Civil War Begins
When the Illuminati were gathered, futurists Iron Man & Mr. Fantastic predicted that a war was coming between heroes. All it would take was a fuse to light the powder keg, starting a Civil War between heroes. He was right and the fuse...a bunch of hot shot young heroes known as The New Warriors.
Civil War # 1: The Powder Keg Explodes
I had read the first issue of the New Warriors and at the time they were a serious group of crime fighters. It appears that over time a small group of them (Night Thrasher, Speedball, Namorita, and Microbe) had turned their operation into a reality TV show. On live TV, the New Warriors decided to raid a hideout of some villains. One of the villains, Nitro, was cornered by Namorita and rather than surrender, he set of a gigantic explosion in Stamford, Connecticutt. The blast killed the New Warriors along with 600 civilians, including a school full of children.
The result was an outraged population. Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) had gone to a club and the partygoers were so furious with him as a hero, they beat him up so bad that he went into critical condition. As a response to public outcry, the Superhuman Registration Act was born, which would require all heroes to identify themselves and go through a government sanctioned training program. Some heroes like Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic strongly supported this idea, but not everyone agreed.
Maria Hill, acting Director of SHIELD, ordered SHIELD agents to speak to Captain America and ask him to round up dissenters. When he refused, they tried to order him to do so. He didn't like that and instead attacked and made an amazing escape to go underground. And so starts the Civil War.
Amazing Spider-Man # 532 - 533: Spider-Man's Identity Revealed!
As we saw in the Road to the Civil War, Iron Man asked Spider-Man to stay loyal to him after all he's done for Aunt May and Mary Jane. Well, the bill came due as Tony asks Peter to disclose his true identity. Tony knows this is a big deal since Peter's secret identity is more important to him than all other heroes, and Spider-Man is an important symbol to other heroes. I think the editorial team knows this as well as Spider-Man secret identity has been a central plot point from the very beginning. We see that this Civil War event has humongous implications on the ongoing continuity after this point.
Peter is really struggling with what to do and tells May and MJ that he's hesitant because he doesn't want to put them at risk. May gives an amazing speech about how she's proud of him and the world should be too. The next day, at a press event, Peter actually does it!
However, Peter is immediately rubbed the wrong way because Tony follows it up by saying that he knows the names of 117 other Super Heroes and will divulge them within 24 hours if they don't come forward and register. It's a total dick move, but less shocking than when Tony tells the press that Spider-Man will help him capture the heroes who don't give themselves up.
J. Jonah Jameson absolutely loses his mind, feels personally betrayed, fires Peter, and threatens to sue him.
She-Hulk V2 # 8: Legal Support
Even though Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk) is pro registration (she's a lawyer, inclined to follow the law), her firm is helping Super Heroes who are being prosecuted. The first example is former members of the New Warriors looking for help shutting down a hate site designed to hunt and kill them.
Civil War: Front Line # 1: Tales from the Streets
Civil War: Front Line is a limited series that ran alongside the Civil War Event. It follows three main plotlines: Ben Urich and Sally Floyd (reporters) trying to hunt down the truth, Speedball (Robbie Baldwin) still being alive and going through incarceration, and a growing plot about Atlanteans.
In this first issue, Spider-Man tells Ben Urich that Super Heroes have families and that sharing their identity has consequeneces. Meanwhile, we see that Speedball's intertia abilities protected him by sending him miles away, however he's woken up incarcerated and without powers.
The Lines are Drawn
Following the passing of the Superhero Registration Act and Captain America's refusal to comply, the Marvel Universe entered a period where the heroes needed to choose sides.
Civil War # 2: Choosing Sides
Captain America saves the Young Avengers and easily recruits them for the resistance movement.
Thunderbolts #103: Villain good guys?
Tony asks the Thunderbolts (a group of "reformed" villains led by Baron Zemo) to track down super villains and recruit them for the cause. Apparently they had actually started doing that already and have hundreds incarcerated.
This is one of the first steps where Tony begins to take an "Ends justify the Means approach" where he's willing to use super villains to accomplish his goals.
Civil War: Front Line #2
Spider-Man visits Ben Urich and promises him an exclusive.
New Avengers #21: SHIELD is out for blood!
