Rate the Tie-In's

[Chris Thomas]

how about rating these? I know that some are not close to complete (e.g. black panther) and others are complete. and there are a few (e.g. punisher) that haven't started.. but what do you think? and how do they rate to the 'normal' issues of these comics?

I have, as many others have obviously, become obsessed with reading the tie-in's--however, I don't read any (except NA) regular titles that apply.

guess I throw in a poll

my ranking/preference:


best to worst:

new avengers--the luke cage issue was absolutely fantastic in just about every way. likewise with spiderwoman's and cap's. the cover to cap's was unbelievable--classic chaykin with some captain america fury.

wolverine--you have to like that artist--but the story flowed very well and the action flew by. great stuff

young avengers/runaways--never read them before--but this mini is very good. nice intro to the characters with a rather interesting subplot. good artwork. easy-to-follow

from here, it is a big drop-off for me:

cable and deadpool--was good at the start then quickly took a dive to the strange. the ending didn't really make much sense to me. contrived and still didn't make much sense

she-hulk (#8 only)--ehh. was told it was 'shocking.' not too shocking to me. cover was great (on the 1st printing)

ms. marvel-- good art and the story made sense but I now hate ms. marvel. was that the intention? also--too. many. spiderwomen.

heroes-for-hire-- was a shangchi fan as a kid. this was sort of a mess in my opinion. too many characters, most of which are ill-defined and un-interesting

xmen--some promise but WAY too contrived. how many different sides did we need to that battle? I guess trying to tie the whole 'decimation' stuff into this or something. I thought the author used humor clumsily and the art 'didn't do it for me'

thunderbolts--nice idea, TERRIBLE execution. way too confusing for a tie-in. and adding a sub-plot that, honestly, we don't need and sort of corrupts the main cw plot.

black panther 18--not bad. not great. did tie in to the main story but mainly just a grumble match between the 2 protagonists

fantastic four and spiderman--lumped together. I usually love this writer--but the humor mixed with the action.. just didn't mix and really really brought this down for me.

captain american--haven't read this yet. sorry.

[jpk]

I voted for Spidey since his character is so critical to the turning of the screw here, but I'm also really impressed with the M. Marvel story line.

The NA link has been the weakest, so far, surprisingly.

[drinkblatzbeer]

my favs have been
youn avengers/runaways
amazing spider-man
thunderbolts
wolverine
captain america (why did i buy the first 10 and just stop, i need to get back on board with this book)

a few are so-so
fantastic four
black panther - funny moments from spider-man saved this from being real bad...
new avengers
cable/deadpool
ms. marvel

the stinkers
civil war x-men...here let's force some crappy story that really has nothing to do with anything into the mix, just because we know you'll all buy another x-over, especially one with x-men on the title...i can't describe how ridiculously bad this was...

frontline
heroes for hire...

[-S-Man-]

-*- Spoilers -*-

I opted for Spidey 'cause he's almost as important in this as IM or Cap. It kinda tackled the issue of what Heros whom have families should do. Its was kind of surreal see Spidey unmask and submit himself to something that he has fought against for so long.

I likes Young Avengers and Runaways too, it covers the issues of 'kids' who don't wanna be involved in the adult war. I really wanted the YA to pull through this war unscathed to become the new generation of The Mighty Avengers but that seems to have gone with the wind. Young Avengers: Disassembled ;)

X-Men was good enough but it wasn't as satisfying enough (as I originally thought it would be). Don't get me wrong...there were some great moments though like Cyclops blowing up an old friend and former team mate.

Wolverine: Well, it was okay.

[a-spidey]

i don't read all books on the list. Only spider-man, wolverine and new avengers
and i voted for Spider-man then. But i like the wolverine books too

[Xanrn]

Well the Luke Cage was the best tie I have read so far, a Black slighty less (ok alot less) psychotic Marv.

Spiderman has been good aswell. I like the Spectacular "Spiderman Unmasked", especially when Doc Ock is having a tantrum.

Fantastic Four has been blah. 540 just repeated a bunch of other scenes from the other books.

Thunderbolts not even got a clue really, completely lost the plot.

[Frodo-X]

I would rank them as such:
1. Wolverine
2.New Avengers
3.Spider-man
4.Fantastic Four
5.Cable & Deadpool
6.Young Avengers & Runaways
7.X-men

I haven't been reading Thunderbolts, Ms. Marvel, or Heroes for Hire.

[Niro]

i havent bought all of the tie-ins, but of the ones i do buy i have to say amazing spiderman is the best one, the story is great.

