Line #44 ComicBook/DevilsReign


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/8279776_dr1.jpeg]]
2	%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
3
4	''Devil's Reign'' is a ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'' CrisisCrossover created by Creator/MarvelComics in 2021. It is the continuation of ''ComicBook/Daredevil2019'' run.
5
6	[[ComicBook/TheKingpin Mayor Wilson Fisk]] is angry. With Matt Murdock released from jail, his problems keep rising. Even more so, he's realized that he knew who Daredevil was, but can't remember him. In anger and with his reelection coming up, he's unleashed his latest scheme - an all-out ban on superheroes in New York. Can our heroes find a way to stop the Kingpin and this mad law? Or is this just the start for the former thug?
7
8	Unlike most events, the story is self-contained, left within several tie-in mini-series and one-shots with very minimal actual titles involved.
9	[[folder: Titles Involved]]
10	* ''Devil's Reign'' #1-6
11	* ''Devil's Reign: Superior Four'' #1-3
12	* ''Devil's Reign: Villains for Hire'' #1-3
13	* ''Devil's Reign: ComicBook/WinterSoldier'' #1
14	* ''Devil's Reign: ComicBook/XMen'' #1-3
15	* ''Devil's Reign: ComicBook/MoonKnight'' #1
16	* ''Devil's Reign: [[ComicBook/SpiderManBeyond Spider-Man]]'' #1
17	* ''Daredevil: Woman Without Fear'' #1-3
18	* ''[[ComicBook/SpiderWoman2020 Spider-Woman]]'' #18-19
19	* ''ComicBook/{{Moon Knight\|2021}}'' #8
20	[[/folder]]
21
22	In the aftermath of the story, a new ''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}'' mini-series will launch, along with [[ComicBook/Daredevil2022 a new volume]] of ''Daredevil''.
23	----
24	!!''Devil's Reign'' provides examples of:
25	* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Doctor Octopus, with the aid of Homeland Security and the NYPD, obtain the Baxter Building and arrest Reed and Susan Richards.
26	** Averted with Tony Stark's New York residence. They certainly tried, but Tony's security countermeasures kicked in and locked out all access to his armory.
27	* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: In his quest to loot the multiverse with Reed's resources, Doc Ock runs afoul of a heroic version of him that also became Sorcerer Supreme. This variant effortlessly deactivates Doc's arms and imprisons him as too dangerous to run loose.
28	* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:Veranke, the Skrull Queen during ''ComicBook/{{Secret Invasion\|2008}}'', is revealed to be alive and well in ''[[ComicBook/SpiderWoman2020 Spider-Woman]]''.]]
29	* BatmanGambit: ''Devil's Reign: Moon Knight'' reveals [[spoiler: Marc Spector allowed himself to be captured by Fisk's goons early in the main mini-series. He needed to gain access to the prison, as he was on Midnight Mission business with Man-Mountain Marko's ex-wife. Getting taken into custody was the best and fastest way to get inside.]]
30	* BattleTrophy: The tie-in issues of ''Spider-Woman'' reveal that [[spoiler:Norman Osborn claimed the Skrull Queen Veranke's body as one following his kill shot in ''Secret Invasion''. Fisk acquired it some time following ''Dark Reign'' (presumably in the aftermath of ''Siege'' and the downfall of H.A.M.M.E.R. when its assets were being seized or went 'missing').]]
31	* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: [[spoiler:The Purple Children in issue #3 when they have an opportunity to use their abilities on May Parker to make her help them. They ultimately decide against it because May genuinely asked if they needed help and they feel guilty about taking advantage of such sincerity and kindness.]]
32	* BigBad: Mayor Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. the Kingpin, has decided that he's fed up with New York's superheroes and decided to use his power as the mayor of New York ''and'' as a crime lord to rectify that.
33	* BigBadDuumvirate: While Wilson Fisk's campaign to get re-elected and anti-vigilante crusade drives the plot, most of his actions are only made possible by the scientific assistance of Doctor Octopus, over whom Fisk has hardly any real control. Otto is using Fisk for his own ends and by part 4 proves to be just as much in charge of the situation as Fisk is.