Captain America is attacked by SHIELD and they actually try to kill him! Cap meets up with Falcon and he's easily on his side. Cap tries to recruit Hank Pym but he turns on him, clearly siding with the pro registration camp.
Fantastic Four #538: Can't stay neutral together
Sue and Ben are trying to decide which side they support.
She-Hulk Vol. 2 #9: Engagements and Violence
She-Hulk goes to dinner with J. Jonah Jameson after her engagement to his son. Jameson tries to kill her until she agrees to help him sue Spider-Man, then he suddenly loves her.
Civil War: Front Line #3
Two heroes fighting on the street. The anti registration hero (Thunderclap) accidentally kills the other, and maybe some pedestrians too.
Speedball refuses to sign a plea deal and takes responsibility.
Thunderbolts #104: Villains and Cap
Baron Zemo is gathering villains. Makes an offer to Cap to break out the arrested heroes, which Cap is considering.
Civil War #3: Recruits
Reed asks Black Panther to join, but he declines.
Tony asks Emma to join, and they casually mention that they used to be friends with benefits. Interesting. She declines, agrees to stay neutral. The X-Men have a bad enough rep as it is, they don't want to be more hated. However, Bishop asks to talk to Tony. Ruh roh!
Cap, Hercules, Dare Devil, and Goliath all get new ID's. They go to help at a factory and it’s a trap!
On Cap's side we have Wiccan, Vision, Luke Cage, and Hulkling.
On Iron Man's side we have Tony, Reed, Cable, Pym/Yellowjacket?, Ms Marvel, She Hulk, Wonder Man, and Spider-Man
Thor shows up! On Tony's side. He seems a little "off." Not good.
Civil War: Front Line #4
Sally and some hidden heroes get raided. The Green Goblin attacks Urich.
New Avengers #22
All about Luke Cage. Luke decides not to sign. Jessica Jones (his wife) and their baby go to Toronto. They come for him at midnight and he fights back.
Cap, DareDevil, and Falcon bail him out. One more recruit for the resistance!
Amazing Spider-Man #534
Spider-Man and friends are moving prisoners from a convoy. SM feels like shit about everything they are doing. SM fights Cap as they try to break out the prisoners.
Fantastic Four #539
The Mad thinker and Puppetmaster are getting ready to attack the convoy. The Thing decides to get in the middle of both sides, stay neutral, and then leave the country (eventually going to Paris).
Civil War: Front Line #5
Sally Floyd and her editor are arrested for not giving up their confidential sources. Ben Urich is not able to convince J. Jonah Jameson that the Green Goblin is at large.
Meanwhile, Speedball is transferred to a prison in the Negative Zone. Wonder Man is “drafted” into helping find a villain
The First Confrontation
After Cap and his resistance fighters walk into a trap, the first major super hero battle begins. What's next for this war after the first blood is spilled!?
Civil War #4: Blood is Spilled
As an all out hero battle breaks out, Cap is beaten to a pulp by IM. IM uses a special tone to put all his enemies down, but then Hercules breaks it giving the resistance a chance to escape. During the fight, it's clear that something is wrong with Thor. He's out for blood and ends up killing Goliath by shooting a bolt through his chest. Crazy!
This goes too far for some and Sue Storm specifically chooses this moment to switch sides. She protects Cap’s group and Cloak helps them escape.
We learn that Thor was cloned by Reed and IM, but went berserk. Sue and Johnny (who is out of the hospital) officially quit both the Fantastic Four and the pro-registration side.
Due to the mistake with Thor and Goliath, support is flying in Caps favor.
Reed supports temporarily using villains to re-coup their losses. Bullseye, Lady Deathstrike, Hobgoblin, Venom, and more have all been recruited.
Civil War: Front Line #6
Urich was there when Goliath died.
He called out Tony for freeing the Green Gobling and using him.
Captain America Vol. 5 #22
Sharon Carter, who is Cap’s handler and lover, is asked to bring him in. She meets with him and refuses to double cross him. Now she’s under review.
Amazing Spider-Man #535
Peter is disturbed to learn that Stark industries and Reed Richards are earning billions in defense contracts and high quality jails. Peter demands to see the jails. Peter is horrified by the jails in the negative zone and Tony takes a hard line stance, clarifying that this isn’t temporary.
