Civil War (Marvel) [collects #1-7]
w. Mark Millar; a. Steve McNiven
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New reader? | |
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Non-comics reader? |  |
The “Marvel Event” of the last year, I’ve written a lot about Civil War in the past, so I won’t rehash it. For those unfamiliar with the premise, an accident during apprehension of some super-villains leads to hundreds of civilian casualties, leading in turn to a demand that all metahumans become registered with the government, and use of powers be regulated. Some heroes buy in or lead this effort, others consider it a breach of their liberties and fight back …
Collecting all the associated TPBs for it would cost a zillion dollars — but this core book did a decent job of bridging the key plotlines. We see the initial incident, the lining up of the combatants (led by Iron Man on the pro-registration side, Captain America on the anti-registration side), the beginning skirmishes, plots within plots, and, finally, the climactic battle where … well, I still won’t spoil it here, but the ending seems contrived and clumsy, the biggest false note (polemics aside) to the series.
That said, Millar has a good grasp of character dialog and keeps folks guessing, and McNiven’s art is clean and picturesque. This core book holds together pretty well despite all of its events being played out in many other titles, and should be considered by anyone who wants to examine this sea change in the Marvel Universe. And even non-comics readers will find some of the underlying questions fascinating (Should Superman have to get a badge? Is vigilantism acceptable? If we register guns, shouldn’t we register lightning blasts?), even if they don’t get all the examination they should here.
Note that, in some ways, this book touches on the same themes — power and responsibility — that The Boys does. Ennis is having a bit more of a lark than Millar, though. Still, there’s a sort of zeitgeist in the air right now (current politics probably playing a role), and it’s interesting to see how different writers treat this critical topic
Desolation Jones: Made in England, Vol. 1 (Wildstorm) [collects #1-6]
w. Warren Ellis; a. J.H. williams III
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New reader? | |
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Non-comics reader? | |
A former British agent who was subjected to horrific experiments, Jones is now a private eye in Los Angeles — which happens to be the informal underground “Village”-like community for former spooks and enhanced people.
Ellis’ unpleasant tale is dark, not just in a noir way, full of bitter but unforgettable characters living in an awful world where the bad keep the worse in check. The art is as ugly as the tale, though — trying to provide a bit of surreality, but often as not obscuring what’s actually happening.
I don’t have any particular interest in reading more of Desolation Jones, but I’m glad I took a peek into his world.