How Was Civil War Received?

[Gavin G.]

I know I'm a couple of years late to the party on this one, but because of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, I just for the first time read Civil War and nearly all of its tie-ins over the course of the past week, and I'm curious what the general consensus on the event as a whole was? I actually read the main series when it came out, but it didn't really do a whole lot for me by itself. Thanks to my LCS owner, though, I was able to read a ton of the tie-ins this go around, and I rather liked it, especially Frontline. In fact, I'd say I enjoyed that mini far more than the main series.

I seem to recall one of the biggest criticisms of Civil War was certain characters acting out of character, but I have to claim to being somewhat ignorant on this one, because a lot of the titles I don't normally read. Ms. Marvel for instance, which I also really enjoyed and am now considering going back and checking out her series as a result. (Arana too; is she still around?) Was Carol written out of character? What about other characters whose titles crossed over? Or was this just a criticism reserved for Millar and Civil War proper? I believe a lot of Iron Man fans were ticked at his portrayal, but I was never a reader of his before, so I don't know if these fans were just upset because their favorite character wasn't being portrayed as the hero.

And on that note, I also remember people upset over the sides not being treated fairly, a claim I have to agree with. Clearly Tony was set up as the villain and Rogers the hero throughout most of the series, though again, I thought Frontline did a much better job than the main series, along with most of the other tie-ins, in trying to keep it balanced. And I'll also say I thought ultimately Cap looked like an ass in issue #7, perhaps even proving Tony's point by accident with their impromptu Times Square brawl.

Anyway, I remember it selling really well, and a lot of the arguments over "Whose side are you on?" happening on many message boards, but I never really paid much attention to the acclaim or lack thereof it received. I was more into Infinite Crisis at the time, but reading Civil War now, I think I may actual prefer it, even if I normally prefer DC to Marvel. I'm just wondering what Marvel fans thought of it, though, and what the criticisms of it might be coming from someone more well-versed in that universe's lore.

[Mark_S]

There's enough on the board to write a book. Seriously. This board and many others exploded in pro/anti factions crystalizing around Tony Stark. In my opinion marvel wanted the anger and the hate and they got it. But the reaction on this board and on many others was anger. Fans were angry at marvel, fans were angry at fans who were angry at marvel, fans were angry at the fans who were angry at them for being angry at marvel.
And it hasn't really stopped. I get shouted at for my anti stance at least once per month and told to get over it at least once every two months.

Mark_S

[jackolover]

What are you after? All this has been covered in the threads on this and all you have to do is revisit them and see the reactions.

Do you want to know whether the CW changed the MU?

Do you want to know if the characters of the MU were changed?

Do you want to know that the fans of the MU were changed?

[Iron Theurge]

I'm just wondering what Marvel fans thought of it, though, and what the criticisms of it might be coming from someone more well-versed in that universe's lore.

It was a mixed bag. I personally liked Civil War and its what started me back into mainstream (non-Ultimate Marvel comics) again. I actually really enjoyed the chances they took with a few characters.

Iron Man, Reed Richards, and Spider Man were the most altered by the whole CW event. Iron Man and Richards became borderline fascists with some of their ideas and actions.

Spider Man on the other hand started CW by becoming Tony Stark's personal assistant/bodyguard. He walked around calling Tony 'boss.' It was a little weird. Then he changed costumes and started wearing Starktech powered armor.

Anyway ...... I liked all of that. It was really interesting reading ....and it took a big chance. Most of the hardcore Spidey fans I know HATED it. Brand New Day/One More Day of course was hated even more, but for awhile the CW ruined Spider Man in their eyes.

Rambling answer .... again it was a mixed bag. I personally think it was a great ..... most people who don't hold characters as SACRED ICONS took the changes better and enjoyed it, at least IMO.

Iron Theurge

[Gavin G.]

What are you after?
Pretty much what Mark and Iron Theurge supplied me with; thanks, guys, by the way. After reading nearly a hundred issues in about a week, I thought Civil War was a pretty entertaining event, but since I didn't follow it very closely as it was being released, nor am I an avid Marvel fan, I was curious how the fans at the time felt about the series as it came out. I did do a search first, but most of the results I came up with were concerning individual issues or just the main series' finale. I was more interested in how people felt about the event looking back on it as a whole.

[Iron Theurge]

Pretty much what Mark and Iron Theurge supplied me with; thanks, guys, by the way. After reading nearly a hundred issues in about a week, I thought Civil War was a pretty entertaining event, but since I didn't follow it very closely as it was being released, nor am I an avid Marvel fan, I was curious how the fans at the time felt about the series as it came out. I did do a search first, but most of the results I came up with were concerning individual issues or just the main series' finale. I was more interested in how people felt about the event looking back on it as a whole.

Well, most comics are entertaining. The writers and artists are paid to make sure of that, but are the comics memorable, great, inducing comebacks, etc.?

CW did that for me. I really liked how Marvel took a relatively well known concept -- the govt. getting regulatory with hero work -- and rolled with it in a big way. Much cooler than Secret Invasion!

Anyway, I think it was well-received by the non-hardcore fans. I didn't consider myself hardcore until this year, but again anyway, I was actually told about CW over a cafeteria table as lunch by a female coworker. I literally hadn't even heard of it. She was one of the cool kids and a very accomplished worker, a mother, etc...... and hot. My point it that it was a news worthy event ........Marvel is good at getting their name on the cable news for in-story type stuff.

So yeah it was a bigger deal than ALL the Marvel events since Secret Wars (1) in my opinion. It took a chance and its effects are still being felt in the MU. I like that ... it instills a feeling of ownership in me and helps drive me feeding Marvel my money several times a month on Wednesdays.

