Civil War Question by a DC guy

[Matches_Malone_X]

Ok, now im sure this has been answered before, but rather than sifting through all the thread I thought id just cut to the chase and ask the question.
I dont read Marvel. I just dont, nothing about it has really grabbed my attention, but at the same time Civil War has gotten some good word of mouth and Im keen to check it out.....so my question is;

how do i do that?

Im not interested in the issue by issue order, which i see is outlined in another thread, but more which series goes first, etc. For example, like i said above im a DC guy, and I would explain Infinite Crisis as being:

(1st) Countdown to IC
(tied second, order not important)

Rann-Thanagar War (with Adam Strange mini prior)
OMAC Project (with Superman/Wonder Woman: Sacrifice tie in)
Day of Vengeance
Villains United

(3rd) infinite Crisis (with the four special at specified parts)

do you see what i mean...not a blow by blow account, but a general over view leaving out the minor issues that dont really add to the overall story.

[The Confessor]

Well, I would recommend you read the following TPBs in this order...


Road To Civil War
Civil War
Civil War: Amazing Spider-Man


These three TPBs will give you the basic major plot points and all the important events. You could probably get by without getting the Spider-Man title but I think you'd be missing out on a lot. Because Amazing Spider-Man is Marvel's flagship title a lot of important developements in the Civil War happened in that comic.

After you've read these it's up to you whether you get any of the other books like Civil War: Wolverine or the two Civil War: Front Line books for instance. These add more detail to the story but I wouldn't say that they were absolutely essential like the 3 TPBs I've listed above are.

Is this the kind of answer you wanted? Or do you not like TPBs and actually wanted to get all the individual issues?

[kidpernicious]

Honestly if you even just read the main Civil War book you'll get what you need out of it. Plus all the heaps of disappointment and bewilderment, if you're anything close to a scrutinizing reader. Seriously, I don't know where you're hearing that positive word of mouth, but the characterization, plotting, continuity, motivation and (nonexistent) resolution are all bad bad leroy brown. The action and art can be amazing at times, but with all the problems keeping it from actually being a decent story, I don't think it compares to anything major DC's done in the past few years.

Of course this is all just opinion, your mileage may vary.

[Karl O'Neill]

Don't go buying any other civil war tradepaper backs, seriously dude,

Civil war 1-7 is enought.

[Wild Card13]

Don't let them discourage you. I'll agree that all the story you really need is in the main CW book, but I personally liked the tie-ins, and so I'd recommend giving them a try if you want to see what kinds of things the Marvel Universe has to offer. Amazing Spider-Man is a good place to start, as is Wolverine. I don't know if they've released the TPBs for the Iron Man and Captain America tie-ins yet, but those would also be important.

[cable guy]

Civil War 1-7 is enough to get the main story, but the tie-ins make better for the whole picture.

But as you have said, your a DC guy, so start out with just CW.

[RangerNec]

Besides the main title I think you need to also read Frontline to get the full story.

[Omega Alpha]

Besides the main title I think you need to also read Frontline to get the full story.

Actually, if you read Frontline you not only will not get the full story, but not understand anything you read in any other book. It's not very good for your brain. Specially the last issue, in which Sally Floyd has the dumbest lines in the history of comics.

[rerun]

If you really want to be disappointed, then read Civil War and add Frontline.

But save yourself the time and investment and just don't read it. Worst...ending...ever.

[Magneto Rocks]

Road to Civil War isn't essential.

Civil War is VERY accesible, even Mark Waid admitted so, if you start at issue one you should be fine but the Road may clear up a few things.

Civil War: Spider-Man is a fantastic companion, much moreso than any of the Infinite Crisis pieces were. I'd personally recommend you avoid Frontline though. Contradicts a lot of the main stuff and not really that great anyway. Just CW and CW: Spidey and you'll be fine.

Welcome aboard, it's phenomenal stuff.

[Lanowar]

If your a D.C guy whose never read anything Marvel before? You might find it better then people who have read at least one marvel title before hand because if you have then yea it's pretty bad. Continuity gets thrown out the window and everyone acts like there bizzare mirrior versions of themselves. Also for somthing that was advertised as "a clash of ideologies" there's very little debate on the subject. When there is the arguements are nothing more tired cliches that just don't make sense.

If you however want to read a Marvel event book then Annihilation is coming out at the moment that's a fantastic read.

[Gargus]

Honestly if you even just read the main Civil War book you'll get what you need out of it. Plus all the heaps of disappointment and bewilderment, if you're anything close to a scrutinizing reader. Seriously, I don't know where you're hearing that positive word of mouth, but the characterization, plotting, continuity, motivation and (nonexistent) resolution are all bad bad leroy brown. The action and art can be amazing at times, but with all the problems keeping it from actually being a decent story, I don't think it compares to anything major DC's done in the past few years.

