In Comics: Civil War

Written By Mark Millar

Illustrated by Steve MicNiven

Published by Marvel Comics

Often in late spring and early fall the major comic book companies Marvel and DC decide to do major story arcs that can sometimes reset the entire universe in which the stories of the comics are set.  DC perhaps started the most epic storyline, called 52 while Marvel launched the most universe altering series called Civil War.  The changes that occurred in Civil War were so monumental that series took any press that could have been given to 52 a series that literally released a new comic every week for a solid 52 weeks.

The Book

In this seven issue series humans have become fearful of super powered types even seeking legislation to get them under control.  When a young group of heroes destroys a college and kills many civilians while trying to save them all hell breaks loose.  The government issues the "Superhuman Registration Act" a law forcing all super humans, heroes and villains, to reveal their true identities to the government and basically become employees of the U.S. military.

The act splits the superhuman community down the middle with Captain America leading the heroes against the act and Iron Man leading the heroes that support it.  The heroes against the act feel that revealing who they are will put their loved ones in danger.  The heroes in support of it promise the identities will only be made available to the government.

So the government tasks Iron Man and the supporters of the act to work with SHIELD, the governments' top military branch to bring those that don't support the act to justice.  Those that don't abide the new law must go to a top secret prison built by Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four that's tucked away in another dimension. 

Not only do we get some beautifully drawn hero against hero action but we also get some hero altering drama.  The fantastic four is split up with Reed supporting the act, Sue against  it, and Johnny and Ben stuck in the middle and Captain America and Iron Man, once best friends, find themselves nearly killing each other.  A number of heroes and villains are killed in the series and no they aren't magically brought back at the end as in the now classic "Secret wars" series from the 80's.

The story is built to parallel our own current situation in the United States but I question the commentary and how exactly it mirrors our situation in Iraq in several key ways.  I won't get into it too deep here, I'll leave that part for you to decide.  What I will say is for such a universe altering story it all seems extremely compressed in only seven issues.  The true way to enjoy this story, and get the true immenseness of it is to read this graphic novel as well as the Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, and Avengers spin-offs that ran simultaneous to the release of the seven issues that make up this graphic novel.  Nearly every Marvel Comic that came out during the Civil War run was connected to this story in some way but most of them weren't necessary to maek the story good.  The ones I listed above though, are absolutely required because the 208 pages here don't do the story enough justice.

With that said this is still required reading for Marvel universe fans, heroes and villains die in this series that don't come back, others reveal their secret identities and pay a heavy price for it.  The changes that occur in this series and the peripheral stories I've listed will effect the Marvel universe for years to come.  After these books the story is far from over too.  I highly recommend reading some of the Initiative books as they continue much of what was started in Civil War.  There are also some tie up books for the dead heroes too.  Telling this story and making these changes to popular characters in the Marvel universe was a brave decision adn I applaud Marvel for it.  I just wish the series would have ran at least twelve issues, it deserved the room to breathe.

8/10

The Artwork

For the most part the artwork is top notch, riding the fence between photo realistic and comic book but never going too far on either side.  The dark nature of Marvel's modern books can get a little old and actually hard to follow here and there though.  The battle scenes and the larger panels though are a site to behold.  The above cover art though, kind of stinks, there are better choices....

8.5/10

This is quite an astonishing update to the Marvel universe that like it or not is a must read for Marvel fans.

Overall ( Not an Average) 8/10

The Review

The Story 8/10

The Artwork 8.5/10

Overall (Not an Average) 8/10

Suzie Lackey