Book of the week: Civil War #2
Civil War #2
Creative Team
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Steve McNiven
Inker: Dexter Vines
Synopsis: Spider-Man says it is time for heroes to go legitimate and earn back a little public trust. That Captain America advocates people with powers being completely unchecked. Spider-Man then unmasks and says “My name is Peter Parker, and I’ve been Spider-Man since I was fifteen years old.”
Art Rating: 5 out of 5.
Story Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5.
This is the book EVERYONE's been talking about and it all boils down to the final four pages. That's not to say nothing else happens, a lot does, but those final four pages even made headlines in the New York Post!
Agent Hill (whom I'm liking more and more) opens the book with SHIELD agents gathering up some captured super villains in a dark and dank basement by the "rogue" Captain America and his non-registering group. Hill is in for a huge fight and she knows it.
The very next scene showing heroes in favor of registration is the exact opposite as Iron Man’s team works out in the open and gets wild cheers by the general populace. Iron Man's comment "Hear that? That's the sound of people starting to believe in super-heroes again" is perfect and, I think, helps further his belief he's doing the right thing. His next comment "The only thing that's changing is that the kids, the amateurs, and the sociopaths are getting weeded out" but Tigra, who's apparently pro-registration, calls him on that when she says "What category does Captain America fall into Iron Man?"
The scenes with Reed and Sue Richards are well done as well. Reed's obvious entheusiasm for registration may be putting some strain on Sue as she's obviously not militant in her support. I think we see the beginning of an eventual rift between Sue and Reed over this issue. We also get teased with this project “42” that is so secret that Reed can’t even tell Sue about it. Sue’s reaction was perfect and you could really tell that she was hurt by this secrecy. I almost wanted her to smack Reed upside the head.
Despite the cheers and public support Tony is still questioning if registration is a good thing or not and his turmoil on the subject is very well rendered, especially as the big screen in Times Square proclaims :REGISTRATION BECOMES LAW" at midnight. Millar is doing a nice job showing Tony’s constantly questioning thoughts.
The scences with the Young Avengers getting arrested by SHIELD show just how far SHIELD is willing to go to enforce the law. The devastation done by SHIELD, despite Patriot doing the simple task of stopping a mugging, should frighten any hero and McNiven's art is breathtaking here as he shows the desperate Patriot trying to get away.
Once again, Captain America looks like a total badass when he punches the SHIELD agent through transport door and into the highway full of traffic after listening to the idiot ramble. Millar writes one of the best renditions of Captain America ever (watch and learn how great Captain America can be Bendis!!!). The inclusion of Fury on Cap's side wasn't a total shocker, but it's always nice to see Fury.
And then we get to the big moment. The final scene with Spider-Man at the press conference! Will he or won't he? If you've been reading Amazing Spider-Man you know he's talked about it with Mary Jane and Aunt May, but his final decision was left undefined. Well, here it is! It was very well done and quite a moment when... he unmasked himself on live television!!! I never ever thought I would see Spider-Man publicly reveal himself. And the reaction of J. Jonah Jameson passing out was hilarious!
The creative team is amazing here. Millar and McNiven are obviously in synch and the restlts are showing. Millar's pacing, dialogue and characterizations are all spot on. The man could write any Marvel book and be great at it. Particularly great is how he's portraying Iron Man and Captain America. Tony KNOWS he's doing what's right, but is constantly questioning himself while Cap KNOWS he's doing the right thing by opposing registration. Cap's a total badass now along the lines of how Ed Brubaker is writing him. The steady build up to issue #3, which is going to showcase a big battle and the death of a character, is perfect.
Steve McNiven's art is simply breathtaking. I have followed his art since he was at CrossGen on Meridian and he's just getting better and better. All of his renditions are fantastic and he conveys the emotions of the characters so well really strengthening the impact of Millar’s story. There's not much more to be said. McNiven is the perfect artist for this series. Everything just leaps off the page and you can't ask for more than that.
I only have one complaint. I do not believe that Peter Parker would ever unmask himself publicly. It is simply unbelievable and totally contradicts the Spider-Man that I have known and read since the early 1980’s. After reading the Amazing Spider-Man issues leading up to Cival War I knew Tony had been manipulating Peter, but I thought after his talk with May and Mary Jane that he would not do it.
Spidey has always been a loner, a street level hero who is hunted by villains and police alike, not a government registered hero that is public. What's really noticable is many of the illegal heroes on Captain America’s team are the heroes that Spider-Man has always associated with such as Daredevil, Luke Cage, Cloak and Dagger.
Marvel has done a good job of fostering Peter's friendship with Tony in both the Spider-Man titles and in New Avengers, so the decision by Peter to reveal himself and his support for Tony is less sudden. Peter's relationship and loyalty to Tony Stark is an important element in his life now and Tony has assumed an almost father-like role to Peter. But it's really hard to to get me to disregard over 30 years of one of the the central themes of Spider-Man. He's a loner and rabidly guards his secret identity to protect his loved ones.
Overall probably one of the best comics I've read in 2006. It sure beats House of M and Infinite Crisis.
But, as they say, the story is not over and there's plenty more to come in both the main mini series and the tie in's. Millar and McNiven have me hooked along for the ride.
I want to be a fly on the wall at the Bugle when Peter goes to work and encounters Jameson!! Imagine the fireworks!
Creative Team
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Steve McNiven
Inker: Dexter Vines
Synopsis: Spider-Man says it is time for heroes to go legitimate and earn back a little public trust. That Captain America advocates people with powers being completely unchecked. Spider-Man then unmasks and says “My name is Peter Parker, and I’ve been Spider-Man since I was fifteen years old.”
