The Civil War comics crossover was… not precisely a fan favorite when it first ran seven years ago. In fact, much of Marvel’s recent output has been dedicated to forgetting Mark Millar’s crossover ever happened. But, apparently, all is forgiven thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
For those who avoided the comics, a brief recap: In the wake of a superhero blowing up a school, the government passes a registration act. If you want to run around in tights and punch other dudes in tights, you’ve got to register with the government and join law enforcement. Iron Man is all for it, but Captain America is against it, because he feels it violates the spirit of the Constitution, and by God, the Founding Fathers would have wanted people to run around with enormous power and absolutely no responsibility to the public whatsoever. It was an interesting idea, but it could have been thought out better.
Marvel hasn’t disclosed much information about the coming crossover, other than it’ll be coming in 2015. It also appears, at least from the cover art, to be set during the same period of time in the Marvel universe, as the cover shows everybody involved in their 2007 designs.
Yes, that’s Spider-Man. Yes, he’s wearing an Iron Man outfit. It’s a long story.
It’s not a big secret as to why Marvel’s suddenly willing to revisit the crossover; It’ll be the big idea of Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel likes selling comics, so back to the well we go.
Still, if somebody who can actually write characters and doesn’t just stuff them into the boxes the plot demands takes it on, it might be a good read. If this gives Marvel a chance to redeem a less than popular story, that won’t be the worst thing in the world.