Marvel is on the verge of war.
Heroes vs. Heroes. Whose side are you on?
Civil War II will shake the alliances, friendships and teams of the All-New, All-Different Marvel this Summer. The power to change the future causes a rift between Iron Man and Captain Marvel and everyone must choose a side.
Creators of the superhero showdown revealed big new details, shared new art and answered fan questions in a special Marvel live event.
Invincible Iron Man launch team Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez are writing and drawing the main seven issue series. The fan-favorite creators were joined by Editor-In-Chief Axel Alonso, Executive Editor Tom Brevoort.
The story begins with a Free Comic Book issue by Bendis and Jim Cheung, then a Zero issue with artist Olivier Coipel and an epilogue.
The team revealed writers of individual characters picked where they thought their heroes would land during a creative retreat and “it was pretty evenly divided.”
The story begins when an Inhuman who can see the future divides our heroes into two camps, led by Iron Man and Captain Marvel.
In the first Civil War, both sides had defensible positions, and they wanted to do the same this time.
Bendis, Brevoort and Alonso witnessed the moment Civil War was born during a creative retreat. They were talking about another story that wasn’t gelling, then on the third day they brought that up to the overall group. Bendis said it had to be a story that reflected everyone, like Nick Fury versus the Marvel Universe.
The story begins when an Inhuman who can see the future divides our heroes into two camps, led by Iron Man and Captain Marvel.
Alonso talked about a script that just came in from Bendis where Tony articulates his opinion and it seems like no one could argue with it. Then Carol comes in with her own opinion and it’s the same.
This isn’t a direct sequel to Civil War. At its core its about being able to profile the future.
The Inhuman who sees the future is named Ulysses who Bendis describes as “a young man who’s forced to grow up very quickly. This ability and becoming an Inhuman completely derails his life.”
He goes from “holy crap, that’s Iron Man” to “holy crap, that’s Iron Man coming at me. In a previous official description for issue one – Stark actually tries to seize the young Inhuman setting the stage for a conflict with Medusa’s Inhumans.
Ulysses’ presence also sets up a very interesting political landscape for the Inhumans.
This sets the stage for the Inhumans going forward, which is just one of the ways it’s very different from the original Civil War.
Fans will see Ulysses’ origins in Civil War II #0 and #1.
One of the big inciting incidents in this story happens in the Free Comic Book Day issue. It sets up who the big players are in this story. Civil War II #0 then sets the stage for all the other heroes.
Bendis wrote the prelude and epilogue to Civil War, which are some of his favorite work at Marvel
The Free Comic Book Day issue is its own story, and an essential part of the puzzle. It’s not reprinted in #0 or #1 Brevoort clarified.
In Civil War II, there are set pieces in every single issue unlike anything you’ve seen before. Issue #2 will have a set piece with Iron Man and the Inhumans at great odds that will have surprising results in both the main title and the tie-ins immediately. Charles Soule’s Uncanny Inhumans issue is one of Bendis’ favorite tie-ins, because it’s a story he’d never think to write if not for the events of Civil War II #2.
Issue #3, “something very unique happens to the Hulk” teased Bendis. (From the art it looks like Bruce Banner as Hulk and not Amadeus Cho, current star of Totally Amazing Hulk.)
Tie-ins spin right out of scenes from the main book while other tie-ins like Ms. Marvel will deal with the deeper thematic issues.
Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man is a “core series” said Brevoort involving Peter Parker and Ulysses.
The Civil War II: X-Men series is actually the first time all the current various X-teams will be in one place at the same time.
If the Inhumans and the Terrigen Mists pose a danger to mutants, having an Inhuman who has the power to see the future is kind of like them possessing a weapon of mass destruction to the X-Men’s eyes, and they have to figure out what to do about that.
Question and Answer highlights:
Miles Morales’ role in the story. “His role will continue to grow throughout the storyline. This is one of the way this is similar to the first Civil War–there are initial lines drawn, then as the war grows other people are brought in. Characters like Miles and Khamala have never faced something like this, and they’re forced to make hard choices. The effects of Civil War II will be felt with Miles for years to come,” said Bendis.
“At the end of Civil War with The Confession one-shot, Iron Man felt the war wasn’t worth it. He isn’t running into this conflict without thinking about it very deeply. He’s desperate to stave off the conflict, but certain things happen that make it impossible to not go down that road.”
Both Carol and Tony have very strong reasons for doing what they’re doing. Just because Bendis writes the main Iron Man books doesn’t mean the argument will be lopsided that way.
He did say that the character interactions are what made it from a six issue series to a seven issue series, because as you start writing more scenes of value and importance to the main plot reveal themselves through the main characters
Knowing the future, then trying to prevent it is a bad idea. Imagine if someone tried to save Tony Stark from getting hurt with shrapnel in his heart… imagine if someone tried to save Carol Danvers before that Kree Machine exploded… We should leave the future untouched, and adapt naturally…
This is as much Matt Murdock as Bendis has written in a long time. It’s funny that when he was writing Daredevil there was never an organic way to include him in an event, but here there definitely was.”
The giant cosmic beings in the preview pages sent out. Bendis jokes it’s Gary, the Avengers’ new mascot. Those pages are actually from the very first scene of the first issue–like a James Bond movie, you’re coming in on a moment that would be the conclusion to another story
In the first Civil War, Hulk wasn’t around. Will Hulk and She-Hulk join? Bendis says it’s all spoilers. All he can say is it’s an interesting time for the Hulk.
There have been characters that could see the future in the Marvel U in the past, but “what Ulysses does is different.”
Bendis did think a lot about Minority Report, and really wanted to make sure this was very different and had something very different to say.
Ultimates in particular will actually play a central role. One of their upcoming issues is a Road to Civil War II tie-in. Other books like Howard the Duck or Squirrel Girl, if they tie-in, will bring the language and themes of the event into their world so that it’s a unique Howard or Squirrel Girl experience
This is an opt-in event–so there are books like Black Panther that will continue their stories unabated. Writers looked at the story and if they saw an angle, they went for it–if not, they didn’t tie-in. There’s still a lot of Black Panther in Civil War II.
Bendis discussed the idea behind the first Civil War was more than “who would win in a fight,” it was getting behind peoples’ arguments. That’s what made Civil War so unique, the involvement of the readers and their ability to interact with the story intellectually.
They built things into this story where readers may change their mind as they go and swap sides, while others may never change which side they’re on.
If the heroes are fighting each other, what are the villains doing”–that will also be addressed in this series.
Which side are the creators on? Bendis says he’s on the side of the comic book reader. As a fan, he’s always asking himself “what is the most we can give from this story?”
Alonso revealed in the most recent script he read, on page 8 he was on Tony’s, on page 11 he was on Carol’s.
The preview shows some deep rifts, like Tony against James Rhodes and the Captain Americas against each other–“that doesn’t necessarily reflect the two sides. Over the course of the story certain characters will shift their position, so you can’t draw any specific conclusions on who’s with whom. The art is intended to encapsulate the whole of the Marvel universe.”
Bendis always wanted Carol Danvers to be one of the biggest characters in the Marvel Universe, and he gives major props to Kelly Sue DeConnick for making that happen.
Civil War had a Frontline companion series. Choosing Sides is kind of the equivalent, in that it will check in on all the different corners of the Marvel Universe
The world is more aware of the events of Civil War II than they were of Civil War.
Civil War II begins with Free Comic Book Day on May 7th.
By Editor