Art Rating: 5 out of 5.
Story Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5.
This is the book EVERYONE's been talking about and it all boils down to the final four pages. That's not to say nothing else happens, a lot does, but those final four pages even made headlines in the New York Post!
Agent Hill (whom I'm liking more and more) opens the book with SHIELD agents gathering up some captured super villains in a dark and dank basement by the "rogue" Captain America and his non-registering group. Hill is in for a huge fight and she knows it.
The very next scene showing heroes in favor of registration is the exact opposite as Iron Man’s team works out in the open and gets wild cheers by the general populace. Iron Man's comment "Hear that? That's the sound of people starting to believe in super-heroes again" is perfect and, I think, helps further his belief he's doing the right thing. His next comment "The only thing that's changing is that the kids, the amateurs, and the sociopaths are getting weeded out" but Tigra, who's apparently pro-registration, calls him on that when she says "What category does Captain America fall into Iron Man?"
The scenes with Reed and Sue Richards are well done as well. Reed's obvious entheusiasm for registration may be putting some strain on Sue as she's obviously not militant in her support. I think we see the beginning of an eventual rift between Sue and Reed over this issue. We also get teased with this project “42” that is so secret that Reed can’t even tell Sue about it. Sue’s reaction was perfect and you could really tell that she was hurt by this secrecy. I almost wanted her to smack Reed upside the head.
Despite the cheers and public support Tony is still questioning if registration is a good thing or not and his turmoil on the subject is very well rendered, especially as the big screen in Times Square proclaims :REGISTRATION BECOMES LAW" at midnight. Millar is doing a nice job showing Tony’s constantly questioning thoughts.
The scences with the Young Avengers getting arrested by SHIELD show just how far SHIELD is willing to go to enforce the law. The devastation done by SHIELD, despite Patriot doing the simple task of stopping a mugging, should frighten any hero and McNiven's art is breathtaking here as he shows the desperate Patriot trying to get away.
Once again, Captain America looks like a total badass when he punches the SHIELD agent through transport door and into the highway full of traffic after listening to the idiot ramble. Millar writes one of the best renditions of Captain America ever (watch and learn how great Captain America can be Bendis!!!). The inclusion of Fury on Cap's side wasn't a total shocker, but it's always nice to see Fury.
And then we get to the big moment. The final scene with Spider-Man at the press conference! Will he or won't he? If you've been reading Amazing Spider-Man you know he's talked about it with Mary Jane and Aunt May, but his final decision was left undefined. Well, here it is! It was very well done and quite a moment when... he unmasked himself on live television!!! I never ever thought I would see Spider-Man publicly reveal himself. And the reaction of J. Jonah Jameson passing out was hilarious!
The creative team is amazing here. Millar and McNiven are obviously in synch and the restlts are showing. Millar's pacing, dialogue and characterizations are all spot on. The man could write any Marvel book and be great at it. Particularly great is how he's portraying Iron Man and Captain America. Tony KNOWS he's doing what's right, but is constantly questioning himself while Cap KNOWS he's doing the right thing by opposing registration. Cap's a total badass now along the lines of how Ed Brubaker is writing him. The steady build up to issue #3, which is going to showcase a big battle and the death of a character, is perfect.
Steve McNiven's art is simply breathtaking. I have followed his art since he was at CrossGen on Meridian and he's just getting better and better. All of his renditions are fantastic and he conveys the emotions of the characters so well really strengthening the impact of Millar’s story. There's not much more to be said. McNiven is the perfect artist for this series. Everything just leaps off the page and you can't ask for more than that.
I only have one complaint. I do not believe that Peter Parker would ever unmask himself publicly. It is simply unbelievable and totally contradicts the Spider-Man that I have known and read since the early 1980’s. After reading the Amazing Spider-Man issues leading up to Cival War I knew Tony had been manipulating Peter, but I thought after his talk with May and Mary Jane that he would not do it.
Spidey has always been a loner, a street level hero who is hunted by villains and police alike, not a government registered hero that is public. What's really noticable is many of the illegal heroes on Captain America’s team are the heroes that Spider-Man has always associated with such as Daredevil, Luke Cage, Cloak and Dagger.
Marvel has done a good job of fostering Peter's friendship with Tony in both the Spider-Man titles and in New Avengers, so the decision by Peter to reveal himself and his support for Tony is less sudden. Peter's relationship and loyalty to Tony Stark is an important element in his life now and Tony has assumed an almost father-like role to Peter. But it's really hard to to get me to disregard over 30 years of one of the the central themes of Spider-Man. He's a loner and rabidly guards his secret identity to protect his loved ones.
Overall probably one of the best comics I've read in 2006. It sure beats House of M and Infinite Crisis.
But, as they say, the story is not over and there's plenty more to come in both the main mini series and the tie in's. Millar and McNiven have me hooked along for the ride.
I want to be a fly on the wall at the Bugle when Peter goes to work and encounters Jameson!! Imagine the fireworks!
posted by He Said... She Said at
9:59 AM
1 Comments:
Not to bring real life into the world of comics (but this is the direction that marvel is going), but would peter need to work for JJJ anymore. He's technically on the government, if not tony starks payroll, he could just take photos of his friends for flicker.
Thanks for posting an entry too...I enjoy reading other peoples perspective on comics. Aside from message boards.
By
Yumyumcha, at 3:08 PM
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