IT

[matthewaos]

Personally I liked it. There were some moments that were crap, but in generall I liked that the rules were changed.

[jackolover]

Pretty much what Mark and Iron Theurge supplied me with; thanks, guys, by the way. After reading nearly a hundred issues in about a week, I thought Civil War was a pretty entertaining event, but since I didn't follow it very closely as it was being released, nor am I an avid Marvel fan, I was curious how the fans at the time felt about the series as it came out. I did do a search first, but most of the results I came up with were concerning individual issues or just the main series' finale. I was more interested in how people felt about the event looking back on it as a whole.

Well, looking back at Civil War as a whole, I for one, saw the characters engage in a sound and believable way. All the writers did a tremendous job of bringing to the table their part of the story of the event, where they had to throw out all the rules of traditional story telling and bring a style of writing that came from another place altogether. This, to me, was the greatest outcome of CW. You didn't expect writers to pull their style inside out and write something from a perspective of 'real' conflict. Something they never do, and have never done again.

This is what shocked many of us when we first saw the event scripted in the way it was. With characters who had their dimensions torn away from them; left with no boundaries, or safety net to speak of. Even those who cooperated with the regimes transformation, were no better off. Tony Stark had to commit all his resources into the endeavor, leaving himself open to corruption and destitution if he was swept aside. And Captain America, the poor bastard, he was stripped of all his adoration. What people thought of him in the MU was disrespect and scorn, and he was nothing more than a fugitive, trying to hold onto a world that slipped through his fingers.

Nothing was safe anymore, and the writers projected this feeling of angst, like it was a Brothers Grimm Fairytale, with none of the elegant mythical trappings that age brings them. This was a fairytale with bloodshed, brother versus brother, and a kingdom that has been torn apart, and the rent to the fabric of this Universe is still wide open, and flapping in the breeze.

Many people hated what Tom Brevoort oversaw, because it broke open the institution that was Marvel comics. I, on the other hand, applaud their efforts wholeheartedly, and am still reliving the revitalization of an industry that had gone stale, but which blossomed into a flower with such longevity, it still looks like there is now sign of losing it's momentum.

Edit: Civil War was a flash in comic history, like Woodstock was in the world. It brought together a bunch of talent, that would otherwise not gather for one event, and their community made this thing that glowed for a moment. Dark Reign could never have happened without CW, so CW's fallout is felt to this day.

[Gavin G.]

Thanks for such a thoughtful response, jackolover. Very insightful information.

[Destro777]

In my opinion marvel wanted the anger and the hate and they got it. But the reaction on this board and on many others was anger.
Isnt that the reaction to any kind of comic event, be it Final Crisis to Morrison's New X-Men, on comic message boards? This board hates everything.

Civil War is pretty much required reading to get into the "new" Marvel even though the actual event wasnt grade A quality. I would give it a C+. I just recently re-read it. Im usually not nitpicky about comic stuff but I definaltly thought there was so many things that happened in civil war that just flat out seemed out of character. It all seemed very rushed and by issue 2 long time allied good guys are throwing devestating blows at each other. Look at when Spidey decides to change his mind and is instantly attacked by IronMan and hunted by super villians. Hard to wrap your head around it.

On the other hand I also look at the entire event as an excuse to finally have those fantasy throw downs between heroes. Amoung all the serious-ness there was some fun moments. Cap vs Ironman, Cap vs Spidey, Spidey vs Mr Fantastic. Just badass once in a lifetime-type moments.

For something that was suppossed to be written and re-written theres alot of just flat stupid lines that pop up and some lines are repeated often (count how many times you see "The straw that broke the camel's back" in the first issue alone). I would even say the issue Civil War Confession does a MUCH better job of closing the event out than the actual CW #7. And as the original poster said maybe the entire event (all tie-ins), which i havent read, would further explain stuff i had beef with.

[jackolover]

Isnt that the reaction to any kind of comic event, be it Final Crisis to Morrison's New X-Men, on comic message boards? This board hates everything.

Civil War is pretty much required reading to get into the "new" Marvel even though the actual event wasnt grade A quality. I would give it a C+. I just recently re-read it. Im usually not nitpicky about comic stuff but I definaltly thought there was so many things that happened in civil war that just flat out seemed out of character. It all seemed very rushed and by issue 2 long time allied good guys are throwing devestating blows at each other. Look at when Spidey decides to change his mind and is instantly attacked by IronMan and hunted by super villians. Hard to wrap your head around it.

On the other hand I also look at the entire event as an excuse to finally have those fantasy throw downs between heroes. Amoung all the serious-ness there was some fun moments. Cap vs Ironman, Cap vs Spidey, Spidey vs Mr Fantastic. Just badass once in a lifetime-type moments.

For something that was suppossed to be written and re-written theres alot of just flat stupid lines that pop up and some lines are repeated often (count how many times you see "The straw that broke the camel's back" in the first issue alone). I would even say the issue Civil War Confession does a MUCH better job of closing the event out than the actual CW #7. And as the original poster said maybe the entire event (all tie-ins), which i havent read, would further explain stuff i had beef with.

The tie-ins to Civil War are like the Gospels. You get a variety of different perspectives to the same event, told by different people, through the eyes of different characters. Millars Civil War was just one perspective. (I'm not comparing the CW to the Gospels, don't get me wrong).

[Freakzeek]

http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww318/Freakzeek_2009/BuenoExcelentesignature.jpg

[Maestro]

Civil War sold massive amounts of copies and beloved by comic fans worldwide