Civil War
Cover art for Civil War #7. Art by Steve McNiven.
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Format	Limited series with tie-in issues of other series
Publication date	2006-2007
Number of issues	7 plus tie-ins
Main character(s)	Iron Man (Tony Stark) Captain America (Steve Rogers) Spider-Man (Peter Parker) Multiple others
Creative team
Writer(s)	Mark Millar
Penciller(s)	Steve McNiven
Inker(s)	Dexter Vines
Colorist(s)	Morry Hollowell

Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover event built around a seven-issue limited series of the same name written by Mark Millar, and penciled by Steve McNiven. The storyline builds upon the events that developed in previous Marvel crossovers, particularly Avengers Disassembled, House of M, Decimation, and Secret War.

The tagline for the series is Whose Side Are You On?.^[1]

Overview

The premise of the Civil War storyline involves the introduction of a Superhuman Registration Act in the United States. Similar acts have been used as literary devices in Watchmen, Uncanny X-Men, DC: The New Frontier, Powers, Astro City, and The Incredibles, though never on a scale such as permanently altering an entire pantheon of established pop culture icons. Mark Millar, writer for the story, has said:

The act requires any person in the United States with superhuman abilities to register with the federal government as a "human weapon of mass destruction", reveal his/her true identity to the authorities, and undergo proper training. Those who sign also have the option of working for S.H.I.E.L.D., earning a salary and benefits such as those earned by other American civil servants. Characters within the superhuman community in the Marvel Universe split into two groups: one advocating the registration as a responsible obligation (and the villains who join this side for the "get out of jail" card) and the other opposing the law on the grounds that it violates civil liberties and the protection that secret identities provide. Luke Cage (Power Man), an African American, compared registration to slavery, and did so to Iron Man's face. Others compare the act to the norms under which the police and soldiers operate.

The genesis for this idea sprang from conversations between Mark Millar, Brian Michael Bendis, and Bryan Hitch.^[2] Within the story, the adoption of sides by characters builds into the titular "civil war". Although the series can be read as allegorical commentary in the wake of 9/11 and The Patriot Act, writer Mark Millar has noted:

Plot

When the New Warriors are filming an episode for their television show, things go wrong. Nitro, an old villain of Captain Marvel's, blows himself up, causing over 600 deaths. This causes the U.S. Government to speed up their plans for a Superhuman Registration Act. The act, spearheaded by Iron Man's support of it, causes a rift among the superhuman community. Everyone takes a side, preparing him or herself for war. During the conflict, certain heroes switch sides (e.g., Spider-Man and Sue Richards); and others are killed (Goliath and Bantam). As the fighting comes to a climax, Captain America realizes that the two sides are no longer fighting for a cause, but simply fighting. He then surrenders and ends the war.

Delays

Marvel announced in August 2006 that the main Civil War book would be pushed back several months to accommodate artist Steve McNiven. The schedule had issue #4 being released one month late, in September, while issue #5 was released two months later in November. Furthermore, various tie-in books including the Civil War: Front Line miniseries and tie-in issues of other comics were delayed several months so as not to reveal any plot developments.^[4]

In late November, Marvel announced another delay: Civil War #6, originally scheduled for release in December 20, was pushed back two weeks and released in January 4. Unlike the previous instance, only The Punisher War Journal #2 was delayed.

In a final act of rescheduling, Civil War #7 was pushed back two weeks (from January 17 to January 31),^[5] and then pushed back again until February 21.^[6]

Behind the scenes

After the publication of Civil War #7, Mark Millar was interviewed by Newsarama and described the event as "a story where a guy wrapped in the American flag is in chains as the people swap freedom for security",^[7] agreeing that a "certain amount of political allegory"^[7] was present but that the real focus of the book was on superheroes fighting each other. Contrasting it with The Ultimates, Millar stated that Civil War was "accidentally political because I just cannot help myself."^[7]

Millar was also questioned about the perception that, despite Marvel's initial marketing^{citation needed}, the two sides were not being presented equally to readers with the pro-registration side shown in a more negative light than the anti-registration side. He responded by explaining that "it's pretty much Tony's side that gets the better rep all the way through" in the main Civil War book, but that "the tie-in books demonized them a little."^[7]

Tom Brevoort blogged extensively about the production of Civil War and, some time after the series was over, posted Millar's initial pitch document.

Reaction

Tom Spurgeon took note of the difficulty in using costumed characters to send messages about real world issues: "When I was a kid I liked it when Captain America saw a high government official commit suicide. I thought that was way deep, man. But I never go there when thinking about Watergate. While Millar's Captain America and I may both worry about civil rights...the moment this leads Cap to take out a battalion of Secret Agents to buttress his point he's kind of lost to me as a potential partner-in-ideology."^[8]

According to a scholarly analysis presented at the 2007 Comic-Con International, this story's conflict is a natural outgrowth of what psychologist Erich Fromm called the basic human dilemma, the conflicting desires for both security and freedom, and "character motivations on both sides arise from positive human qualities because Fromm’s image of human nature is ultimately optimistic, holding that people on either side are struggling to find what is best for all."^[9]

Alternate versions

What If?

