Written by Brian Michael Bendis.
Art by Olivier Coipel; Justin Ponsor; Jim Cheung; John Dell; David Marquez; Sean Izaake; Adam Kubert; Leinil Francis Yu; Daniel Acuña; Alan Davis; Mark Farmer; Marco Rudy; Mark Bagley; Esad Ribic; & VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Collection Cover Art by Marko Djurdjević.
SUMMARY:
In 2017, Marvel Comics released this 296-page hardcover collecting 2016-2017’s Civil War II # 0-8 and its Free Comic Book Day 2016 issue. In the prologue, despite her best efforts, Jennifer Walters/She Hulk unsuccessfully defends the ex-Jester in criminal court prior to his unexpected demise in prison. After his latest impressive showing as War Machine, a shadowy U.S. President makes Col. James Rhodes a shocking job offer. Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel consults Doc Samson over her wish to intercede in crises before they happen.
Elsewhere, an Ohio State student named Ulysses is one of two overcome by the Inhumans’ Terrigen Mists. While his classmate transforms into a terrifying monster, he exits his cocoon possessing the power of terrifying prognostications.
Utilizing this new Inhuman’s power to foresee future events, Captain Marvel assembles a strike team to await Thanos’ attempted raid on Earth. Though the team succeeds in capturing Thanos, Rhodes’ War Machine is brutally killed while She-Hulk is critically injured. Another forecast ends with the shocking assassination of Bruce Banner by a fellow Avenger. Meanwhile, a grief-stricken Tony Stark is in desperation mode seeking to make sense of Ulysses and whether his powers are being misconstrued. Iron Man’s controversial retaliation pits him against both Carol Danvers and the Inhumans.
Riddled by doubts, Stark’s worst fears are confirmed once Banner’s killer is subsequently acquitted in court and publicly applauded. As Ulysses’ frightening predictions continue to prove accurate, Marvel heroes are fractured into two warring factions: one led by Captain Marvel, including Alpha Flight, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Inhumans, along with some Avengers; and the other side follows Iron Man’s lead, including Captain America.
The pivotal test comes when Captain America’s death at the hands of Miles Morales’ Spider-Man at the decimated U.S. Capitol is foreseen. Iron Man and Captain Marvel face off, as to whether Marvel’s heroes should await to see if this apparent destiny plays out – or desperately try to avert a heartbreaking tragedy, if possible.
Marvel’s immediate future is teased, including Iron Man’s murky fate and Jennifer Walters’ raging gray She-Hulk phase.
Note: This title is also available in digital and trade paperback formats.
REVIEW:
Aside from Marvel exploring the same notion as the 2002 Steven Spielberg/Tom Cruise sci-film, Minority Report, this epic crossover projects two major advantages. First, no matter its ridiculous number of variant covers, crossover issues, etc., kudos should go to Civil War II’s art squad for conjuring up consistently top-caliber visuals.
Second (and more importantly), though writer Brian Michael Bendis won’t necessarily score many originality points, his contrived storyline still makes an intriguing read. Unlike DC’s recent mega-event dreck (i.e. Justice League: No Justice and Dark Nights: Death Metal), Civil War II is at least comprehensible enough for non-hardcore fans.
Even if this epic is not as compelling as the Captain America vs. Iron Man feud, Bendis ensures that his plot twists readily engage readers at the right moments. Ultimately, this sequel succeeds in justifying its existence as a Marvel cash cow.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
In a full-page format, each primary Marko Djurdjević cover precedes its issue. For Issue # 0, the cover artists are Olivier Coipel and Justin Ponsor.
In mostly full-page mode but not necessarily chronological order, the 30-page variant cover gallery consists of: 3 # 0 variants (artists: Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson; Esad Ribic; and Phil Noto); 9 # 1 variants (artist: Steve McNiven; David Marquez; John Tyler Christopher; Yasmine Putri; Rafael Albuquerque; & Chris Sprouse, Karl Story; & Dave McCaig; John Cassaday & Paul Mounts; Michael Cho; and Phil Noto); # 2-8 variants (artists: Michael Cho; and Phil Noto); # 7 variants (artists: Chris Sprouse, Karl Story, & Dave McCaig); # 8 variants (artists: John Cassaday & Laura Martin); & combined # 0-7 variants double-page pencil sketch (Kim Jung Gi).
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
