I have to give Marvel credit for making the buildup to its Civil War crossover event something really suspenseful and captivating of readers' attention. This one-shot makes it clear the publisher has had the idea in the works for some time, as Bendis builds on a concept he introduced last year in New Avengers. At the heart of the premise is an intriguing socio-political idea that's both disturbing but completely logical all at the same time. Alex Maleev's gritty artwork was an excellent choice to bring this mature and thought-provoking story to life, but those expecting the same sort of shadowy fare from his previous effort will be surprised by what they find.
Shortly after the dawn of the second age of fantastic champions years ago, several superhuman leaders from across the globe opted to form a secret yet formal group of decisionmakers who would discuss and perhaps even govern the affairs of the super-hero community. Those men were Reed Richards, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Charles Xavier, Namor, the Black Panther and Black Bolt. The seven men were united in their wish to maintain a balance of power on the planet, but over the years, rifts began to work their way into their discussions. Today, Iron Man informs the group of a proposed piece of U.S. legislation that will change the world as they know it, but even more shocking is what he proposes they should do about it.
Fans of Maleev's work on Daredevil will notice his style for this book is quite different, as it should be. Daredevil was a focused, gritty crime drama, and while Illuminati isn't exactly Silver Age super-hero storytelling, it's still entrenched in a different corner of the Marvel Universe than Hell's Kitchen. I'm reminded of Michael (Daredevil, Gotham Central) Lark's work on such straightforward super-hero fare as Legend of Hawkman. There's still an edge to the art, though, that's in keeping with the more grown-up tone of the script. The colors by Dave Stewart bring a darker quality into play that really drives home the tension in the story.
Having Steve McNiven illustrate the denouement of the book, in which the disaster that Tony Stark predicts comes to pass, was a smart move. This epilogue is actually a preview of Civil War, but it works as an addendum to this one-shot. The art is more detailed and colors are flashier and crisper, and those qualities reinforce the cockiness and showiness of the young heroes quite well.
Bendis fits this story in with Marvel continuity quite well, incorporating events that occurred from through Marvel's history, from the 1960s onward. More importantly, though, while he does so to drive home the sense of history and the shared experiences these dynamic men have witnessed together, Bendis doesn't require his readership to be intimately familiar with Marvel's past in order to appreciate the story.
What makes this such an interesting read and such an unusual super-hero story is that the heroes become the bad guys of their own story. These secret meetings, these ideological clashes and these major decisions -- all hidden from family, allies and enemies alike -- is what's really wrong with the scenario. The super-hero "Illuminati" that serves as the cast for this one-shot gathered initially to compare notes and fend off attack from enemies that would conspire against them. Over the years, they're the ones doing the conspiring. There's no doubt to the good intentions, but it makes for a slightly unsettling feeling that serves as the book's greatest strength. 8/10