In What If Civil War Ended Differently?, a stranger appears in front of Iron Man who is visiting Captain America’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery. Tony Stark is told of two diverse ways the Civil War could have concluded:

• The first is "What If Captain America led all the heroes against the Registration Act?" In this reality, Tony Stark dies of the Extremis virus, leaving the US government to choose Steve Rogers as the spokesperson for heroes, who as in the regular universe opposes registration. Though he manages to delay its passing, the Stamford disaster occurs as in the true reality. Without Tony Stark to provide a more fair path for Registration, the government's response is more extreme, launching Sentinels that kill the Invisible Woman, Spider-Man, Iron Fist (who was posing as Daredevil at the time) and Stature within mere minutes of the first battle's start. Captain America dons a suit of armor to lead the heroes against human-piloted Sentinels, but pulls back when he realizes the damage. Henry Peter Gyrich creates a new platoon of troops (consisting entirely of clones of Thor), which overwhelms the heroes, forcing them underground. The heroes continue to strike from the shadows to defeat villains and save lives but eventually Gyrich and Maria Hill launch an ambush that kills Captain America and several others, ending the rebellion. Gyrich is eventually elected President of the United States on a metahuman control platform.

• The second is "What if Iron Man lost the Civil War?" In this reality, Iron Man asks for Cap's help in chapter three instead of threatening him. When the Thor clone is sent out by accident, Reed Richards is quickly knocked out when he tries to initiate the shutdown and Iron Man saves Bill Foster's life at the cost of his own armor. With Reed and Tony, the only men who know the shutdown for the clone, being unable to stop him, Captain America steps in to save Iron Man from being killed, and all the heroes unite to bring the clone down. Afterwards, while discussing the reasons for and against registration, Tony points out that Cap is the perfect person to oversee the registered identities and make sure it runs smoothly outside of government interference as he is the only person the superhero community would trust their identities to if they had to. With this new system in place, the Avengers train new heroes and create a better world.

Comic tie-ins

(This list is in alphabetical order and not in release order)

From the official checklist

Involved but not listed

• The 2006 Eternals relaunch has the Civil War play a fairly present background in the setting with Sprite appearing in pro-registration PSAs. In issue #3, Iron Man reminds Sersi to register. In issue #6, Iron Man and Hank Pym try to get the Eternals to register again, but they refuse. In the end, Zuras explains that the Eternals have no desire to meddle with humanity, and will stay out of their affairs, which Iron Man concedes as a fair compromise.
• Daredevil #87 leads into Civil War: Choosing Sides (one-shot)
• New X-Men #28, and She-Hulk #9, are indirectly but strongly involved.
• Black Panther #19-20 "World Tour" Black Panther meets with Doctor Doom then the Inhumans to discuss the Civil War (these are not listed as official tie-ins due to a marketing error).
• The cover of Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #11 features a Civil War parody cover including a plaid background, the words "Not part of a Marvel Comics event," and Aaron Stack holding up a card reading "Mark Millar licks goats."
• Spider-Man and Power Pack #3 (March 2007), includes a parody entitled "Civil Wards", written by Marc Sumerak and illustrated by Chris Giarrusso.
• The final issue of Robert Kirkman's Marvel Team-Up opens with Peter Parker getting ready to travel to Washington with Iron Man.
• The third issue of the 2006 Union Jack miniseries also mentions Tony Stark and Peter Parker's trip to Washington.
• Incredible Hulk #100 includes a 12-page backup story dealing with Mr. Fantastic's involvement with the Thor clone, and the repercussions of the Illuminati having exiled the Hulk into space.
• In Annihilation #4, the former Earth hero Nova is aware of the Civil War and is disappointed with the actions the heroes have taken, as they are not united against the threat of Annihilus.

