General Information
Title: Civil War #5
Author: Mark Millar
Illustrator(s): Steve McNiven (pencils), Dexter Vines (inks) and Morry Hollowell (colours)
Original Publication Date: Cover dated November 2006. Due to the late running schedule, it actually shipped on November
15, 2006, instead of the normal ship date of two months before the cover date. (Marvel promises that they'll maintain a
monthly schedule until the end now.)
Cover Price: $2.99US, $3.75 Can
Past comic reviews can be found
here.
Premise
This issue is all about characters changing sides, or choosing sides publically. The new Thunderbolts are deployed
in a low key manner, and we get some insight into why Tony Stark is so firmly behind the pro-registration side.
High Point
"Get me a medic! NOW!" And don't generally like that character.
Low Point
Compared to the last few issues, this one feels pretty slow. It might have felt more exciting had Spider-Man's
decision not been telecast so many weeks ago, or if the team roster for the new Thunderbolts in issue 110 hadn't been so
well published, but as it stands, the only elements I didn't predict were the high point and the last couple of pages.
The Scores
The only thing that feels original here is the slower pacing. There's not a
lot of action this issue, but the conversation points to nothing but action in the last two issues. I give it 3 out of
6.
The artwork continues to impress. There's a huge cast of characters here, and every one of
them looks exactly like I'd expect them to look. What little action there is (compared to previous issues) is well
depicted, with dynamic perspectives and compositions. I give it 6 out of 6.
The story moves along nicely. As I said, this feels mostly like it's getting the
individuals in place to set up the last two issues, but it does that well. I give it 5 out of 6.
The characterization is here. This finally lets us know why Tony Stark is so
devoted to the project, and brought back the Peter Parker we had before the Avengers disassembled. We know why some
characters are changing sides, why some are just beginning to choose sides, and how those who have chosen sides are
dealing with that decision. I give it 5 out of 6.
The emotional response wasn't quite as strong as it would be reading
the series in trade paperback form. The biggest detriment here is that we've had time to stew, process, and predict
what's coming. When the most predictable events happen here after an extra long wait between issues, they just don't
have the same impact they'd have reading the series from start to finish. I also think that I was expecting too much
action, based on previous issues. Most of what we have here sets up future action, rather than showing it here and now.
I give it 4 out of 6.
The flow is smooth. The story runs from one moment to the next quite nicely, and it is easy
to follow even when locations change. I give it 6 out of 6.
Overall, even though it's not quite as strong as earlier issues in the series,
it's still a strong entry. I give it 5 out of 6.
In total, receives 34 out of 42.
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