Reed tells a story about his eccentric uncle being jailed for being a suspected communist. Peter tells MJ and Aunt May to leave Tony’s compound (since he's considering defecting), and then he’s attacked by Tony.
This is one of the issues that had the biggest impression on me. Peter made a tough decision and it cost him a lot. He stood by that decision, but as time goes on, he realizes that he didn't fully understand what he was getting into. But the nail in the coffin is his realization that Tony is getting filthy rich off the Civil War. This is clearly an alegory for the Iraq War with the industrial military complex profiting off war, similar to Dick Cheney's former defense contracting company, Halliburton, getting a number of no bid contracts. We'll see a similar theme play out in the Wolverine arc, but I'll get to that in my next X-Men-centric Civil War blog.
Civil War: Choosing Sides #1 (2006)
Venom (old man version) takes out some cops, and the Thunderbolts, who are trying to bring him in. We also learn that it's actually Iron fist wearing the Daredevil gettup. I never did learn much more about this.
Also, USAgent joins Alpha Flight (soon calling itself Omega Flight).
Fantastic Four #540
Sue helps a hero escape from the Negative Zone prison. She calls out Reed and leaves him.
Thing leaving the US so he does t have to choose a side.
Civil War: Front Line #7
Urich realizes Stark is letting villains out of jail. Ben Urich watches someone shoot Speedball (Robbie Baldwin). Something starts happening with his powers in the ambulance.
Captain America Vol. 5 #23
Doom and Red Skull working together. Nick Fury and Winter Soldier working together.
Civil War #5
Spider-Man officially turns and escapes. Villains hunt him and almost kill him. He's saved at the last minute by the Punisher, who brings him to the resistance.
Daredevil (Danny Rand?) is captured and brought to the Negative Zone.
The Invincible Iron Man # 13
Tony is offered the Director of SHIELD position. Happy stops the taskmaster from assassinating Toni, but it may have cost him his life (it does).
Punisher War Journal Vol. 2 #1 (2007)
GW bridge is brought out of retirement to find the Punisher. The Punisher saves Spider-Man (extended story.)
Civil War: Front Line #8
Cap dresses in disguise to find Sally. Speedball may be recovering his powers, and some new ones.
Amazing Spider-Man #536
Peter fights Tony. Tony tries to shut down Peter’s costume, but it doesn’t work. Peter, MJ, Aunt May, are on the run. Peter goes on live TV and tells everyone that he was wrong and he no longer supports the superhero registration act. HUGE!
Captain America Vol. 5 #24
Sharon continues helping Cap.
Civil War: War Crimes #1 (2007)
Tony tried to make a deal with the Kingpin but he was sold out and Fisk made a deal with Cap.
Civil War: Front Line #9
Sally blew off her interview with Captain America because she didn’t want to hear him talk about how he’s a patriot and he’s right.
IM knows who their traitor is. Speedball is the only prisoner to survive a jailbreak and is now saying he wants to sign the registration.
Iron Man Vol. 4 #14
Happy is in a coma. Pepper asks Tony to euthanize Happy. Tony asks Cap for a meeting. He just wanted to ask if Cap was behind Happy. Tony kills Happy.
Fantastic Four #541
The gov freezes Thing’s assets and tries to stop him from going to Paris . Parisian "Supes" ask Ben for help.
Punisher War Journal Vol. 2 #2
Nobody trusts Punisher but Cap agrees to work with him if he promises to use non lethal weapons. Later he shoots two villains and Cap is PISSED.
A very real war
After Goliath is killed by "Thor," the conflict moves from a dispute to a very real war. There are defections on both sides. Some heroes on the pro registration side (such as Spider-Man, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm) decide that they can't support Iron Man's bloody war. While others on the resistance side decide that they aren't ready to die for this fight. Regardless, both sides decide to boost their ranks and get ready for a final battle.
Civil War #6: Gearing up for a final battle.
Tony and SHIELD are starting "The Initiative," which involves sending different hero groups to all 50 states. This scares some into thinking that the government is creating a super hero army. The President is offering 12 pardons. Reed wants Sue and Johnny to get one.
Both sides are getting ready for a final offensive. Reed is planning to use the Thor Cyborg again, which sounds like a fantastic idea. The resistance is getting themselves ready too.
Sue goes to Namor for help. He calls her out for wanting him.