34	* BittersweetEnding:
35	** ''Devil's Reign: X-Men''. [[spoiler: Emma is cleared of the murder charges, Isabelle is still alive, and her onetime youthful charge now has a place on Krakoa. But Fisk still achieves a victory, as the financial malfeasance Emma committed for him has been exposed and restitution will not insignificantly damage her finances. There are also now warrants out for her arrest in countries that are not part of Krakoa's diplomatic agreements (such as the UK), limiting Emma's ability to travel and conduct official Mutant business.]]
36	** ''Devil's Reign''. [[spoiler: The Purple Man's mad rampage is shut down thanks to the last remaining powered Purple Child. Wilson Fisk is arrested and stripped of his power as mayor, but is rescued by Butch and the two proceed to frighten the Stromwyns into backing off, killing Quinn in the process. With everyone believing Matt dead, the real Matt decides to join Elektra in taking on the Hand. Fisk, meanwhile, has Butch tell everyone he is dead while he sails off with Mary for parts unknown. As for the mayorship, it seems that Luke Cage is running unopposed, setting him up to become the new mayor of New York.]]
37	*** The ''Omega'' issues adds to the bittershipness: [[spoiler:Yes, Cage won the mayorship, but the damage Fisk did is still there and vigilantes are still outlawed. Now he has to use that power to regain the trust of New Yorkers.]]
38	* BodyHorror: The Doctor Octopus variant that bodyjacked the Hulk is covered in growths and his arms take the form of four retractable extras that grow out of what look like tumors.
39	* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Fisk's plan to win the election: [[spoiler:use Killgrave to hypnotize the citizens to vote for him.]]
40	* BroughtDownToNormal: [[spoiler:Most of the Purple Children have their powers stripped and given to Killgrave himself.]]
41	* BullyingADragon: Matt taunting Fisk after the latter confronts him over his lost memories of Hornhead's secret identity.
42	* TheBusCameBack: In issue #3, [[spoiler:the Purple Children return to the pages of ''Daredevil'' for the first time since the ''Purple'' storyline during Charles Soule's run in 2017.]]
43	* CallBack:
44	** In justifying his superhero ban, Fisk lists how Spider-Man had a symbiote long before the events of ''ComicBook/KingInBlack'' and how Thor was connected to the ''ComicBook/WarOfTheRealms''. He also mentions, but not by name, [[ComicBook/{{Outlawed}} Kamala's Law]].
45	** Tony Stark's response to the Powers Act is to argue that Fisk's just retreading old legal ground that the United States has [[ComicBook/CivilWar2006 been down before]] and settled (and in Fisk's case, that it's just an election year stunt).
46	** Doctor Octopus notes Fisk’s plan to win the election is similar to a rumor of Dr. Doom the same thing to rule the world, referencing the popular graphic novel ''Avengers: Emperor Doom''.
47	** In ''Dark Reign: X-Men'', the opening flashbacks show a Hellfire Club-era Emma Frost on Fisk's payroll. This is a callback to post-''Hellfire Gala'' revelations within the pages of Duggan's ''Marauders'' several months before the event.
48	* ContinuityOverlap:
49	** ''Devil's Reign'' runs parallel to ''ComicBook/SpiderManBeyond''. As a result, the Spider-Man appearing within the event and tie-ins is Ben Reilly (as Peter Parker is still hospitalized). Miles Morales is also now wearing his redesigned costume [[ComicBook/MilesMoralesSpiderMan2018 which debuted]] on the cusp of ''Spider-Man Beyond''. Otto Octavius has also just returned to New York (continuing on from the climax of Nick Spencer's preceding ''Spider-Man'' run).
50	** ''Devil's Reign: Spider-Man'', while also running parallel with ''Spider-Man Beyond'', also ties into the tail-end of ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderMan2018''. More specifically, it's following up on the resurrection of [[spoiler:Richard Fisk a.k.a. the Rose]] at the end of ''ComicBook/KingsRansom''. [[spoiler:The Chameleon is also now on the loose following the events of ''ComicBook/TheChameleonConspiracy'', allowing Otto to hire him to secretly impersonate Tony Stark.]]
