]]

* ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' #31-36 [[labelnote:E ]] Last issue is part of the ''Aftermath'' epilogue. [[/labelnote]]

* ''ComicBook/OccupyAvengers'' #8-9 %%[[labelnote:F]] Last issue is the GrandFinale of the Occupy Avengers series.[[/labelnote]] I'm leaving this commented since I can't find a source
* ''ComicBook/SecretWarriors'' #1-6 [[labelnote:E ]] Last issue is part of the ''Aftermath'' epilogue. [[/labelnote]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}'' #12 [[labelnote:P ]] This issue is part of the ''Opening Salvo'' prologue. [[/labelnote]]

* ''ComicBook/USAvengers'' #5-10 [[labelnote:P ]] First issue is part of the ''Opening Salvo'' prologue. [[/labelnote]][[labelnote:E]] Last issue is part of the ''Aftermath'' epilogue. [[/labelnote]]

* ActionBomb: [[spoiler:AI Tony]] performs a HeroicSacrifice after [[spoiler:the resistance hideout caves in on him and Steve, hoping to kill them both by igniting a bomb. Due to Madame Hydra's intervention, it doesn't work.]]

* TheAlcoholic: Played With. As he's a hologram, and thus unable to consume alcohol, [[spoiler:AI Tony]] has recalibrated his behavioral modifiers to express his emotional response to their current situation. The rest of the resistance even calls him "The Drunk."

** Faustus also does this for AIM but Roberto [=DaCosta=] is ready by having prepped his followers with mental defenses created by Professor X. Sadly, Roberto has failed to realize several AIM members (like long-time aide Larry) aren't brainwashed at all but truly believe in HYDRA and soon start attacking from within.

** The various books indicate that the events are lasting for widely disparate lengths of time. E.g., The ''ComicBook/XMenGold'' tie-ins take place during the first day that Manhattan is trapped in the Darkforce Dimension, except for the very last page, which is stated to take place 'a few days later' and shows Manhattan having been freed from the Darkforce Dome. However, the ''ComicBook/DoctorStrange'' tie-in opens with Doctor Strange saying that the Dome has been up for multiple weeks while he's worked to assemble ingredients for a spell. And the main series indicates that months have passed, as [=HDYRA=] has had time to construct factories and massive public works projects as well as internment camps.

** [[spoiler: Once Steve accidentally kills Natasha in issue 7, Miles beats him in the span of one page, starting off by shattering his shield in one blow, and culminating in him [[ExtremeMeleeRevenge punching him repeatedly in the face]] until his costume's knuckles tear and he is only kept from murdering Cap by [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice impaling him on a rocky spike]] through his own decision.]]

* EatenAlive: In Issue #0, Quasar is rather quickly and unceremoniously swallowed by a Chitauri Leviathan (dragon). All the characters believe she's dead, especially since the ''ComicBook/USAvengers'' tie-in reveals that the dragon exploded only moments later. [[spoiler: In Issue #3, it turns out she's not NotQuiteDead: Alpha Flight retrieved her severely injured, and she is still in a coma by Issue #7, only to come out of it just in time to destroy the Shield in Issue #8.]]

-->'''Riri''': Everyone who is active was either up in space with Carol or in...
-->'''Tony''': New York.

** [[spoiler: ''Secret Empire: Omega'' hints that Natasha did this, and is now back at work as an assassin.]]
* FantasticRacism: Hydra towards the Mutants and Inhumans. Bizarrely, this seems to outright take the place of their usual racism, despite that before Steve Rogers took over a significant portion of Hydra was explicitly white supremacists.

* HeelFaceDoorSlam: Deadpool gets this in a brutal fashion. [[spoiler: It's revealed in his tie-in issues that after having a last-minute change of heart, Wade was the person to leak the information to Maria Hill about Blackout controlling the dome surrounding New York. Maria Hill takes the information he gives her...only to trap him under a collapsed building for days so that he won't get out and help in the final battle. By the time he finally gets out, the battle is already over and no one knows about Wade's contribution [[ComicBook/SecretInvasion once again.]]]]

