A new war threatens to divide Marvel's heroes.
Even with two prologue chapters already in the bag, it's tough to know how to feel about Marvel's latest major event comic. The Civil War II FCBD Special was a major disappointment, full of flashy visuals and poor characterization. Conversely, Civil War II #0 offered a much different and more character-driven approach to the conflict, focusing on the two conflicting viewpoints that will form the basis between Marvel's latest war between heroes. Which of these prologues is more indicative of the main story? Will Civil War II turn out to be one more Marvel event that's all style and no substance, or does it have something deep and meaningful to say about the Marvel Universe and the role of the Avengers? Even after the first issue of the core mini-series, it's difficult to tell one way or the other.
If you've paid much attention to Marvel's marketing for Civil War II, you'll see all of the beats of this first issue coming a mile away. This issue opens with the Avengers confronting a potential world-ending threat, which segues into the debut of the Inhuman known as Ulysses and the revelation about his ability to predict the future. From there, battle lines are drawn as Captain Marvel and Iron Man squabble over the issue of whether Ulysses' gift should be used to stop future disasters before they can happen. Throw in an extra catalyst in the form of a major superhero tragedy and suddenly the philosophical debate devolves into open war.
As far as first issues go, this one is competently structured and efficient about setting the stage for the coming conflict,. However, it doesn't do much to inspire excitement or surprise. That's despite the fact that the book opens with a massive battle between the Avengers and a Celestial invasion force. Sure, this sequence looks fantastic thanks to David Marquez's dynamic pencils and Justin Ponsor's vivid colors, but it lacks the urgency and drama of, say, Nitro blowing up a school or Captain America escaping S.H.I.E.L.D. custody in the original Civil War #1. Considering some of the dark twists that unfold in these pages, this issue should have inspired a much stronger reaction than it does. Too often it feels as if major Marvel characters are being used as thankless pawns to further the conflict.
Part of the problem stems from the fact that Civil War II #1 doesn't stand entirely on its own. In fact, it's essentially missing a chunk of story. The question of just how and where the FCBD Special fits into the larger narrative is definitively answered here, as this issue jumps right over those events and into their aftermath. It makes for a very jarring shift, and presumably even more so for those who haven't actually read the FCBD issue. Hopefully the eventual hardcover collection will include the FCBD chapter in its proper chronological spot.
The good news is that Bendis' characterization is generally pretty solid. Whereas the FCBD Special suffered from a familiar problem in terms of individual voices becoming drowned out in a sea of generic team banter, there's more nuance and depth to most of the dialogue here. There are still a few instances of interchangeable "team speak" (including the introduction of the Inhumans and the massively crowded battle against the Celestials), but Bendis is able to keep the story focused on a select few characters - Iron Man, War Machine, Captain Marvel, etc. Tony especially stands out here, which is good considering his conspicuous absence in Civil War II #0. At this stage in the conflict, when Carol's stance on the Ulysses problem is still fairly grounded and sensible, Tony's objections are more emotional. He has a very personal stake in this fight that feels more genuine than his role in the original Civil War. Tony's transition from freewheeling hero to bitter, vengeful survivor definitely carries a weight that the story otherwise lacks. However, She-Hulk's characterization falls flat here, mainly because her stance seems so at odds with the way she was written in Civil War II #0.
And for whatever storytelling problems this comic suffers from, there are no complaints to be had when it comes to the visuals. Marquez's art is gorgeous from start to finish. Marquez has developed into a master of action and choreography, a skill that serves him well throughout the massive battle in the opening pages. In terms of scope, it's easily one of the biggest scenes Marquez has drawn to date. But emotion is equally crucial to this story, and Marquez never fails to deliver in that area. The reason Tony stands out as much as he does in this issue boils down to Marquez's storytelling as much as anything. The facial work and body language in these scenes is impeccably rendered.
And again, Justin Ponsor's colors are a sight to behold. From the ethereal glow of the Celestial battle to the somber aftermath of this issue's traumatic events, Ponsor succeeds in enhancing the mood and energy of Marquez's art in a huge way.
The Verdict
As far as Marvel events go, Civil War II is shaping up to be neither the publisher's worst nor its most impressive effort. This first issue cleanly establishes the conflict and delivers a nonstop stream of gorgeous artwork. However, it offers few surprises for those not already familiar with the basics of this crossover, and it often fails to elicit a strong emotional response in the way the first issue of Civil War did ten years ago. The excitement factor simply isn't there right now.
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