Civil War Review

 

Just wanted to say, great variant cover by the late and underrated Michael Turner.

Civil War was a 2006-2007 crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics. It consisted of seven issues but as the per usual case with these big crossovers, there were many tie-ins. Mark Millar wrote the story arc, with Steve McNiven being the penciler.

The story is, after a huge battle causes an explosive that kills more than 600 civilians, people's perspective on superhumans is changing. Soon a Superhuman Resignation Act is put into action, now heroes supporting the act and heroes rebelling it are at war with each other.

• Negatives

I've got nothing.

• Mix

If there's one mixed feeling I have it's with the story. First let's start off with all of the good, because there's plenty of it. For instance there's a very realistic reason for why the resignation act is put in place. It was all because of a fight that escalated. And by fight I don't mean something cosmic or anything. It was a simple heroes vs. villains. Then there's how much character work was put into this. We get to understand why Iron Man and Captain America are chose which sides they're on. And we're left debating who's side would we pick. Not to mention put we also get other points of view. Some characters we know and some we don't know. We especially dive into how Spider-Man's all conflicted, and he winds up being the heart of the matter. Then there's how we see both Iron Man and Cap get desperate and both are falling from grace. Now we get into the mix bags. One being the pacing. Sometimes the pace is good, it goes by perfectly. But then there'll be times when things do rap up quickly. The biggest example being the final fight. I don't mind the character's reason for surrendering, but it did feel like the two leaders are fighting then it's stopped, and we're wrapping up the story. I think the ending would've been better had it been eight issues. Issue seven can be the big brawl for all, then we end with a cliffhanger on the character being shocked by their actions, then issue eight can be the ending. Oh and there's also this weird cyborg clone thing with one of the original founding members of the Avengers. I bring this up because even though we get a prison from another dimension, the story was, for a majority of the time, mainly feeling very grounded. So this whole robo-clone did feel a little weird, for me anyhow.

• Positives

Now for the real praises. Let's start off with the rising tension. From back to issue one you just feel the escalation starting to build, and the more and more it builds you know this isn't gonna end pretty. I also like how this story had stakes. Usually these big crossovers are just a way for the big two [DC & Marvel] to make the comic book version of a popcorn blockbuster. Which I don't mind. Because unless it's something huge like a multiverse crisis or a big monumental invasion then yes the entire universe should feel this. However here, it's not either of those two. This story effected the Marvel universe because the resignation was such a big deal. It divided friends, co-workers, couples whether they're married or not. Hell, Civil War did what some, not all, but some crossover events don't do. It had ramifications. The last but best praise goes to Steve McNiven's art. He's phenomenal. His art makes the characters feel and look real, we see how they feel with just facial expressions, and the way he draws action can be pretty brutal. And sometimes, it can just look really cool. Just look.

And I didn't even show half of the incredible work Steve did. At best that was bare minimal and even then that's a stretch to say that's the bare minimal.

Civil War does have some issues, but honestly I just can't help but love it. Cause there is quite a lot of good in it.

My final rating is, Good.

So anyways, come back on Thursday, Jan 9th, for the last part of my Road to Captain America: Brave New World, with my review of Captain America: Civil War. Yeah, much like Winter Soldier I figured I'd review the comic story before the movie, as a way to get you interested in my review. So until then, enjoy the rest of your day.