Tony especially stands out here, which is good considering his conspicuous absence in Civil War II #0. There are still a few instances of interchangeable "team speak" (including the introduction of the Inhumans and the massively crowded battle against the Celestials), but Bendis is able to keep the story focused on a select few characters - Iron Man, War Machine, Captain Marvel, etc. Whereas the FCBD Special suffered from a familiar problem in terms of individual voices becoming drowned out in a sea of generic team banter, there's more nuance and depth to most of the dialogue here. The good news is that Bendis' characterization is generally pretty solid. ![]() Hopefully the eventual hardcover collection will include the FCBD chapter in its proper chronological spot. It makes for a very jarring shift, and presumably even more so for those who haven't actually read the FCBD issue. The question of just how and where the FCBD Special fits into the larger narrative is definitively answered here, as this issue jumps right over those events and into their aftermath. In fact, it's essentially missing a chunk of story. Part of the problem stems from the fact that Civil War II #1 doesn't stand entirely on its own. Too often it feels as if major Marvel characters are being used as thankless pawns to further the conflict. Considering some of the dark twists that unfold in these pages, this issue should have inspired a much stronger reaction than it does. ![]() Sure, this sequence looks fantastic thanks to David Marquez's dynamic pencils and Justin Ponsor's vivid colors, but it lacks the urgency and drama of, say, Nitro blowing up a school or Captain America escaping S.H.I.E.L.D. That's despite the fact that the book opens with a massive battle between the Avengers and a Celestial invasion force. However, it doesn't do much to inspire excitement or surprise. As far as first issues go, this one is competently structured and efficient about setting the stage for the coming conflict. Throw in an extra catalyst in the form of a major superhero tragedy and suddenly the philosophical debate devolves into open war. From there, battle lines are drawn as Captain Marvel and Iron Man squabble over the issue of whether Ulysses' gift should be used to stop future disasters before they can happen. This issue opens with the Avengers confronting a potential world-ending threat, which segues into the debut of the Inhuman known as Ulysses and the revelation about his ability to predict the future. If you've paid much attention to Marvel's marketing for Civil War II, you'll see all of the beats of this first issue coming a mile away. ![]() Which of these prologues is more indicative of the main story? Will Civil War II turn out to be one more Marvel event that's all style and no substance, or does it have something deep and meaningful to say about the Marvel Universe and the role of the Avengers? Even after the first issue of the core mini-series, it's difficult to tell one way or the other. Conversely, Civil War II #0 offered a much different and more character-driven approach to the conflict, focusing on the two conflicting viewpoints that will form the basis between Marvel's latest war between heroes. ![]() The Civil War II FCBD Special was a major disappointment, full of flashy visuals and poor characterization. Even with two prologue chapters already in the bag, it's tough to know how to feel about Marvel's latest major event comic.
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