Civil War Journal – Week Twenty-Two: Still Blaming The New Guy
By Matt Conner
Civil War II has the heroes reeling from a vision of the new Spider-Man killing the old Captain America – what happens next?
Welcome back to Civil War Journal, Bam Smack Pow’s weekly recap column of all things Civil War II. The latest issue of the main series comes out this week and ripples through seven tie-in books, including the end of Guardians Of The Galaxy, The Ultimates, All-New All-Different Avengers, and Agents of SHIELD.
What happened? Captain Marvel wants to detain Spider-Man before he can kill Captain America. Iron Man defends him. Captain America himself casts the tie-breaker vote to let the kid go, and the heroes retreat to their respective corners. Thor tries to take Spider-Man home, but he insists on going to Washington, D.C., to stand on the Capitol steps where Ulysses predicted he’ll commit the crime.
Was it good? Well, it’s thoughtful, but we’re late in a series that has already seen significant publishing delays. As I said yesterday, this is the wrong time for a talky interlude, and it’s the first not-very-good issue Civil War II‘s main book has put out.
Recommendation: Yes, if you’re reading this summer, read this. But maybe skim it.
What happened? Steve Rogers defends his release of Miles Morales as all part of this sinister Hydra plot. And Rick Jones has had it up to here with people who can’t see that this whole adventure is just Minority Report.
Was it good? Absolutely. You can read Civil War II without it, but knowing this gives the main book a thrill. And Rick Jones, thank you for calling everyone out on this. It was a very popular movie with a clear ending. You don’t even have to read the book.
Recommendation: Yes. Add this to your stack.
What happened? The team turns on itself – not as dramatically as the cover would suggest, but Gamora is hurt that no one told her Thanos was on-planet, and Groot and Rocket and Drax leave the team, demoralized by the explosion of their ship in Civil War II #5. But on the happy side, a lot of New Yorkers tell Captain Marvel they appreciate that she keeps everyone safe.
Was it good? Yes. It wasn’t as closely tied-in to the plot of Civil War II, but the dissolution of the team is a great pull-through of the themes – No one told Gamora about Thanos because they predicted she’d take it badly, and the team splits on that decision.
Recommendation: Yes. This issue does change the landscape of the Guardians’ books for a few months.
What happened? Black Panther fights Amadeus Cho to keep him from taking revenge on Hawkeye. Amadeus breaks up the fight when his sister finds a monster attack in Austin, and the Hulk finally has to swallow some pride and ask for help instead of fighting everyone.
Was it good? Not one of the stronger issues I’ve read out of Pak’s Hulk this summer. It didn’t tie in much to the crossover, and I’m having a tough time connecting to Amadeus compared to the issues that focused on his humor or grief.
Recommendation: Hulk fans, keep reading this. The rest of us can just be cool that it exists.
What happened? Thor asks Heimdall for advice about Civil War II since he can see the future, and Heimdall tells a story of the Avengers’ early days, when the male Thor used a prophecy and failed.
Was it good? It’s fine. The theme makes sense, but the content is so light that I was surprised that this wasn’t a back-up story in an annual. In fact, this would have made a great entry into Choosing Sides.
Recommendation: Mark Waid’s Avengers books have been great, but you don’t need to get this to prepare for next week’s relaunch, and it doesn’t add to Civil War II.
What happened? The funeral for Sunspot that Ulysses predicted? All part of schemes-within-schemes that Roberto set up, including having shape-changer Hulkling involved in faking his death. So the New Avengers beat the Maker’s New Revengers and the corrupt parts of SHIELD.
Was it good? Umm, not as good as it has been. The number of double-triple-fakeouts became absurd, and very few team members got much time on the page.
Recommendation: This is not much of a tie-in book. If you like the Avengers, read it, but the Civil War II banner is misleading.
What happened? In the wake of undisclosed events from the end of Civil War II, the government has disbanded the Ultimates. Black Panther and Captain Marvel haven’t healed since he publicly defected to Iron Man’s side this week. America Chavez takes Captain Marvel to a world where Doctor Doom used Ulysses’s predictions to rule the world, and this restores friendship between the powerful women.
Was it good? It’s a nice epilogue and prelude to the next volume of The Ultimates. I’m not sure why it gets a tie-in banner when so many other books set after the events don’t, but I’m happy to know all the Ultimates make it out alive and to whet my curiosity about what causes such a public-relations nightmare for Carol Danvers.
Recommendation: These tie-ins have been fine so far but haven’t really shaken how we see the story, like Steve Rogers, or applied the sci-fi themes to real life, like Ms. Marvel. You can let this one drop a little lower on your pull list priority.
What happened? Coulson, arrested for investigating both sides of the Civil War, gets released to help Dr. Simmons deal with being turned into a Deathlok. Then, after “this superhero civil war resolves itself,” he’s released to do more agent work and gets hired back on to SHIELD.
Was it good? Nope. The narrative jumps around in time, obscuring that most of the issue happens after the event that dragged us into it. Worse, the concurrent sections have little or nothing to do with that event. Elektra joining the team made the cover the last couple issues but is barely one panel of material in the book itself. And the characters just don’t feel accessible or entertaining.
Recommendation: Nope. I didn’t enjoy this book when I read it for Avengers Standoff but I like it even less now.
Tie-In Round-Up:
Recommended: The main series, of course, with preludes from the zero issue and the Free Comic Book Day pages. Also The Accused, All-New Wolverine, Captain America: Sam Wilson, Captain America: Steve Rogers, Captain Marvel, Civil War II: Ulysses, Guardians Of The Galaxy, Invincible Iron Man #14, Ms. Marvel, and Uncanny Inhumans.
Good but not top tier: A-Force, All-New All-Different Avengers, Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man, Civil War II: Choosing Sides (but only the Damage Control story and the Whitley/Sauvage eulogy for War Machine), Civil War II: Gods Of War, Civil War II: X-Men, Deadpool until issue 15, The Fallen, International Iron Man, Invincible Iron Man until #13, Mockingbird, Nova, New Avengers, Patsy Walker AKA: Hellcat, Power Man And Iron Fist, Rocket Raccoon And Groot, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Woman, Squadron Supreme, Totally Awesome Hulk, The Ultimates, Thunderbolts, Uncanny Avengers, Venom
Not good: Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., the bulk of Civil War II: Choosing Sides, Civil War II: Kingpin, Deadpool after issue 15
Keep up with the Civil War Journal by following this link!