8 Smartest Decisions In Marvel Villain History

5. Norman Osborn Assembles The Avengers - Dark Avengers

Like Venom, Norman Osborn is most famously known to fans as one of Spider-Man's greatest villains. However, recent years have seen the character expand his horizons past the friendly neighbourhood web-slinger, to the point where he's even gone toe-to-toe with Earth's Mightiest Heroes themselves, the Avengers.

It was actually during this point in time where Osborn concocted what has to be his most successful scheme yet. Utilising the paranoia brought on by the superhero Civil War, the Skrull Secret Invasion and Tony Stark's own conflicted position at S.H.I.E.L.D., Osborn managed to utilise his own political standing to outmuscle the former Avenger and replace him at S.H.I.E.L.D., which he renamed H.A.M.M.E.R. for added effect.

While the head of his new defence organisation, Osborn fashions his own team of Avengers, recruited from the various rogues galleries of the Marvel universe. He leads them as the Iron Patriot, a monument to American jingoism that depicts a cruel distortion of Tony Stark's legacy. Joining his ranks are Daken, the self-proclaimed 'Dark Wolverine'; Mac Gargan's Venom as Spider-Man; and Bullseye, who takes on the role of a new Hawkeye.

Osborn's own Dark Reign would last for several years, until it eventually came undone during a botched invasion of Asgard. Still, as far as villainous reigns of terror go, Normie's was definitely one of the most successful in Marvel history.