51	** Agony is shown as a member of Wilson Fisk's Thunderbolts, tying into ''ComicBook/ExtremeCarnage'' and overlapping with ''ComicBook/Venom2021''.
52	** As per the recent events of the ''Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon'' mini-series, [[spoiler:Danny Rand is no longer the Iron Fist and is de-powered -- not that it stops him from bringing the pain in ''Devil's Reign'' #2.]]
53	* ContentLeak: ''Devil's Reign'' #5 and ''Woman Without Fear'' #3 were both intended to come out the same week. Unfortunately, the former was delayed a week and thus the conclusion of ''Woman'' spoiled [[spoiler:Fisk kills Matt]]. However, given that ''Devil's Reign'' #5 reveals [[spoiler:Fisk had actually killed Matt's 'twin' Mike]], it's ''possible'' this delay was actually intentional to provide misdirection.
54	* CrisisCrossover: Marvel's late 2021/early 2022 event.
55	* CrazyPrepared: Issue #4 reveals that Fisk's forces are keeping the captured heroes under control using tech designed for the original Registration Act... [[spoiler:which allows Reed Richards to disable the equipment as he deliberately created failsafes in the event such technology might be used against his family]].
56	* ADayInTheLimelight: Played with. This is not the first Daredevil-centric event Marvel's done (as that honor goes to 2010s ''Shadowland''). That said, the scale and scope of ''Devil's Reign'' dwarf its predecessor. ''Shadowland'' was more of a street-level event affecting the grounded heroes like Luke Cage, Moon Knight, etc. ''Devil's Reign'', by contrast, affects ''all'' New York-based heroes, including the ''big'' guns like Reed Richards, Tony Stark, and Steve Rogers.
57	** Upgrading ''Devil's Reign'' from a storyline with the pages of ''Daredevil'' to a Crisis Crossover's also completely justified. While the 'Mayor Fisk' storyline affected multiple titles from ''Marvel Legacy'' onward (Nick Spencer's ''Spider-Man'' especially), the core narrative still ultimately began in the pages of Charles Soule's preceding ''Daredevil'' run and played out in Hornhead's title. Plus, Matt ''is'' Fisk's arch-enemy, so any attempt to take Kingpin down means Daredevil of all people will most certainly be leading the charge.
58	* DidntThinkThisThrough:
59	** [[spoiler:Otto Octavius in the penultimate issue. He was so focused on creating anti-Killgrave safeguards for himself that he didn't think to do the same for the rest of the Superior Four. Fisk lampshades this as he takes advantage of the unintended loophole.]]
60	** In ''Omega'', [[spoiler:Luke Cage finds out that, just because he's Mayor, that doesn't mean the law Fisk put into place outlawing vigilantism is null.]]
61	* DiplomaticImpunity: The X-Men Treehouse in NYC is afforded some degree of diplomatic protection due to Krakoa's UN status. Naturally, Fisk doesn't care.
62	* DisproportionateRetribution: Fisk declares all-out war on NYC's superheroes because Daredevil (or rather the Purple Children) took his memories of Matt's secret identity and taunted Wilson about it. However, it's also subverted in that it was clear this was coming sooner or later (and is, if anything, a much larger, more legally airtight extension of the similar anti-superhero operation he'd already tried back in Charles Soule's ''Daredevil'' run). Matt was just the ''casus belli''.
63	* DramaticIrony:
64	** [[spoiler:In issue #2, Fisk correctly deduces from the evidence that Spider-Man is very likely a ''Daily Bugle'' employee. So he has Taskmaster and his goons set a trap at the publisher. His deduction is correct and the trap works... except Peter's out of commission due to ''Spider-Man Beyond'' and they've cornered the wrong Spider-Man (Ben Reilly) and don't know it.]]
