LAW: Some think comic books are just for kids. They’re surprised to discover adults read comics and they wonder why.
Ironically, the fact that some people don’t expect complexity from comics might be the very reason why social issues are often addressed in them, yet “fly under the radar.” Just as comedians Key & Peele are able to point out the ways President Obama has been unfairly treated, yet their satire isn’t as controversial as if Obama himself or another politician said the same thing, comic book writers can make social commentary in ways that might be controversial if the same things were printed elsewhere.
That’s the basis for the upcoming Marvel Studios film “Captain America: Civil War,” opening this weekend. Trailers and commercials have shown it will star most of the actors reprising their roles from the Avengers movies, along with Don Cheadle, Chadwick Boseman and Anthony Mackie as War Machine, the Black Panther and the Falcon, respectively. Quinton and I are familiar with the comic mini series events that inspired the film. When comic stories are adapted into movies or TV shows, they usually make changes from the original story, so expect this article to give you a general framework of the film without major “spoilers” (we haven’t seen it yet).
What’s key is the original Marvel “Civil War” comic story came out after the United States government’s response to the shocking and tragic 9/11 attacks. The Patriot Act was approved. The Department of Homeland Security was created. And we became familiar with the terms “enemy combatants,” “advanced interrogation techniques,” “waterboarding” and “the War on Terror.”
QVW: In the “Civil War” comic series, D-list teenaged superheroes, The New Warriors, are in Stamford, Conn., trying to boost ratings for their reality TV series. They are spotted by a pack of foes of the X-Men, Spider-Man and the Hulk and Captain Marvel villain Nitro.
LAW: The New Warriors know they are unprepared and probably in over their heads, but they also know confronting these villains on live TV will boost their fame. So the teens do what folks on reality TV shows do: act irresponsibly and start a fight to get higher ratings.
QVW: Not realizing, or just being careless, their fight spills into the middle of a school zone, where Nitro does the unthinkable and detonates, killing hundreds of innocent men, women and children on live TV, leaving the world in a state of shock and terror. With this disaster seen and heard worldwide, the U.S. government issues a Superhuman Registration Act.
LAW: Under this act, anyone with superpowers must register their identities and abilities with the government. Once registered, anyone who wants to use their powers must agree to be approved by, trained by, accountable to and assigned to fight by and for the government. In this “you’re either with us or against us” era, non-cooperators are immediately taken off U.S. soil and detained without trial.
QVW: Some heroes, such as Iron Man, are ready and willing to go under this act with a sense of guilt due to the tragedy in Stamford.
LAW: Some also agree because they feel accountability is appropriate and inevitable. But others object. Some prefer being rebel vigilantes. Some fear politics will play a role in their assignments. Some fear their secret identities might be hacked, leaked to the public or used as leverage for extortion.
QVW: One of those objecting is the star-spangled patriot, Captain America.
LAW: Which takes many by surprise, considering he’s a soldier from WWII who was reactivated in our time. But Captain America sees himself as the symbol of the country’s ideals, not its government.
The government assigns those who register (Iron Man and friends) to capture those who refuse to (Captain America and others) and the civil war begins.
There are two standard things with superhero comics: (1) You can easily tell who the good guys and bad guys are.
(2) You know the good guys will win! “Civil War” works, in part, because it breaks those comic conventions. For example, years before this storyline, Spider-Man was the hero who, because of his selfish, irresponsible grandstanding when he was a teenager (just like the New Warriors) lost his uncle. He’s also the hero who suffered most tragically when a villain discovered his secret identity. Spider-Man can see the merits and flaws of both points of view, just as the reader can. There are no “bad guys.” And because there are no bad guys, there’s no way to know which side will win. So how does Spider-Man respond to the Registration Act? Take a guess. Bzzzt! Guess again!
QVW: The “Civil War” comics leave a line drawn in the middle and alliances are made with heroes (and villains) that you would’ve never imagined. The turns will leave you on the edge of your seat and, honestly, brought me back to a love for comics that I had long lost.
I firmly believe new readers or non-comic fans will have a thrill ride on this epic story arc.
LAW: I totally agree “Civil War” is a great read for people who are already pretty familiar with the Marvel Comics universe. I think some moments that will evoke strong emotions from fans won’t impact new readers not already invested in the characters the same way. Either way, without spoiling the surprises, I’ll say the social commentary is thoughtful and deals with issues we’re still wrestling with.
QVW: My only regret was it didn’t last long enough. It well could’ve been a 12- to 16-part series instead of seven parts, and I felt there weren’t enough significant roles for certain characters.
LAW: Well, regret no longer because Marvel seems to agree with you. The original “Civil War” stories are online and in comic shops now. The sequel, “Civil War 2,” is coming online and to comic shops later this month, and “Captain America: Civil War” opens May 5 at a theater near you.