Punisher (who promises Cap that he won't use lethal force) is finding out details on the negative zone prison. Some villains come to help but Punisher shoots them, which really pisses Cap off and he calls Punisher a maniac.
The resistance includes Cap, Falcon, Hercules, Vision, Storm, Black Panther, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, Tigra, Patriot, Spider-Man (recently converted), and more.
The Pro registration side includes Iron Man, Hank Pym (Yellowjacket), Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Captain Marvel, Hobgoblin, Wonder Man, Venom, Bullseye, She Hulk, Sentry, Cassie Lang (recently defected), Lady Deathstrike, and others.
Uatu asking Dr Strange why he’s staying out of it. I guess I didn't realize that he talks.
Cap walks into a trap. It turns out that Tigra was a mole, however Cap knew it and planned on it. Hulkling had been impersonating Pym. They freed others from the jail and now the numbers are evened out with DD, Cloak and Dagger, etc. freed. It's about to go down!
Civil War: Front Line #10
Both Urich and Sally come to the same conclusion about the real reason for the Civil War.
Speedball signs the papers in exchange for the guy who shot him going free. Robbie becomes Penance and wears a new suit with spikes that torture him.
Amazing Spider-Man #537
Kingpin pays an assassin to take out SM and his family. Human Torch leaves a flame text for Peter. Peter has a long chat with Cap about freedom.
Fantastic Four #542
Reed and Johnny meet in a cafe. They go talk to The Thinker. Reed did Psychohistory (from Foundation, one of my favorite books/shows), and needs the Thinker to check his math. Reed is convinced that he needs to do all this to prevent worse evils.
Civil War: The Return # 1
Captain Marvel returns as the warden of the Negative Zone prison. He was pulled from the past, however he finds out that he will eventually die of cancer. Also, the Sentry fights the absorbing man.
Punisher War Journal Vol. 2 #3
Punisher stands there and takes a beating from Cap. We learn that Cap had picked on him in the military as well. As tough of a guy that Punisher is, he refuses to hit Cap.
Black Panther Vol. 4 #24
BP gives the smell test to Cap’s group, trying to sniff out traitors. He was probably the one who identified Tigra as the mole.
The Final Battle
Both sides are at full strength and a massive battle begins.
Civil War # 7
NAMOR and the Atlanteans come to fight with Cap and we are left with an all out brawl between the two sides.
Hercules picks up Thor’s hammer (I guess he's worthy) and bashes in the Cyborg head.
Reed takes a shot to protect Sue. Vision short circuits IM and Cap beats his ass. When Cap realizes they lost the moral high ground (civilians were attacking him), he surrenders.
Iron Man’s side won. Super heroes in 50 states.
Amazing Spider-Man #538
Aunt May is shot by a sniper.
Civil War: Front Line #11
Ben and Sally confront IM about him purposely using the Green Goblin to attack the Atlanteans. This “common enemy” has helped increase super hero registration. That's cold, Tony!
Civil War: The Initiative #1 (2007)
Tony won and now he’s the Director of SHIELD. Some dude killed all of Alpha Flight. New group is Omega Flight, composed of USAgent, Spider-Woman/Arachne (Jennifer Carpenter), Beta Ray Bill, and Sasquatch.
The Thunderbolts are composed of Venom, Green Goblin, Bullseye, Moonstone, Penance ( Speedball.)
Tony gets to choose the next Avengers
Iron Man: Director of SHIELD
Tony takes over SHIELD
The Mighty Avengers # 1
Brian Bendis pens the new Avengers team, which was hand picked by Tony and Carol. The whole first issue is spent explaining why they choose each member.
Iron Man will be on the team, but Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) will lead due to her military training, however it's clear that Iron Man is still calling the shots.
Black Widow is on the team because she's "kind of a Wolverine." Ares, the Brother of Hercules, is on the team because he's both a Thor and a Wolverine.
Wasp is on the team because she could also lead.
Wonder Man is on the team, mostly because he might be dating Carol and he's been attached to her hip. IM asks if they are dating.
Sentry is added. Carol doesn’t want him because he's a headcase. Tony wants him to grow into a Thor.
All the while, the team fights Mole Man and his creatures.
Captain America Vol. 5 #25
Sharon Carter and Falcon reminisce about how great Cap is until he’s sniped and killed outside the courthouse.