65	** [[spoiler:Fisk murdering Mike Murdock in the penultimate issue, thinking he's revenging himself upon Matt and not realizing he's actually killing the wrong Murdock.]]
66	*** [[spoiler:Mike also ironically ''is'' guilty of Fisk's accusations of 'Matt' violating and altering his memories. Mike used the Norn Stones back during the Annual to retroactively insert himself into Matt and company's lives and thus altered all their memories and histories.]]
67	* EnemyMine: Otto working for Fisk. Reed lampshades that Otto's allowing himself to become a follower rather than marching to his own tune as per the norm. Otto counters that he's willing to work for Fisk this time given the potential gains of this enterprise, [[spoiler:such as access to Reed's inter-dimensional technology specifically.]]
68	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Rhino runs to the Champions and tells them of Fisk's plot to capture the Purple Children, stating that kidnapping innocent children is not something he is willing to do.
69	* EvilKnockoff: Doctor Octopus’ [[Characters/NewFantasticFour Superior Four]] multi-armed versions of the All-New Fantastic Four from alternate realities where he stole their bodies instead of Spider-Man's with Doc Ock, with him taking the place of Spider-Man.
70	* EvilIsNotAToy: [[spoiler: In ''Devil's Reign'' #6, and after screwing with Fisk for most of Zdardsky's run, the Stromwyns ''finally'' learn too late that pissing off the Kingpin was ''not'' a smart idea.]]
71	* EurekaMoment: [[spoiler:Fisk gets one at the end of issue #4 after Mary Walker laments her missing memories of their early interactions. Fisk accidentally is able to restore them with the Purple Man's power...and realizes that he can theoretically use them on himself to cut through the Purple Children's mind-block and make him remember Daredevil's identity. It works.]]
72	* FakingTheDead: [[spoiler:Both Matt and Fisk do this at the end of the story, with Matt using Fisk's murder of Mike, and Fisk telling Butch to claim a KlingonPromotion.]]
73	* FightFireWithFire: Tony Stark's plan to battle Fisk? Run for Mayor himself. Luke Cage hijacks the plan, noting that people would trust him more than another white rich man, something that cheeses Tony off.
74	** Ironically, the following issue reveals [[spoiler:Tony was ticked off not because of his bruised ego, but because Tony was actually the Chameleon in disguise. 'Mayor Stark' was part of a larger play by Otto Octavius for undermining Fisk. 'Tony' was pissed because Luke unwittingly just ruined that plan.]]
75	* GodzillaThreshold: [[spoiler:When Jessica Jones realizes that Kilgrave is influencing minds, Daredevil decides the best thing to do is to pull a coup on Fisk.]]
76	* GreatEscape: Issue #4 has Sue and Reed pull off a jailbreak, freeing other heroes in the process.
77	* FaceHeelTurn: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] with U.S. Agent, who's leading Fisk's Thunderbolts. He's actually [[TheMole infiltrating Fisk's regime on the behalf of the FBI]], but unfortunately for him Fisk has the Purple Man and is able to mind control him.
78	* TheHeroDies: ''Daredevil: Woman Without Fear'' #3 reveals that [[spoiler:Fisk has apparently killed Matt Murdock]]. However, it's then cleverly subverted when [[spoiler:''Devil's Reign'' #5 reveals Fisk actually killed ''Mike'' Murdock. Because Mike's been posing as Matt for much of Zdarsky's run, Fisk, Elektra, and everyone think he actually killed Matt.]]
79	* HistoryRepeats: This story recycles ''A LOT'' of plot points from previous Marvel CrisisCrossover events, to the point where characters InUniverse lampshade the fact that Mayor Fisk's plot to enact and enforce a piece of dubious legislation that outlaws superheroes is nothing more than a retread of similar ploys they've already dealt with in the past.
80	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Mike Murdock's death in ''Devil's Reign'' #5. As Matt's twin brother-made-real, he's been posing as Matt since Daredevil's trial and while he was in prison. This means when Fisk's memories of Daredevil's identity are restored, he thinks Mike ''is'' Matt and it gets him beaten to death.]]
