Rating:  -
People take a lot for granted with this story. The impact of Capt. America going against the American government had huge impact, but people were quick to take it for granted. It had some of the most well choreographed action sequences in the history of the medium and it asked a very important question: Whose side are you on? It got repeated ad nauseum, so seeing it here AGAIN has probably made you a little ad nauseous, but it sparked more debate than any comic in recent history, and more REAL debate, not just "Could Black Adam REALLY fight Superman?"-style debates. The ending is an overly sentimental and extremely abrupt "real heroes" message, that does, sadly, somewhat detract from the rest of the story, but it's still worth reading if for no other reason than Marvel has actually stuck with the ending for so long.
Rating:  -
From cover to cover this book had an amazing storyline and moved along very nicely. It was fun seeing to shift in sides and the reasoning behind each side. This book is one that you want to buy and keep on the shelf to read over and over again. The only problem that I had with the series is that this was the only book good enough to buy. All other Civil War books seemed to just branch off and milk this story to make money. In the end BUY this book and borrow the other ones or read them in stores.
Rating: -
The old registration story.
The overall theme here is one mined from several of the best comic works of the past, including :-
The Dark Knight Returns
Watchmen
Squadron Supreme
Kingdom Come
Powers
etc.
After a ludicrous superhero show decides that they can take on Captain Marvel level villains for ratings points ends up in little pieces of school children being scattered all over a block or two, the government bows to pressure to institute a registration act for superhumans, where they all work for the government.
That sounds good in theory, but the super geniuses involved, Stark and Richards have plans beyond that, although they don't go as far as the mind control techniques used in Squadron Supreme or kingdom come.
Super-gulags, clones, cyborgs, created armies, hit squads, etc., though, sure, no problem.
The interesting part is that it hinges on Captain America, a patriotic symbol for Americans, of course, and actually used in the past as a propaganda too. Here, though, he makes the decision to lead the left wing rebel group after the new Shield director gives him too much grief.
Part of what lets it done (apart from this having been done better in the past), is the lack of the X-Men - they are kept to their own little mutant reservation, apart from the odd conversation along the lines of 'hah, not so much fun when you are saving the world and the government is out to get you, is it'?
This leaves the most interesting and popular team out in the cold, as Marvel tries to pump up the status of the Avengers, as per New Avengers etc., some more.
It is quite pretty though, artwise.
Things spiral badly out of control, of course, splitting teams, spying, and even families, in the case of the FF.
You can see these in a classic panel or two where Captain America is shown to be crazier than the Punisher, of all people, given what he has gone through.
Rating: -
I will start out by saying, Civil War has a weak ending, but it is an ultimately satisfying read, that delivered on its promise to completely change the Marvel Universe.
The story by Millar focuses on a war between heroes. After New Warriors make a huge mess of things in Stamford, the US government is forced into creating a new law against costumed vigilantes. This law forces our favourite heroes to take sides and engage each other.
Much has been said about Millar mischaracterizing some of the characters, especially Iron Man. I don't believe that is the case here and Iron Man is only fighting for what he believes in (though I have to agree that Mark Millar is taking this to the extreme). Millar is like comic books Michael Bay (though he is much better at dialogue) and this book is the proof of it, there are many intense action sequences here that take up large part of the story but Millar also finds some space for some great character moments as well.
This book is full of political undertones and is almost a critique to American politics today, the scene that shows this well is Captain America's escape from the Helicarries, which symbolises the conflict between the America of old and the America of today, and I appreciate what Millar's ambition in this book.
Where Civil War really shines is in the artwork by Steve McNiven, the guy is FANTASTIC! His characters show a lot of expression and fluidity in action sequences. Some people say they look too plastic...I wont say they dont, because indeed they do, but that is not a problem by me, because they still look superb. The colours by MoHo (Morris Hollowell) are brilliant as well, they really add a lot to McNiven's already impressive pencils, making the pictures much more real and pretty to look at.
Despite the weak ending, Civil War is highly recommendable to the Marvel fan or to a more casual comic reader, because as well as entertaining in its own right, it opens up many great possibilities for the Marvel Universe post-CW.
Rating: -
I highly recommend this item. It's a great story, and the artwork is phenomenal. The seller was quick, reasonable and I recieved the item in pristine condition. I highly recommend both this book and the seller to anyone!
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