Written by (See Credits Below)
Art by (See Credits Below)
Cover Art by Todd Nauck & Rachelle Rosenberg
SUMMARY:
Released by Marvel Comics in 2016, this 56-page, 9”x 6” digest consists of nine reprints showcasing pivotal Avengers who star in the live-action Captain America: Civil War film. Specifically, story content is lifted from: Marvel Adventures Super Heroes # 12 (2008); Marvel Adventures Iron Man # 9; Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes # 1 (2010); Marvel Universe Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes # 6, # 8, and # 12; Marvel Adventure Super Heroes # 17 (2010); and Avengers Vs. # 1.
Though the stories aren’t related to the movie or even each other, the kid-friendly visual styles are deliberately reflective of the animated Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes TV series.
The featured stories are:
- Marvel Adventures Super Heroes # 12 (2008): “Web of Deceit,” by writer Scott Gray, with art by Matteo Lolli; Christian; Vecchia; Sotocolor; & Dave Sharpe. “If This Be P.R.O.D.O.K.!” by writer Roger Langridge, with art by Craig Rosseau; Sotocolor; & Dave Sharpe. The cover artists are Clayton Henry & Guru-eFX.
A recently thawed-out Captain America and Rick Jones are sucked into the internet for fun-and-games on HYDRA’s website. The second tale reveals the Captain and Bucky’s wartime encounter with a pre-M.O.D.O.K. machine the Nazis have evidently unleashed on New York City.
- Marvel Adventures Iron Man # 9: “The Bunker,” by writer Fred Van Lente, with art by Graham Nolan; Victor Olazaba; Martegod Gracia; & Dave Sharpe. Cover art is by Tommy Lee Edwards.
To rescue a missing young Nebraska boy from a top-secret underground bunker, Iron Man poignantly uncovers another of his long-missing father’s buried secrets.
- Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes # 1 (2010): “Trust,” by writer Christopher Yost, with art by Patrick Scherberger; Jean-Francois Beaulieu; & Dave Sharpe. The cover artists are Scott Wegener & Jean Francois Beaulieu.
New teammates Black Panther and Hawkeye tangle with the female Whiplash in a warehouse showdown.
- Marvel Universe Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes # 8: “Mayhem of the Madbomb!” by writer Elliott Kalan, with art by Christopher Jones; ‘Pond Scum;’ Sotocolor; & VC’s Clayton Cowles. The cover artists are Khoi Pham & Edgar Delgado.
Defusing HYDRA’s Madbomb in New York City, Black Panther and the Hulk work on more trust issues.
- Marvel Adventures Super-Heroes # 17: An untitled Black Widow tale by writer Paul Tobin, with art by Marcio Takara; Amilcar Pinna; Sotocolor; & Dave Sharpe. The cover artists are Barry Kitson & Val Staples.
Protecting a mysterious witness in Prague per Nick Fury’s orders, an increasingly irritated Black Widow runs a gauntlet of assassination attempts until she finally encounters the villain orchestrating this scheme.
- Marvel Universe Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes # 6: “Absolute Zero” by writer Rob Williams, with art by Tim Levins; Karl Kessel; Sotocolor; & VC’s Clayton Cowles. The cover artists are Khoi Pham & Edgar Delgado.
On a SHIELD mission, Black Widow, Captain America, & Hawkeye face a desperate shoot-out vs. HYDRA to retrieve the long-hidden Zerobomb weapon from the Arctic Circle
- Avengers Vs. # 1: “Bros Before Foes,” by writer Joe Caramagna, with art by Dario Brizuuela & VC’s JC. The cover artist is Kalman Andrasofzky.
Iron Man and a rookie Falcon team up to thwart an A.I.M. raid on a top secret SHIELD base in Nevada, unaware that M.O.D.O.K. and Loki are watching their every move. Watch for a subtle homage to legendary Marvel comic artist Jim Steranko on the opening page.
- Marvel Universe Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes # 12: “This Man, That Monster!” by writer Christos Gage, with art by Chris Jones; Victor Olazaba; Sotocolor; & VC’s Clayton Cowles. The cover artists are Khoi Pam & Pete Pantazis.
The Mad Thinker’s scheme to steal Bruce Banner’s gamma ray-powered abilities goes awry when Captain America is transformed into a Hulk. Captain Marvel (Ms. Marvel), the Vision, and a now-powerless Banner are left to thwart the Thinker and a raging new Hulk.
Note: Despite his presence in this book, the Hulk doesn’t appear in the Captain America: Civil War live-action film.
REVIEW:
Aside from its deceptive title, this hodge-podge collection delivers good action-packed stories and varying artistic styles to entertain young Avengers fans. The best tale is likely “The Bunker,” where readers glimpse Tony Stark’s childhood coping with his estranged father, Howard. Also, kids may like how the Captain America stories dangles a few loose ends for future use. A parental note worth mentioning is that a corpse’s skeletal remains (the image is as tame as possible) is seen in the last panel of “Absolute Zero.”
Otherwise, the book’s bloodless violence quotient is on a par with the cartoon TV series. As for its potential adult appeal, Marvel Universe: Captain America – Civil War is such a quick one-and done-type read that it isn’t likely a keeper.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a complete credits page. A single-page introduction leads off the book. The cover images are included. A three-page set of quick profiles are saved for last re: Captain America; Iron Man; Black Panther; Black Widow; Falcon; Hawkeye; Hulk; and Bucky/Winter Soldier.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars
