Well, this story begins when I took a car trip with my family to Willits, California. From where I live, that means a five hour drive. What else do you do on a five hour drive... besides sleep?
In this age of apps, angry birds, and fruit ninja, reading still exists. And that is what I did.
A day before the trip, I was in the book section of my local Smiths. That is where I found this:
Yes, Marvel's story arc
Civil War was adapted into a novel. So, being a comic book nerd, that is what caught my attention...also the 5 dollar price tag didn't hurt either.
Well, the Civil War arc has gotten pretty mixed reviews, and most people I talked to have split opinions. Like or hate, for us CBers (because it's not a CBM) there is no middle ground.
I figured I would review the novel for the readers out there.
I want you to keep in mind a few things:
1. I NEVER READ THE
CIVIL WAR COMICS!!!!! There were something I heard about, but I never read them. This novel was my introduction into the "Civil War." That being said, I looked up a plot summary for comparison purposes.
2. This is my opinion. Some people may disagree with me, and you're encouraged to. I'm just being a critic. Not everyone agrees with them.
Now, before the review, a basic breakdown of the plot:
The prologue opens the novel to the New Warriors incident. The New Warriors were a dysfunctional group of teenage heroes who stared in a failing "Cops" style reality show. In a desperate boost for ratings, the New Warriors attempt to take on a group of villains that they know are way stronger than they (the New Warriors are). All goes well, until they try to capture the villain Nitro. In the fight, Nitro uses his powers to blow up several city blocks in the city Stamford, Connecticut. The explosion kills 600 civilians, 60 of who are children.
This is where the first difference from the comics occur. The prologue is told from the point of view of the hero Speedball. In the comics, Speedball is 1 of 2 survivors of the Stamford incident (the other being Nitro). The novel makes no mention of Nitro, and the prologue ends with Speedball's last thoughts as he's vaporized.
The story then revolves around the passing of the
Superhuman Registration Act by Congress. The act would require that all superhumans register their identities to the government. Basically, it makes being a super-powered human a government job.
After the prologue, the story shifts into four points of view that weave together throughout the novel.
1. Tony Stark/ Iron Man: After Stamford, Tony is convinced that the Superhuman Registration Act is a required step toward making the world a better place. He is constantly plagued by guilt over the Stamford incident, and it motivates him to support the act. Tony believes that this is right, and will fight to protect the people, even if it means that he has to fight his former friends.
2. Steve Rogers/ Captain America: The first time we see Cap, he's on the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier after the act is passed by Congress. Acting director, Maria Hill enlists Cap's help in rounding up rogue heroes. Cap realizes that this act will repress his and other superheroes' rights. He escapes Hill and forms a resistance of rogue heroes to combat the act.
3. Peter Parker/ Spider-Man: At first, Peter is in support of the act, believing it will help a lot of people. He's also excited to work with his hero Tony Stark. At this point, we see Tony subtly manipulates Peter into supporting the act. After seeing "Project 42," a prison in the Negative Zone where rogue heroes who defy the act would be imprisoned, Peter has a change of heart and joins the resistance.
4. Susan Storm Richards/ The Invisible Woman: Post Stamford, we first see Susan going into a nightclub to look for her brother Johnny. Things escalate out of control as Johnny becomes the victim of a hate crime by anti-hero extremeists. From there, we see Susan have mixed feelings about the act. And it's really out of obligation to her husband that she supports it. However, after an ambush on the rogue heroes, Sue has a change of heart, leaves her husband and children, and joins the resistance.
These points of view weave and clash until Cap's surrender at the end of the book. From there, there are four epilogues.
Epilogue 1: Invisible Sue received a letter from Reed apologized for everything that happened and begging her to take him back. Sue leaves her hotel to see Reed waiting for her, and the two reconcile.
Epilogue 2: Spider Peter talks to both MJ and Aunt May on the phone (after having them leave New York so they can't be used against him). Peter talks about how those still defying the act have formed a group of "Secret Avengers." Peter tells MJ how he denied their invitation preferring to work alone. Peter swings off into the city at the sound of trouble.
Epilogue 3: America After surrendering, Cap sits in his jail cell. He is drawing on the wall with chalk (in return for a favor one of the guards owed him). He has a conversation with an inmate in the cell next to his. He finished his chalk drawing, the American flag.
Epilogue 4: Iron In the aftermath of the Civil War, Tony Stark has been named acting director of S.H.I.E.L.D. with Maria Hill demoted to deputy director. Tony talks with one of the parents of one of the children killed in the Stamford incident about his hope for the future.
The Review: Now for my review of the novel.
It was beautifully written. The language was so descriptive and enchanting. However, good writing doesn't excuse choppy scenes. During a lot of the action, I felt the scenes shifted too fast:
BAM! Luke Cage fighting She-Luke
BAM! Ms. Marvel in an air duel with Falcon
BAM! Tony vs Steve
BAM! Daredevil dueling Black Widow
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
You get it? After a while, it just got old. But not so old that you wanted to put the book down.
And then, there were issues in the four points of view. Iron Man came off way too strong. We get that he's prideful and egotistical. But even then, it felt like it was too much. The most interesting part his relationship with Peter, how we attempted to manipulate Peter under his wing. At times, though, Tony came off as one-dimensional.
Cap was rather bland. Like we understand why he's fighting, it's pretty obvious. But the way the novel is written, it never really says why. Like either the author neglected to make this point clear, or he was trying to be ambiguous. Like Tony, Steve came off as one-dimensional.
Spider-Man's point of view was kind of exciting but it fell short of the mark. It could build up to these intense moments and then it just seemed disappointing when it finally happened.
Another issue I had with Spider-Man's story is the pacing. He had the worst pacing of any of the four plot lines. At times, it moved right, but mostly things just moved too fast.
I really had no arguments with Sue's storyline and point of view. In my opinion, she was the best written character in the novel. She never seemed one-dimensional; she was so well fleshed out. Her point of view was really gripping and you could feel everything she felt with every word.
And then there were the differences between the comic and novel.
There were some minor differences, such as setting it in Obama's term as president (Tony makes a reference to Obamacare) rather than (presumably) George Bush's term as in the comic.
Then there were the big differences. The first one was that this novel was set after the Spider-Man "One More Day" storyline. I have no idea what that means, having never read One More Day.
Another plot change was that this novel doesn't mention the "Secret Wars" story arc. So rather than Nick Fury in hiding, he is presumed dead.
The next big difference was that unlike the comics, Hulkling never infiltrated Iron Man's operation under the form of Hank Pym. In the comics, Hulking released the prisoners from the Negative Zone while disguised as Pym. In the novel, it's Sue hacking into Reed's computer and releasing the prisoners.
The biggest change is in the novel's ending. The comic ended with one of the most shocking and biggest jaw dropping moments in CB history. Cap goes to his trial. As he walks up the courthouse steps, he is assassinated. Shot in the head by Crossbones.
The novel completely lacks this ending!!!!!! It ends with Cap in prison.
Despite all it's shortcomings, the novelization of
Civil War is still a very good read with great language and beautiful diction.
Overall, I give it an 8 out of a possible 10.
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As always, your reviews are welcome.
-Mcott