I would have put wolverine first but the artwork is pants so it comes second. And the rest i'd say are probably equal in status for me.

[Magneto Rocks]

My rankings:

1. Spider-Man

Excellent tie-ins. Fairly unbiased (Maybe slanting a little in ASM #535) compared to many and telling fantastic stories. 532, 533 and 534 each became my favourite tie-in so far on the weeks they were out, because JMS really captured Peter's turmoil. He PERSUADED me that Peter would unmask, that it could work, he wrote a fantastic JJJ reaction, he wrote an interesting and unexpected Cap/Spidey battle whcih hit home with both characters... he did a brilliant job on one of the best Marvel Characters.


Thunderbolts

I'll be honest; I was not expecting much from this series. I don't hate the T-bolts, but I don't like them that much either. They're alright. So I read the first te-in and enjoyed it a little more than I thought. Then I read the second and found it fantastic, and I loved the third as well! Maybe it's because of low expectations, but I really enjoyed these tie-ins!

X-Men

Ah, X-Men. Barely even related to CW with the slimmest of plot threads, but while they aren't good CW tie-ins they're good comics. Very enjoyable, some good suspense, some great spreads and besides the ridiculous new Sentinels, generally great comics.

Ms Marvel

My biggest surprise. VERY unbiased, one of the most neutral series of all, and an enjoyable read which got Carol's personality quite well. Pleasently surprised.

Fantastic Four

My biggest let-down. I love the FF, but JMS' issues seem... I dunno, kind of weak. The break-up of the FF lacked impact, and JMS has sunned Johnny in EVERY SINGLE ONE of his CW tie-ins (Johnny ain't appearing in 541) Not enough of the FOUR! Not bad, but disappointing. This should have been one of the best.

Cable and Deadpool

Another surprise. VERY good first issue- very funny, and worked well. Very weak second issue, very disappointing. But the third issue picked up the pace again and made some good pro-reg arguments. Well done!

Wolverine

Gets marked down for having little to do with CW! Very good, but I felt the Damage Control thing dragged it out too long, it should have ended with Nitro's capture.

Heroes for Hire

Considering my very low expectations, the book was quite good. First issue was alright, second was pretty good, so again: Pleasently surprised.

Young Avengers/Runaways

Doesn't have much to do with CW and also isn't that good anyway, so I'm disappointed. Alright, not great.

New Avengers

*sigh. Bendis, you did it again. Let's see, easily the most hideously biased book of CW. Was tyin with Frontline but THAT redeemed itself in issue 7. This one shows no signs of doing so. Let;s take it issue by issue.

21- We see a wussy, out of character Cap. Well, it's definitely Bendis writing. We then see Falcon, who informs us that Iron Man was always an evil idiot- duh, didn't we know? I'm getting some Scarlet Witch deja vu here. Bendis then humiliates a long-time Avenger, just to prove yet again that he doesn't give a crap what fans think about the real Avengers.

22- We see a rubbish issue that was haield far beyond it deserved. Possibly the worst- ever - in New Avengers. Which is saying something. bendis writes Luke Cage consistent with the character he developed for him. That is, wofefully out of touch with most of his history. manages to cram in more evil Nazi Iron man references, put in some nonsense, and make the entire war INCREDIBLY biased, moreso than any other entire SERIES of books had done. And did it all in a horribly written fashion. Way to go!

23- Better than 22 at least. Let's try and sum this up. One of bendis' favourite characters realises that registration is wrong and Bendis continues to write a ridiculously OOC evil Iron Man. Yeah, that about sums it.


HONOURABLE MENTION: Captain America #22 is one of the best CW tie-ins yet released, if not THE best. I anticipate Brubaker keeping up his fantastic Cap run and delivering us three amazing issues.

[Dark Soul # 7]

I've only bought the ASM, YA&R and T-bolts issues so far, but I think I'm going to get the C&DP and Wolverine issues.

Anyway this is how I rank the tie-ins I got.

