COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Civil War #3

SHE, SPIDER, SOLDIER, SHADOW

This is getting interesting, infuriating and intriguing; all roll into one chapter of the bitter and painful consequences of an endless war. Charles Soule gets better on highlighting the downsides of the characters he wants to explore in the worse case scenarios and situations in the third part of the Secret Wars tie-in CIVIL WAR.

If invested readers and fans of this worthy successor of the Mark Millar and Steve McNiven’s influential mega-comic event focus their eyes and minds since the beginning, the assassin in question is found and known, but Soule puts the twists on the already twisting tale of success, sacrifice, secret, screw-up, and soldiering. As said above, every action has a reaction. Everything has a price, one way to another. The writer presents a changed Peter Parker, a reflective one after fulfilling the mission Steve Rogers gave him. His change of attitude may do affect the storyline in the last two remaining chapters unless Soule expects the unexpected and do the unthinkable again. I mentioned some demises last issue ago and gladly the writer picks this up and has another unexpected one do the thing the former ninja could have done in the first place. Another factor the comic scribe maintains the intensity of this story is the supposed obvious is the complete opposite that could change further the direction the current narrative of this series, particularly the clarity of the main responsibility of the entire mess since the premier chapter. Moreover, Soule shows us why suspense and noir are becoming his newfound playthings in crafting superhero tales by showcasing the effects of the failed notions of loyalty, gratitude and trust as against to the counterparts like weariness, doubtfulness, and hopefulness. Just observe and internalize the writer’s dialogues on Peter Parker after the web-slinger’s task, the human emotional mixture is very prevalent to the point of the unwitting poise of the trajectory this run could follow. And, the most important thing in maintaining the ranks and files of each side is one’s believing on what is the most significant objective in the cause despite the numerous obstacles the protagonists have gone through. Soule shows that precisely in many characters’ facial portrayals via the dialogues and interactions that convey the necessity of getting the readers’ sympathies to their respective players involved. In general, the writer places the right stuffs in consistently maintaining the integrity that makes this Civil War interesting halfway already.

As I am so engrossed with Soule’s emotional take on the series, I am equally surprised on the rather slight decrease of Leinil Francis Yu’s artistic takes on the characters he literally almost blew his fans and readers’ ocular senses in the past two issues. From the cover art up to the last page that left some readers and fans scratching their heads of the “what the heck” moment, Yu’s art is way below from his increasingly evolving clean and detailed illustrations. He is almost going back to the earlier years on his runs in the New Avengers and to the Secret Invasion artistic interpretations that can be opined as rushed, scrawny/scratchy, darkly. The latter characteristic is comprehensible for this third issue takes place within a span of a day or less so, hence the dark and moody ambiance and feel that further intensifies by Yu’s partner-in-art, Gerry Alanguilan’s trademark heavy inking. But the rest is evident that in context, this third chapter is released two weeks after the last second issue. Yu can do monthly basis, but the art is a bit compromised in overall quality, similar to the experiences of many high-caliber, highly articulated and detailed types. I treat Yu’s latest one as below par to his usual awesomeness. However, his sequential paneling compensates his latest trademark artistic signature for visually telling two major narratives and one sideshow in the grand tale demand a precise and accessible storytelling in the visual illustrative interpretations. Yu’s control on how he presents Spider-Man’s struggle against the fused iconic villains and the latter’s eventual takedown by the unexpected party. He illustrates as accessible as possible, which he interprets Jennifer’s failed undercover and even the surprise part in the end page. Finally, Yu just nails the Battleworld’s (or Warzone’s) latest characters’ inclusions that hopefully become integral to the larger-than-life take in the last two issues. Gerry’s inks dominate this time around to the level of covering most of the protagonists’ eyes that signify the weariness, if not the hopelessness, of the continuing polarization. Yet, some of the shadings are overdone in many panels, covering probably the emotional portrayals that this chapter alone needs to illuminate. But nevertheless, Gerry’s inks and Yu’s pencils somehow deliver for the most part to Soule’s incredible narrative take.

Civil War #3 actually continues the riveting emotional roller coaster of the ongoing conflict that the creative team undertakes since the “shot that heard the world” took place. Though both Yu and Alanguilan’s artistic takes slightly dip than the previous chapters, their sequential and subtle illustrative interpretations compensate the former. Perhaps, they are giving their best for the next two intriguing chapters left. And lastly, another twist emerges and this is where the true heightening of the overall plot-driven moment is getting better.