81	* {{Hypocrite}}: When Fisk [[spoiler:regains his memories of Daredevil's identity, he rants about how ''Matt'' is the "villain" for violating minds, even though Fisk has been doing that for the population of New York with the Purple Man's powers for weeks at least]].
82	* TheInsomniac: The Winter Soldier has been awake for three weeks when his one-shot begins, beating his former unintentional record of one week.
83	* {{Irony}}: Given the similarities between the Powers Act and the [[ComicBook/CivilWar2006 Superhuman Registration Act]], the pro-Registration heroes (like Reed Richards and Tony Stark) now find themselves on the receiving end of the exact same kind of crackdown they once put their colleagues through.
84	* InternalDeconstruction: Fisk's is righteously angry when he learns the Purple Children blocked out Matt's secret identity. He's on the warpath partially because he hates something being taken from him, partially because he finds it hypocritical of Matt to manipulate the minds of everyone for his own ends while claiming to be so righteous himself.
85	* InternalReveal: Fisk and most of the heroes who didn't already know finally learn of the Purple Children's mindwipe of Matt Murdock's identity during Charles Soule's ''Daredevil'' run.
86	* ItsAllMyFault: Daredevil tells some of the heroes that he believes the ban is his fault, that had Killgrave's children not erased the memory of his identity from the world, Fisk wouldn't have activated the ban. Captain America tells him he would have no matter what.
87	* ItAmusedMe: The Stromwyns are revealed to have secretly helped Fisk get elected mayor because they were bored and thought it might be fun to turn the Kingpin of Crime into the Mayor of New York City.
88	* JerkassHasAPoint: While Fisk's actions haven't met with total approval, clips of civilians reacting to the news have featured some observing that he has a point about how the existence of the heroes has drawn in some of their villains.
89	* KilledOffForReal:
90	** [[spoiler:Mike Murdock in ''Devil's Reign'' #5, concluding a plotline going back to the Soule era.]]
91	* KlingonPromotion: [[spoiler:Faked. Fisk tells Butch at the end of the arc to tell others that Butch killed him and thereby took the mantle of Kingpin, claiming it is Butch's inheritance from Fisk.]]
92	* KnowWhenToFoldThem: Jessica Jones and the Champions attempt to save the Purple Children from the Thunderbolts, but when the Abomination drops in and Jessica is slapped with a power nullifier collar, the team is forced to pull out to save Jessica's life, only rescuing one of the kids.
93	* LaserGuidedAmnesia: The event's catalyst, as Fisk has finally discovered that his memory of Daredevil's secret identity was stolen from him during Charles Soule's run.
94	* MadnessMantra: [[spoiler: Upon regaining his knowledge of Daredevil's secret identity, an enraged Fisk's internal thoughts during ''Devil's Reign'' #5 keep obsessively repeating 'Matt Murdock' over and over again.]]
95	* ManBehindTheMan: Issue #1 reveals that [[spoiler:Uma and Quinn Stromwyn are behind Fisk's ascension to Mayor of New York and they're preparing to elevate him to President]].
96	* TheMole: Issue #4 gives the heroes one when [[spoiler:the Rhino helps save the Champions from Fisk's drones and reveals that Fisk is looking for the Purple Children]].
97	* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
98	** Played with when Matt taunts Fisk after the latter demands to know what he did to Fisk's memory and knowledge of Daredevil's identity. While this puts Fisk on the warpath and starts the Powers Act crackdown, Steve Rogers correctly points out later that Fisk still would've done something like this sooner or later (taunting or no).
99	** [[spoiler: Kirsten [=McDuffie=] during the climax when she witnesses Fisk killing 'Matt' (actually Mike) and then notifies Daredevil and the authorities. It not only causes Matt to abandon the big brouhaha against Killgrave in mid-battle, but it also almost causes Elektra to abandon her Zdarsky-era character development and kill Fisk herself. Kirsten's actions also immensely complicate Matt's post-event status quo. With Mike's publicized death and the body, Matt can't just return to civilian life like normal. Matt has to remain 'dead' until (or even ''if'') he can figure out how to plausibly 'resurrect' his civilian identity (though Matt at least is fine with this for now, as it'll allow him and Elektra to focus on dismantling the Hand).]]