1. Young Avengers & Runaways
2. Amazing Spider-man
3. Thunderbolts

[Hulkamaniac]

I dunno why so many pople don't like Frontline? Its awsome, great stuff I think.
I'm actually very suprised its not on the list but of the ones on the list I'd have to say my Fav has been Wolverine, great story and art , just awsome all around really.
In no particular order these are my top five civil war books:
Frontline
Wolverine
Young Avengers & Runaways
Spider-man
She-Hulk

Honorable mentions:
Ms.MArvel
FF
Thunderbolts

[Ullar]

on the NA issues i like 21 and 22 cuase i think IM is evil and registration is a crime but still 23 sucked in ym oppion

[scottv]

Favorites:
Spider-Man
New Avengers
Wolverine

Worst:
Civil War: X-Men
Heroes for Hire

[Omega Alpha]

I haven't been reading all, but the best one for me was New Avengers. The Luke Cage issue was the best, no doubt about it. The Cap. America tie in was excellent too.

[Mystique25]

I haven't really read very many of the tie ins, only the Ms. Marvel, X-factor, and New Avengers tie ins. Out of the three New Avengers is the best, with Ms.Marvel as a close second.

[Chris Thomas]

to answer a comment above: I didn't include frontline or civil war 'proper' because they are the meat imo and not tie-ins.

[jackolover]

I would rank them as such:
1. Wolverine
2.New Avengers
3.Spider-man
4.Fantastic Four
5.Cable & Deadpool
6.Young Avengers & Runaways
7.X-men

I haven't been reading Thunderbolts, Ms. Marvel, or Heroes for Hire.

I like the simple list :

Standouts

1. Ms Marvel
2. Spiderman
3. Frontline
4. NA

So-So

5. Wolverine.
6. Cap
7. HFH
8.TBolts

Related, but less impact

9. YA + Run
10. Black Panther
11. SM Spec and Friendly
12. FF (where was the Torch, where was the fights inhouse?)
13. She-hulk
14. Eternals
15. Daily bugle paper

[bd2999]

I have liked Cable/Deadpool the most because its very funny and yet still fits into CW. Spider-man is probably the most relavent connection and is pretty good as a tie in, NA is about the same but they have done some really strange things with the title that I dont really think are that good recently, like the Cage issue. The FF is alright but nothing special and the She-Hulk I read seemed to only mention CW and had little else to do with it. Don't like She-Hulk so I am biased in that way.

Just like anything else I guess the tie ins run the gauntlet of being nearly as good as the actual book to being terrible.

[Weapon Ick]

It's a shame She-Hulk and X-Factor aren't on the list. Those are the best ones, in my opinion. I voted for Wolverine because out of the others I've read on the list (YA/Runaways, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Heroes for Hire) it is the best. Just not better than She-Hulk or X-Factor.

[Ernasto]

My favorites have been Fantastic Four, The New Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel and Captain America. I also begin to like Heroes For Hire. Wolverine's run comes kind of stretched out over too many comicbooks to me.. Don't know why I have that feeling

[The Confessor]

I voted for Amazing Spider-Man because I consider that an essential part of Civil War. I mean, if you're buying the main Civil War title and Frontline, you owe it to yourself to be getting Spider-Man as well I reckon.

The other spin-off I've most enjoyed is Wolverine. I'm not really a huge fan of Wolverine (or the X-Men generally) but I must say that I've thoroughly enjoyed the recent Wolverine CW tie-in issues. Watching him track down and 'arrest' Nitro was really gratifying and having Namor make an appearance as well was an added bonus.

Fantastic Four has been really good as well, watching Reed and Sue's relationship deteriorate and seeing Ben's growing frustration at what was going on around him.

A series that looks promising is Heroes For Hire. Issue #1 left me thinking "yeah, it's not bad but....", however issue #2 was excellent. So I'm hoping for great things from issue #3.

[rpriske]

New Avengers was the best...easy. The Luke Cage issue was better than all the other CIvil War issues, including in the main series.

Front Lin ei sreally good but it is brougth down somewhat but those TERRIBLE and INSULTING back-ups that compare comic books to real people fighting and dying.

I pretty much skip them now because they ruin an otherwise good read.

[Chris Thomas]

Interesting analysis above.

comments;

1. I didn't include all the titles because I could only put up 10

2. so.. I didn't include she-hulk because it was a one-shot tie in. (#8) that was fairly hard to find even in the 2nd edition. same for black panther (#18)--although looks like BP will have some more tie-in stuff later.. I didn't include frontline because it is a main cw title not really a tie-in.

3. I didn't include x-factor and I don't have a good reason. I did personally think it was good and the 'mass madrox in the alley' scene was hillrious and disturbing at the same time.


4. spider-man getting all the love is a little shocking. the writing here was suprisingly weak (imo--knowing the writer of this title is usually fantastic.) I guess it is because the title really shook up peter's world in ways unlike any other heroes. unless sue and reed divorce.