“We should create a war between the Superheroes.” The day these words were first uttered at Marvel’s head office, is a day that should be erased from history. I don’t care if you won the lottery, got married or even if your baby was born. Such events must be sacrificed so that the day the Civil War began never existed.
I’m not going to argue that the series is not being drawn well, or that the story line sucks. The writing and art throughout have been fantastic. It’s some of the best I’ve seen from Marvel in a long time. The emotional reactions of the heroes have been priceless, the worlds beautiful. I’ve been most impressed with the execution of this story.
But that’s exactly what this is, an execution of all good things Marvel.
As a corporation Marvel feels their heroes should relate more to the common person. They could not be further from the truth! We read comic books to see a better world. A world where selflessness and the safety of others is paramount. A world where heroes with fantastic powers save the world from tragedy and horror. Saving us from the real, ugly, and gritty world. We don’t want to relate to comic book heroes. We want to admire them as the pinnacles of humanity. I can’t do that given this Civil War.
With the turmoil, deaths, disease, and wars in this world, how could Marvel imagine that we need to see heroes fight amongst themselves? True comic book heroes are motivated by morals and the desire to save people because it’s the right thing to do, not by a cushy government job. Governments employing and commanding superheroes is the antithesis of everything a superhero stands for. These people fight out of necessity, because of their gifts, and not because of governmental whims. It preposterous! It betrays everything that has been built up since the very inception of the Superhero.
When I was young, superheroes taught me a better way; it taught me a higher road to take. What does this teach today’s kids? How do disagreeing heroes solve their problems? Oh that’s right; they start a war with each other!
With the infighting came the reveal of Spider-man’s true identity. Another corner stone of Superhero lore sacrificed on the altar of this day. Spidey hides his identity to protect those he loves from reprisal. Aunt May and Mary Jane will pay the price. Not Tony Stark. Not Peter Parker. This is what I’m talking about: heroes are selfless. No doubt it was difficult for Peter to make ends meet and keep some sort of normal life living with the secret identity, but it was the right thing to do, no matter how hard! I don’t care what that sell out, Iron Man tells him, his family is going to end up hurt. This was broadcast to the whole world! It’s out there and not coming back!
I can overlook the stupid new iron suit. We all know Marvel will change it back. Uniforms are a passing fancy of the illustrated world. But you can’t take back the loss of dignity. You can’t take back the disenfranchised fans. And you can’t take back the reveal, or at least not in any intelligent, well-written way. I suppose they will pull a page from Smallville and just erase the entire world’s memory? Marvel has taken everything that makes Superheroes pure and good and polluted it.
What they’re doing with Civil War just isn’t right in my opinion. It’s the demonstration of everything a Superhero comic shouldn’t be. There’s no kindness, no consideration for fellow humans, no selflessness in this. It’s just shock and awe, with no consideration for any kind of moral value… that’s not heroic.
Two terrible days lay destroyed at the hands of Marvel Execs.
The day they killed the term “superhero”.
And the day they killed my hope, my interest, and lost my subscription.
Posted: Monday, August 14, 2006