100	* NoSell:
101	** When Fisk releases Killgrave from prison, Killgrave attempts to take over Fisk's mind. Fisk resists all-too-easy and [[spoiler:apparently stabs him to death.]]
102	** When Daredevil tries to defeat Fisk the Christian way, [[spoiler:he takes Fisk's purple-powered cane and commands Fisk to think about all the lives he's ruined. Fisk does, but no incapacitating guilt is forthcoming.]]
103	* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: By the end of the event, [[spoiler: Fisk's reign as NYC Mayor has finally ended. Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk are both believed dead by the public (with the mantle of Kingpin passing to Fisk's biological son Butch Pharris). With no opposing candidate, Luke Cage is poised to become the new Mayor, promising the most hero-friendly New York in Marvel history.]]
104	* PapaWolf: When Thunderbolts agents start shooting at Ben, Johnny, Franklin, and Valeria, Ben takes the couch and chucks it at them, holding them against a wall, yelling at how they're shooting at ''children''. He doesn't stick around to clobber them more as he joins the others in escaping so they can rescue Alicia and his kids.
105	* PastExperienceNightmare: The Winter Soldier is haunted by these even when he can't sleep.
106	* PyrrhicVictory: [[spoiler: Butch Pharris by the end of the event. He's claimed the Kingpin mantle, the Stromwyns are all dead, and Fisk will not be a problem for him or the rest of NYC organized crime moving forward. But it's not much of a victory, as Fisk killed his co-conspirator and best friend (i.e. Mike Murdock). Butch is left mourning Mike's death and clearly wishing he'd listened to Mike's pleas in the penultimate issue. While it's not explicitly stated, he's also left grappling with Mike's confession about using the Norn Stones and wondering how much of his life is actually a lie.]]
107	* PoliceAreUseless: Emma easily escapes custody in the UK because half the force present to take her in [[ArbitrarySkepticism believes telepathy is a hoax]] and the other half [[TooDumbToLive believes that psi-blockers cause tumors]] and didn't use them. She easily mind controls everyone but Union Jack into letting her escape.
108	* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: [[spoiler:''Devil's Reign: Winter Soldier'' is very much a Backdoor Pilot for Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing's then-upcoming ''ComicBook/CaptainAmericaSentinelOfLiberty'', setting up Bucky's discovery of the Century Game and his investigation into the Outer Circle.]]
109	* PowerNullifier: The captured heroes are slapped with these on their necks. Fortunately, [[spoiler:these nullifiers are the same ones used during the original Civil War, allowing Reed to activate a failsafe he built into them to escape]].
110	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
111	** Butch Pharris, Mayor Fisk's son and the current crime lord of Hell's Kitchen, calls out his father for kicking the figurative hornet's nest that is the ''entire'' Superhero community just because ''one'' vigilante pissed him off. Knowing it's only a matter of time before their inevitable retaliation results in Fisk losing everything.
112	--->'''Butch:''' You're a fool. Superheroes? Really? What, am I pointing lasers at the planet? Trying to mind-control the population? [[NotSoDifferentRemark You're as garish and outdated as they are.]] I'm not you, "Wilson". I'm not here to be goaded into trading punches with ''Spider-Men''. You're a joke. [[BullyingADragon You can't help but poke the bears]]. And they'll eat you. They will. [[BadassBoast And I'll still run this town.]]
113	** A flashback in the ''X-Men'' tie-in shows Elektra calling Emma Frost out for trying to claim any kind of moral high ground against her, pointing out that while she kills people for the Kingpin, Emma destroys their lives and sends them to the gutter or jail or worse for him, and effectively subjects her victims to DeathOfAThousandCuts.
114	* TheReveal: [[spoiler:The Tony Stark who had been planning to run for mayor is actually the Chameleon as part of a plan by Doctor Octopus to have his proxy be elected over Fisk.]]