* HopeSpot: Issue 8 triple-downs this with Sam Wilson trying to get a Cosmic Cube shard airborne, Dr. Strange having to give up his Sanctum Santorrum for a special spell to break the Darkforce Dimension barrier and Rocket Raccoon giving up a Nullifier Bomb to try and break through the shield. [[spoiler:Sam is shot down, the spell doesn't work and the bomb doesn't affect the shield.]] Subverted when [[spoiler: Quasar obliterates it shortly after, Maria Hill dispels the Darkforce barrier by killing Blackout, and Sam survives thanks to the Cosmic Cube shard he's holding onto.]]

* IRejectYourReality: In the "Omega" special, [[spoiler: Hydra!Cap reveals he still believes the history of Kobik's invention was the "true" one and can't accept it was just a lie she created.]]

* IronicEcho:

* ItsAllMyFault: Issue #6 and Issue #7 have [[spoiler:AI!Tony]] and Carol Danvers respectively blame themselves for what's going on. [[spoiler:AI!Tony]] tells Steve that he screwed up because he wanted to be like Steve and make his mark on the world and all he does is keep screwing up. Carol tells the comatose Quasar almost the same exact thing - that she played right into Steve's hands because, like Tony, [[IJustWantToBeSpecial she wanted to be loved by everyone, too]].

* LaResistance: Led by Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Black Widow, and [[spoiler:an A.I. version of Tony Stark]].

** Amadeus Cho infiltrates... [[spoiler:the Hydra Youth Choir]].

* OnceDoneNeverForgotten: After Ultron-Hank ([[NotBrainwashed mostly Hank]]) delivers a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to the assembled heroes due to their recent obsession with LetsYouAndHimFight, [[spoiler:AI!Tony]] snidely brings up the time he hit Janet. Ultron-Hank snaps and delivers a vicious beatdown, all the while ranting that after all his other accomplishments, triumphs and attempts to redeem himself, it's not fair that he is constantly derided and dismissed for one mistake he made in his past while the other heroes constantly screw up in much more destructive fashions only to be EasilyForgiven.

* PoweredArmor: [[spoiler: At the end of issue #9, Steve comes out with a suit of armor powered by the nearly complete Cosmic Cube.]]

* TakeAThirdOption: T'Challa refuses to [[spoiler:give up his cosmic cube shard to either HYDRA or the resistance.]] When AI Tony tries to appeal to his conscience and points out that this might save Steve, T'Challa suggests the resistance hand over [[spoiler: their shards to him instead. This is not a bad idea, given what happens later.]]

* RedHerring: [[spoiler:Nearly all members of AI Tony's cosmic cube search team get spotlighted as the possible mole, until it turns out to be Scott Lang of all people.]]

** [[spoiler: In ''Captain America'' 25 it turns out that Bucky Barnes, who was thought dead by both HYDRA and [[ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated the resistance]] - and [[NeverFoundTheBody people who had never read a comic before]] - after Zemo seemingly blew him up in ComicBook/CaptainAmericaSteveRogers 16, is still very much alive and hiding with Namor.]]

** ''Omega'' ends with one of [[spoiler:the guards assigned to Hydra Cap]] whispering "Hail Hydra'' into [[spoiler: his]] ear as [[spoiler: Hydra Cap]] smiles.

* ShutUpHannibal: In issue #6 Hydra-Cap gives a long speech to [[spoiler: Bruce Banner]] why he should join Hydra and take revenge on people who betrayed him. He refuses [[spoiler: but Hulk agrees]] but his response to Steve was pretty good.
-->'''[[spoiler: Bruce Banner:]]''' Yeah....I'm gonna give that a hard pass. I feel like the guy who came out of the ice and found out the world just got dumber while he was frozen. You're damn right I'm angry about what they did to me. What they keep doing to me. And if I see them, yeah, there will be some words. But then again... [[ANaziByAnyOtherName You're Hydra.]] Maybe that became fashionable when I was out. But last I checked, you're the evil fascist totalitarian bad guys. And me? Well, sure, maybe it always ends with me getting fired and them trying to kill me... But I'm still an Avenger, dammit. And if that's a problem? Then you can just go ahead and put me back in whatever box you pulled me out of. Because honestly, it's been a very long time since I've slept that well.