Of course this is all just opinion, your mileage may vary.

YOu do know that civil itself is not a open and close case right?

It never, ever was just a single story, self contained storyline.

CW is a gateway story, in that its just a short story that sets the stage for everything else to come. The real civil war story will be told in all the monthly issues to come.

From what I can tell alll the people who complain about civil war and just bitch about how bad it is and look for fault dont stop and think that it doesnt have to be a nice neat little package story with a start and finish. Thats not the point, civil war is supposed to be something big that has effects. All the 1-7 issues were supposed to do is explain why these things were happening in all the other comics.

It was well done and millar did a good job with something that is so convoluted as this. I mean really, no one could do a perfect job of telling a story like this. In 7 issues they had to tie major events with major charcters, plus side charcters for about a dozen different comic titles and by the end be able to give you a good explanation and reasoning as to why its all happening. All the while making it a entertaining read.

Case and point....... But save yourself the time and investment and just don't read it. Worst...ending...ever.

Civil war has no ending! Its continued through captain america, avengers, she hulk, spiderman, iron man and so on. There is no ending in civil war 1-7, it leaves alot of doors open. The story is carried on through monthly series of other comics. Is it that hard to figure out or are you just so hard up to complain about something you dont care? The real civil war wasnt told by millar, he just started the ball rolling.

[kidpernicious]

YOu do know that civil itself is not a open and close case right?

It never, ever was just a single story, self contained storyline.

CW is a gateway story, in that its just a short story that sets the stage for everything else to come. The real civil war story will be told in all the monthly issues to come.

From what I can tell alll the people who complain about civil war and just bitch about how bad it is and look for fault dont stop and think that it doesnt have to be a nice neat little package story with a start and finish. Thats not the point, civil war is supposed to be something big that has effects. All the 1-7 issues were supposed to do is explain why these things were happening in all the other comics.

It was well done and millar did a good job with something that is so convoluted as this. I mean really, no one could do a perfect job of telling a story like this. In 7 issues they had to tie major events with major charcters, plus side charcters for about a dozen different comic titles and by the end be able to give you a good explanation and reasoning as to why its all happening. All the while making it a entertaining read.

Case and point.......

Civil war has no ending! Its continued through captain america, avengers, she hulk, spiderman, iron man and so on. There is no ending in civil war 1-7, it leaves alot of doors open. The story is carried on through monthly series of other comics. Is it that hard to figure out or are you just so hard up to complain about something you dont care? The real civil war wasnt told by millar, he just started the ball rolling.

Your opinion, fine. But saying the repercussions to Civil War are where the rest of the "real" story is has ZERO bearing on whether Civil War itself was a good story. If you thought it was, fine, again your opinion. Don't try arguing with people like me and others who disagree for entirely legitimate reasons. The specific conflict that was the specific focus of Civil War concluded with a ridiculous scenario that wasn't at all in keeping with characterizations, which was a prevalent fault throughout the series. If you disagree fine, but your argument for why we're "wrong" isn't worth crap. We're not criticizing ANYTHING BUT CIVIL WAR. Please feel free to delude yourself into thinking that's unfair because you don't see Civil War being concluded, but the rest of the sane logical world knows that "Civil War" refers to a specific event already concluded in seven issues, with tie-ins also having concluded. You're talking about repercussions; we aren't. Get over yourself.

By the by, since you quoted me, do you want to even pay attention to what I'm saying? Please explain how your argument that the story continues in the monthlies is going to make the fact that the "characterization, plotting, continuity, motivation and (nonexistent) resolution" I found to be unsatisfactory in the main Civil War book are all of a sudden going to read so much better after Marvel gets to tell their Initiative stories. Please make sense, I'd really like to see it.

[XPac]

As others have said, Civil War by itself should be enough.

I think Amazing Spiderman and Frontline are good companions, if you want more to the story.

[Badfish40oz]

When there is the arguements are nothing more tired cliches that just don't make sense.

Casualties of War, the one with Cap and Iron Man essentially debating for 40 pages, was AWESOME. I'd totally reccomend it if you want to see where both sides of the issue are coming from. Makes even the worst Iron Man hater at least see what he's about.

Civil War was a fine read. Don't be discouraged by bitter people. I admit it wasnt the best thing ever and was certainly anti-climatic but all in all it was well worth it. I understand where you're coming from when it comes to Marvel though . . I feel the same way about DC. I know I should like it, but the characters (except Batman and Superman) just don't do anything for me.