115	* {{Sleepwalking}}: [[spoiler:Wilson Fisk does this now, due to the stress of being unable to know or learn who the original Daredevil really is. Being the considerate man he is, he makes sure to only station guards without families where he sleeps, as he knows he could literally kill them in his sleep. The Winter Soldier learns this the hard way.]]
116	* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: [[spoiler: Averted with Butch Pharris in the final issue. While he sells Wilson out to the Stromwyns, Fisk spares him after killing them. He does so teach Butch a lesson about making deals with the devil, to give his son an 'inheritance' (the Kingpin role), and to use this betrayal as a means of faking his death.]]
117	* RingsOfActivation: In issue #1 of the ''Superior Four'' tie-in series Doctor Octopus is hit with a magic spell that manifests golden rings of light around his tentacles, causing him to temporarily lose control of them. [[spoiler:The end of the issue reveals that the person behind this attack was another Doctor Octopus who wielded the armor and magic of Dr. Doom. He also has golden rings manifesting around his wrists when he uses his magic.]]
118	* ShipTease: Gemma Shin develops an infatuation with John Walker, leading to Agony awkwardly hitting on U.S.Agent at inopportune moments.
119	* SignatureStyle: A plot point in issue #3. [[spoiler:Having been on the receiving end of his powers during ''Alias'', Jessica Jones is the first of the heroes to recognize the signs of the Purple Man's abilities actively being used by Fisk. Likewise, Killgrave also knows his Children mindwiped Daredevil's identity because he recognizes the power style at work.]]
120	* SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler:As it turns out, the Tony Stark the heroes have interacted with throughout the event's first half wasn't actually Tony, but the Chameleon in disguise. Doctor Octopus had actually planned on yanking the Mayor's seat out from under Fisk by using Tony, but Luke Cage telling Tony to back off and let him handle it ruined everything.]]
121	* StatusQuoIsGod:
122	** Half a decade after Charles Soule's run wiped all public memory of Daredevil's secret identity, [[spoiler:Fisk ''finally'' remembers at the end of issue #4.]]
123	** Zdarsky's preceeding run introduced a CosmicRetcon where Mike Murdock, who was previously accidentally created by the Inhuman Reader, used a Norn stone to create himself an in-universe history as Matt's twin brother. [[spoiler: Mike gets KilledOffForReal in a fit of rage by Wilson Fisk while posing as his twin brother.]]
124	*** However, it also gets played with in that [[spoiler: while Mike is dead, the CosmicRetcon itself isn't actually undone with his death. As far as Matt and everyone else are still concerned, Mike Murdock always existed throughout ''Daredevil'' history and he's now lost his brother. Butch Pharris is the only person who knows the truth about their lives and histories being altered by Mike.]]
125	* SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum: [[spoiler:In issue #5, having finally learned Daredevil's identity again and having captured most of the Purple Children, Fisk uses their power to mind control Kilgrave into tearing the city down, who in turns ''mind controls all of New York'']].
126	* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
127	** Fisk discovering that he once upon a time knew Daredevil's secret identity. This has always been inevitable ever since the Purple Children's mind-wipe during the interim between the Mark Waid and Charles Soule eras. Their mind-wipe only erased the knowledge of Matt's identity and left a mental block preventing anyone from seeing the evidence (and that block could only be unlocked if Matt himself chose to reveal the truth). Their mind-wipe ''didn't'' destroy any of the physical or digital evidence of Matt's secret. With how much Daredevil has remained a thorn in his side (and having previously known his real identity since ''Born Again''), it is completely plausible that Fisk would've had such documentation stashed away before the mind-wipe. It is thus realistic and inevitable that Fisk would eventually consult his files and finally discover his memories had been altered.
128	*** Issue #3 also addresses another logical, if inevitable, repercussion of the mind-wipe: [[spoiler:Killgrave knows. He's forgotten Daredevil's identity too, but he ''knows'' his children are responsible because he recognized their powers in action.]] The climax of issue #4 builds on this [[spoiler:as Fisk realizes that the Purple Man's powers, if used on himself, could theoretically cut through the Children's mind-block and make him remember Daredevil's secret. It works.]]
