The Tease of Things I Don't Need

Quick Comics Notes

First, don't forget that this Saturday, May 6, is Free Comic Book Day. Follow that link and plug in your zip code to see who's in your area scheduled to participate and to check on the list of free comics likely to be seen.

Keep in mind that many of the stores will also be giving out free Wolverine Heroclix. Visually there are two different types (though, depending on which press release one reads you might only see one of them), both repaintings of the Armor Wars version - one with a white shirt and "I Heroclix" on the back, and the other in a black shirt and "Wizkids" printed in white on the back. They each have the same stats and while as a promotional piece it's not tournament legal, the dial's a nice 57 pt. version of the character unique to this piece; very much worth slapping a 12 pt. Automatic Regeneration on and sending out into battle.

While heading back to visit with my mother in the hospital yesterday afternoon I caught NPR's Talk of the Nation. Generally a spot for a partial interview peppered with calls from a variety of blowhards, self-styled innovators who generally aren't quite all there, and organized, low-budget spin people, I usually skip it. Most of the show was given over to gasoline prices, but the last quarter of the hour focused on an event formally beginning today in comics: Marvel's Civil War. Follow the link and there's even a spot to click on to listen to the segment as Joe Quesada and Paul Jenkins were interviewed. I haven't listened to the packaged clip, but I'm presuming it's the full segment so there's a single caller from North Carolina who manages to work in a plug for Heroclix.

The Civil War arc has been building over the past month, but the official launch - the big incident that triggers it - is part of this week's comics. Of course, as I just received a box last week I'll be catching up on two weeks worth come the 12th... but I know how it starts.

The crux of the storyline is that following a disastrously deadly incident there is a political push for all superheroes to register with the federal government. Indeed, the legislation's already been created and a Senate panel conducting interviews while they consider it; the incident merely propels it onto the national and international stage.

Villains aren't discussed because, well, they're already outlaws. The legislation, if passed, will simply provide an immediate context for arresting them above and beyond any acts they might be guilty of, much like laws on the books concerning the posession of assault and concealed weapons. I expect that to be part of the case for the legislation. Two elements of it - in the set-up - have struck me as clumsy, forced, and in one instance especially ham-handed, but I want more of the story to slip into history first before discussing such things so as not to spoil anything for anyone.

What interests me in the arc is that like many of the worst things in real life it's at heart a well-intentioned move (the proposed legislation) put forth by people sincerely acting in what they believe to be the best interests of the people. The heroes, likewise, will be split on the issue just as everyday people are on issues on the national stage. That, further, it's promised that one side or the other will "win" in the end -- there will be a law of the land, after all - is also part of the interest. Can this genie (convincingly) be put back in the bottle, or will the landscape of superheroes change? Will this drive some back into the shadows? Will it drive some of them who are on teams off them?

Reportedly the issue split opinions in Marvel's offices, which is part of what convinced them it was a solid storyline to investigate and develop.

Is it even remotely original? Oh, hell no. DC ran around with this more than once in the settings of the 1950s HUAC investigations. Still, it's a valid discussion and one that's been overdue in the Marvel universe.

Editorial meetings decided where all of the major players would fall on the issue, but one of the series writers, Paul Jenkins, was given a list of characters he was free to choose sides for. That he admits he didn't know some of them has me concerned, since this is the "acclaimed" writer who once not only had Spider-man say "gob" instead of "spit" (sure Jenkins is a Brit, but isn't he supposed to be professional?) but - worse - had it as part of an exchange between Spider-man and Daredevil where Spidey's asking DD if he's ever wanted to spit so it might hit one of the upturned faces below. It's another of those "do they know who they're writing?" and "What do Marvel editors... do?" moments. Still, that exchange was a few years back, so I'm (feebly) hoping he's improved his act instead of just rolling on, deaf to any but his cheering section of wannabe soccer houligans.