* StatusQuoIsGod: The US was taken over by HYDRA for an undefined but significant period of time. It's generally expected that people will remember this approximately as often as they remember [[ComicBook/TheCrossing the time Kang brainwashed Iron Man]] or [[ComicBook/TheKangDynasty took over and nuked Washington DC]]. Las Vegas is still destroyed, but will apparently be rebuilt in record time judging by ''Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider'' - though all her citizens who were killed are still dead. While C-List characters who died appear to remain dead for now - as does the temporarily revived [[spoiler:Bruce Banner]] - [[spoiler:Black Widow]] is hinted to be alive within the pages of ''Secret Empire: Omega.'' And while the changed version of Steve Rogers remains in custody, a good, unaltered Steve Rogers is also back.
* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham:

* TenMinuteRetirement: Sam Wilson resumes his Falcon identity after getting fed up with the US and dumping the Captain America identity. Then, he returns to his Captain America identity near the end.

* TooDumbToLive: The civilians of the Marvel Universe are given this treatment in the end, as HYDRA!Steve notes that [[spoiler:technically speaking, [[ManipulativeBastard everything he did was legal]]... and part of the SHIELD Act had given him the power to pardon ''anyone'', himself included, so he had done so for [[KarmaHoudini all of his crimes from before the act had come into effect]]]].

** Possibly averted by the last major Secret Empire story involving Captain America from the 70's also involving a trusted authority figure being revealed as the leader of an evil organization. [[spoiler: With both villain reveals leading to a temporarily retired and disillusioned Captain America, both stories featuring attempts by villains to slander and demonize heroes, and both stories using Washington, D.C. as the setting for the climax.]]

** Is attempted on Steve by [[spoiler:AI Tony, Natasha, and Sharon]], but averted for various reasons.

-->'''Pymtron:''' Oh, of course, it will, Steve, of course...Just like Tony's grand plans for [[ComicBook/CivilWar superhuman registration]] made everything so much better. Or perhaps you mean like when Wanda here [[ComicBook/HouseOfM tried to fix everything]]? That got a bit messy as I recall.... You always have such big ideas for solving all the world's problems. Funny then, how you just keep making everything worse.
** When Spider-Man defends himself on how "Parker Industries is mine," Doctor Octopus scoffs that the only reason Peter even ''has'' a business is that Ock started it when he was in Peter's body.

** In issue 4, Ultron!Hank (primarily Hank) calls out all the heroes present on their constant infighting and ideological squabbles instead of, you know, actually doing hero stuff, wondering where it all went wrong. When AI!Tony retorts that their bonds started to erode the moment Hank hit Janet, a OnceDoneNeverForgotten, Hank furiously calls them, and especially Tony, out on how, even though he's saved countless lives and made numerous scientific breakthroughs, all the other heroes ever remember him for is that ''one'' mistake he made while in the middle of a mental breakdown.

* StatusQuoIsGod: The US was taken over by HYDRA for an undefined but significant period of time. It's generally expected that people will remember this approximately as often as they remember [[ComicBook/TheCrossing the time Kang brainwashed Iron Man]] or [[ComicBook/TheKangWar took over and nuked Washington DC]]. Las Vegas is still destroyed, but will apparently be rebuilt in record time judging by ''Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider'' - though all her citizens who were killed are still dead. While C-List characters who died appear to remain dead for now - as does the temporarily revived [[spoiler:Bruce Banner]] - [[spoiler:Black Widow]] is hinted to be alive within the pages of ''Secret Empire: Omega.'' And while the changed version of Steve Rogers remains in custody, a good, unaltered Steve Rogers is also back.

* ''[[ComicBook/SpiderMan The Amazing Spider Man]]'' #29-31
* ''[[ComicBook/Avengers2016 Avengers]]'' #9-11 [[labelnote:E ]] Last issue is part of the ''Aftermath'' epilogue. [[/labelnote]]

* ''[[ComicBook/Champions2016 Champions]]'' #10-11

* ''[[ComicBook/MsMarvel The Mighty Captain Marvel]]'' #5-8