129	** [[spoiler:A post-''Iron Fist Heart of the Dragon'' Danny Rand falling to Crossbones and his team off-screen. Danny may be one of the world's greatest martial artists, but at this point, he's also now powerless and his allies like Luke are scattered throughout the City. So the ex-Iron Fist can only hold his own for so long before being subdued and taken into custody.]]
130	** [[spoiler:Having been on the receiving end of Killgrave's abilities during ''Alias'', Jessica Jones, more than any of the other heroes, is the first to recognize his abilities at work when Fisk begins trying to brainwash the NYC electorate.]]
131	** [[spoiler:Yes, Luke Cage won the mayorship, but the laws Fisk put in are still in effect, including his anti-vigilantism laws and his Thunderbolts team.]]
132	* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: After Rhino quits the Thunderbolts when [[spoiler: they are asked to kidnap the Purple Children]], Fisk just replaces him with The Abombination, another Gamma-powered heavy hitter. The Thunderbolts tie-in even has Fisk say that "there's more muscle where that came from".
133	* TeethClenchedTeamwork: The Thunderbolts spend as much -- if not ''more'' -- time squabbling with each other than they do fighting crime in ''Villains for Hire'' #1. While the team is awaiting orders from Fisk, Whiplash attempts to go AWOL, prompting Agony to try to eat him. Rhino tries to break it up only to get into a fight with Electro, and Taskmaster gets dragged into the brawl trying to break it up too. It takes Fisk putting his foot down and threatening to have them [[CementShoes sleeping with the fishes]] if they piss him off again to break the fight up.
134	* TwoGirlsToATeam: Agony and Electro are the only women on the main Thunderbolts team, though the Thunderbolts Units have others like Coachwhip.
135	* VillainousBreakdown: An inversion in that the breakdown happens before the tide really turns against Fisk. After remembering Daredevil's real identity once more, Fisk throws all his previous goals out of the window and focuses squarely on [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum tearing the New York superhero community to the ground and killing Matt Murdock.]]
136	** Fisk's breakdown gets worse in the finale when Daredevil confronts him. Fisk is utterly shocked [[spoiler: and with good reason given he thought he'd just murdered Matt Murdock at the end of the penultimate issue]]. Seeing Hornhead alive and well and coming for him sends Fisk into even ''more'' of an insane, unstoppable rage.
137	* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Just like in the ''ComicBook/DarkReign'' era, Wilson Fisk abuses his position as Mayor of New York to deputize dozens upon dozens of supervillains to crack down on the city's superhero community on behalf of the law. This includes the likes of Agony, who -- as elucidated in ''ComicBook/Venom2021'' -- was sent by Senator Arthur Krane as part of the Friends of Humanity's partnership with Wilson Fisk despite being a symbiote host post-''ComicBook/KingInBlack'' and being caught on camera melting and eating people in ''ComicBook/ExtremeCarnage'' as part of Carnage's assassination of Senator Peter Krane.
138	* WhamShot: [[spoiler:Issue #4 ends with Fisk using his control powers to remember Daredevil's secret identity.]]
139	* WhateverHappenedToTheMouse: The tie-in issues of ''Spider-Woman'' finally answer a long unresolved loose end from ''Secret Invasion'': [[spoiler:What became of the Skrull Queen Veranke's body after Norman Osborn shot her and following the final battle?]]
140	* WorfHadTheFlu: Tony Stark doesn't have access to his Iron Man armors as Fisk's crackdown and his own security protocols locked down access to his NYC armory. [[spoiler:However, issue #3 reveals the Chameleon has been posing as Tony throughout the event's first half -- suggesting this was a cover story by Dmitri Smerdyakov to explain why 'Tony' couldn't bring his technology to bear against Fisk]].
141	* WouldntHurtAChild: The reason [[spoiler:the Rhino betrays Fisk, as he refuses to hurt children when ordered to go after the Purple Children]].

Context ComicBook / DevilsReign