Civil War: Choosing Sides #1: Review

Dec 2006
Marc Guggenheim, Leinil Francis Yu

Story Name:

Switching Sides


Synopsis

Civil War: Choosing Sides #1 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro
A home in the town of Port Washington, New York is silently approached by armed troops while the occupant is inside on the phone, trying to work out a media deal. Mac Gargan is surrounded and placed under arrest; he uses his Venom symbiote to control one of the soldiers and make him shoot his teammates. Thunderbolts Songbird and Radioactive Man arrive to stop him. He changes into Venom, having already sold the rights to his life story, and is now ready to join up….


Story #2

Conscientious Objector

Writer: Robert Kirkman. Penciler: Phil Hester. Inker: Ande Parks. Colorist: Bill Crabtree.

Synopsis

The new Ant-Man sits quietly on a rooftop watching a battle between the two factions in the superhero civil war, pausing briefly to fight off a bird trying to snatch away his popcorn kernel. He spies a civilian girl caught in the crossfire and leaps down to her rescue, hiding in her hair and directing her safely across the battleground. After the rebels depart, the woman is assured by Iron Man that she is safe. When she describes the tiny hero to them, Hank Pym recognizes the suit that was stolen from his lab. Elsewhere, the new Ant-Man embarks on his master plan….


Story #3

Choosing Sides

Writer: Ed Brubaker. Writer: Matt Fraction. Penciler: David Aja. Inker: David Aja. Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth.

Synopsis

Danny Rand, filling in as Daredevil as a favor to Matt Murdock, breaks up a gang on the streets but then discovers that it was a trap. He dodges SHIELD agents out to arrest him for violating the Superhuman Registration Act. He escapes and returns to his office, looking forward to the time when his promise to his friend is discharged and he can take up the burdens of Iron Fist once again….


Story #4

Choosing Sides

Writer: Mike Oeming. Penciler: Scott Kolins. Inker: Scott Kolins. Colorist: Brian Reber.

Synopsis

USAgent breaks into Avengers Tower but Tony Stark (and the security system) know he’s there. Tony breaks the news that John is being assigned to the Canadian Alpha Flight initiative as the American liaison. The Agent refuses and storms out. Later in Philadelphia, he is pursued by SHIELD aircraft and takes one out, stopping to rescue the occupant of a news chopper that got too close. He discovers that the SHIELD Agents are under the control of the Purple Man—who immediately captures USAgent’s mind as well. He is ordered to fall off the roof. Later, with bandages covering his injuries, USAgent is told by Tony Stark that the Purple Man has fled to Canada, thus forcing him to obey orders while seeking revenge….


Story #5

Non-Human-Americans

Writer: Ty Templeton. Penciler: Roger Langridge. Inker: Roger Langridge. Colorist: J. Brown.

Synopsis

A cranky Howard the Duck is on his way downtown to register with the government, persuaded by Beverly. They arrive at the bureau to find the place crowded. After standing in line for a long time behind a man with a bull hood, Howard discovers he’s been in line for a driver’s license. They soon find the right office and Howard objects to having to classify himself as a type of non-human and grumbles his way through the questionnaire. When his turn comes, he is recognized as the Duck Man whose exploits have been reported all over Cleveland. A supervisor explains that he has officially been classed as non-existent to save paperwork. Howard is ejected, delighted to be free now from taxes, jury duty, and the like.

 

Review / Commentaries

Rating:
3 stars

Civil War: Choosing Sides #1 Review by (August 21, 2014)
Comments: All stories set in the early days of the Superhero Registration Act. 1. Story continued in THUNDERBOLTS #110. Gargan suggests “The Atom” or “Firestorm” as better names for Radioactive Man, who says they can’t use them for legal reasons. Joke: they are the names of DC Comics heroes. 2. First appearance of Eric O’Grady as Ant-Man; this story leads into the ongoing series THE IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #1, where his origin is recounted. 3. Story continued in THE IMMORTAL IRON FIST #1. 4. Story continued in OMEGA FLIGHT #1. Philadelphia’s City Hall can be seen in the first panel.


> Civil War: Choosing Sides comic book info and issue index

Elektra

Excelsioring your collection:
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Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Leinil Francis Yu
Leinil Francis Yu
Dave McCaig
Leinil Francis Yu (Cover Penciler)
Leinil Francis Yu (Cover Inker)


Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Ant-Man
Ant-Man

(Eric O'Grady)
Captain America
Captain America

(Steven Rogers)
Daredevil
Daredevil

(Matt Murdock)
Iron Man
Iron Man

(Anthony Stark)
Luke Cage
Luke Cage

(Power Man)
Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvel

(Carol Danvers)
She-Hulk
She-Hulk

(Jennifer Walters)
Songbird
Songbird

(Melissa Joan Gold)
Spider-Man
Spider-Man

(Peter Parker)
Thing
Thing

(Ben Grimm)
U.S. Agent
U.S. Agent

(John Walker)
Venom
Venom

(Mac Gargan)
Wasp
Wasp

(Janet Van Dyne)

Plus: Beverly Switzler, Daredevil (Danny Rand), Purple Man, Radioactive Man (Chen Lu).