Trade paperbacks

• Straczynski, J. Michael; Bendis, Brian Michael (February 2007). The Road To Civil War, Illustrated by Alex Maleev, Marvel. ISBN 0785119744. 
• Bendis, Brian Michael (February 2007). New Avengers Vol 5: Civil War, Illustrated by Howard Chaykin, Olivier Coipel, Marvel. ISBN 0785122427. 
• Reed, Brian (March 2007). Ms. Marvel Vol 2: Civil War, Illustrated by Roberto De La Torre, Mike Wieringo, Marvel. ISBN 0785123040. 
• Gray, Justin; Palmiotti, Jimmy (April 2007). Heroes for Hire Vol 1: Civil War, Illustrated by Billy Tucci, Marvel. ISBN 0785123628. 
• Millar, Mark (April 2007). Civil War TPB, Illustrated by Steve McNiven, Marvel. ISBN 078512179X. 
• Nicieza, Fabian (April 2007). Civil War: Thunderbolts, Illustrated by Tom Grummett, Marvel. ISBN 0785119477. 
• Jenkins, Paul (April 2007). Civil War: Front Line, Book 1, Illustrated by Ramon F. Bachs, Marvel. ISBN 0785123121. 
• Straczynski, J. Michael (April 2007). Civil War: Amazing Spider-Man, Illustrated by Ron Garney, Marvel. ISBN 0785122370. 
• Hine, David (April 2007). Civil War: X-Men, Illustrated by Yanick Paquette, Marvel. ISBN 078512313X. 
• Fraction, Matt (April 2007). Punisher War Journal Vol 1: Civil War, Illustrated by Ariel Olivetti, Marvel. ISBN 0785127755. 
• Straczynski, J. Michael (April 2007). Civil War: Fantastic Four, Illustrated by Mike McKone, Marvel. ISBN 0785122273. 
• Wells, Zeb (May 2007). Civil War: Young Avengers and Runaways, Illustrated by Stefano Caselli, Marvel. ISBN 0785123172. 
• Guggenheim, Marc (May 2007). Civil War: Wolverine, Illustrated by Humberto Ramos, Marvel. ISBN 0785119809. 
• Brubaker, Ed (May 2007). Civil War: Captain America, Illustrated by Mike Perkins, Lee Weeks, Marvel. ISBN 0785127984. 
• Aguirre-Sacasa, Roberto (May 2007). Civil War: Peter Parker, Spider-Man, Illustrated by Clayton Crain, Angel Medina, Marvel. ISBN 0785121897. 
• Jenkins, Paul (May 2007). Civil War: Front Line, Book 2, Illustrated by Ramon F. Bachs, Steve Lieber, Marvel. ISBN 0785124691. 
• David, Peter; Nicieza, Fabian (May 2007). Civil War: X-Men Universe, Illustrated by Dennis Calero, Staz Johnson, Marvel. ISBN 0785122435. 
• Tieri, Frank (May 2007). Civil War: War Crimes, Illustrated by Staz Johnson, Marvel. ISBN 078512652X. 
• Hudlin, Reginald (May 2007). Black Panther: Civil War, Illustrated by Scot Eaton, Manuel Garcia, Koi Turnbull, Marvel. ISBN 0785122354. 
• Biggs, Chris; Byrd, Ronald; Carter, Madison; David, Peter; Fichera, Mike; Flamini, Anthony; Gray, Justin; Guggenheim, Marc; Hine, David; Hoskin, Michael; McLauchlin, Jim; O'English, Mark; Reed, Brian; Slott, Dan; Straczynski, J. Michael; Thomas, John Rhett; Trodglen, Dugan; Vandal, Stuart; Wells, Zeb; York, Jeph (May 2007). Civil War Companion, Illustrated by Scott Kolins, Mike Mayhew, Marvel. ISBN 0785125760. 
• Brubaker, Ed; Slott, Dan; Jenkins, Paul; Fraction, Matt; Oeming, Michael Avon (June 2007). Civil War: Marvel Universe, Illustrated by Lee Weeks, Tom Raney, Paul Smith, Leinil Francis Yu, David Aja, Phil Hester, Scott Kolins, Ty Templeton, Marvel. ISBN 0785124705. 
• Brubaker, Ed; Knauf, Charlie; Knauf, Daniel; Hudlin, Reginald (June 2007). Civil War: Iron Man, Illustrated by Mike Perkins, Marvel. ISBN 0785123148. 

See also

• Civil War: Front Line
• Civil War: X-Men
• Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways
• Avengers: The Initiative
• Civil War: The Initiative
• Mighty Avengers
• Marvel Civil War Reading List

References

External links

• Marvel.com - Official site
• The first Civil War trailer from Marvel.com
• The second Civil War trailer from Marvel.com
• Civil War covers gallery

Newsarama Coverage

• Newsarama Story on Civil War
• Civil War Q&A panel
• Press release on Sold Out issues
• Article on Civil War: Ceasefire
• Talking Civil War, Millarworld II, & '08 With Millar
• Mark Millar's Civil War post-game show

Newsarama's Civil War Room

During the run of Civil War, the comics website Newsarama ran monthly "Civil War Room" discussions, talking to Civil War editor Tom Brevoort and writer Mark Millar about each issue, the day after it hit the stands.

• Civil War Room #1
• Civil War Room #2
• Civil War Room #3
• Civil War Room #4
• Civil War Room #5 (Tom Brevoort)
• Civil War Room #5 (Mark Millar)
• Civil War Room #6
• Civil War Room #7
• Return to the Civil War Room #1
• Return to the Civil War Room #2
• Return to the Civil War Room #3
• Return to the Civil War Room #4
• Return to the Civil War Room #5
• Civil War Room: One Last Time

Comic Book Resources Coverage

• Joe Quesada's first Civil War interview
• Joe Quesada's second interview
• Tom Brevoort's interview
• Mark Millar's interview
• Retailer reaction to Civil War