Some Marvel or DC Comics can be difficult to just jump into. However, others are a good enough and self contained (at least enough) to dive into and Marvel’s Civil War is just that series. A seven-issue story arc that is a blend of superhero, political drama, and war. While you might have seen the movie, which I find was really good, the comic is by far a better story.
Whose side are you on? A conflict is brewing that threatens to pit friend against friend, brother against brother and all it will take is a single misstep to cost thousands their lives and ignite the fuse! As the war claims its first victims, no one is safe as teams, friendships and families begin to fall apart and the Marvel Universe super heroes go to war against each other.
Penned by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, Civil War is by far one of my favorite Marvel story arcs of all-time. The way Millar somehow is able to provoke deep thought and strong emotions in a superhero story has always been fascinating to me. He explores things such as power, responsibility, and freedom within the pages of a comic book. This is even more of reason to tell people these books are far more than just funny books.
Over the years there are only a few Marvel story arcs that have accomplished what Civil War did, another being Secret Invasion. We rarely get to enjoy superhero versus superhero battles within Marvel or DC Comics as it is typically hero vs. villain. Seeing Iron Man and Captain America along with others fight some pretty epic fights was pure enjoyment from me. Not to mention the comic series opening with such emotion and tragedy, another rarity in the pages of big-two comics. Civil War is one of those stories that felt as much as a big-two comic as it did a gritty independent story.
While the story arc features characters with long histories in Marvel Comics, Civil War opens with what propels the story forward. Knowing what happened prior to page one is mostly a bonus, as the story is somewhat self contained. Although, I do highly recommend the connecting stories in the Civil War arc, especially the Front Line series.
Millar tells a fantastic politic thriller in the pages of a superhero story, but it’s the illustrations by McNiven that brings the story together. The epic battles and bloody superheroes can be almost felt not just witnessed. Getting to illustrate hero vs. hero battles that are bloody, nearly gruesome, and sprawling must have been a thrill and we get to view the results in Civil War.
Marvel’s Civil War is an epic and brutal superhero story which blurs the line between superhero comic and political thriller. It’s a battle of hero vs. hero for what each side believes is truly right and where us as the reader have to take sides between some of our favorite Marvel characters. Its beautiful, thought-provoking and wonderful.
The collected edition of Marvel’s Civil War is available at local comic shops and bookstores everywhere. There is even a GraphicAudio audiobook of Stuart Moore‘s novel adaptation available via Libro.fm!
Marvel’s Civil War Preview
