Although this may be the beginning of a marvel 'event' not too much seems to happen over the seven issues in this collection. The idea of superheroes being legislated is an old one and has been done much better before. Instead of a slow considered conversation about registration we are given a simplified cause for the change and then are thrown into a tiresome 'who's side are you on' affair with underwhelming infighting and betrayal. I was left with the impression that civil war was both too laboured and too shallow at the same time. The writing is predictable and the artwork uninspired. ( )

awesome. ( )

Collects Civil War #1-7. Captain America and Iron Man are on different sides of the superhero registration act, after some amateurs blow up a town and kill 600 people. Heroes have to choose sides. ( )

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.

http://graphicsf.blogspot.com/2008/03/marvel-universe-civl-war.html ( )

Miller and McNiven put the familiar Marvel Superheroes into a very unfamiliar setting, pitting two groups in superheroes in an idealogical battle against each other. McNiven's art is almost photo-realistic and will appeal to most comic and manga fans. The story is filled with parallels to current politics and can generate great discussion. Both factions are convinced they are right, and readers can debate which side they agree with. A great story, and a great discussion tool. ( )