If there's one thing Marvel has done well when it comes to this new crossover title, it's marketing. Civil War has hit the mainstream media like no other comics development in recent memory. The question is will that ever translate into a boost in the industry's readership as a whole. I suspect the answer, unfortunately, is no. Despite the relevance of this plot, I think the mainstream media story is a curiosity for most. That leaves us readgular comics readers, and the good news is that Civil War is a fairly intelligent and thoroughly accessible read. Writer Mark Millar doesn't require his readers to have read the already-released tie-in comics in order to appreciate this book, and I'm pleased to find the pacing is fairly brisk. The art is lovely, with McNiven dazzling not only with his detailed linework but with unusual perspectives as well.
When the New Warriors' attempt to apprehend a gang of super-criminals as a means to boost their TV ratings goes awry, hundreds pay for the mistake with their lives. As other super-heroes work tirelessly to clean up their mess, Americans' opinions about their super-powered champions turns understandably sour. The government fasttracks its legislation requiring all metahumans to register. As the Avengers, Fantastic Four and other heroes debate what to do next, Captain America faces off against the new director of S.H.I.E.L.D., refusing to play along with the oppressive government plan.
In the opening sequence, McNiven captures the extreme designs and goofiness that Scottie Young brought to the New Warriors in the team's most recent limited series, but at the same time, he doesn't sacrifice the detailed, grim look that dominates the issue as a whole. His efforts on this title reminds me a great deal of the work of John (Astonishing X-Men, Planetary) Cassaday. I love how he and the other artists on the book embrace a darker, more foreboding atmosphere, and Morry Hollowell's colors tend to glow ominously on the periphery of each panel.
One of my complaints about this issue was that material was included that was redundant or unnecessary -- at least, it was for me. As someone who picked up New Avengers: Illuminati, it was a bit tedious to go through the opening New Warriors scene again, and I honestly wished the literally explosive beginning of the story hadn't been given away previously. Furthermore, Joe Quesada's guide for new readers in the back did nothing for me, and I was surprised that he was hawking the more expensive versions of Marvel collections. Furthermore, three pages for crossover checklists is clearly filler.
Millar's not known for subtlety in his writing, but given the political nature of the story, the Ultimates 2 writer is certainly in his element. The script's a little ham-fisted, and I was disappointed to see the same cliched phrase -- "straw that broke the camel's back" -- used twice to describe the same situation. I thought at first the repetition was some sort of clue to a future plot point, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Even if it is, the repetitive dialogue took me out of the story.
The strongest scene in the book is Captain America's confrontation with S.H.I.E.L.D. After listening to the heroes debate, denounce and dilly-dally over their new circumstances, it was thoroughly satisfying to see an icon of idealism take a firm and decisive stand. I was also pleased to see that the plot galloped forward in that scene. Marvel's previous seven-part crossover title, House of M, spent too many issues exploring the same ideas and plot points over and over again, but I'm relieved to find that it doesn't seem as though this title will spin its wheels. 7/10