Civil War: The Confession #1 (2007)
IM gives a long speech about what drove him to start the war and at the end confesses to a dead Captain America that it wasn’t worth it.
Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #1 - 5 (2007)
W and Daredevil break onto the Helicarrier with the help of Dr. Strange and confirm that Steve Rogers is dead.
Self Contained Civil War Stories
Throughout the Civil War saga, there were a number of self contained, and super entertaining side stories playing out. I am deciding to go through all of them in a linear fashion for this part of the blog.
Black Panther # 18 - 25
Storm needs to go through a black panther ritual, but she gets pissy because she’s saying that whether she passes it or not, she still expects to stay with T’Challa. The Panther God accepts Storm, so she passes and the wedding is slated to move forward!
This is taking place during Civil War and Iron Man and Captain America are in each other‘s faces. They argue fiercely and both leave. The Watcher shows up, which is never a great sign.
Kitty is Maid of Honor (hooray, Kitty!) They get married without issue. Dr Doom offers them peace and invites them to Latveria for their honeymoon.
BP and Storm are honeymooning at a private island protected by Namor, before embarking on a number of international visits. They go to Latveria and Doom offers Wakanda an alliance. BP rejects it and they fight.
Storm and T’Chala go to the moon to talk to the Inhumans. There is a another miscommunication, they fight, and then everything‘s fine.
While at Atlantis, Namor convinces BP to lead an international resistance to Iron Man.
While in Great Britain, BP and storm try to convince Captain Britain to join his side, but that doesn’t work.
The X-Men (voices by Emma) are going to continue to “sit this one out” to not further tarnish their image.
Storm and BP go the White House where Storm is told she needs to register. Outside, Sentinels, and later Tony, attack BP and Storm. Rhodey gets Tony to stand down, but BP says he has no intention of leaving America. BP’s people try to convince him to back off.
They are at Goliath’s funeral and BP offers aide to Cap. Storms beats the shit out of Cyborg Thor during the final battle!
Young Avengers & Runaways
The Pro Registration forces are after the Runaways when the Young Avengers find them to protect them. They have a classic misunderstanding fight. Shield sends a Kree super soldier (Noh Varr) after the combined teams.
Xavin is seemingly killed by Noh Varr. The Cube’s warden takes a few of the aliens. The combined teams rescue their kidnapped partners. Xavin comes back to life (of course).
Noah-Vell turns the Cube prison into the new home for the Kree Empire.
New Avengers
Jessica Drew is a Hydra triple agent. She blows up a Hydra base and joins Cap.
The Sentry is hiding on the moon. Maybe a coward. The Inhumans attack, then welcome him. Crystal kisses him. Iron Man comes and they leave together.
A disgruntled former Stark employee (Kenny) tries to blow up Avengers Tower because he’s disgusted with Tony. Maria Hill saves him at the last minute. She quits as Director and asks him to do it.
Ms. Marvel
Ms Marvel and Wonder Man are looking for a teenage hero and they accidentally find her at a fast food joint. Ms. Marvel takes 15 year old Spider/Venom hero Arane under her wing.
Julia Carpenter (AKA Arachne, formerly Spider-Girl) is pretending to be on Iron Man's side. She help's villain Shroud escape, who is also her boyfriend. Later, she is on the run and gets in a violent car chase with Mrs. Marvel and Wonder Man. Her boyfriend, Shroud, gets captured.
Carol fights Spider Woman (Julia Carpenter- Arachne) and separates her from her daughter.
Arana, the teenage venom, is distraught by this. Carol is finally having second thoughts. Rogue shows up but I didn't see where this goes.
Heroes for Hire
A new group of Heroes for Hire are formed, super heroes working for the U.S. Government. Misty Knight, Coleen Wing, Shang Chi, Black Cat, Humbug, and Tarantula. Misty leads the group, being paid by the Gov to catch the unregistered. Orka and Paladin join (whoever they are.)
The heroes for hire discover that some people are implanting Skrull organs to help them invade capture. Misty uses a gold eating demon to find Cap. Paladin betrays them, knocks everyone out with gas, signals to SHIELD. Cap wasn’t really captured. Him and the traitor switched places. Supes are injecting Skrull DNA allowing them to shapeshift.
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