You can't take three steps in the Marvel Universe right now without stumbling over a Civil War book, so this week I'm reviewing three of them and shoving in Uncanny X-Men for good measure. To be honest, I could do more, but in this heat it's difficult enough to write these, let alone anything extra. Besides, there should be more reviews for you next week when Panel Beating returns to give you a less Marvel-centric view on things. Maybe I'll remember to review some indie comics in the near future, too.

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Cable and Deadpool #30

Publisher Marvel • Writer Fabian Nicieza • Artist Staz Johnson

Since, so far, I've been buying every Civil War tie-in, I knew that times would come when I was forced outside of my normal spending habits. She-Hulk was one, and it paid off quite well by being a decent issue. Cable and Deadpool is the second such instance where the Civil War banner is taking me into new pastures. However, the cover-billing of The Great Lakes Avengers (or as they are right now, the Great Lakes Champions) makes it an easy move to make.

The first half of the issue shows Deadpool fighting against the GLC in order to make them register, only he discovers some time in that they already did register. Cable then pays a visit to Captain America, offering his support and displaying some of the progressive revolutionary politics that make the character more interesting today than he's been, well, ever. Defying Cable to hunt down some of Cap's renegades, the identity of the second Daredevil is all but confirmed in what's clearly the biggest clue yet published. Nicieza manages to cram a lot in to the book, not least of which is Deadpool's trademark dialogue, a part of t he character many writers can't help but ignore, and yet it's being done as good as ever here.

The cliffhanger leaves Deadpool totally outmatched, so I'm expecting the resolution next issue to employ some very dirty (and hilarious) tactics. I can't be certain I'll stay beyond the Civil War issues, but I'm definitely back for the next one.
B+

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Civil War #3 (of 7)

Publisher Marvel • Writer Mark Millar • Artist Steven McNiven

In the wake of the unmasking of Civil War #2, one might expect a lot about Spider-Man right now. However, that's not so much the case, as we've already seen it dealt with in about a million other comics over the last three weeks, such that by now it's positively old news. Instead, Civil War #3 presses ever onward with the narrative, though to be honest I get the feeling from this, far more than I did from the recent House of M crossover, that without buying the satellite titles I'm getting only the bare bones of a story. For instance, a scene featuring the X-Men would be great for explaining why they're not around, except it sets up a cliffhanger as Bishop defies Cyclops, the resolution for which will almost certainly only be ever be mentioned again in the X-Men: Civil War miniseries.

Far more interesting to me is the way this issue basically leaves the pro-registration position impossible to have any sympathy for, as they draw out Captain America's team by pretending to be civilians in danger, and then proceed to try and capture the "wayward" heroes. This results, after a short battle, in Iron Man punching Cap repeatedly in the face, while fully suited up, and meanwhile the pro-registration heroes argue their point by shouting "Do as you're told!" and attempting to kick the crap out of their former friends. Hercules gets the best line of the issue, shouting "OUT OF MY WAY, YOU FILTHY TRAITORS!" which more or less puts it about how I would.

Then, of course, there's the cliffhanger, which is going to leave everyone equally shocked. We've seen the hints in Fantastic Four, but no-one would have expected Thor to return so suddenly, and in such a manner. It's not quite up there with last issue's ending, but it's a pretty big thing in its own right that once again will certainly bring me back for more next issue.
A

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Uncanny X-Men #476

Publisher Marvel • Writer Ed Brubaker • Artist Billy Tan

Brubaker's run started off strongly just 2 weeks ago, and with the second issue he's proving that it was no fluke. A group of X-Men, led by the powerless (but walking) Xavier steal an old Shi'ar space ship left on Earth and make off to retrieve Vulcan, the wayward Third Summers Brother, before he can launch his revenge attack on the Shi'ar Empire.

Brubaker promises a 12-part epic, and from this issue it seems likely that he's got it planned out pretty well. This is a perfect slice of X-Men action taken in its own right, but as part of a larger narrative it advances the plot in a significant manner. This kind of storytelling harkens back to the glory days of the original Phoenix Saga and Claremont in his prime, while retaining a modern edge. I'm not sure I care for his team of X-Men, but then in this issue he manages to make former X-Force member and native-american stereotype Warpath actually display some interesting character traits (though I'm just left wondering if he can still fly, as per Warren Ellis' Countter-X hatchet job on the character some years ago.)

Billy Tan's artwork remains far, far ahead of his previous pencilling jobs, and to be honest I even liked him then, so I'm incredibly pleased with this.
A-

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X-Factor #9

Publisher Marvel • Writer Peter David • Artist Dennis Calero

After a few months of floundering, X-Factor finally seems to have hit its stride with these last couple of issues. It's odd that Peter David can be writing such poorly-received material in FNSM but going from strength to strength in X-Factor, but the latter is everything the former isn't - original, mysterious and compelling.

Quicksilver appears to join the regular cast with this issue, still in his role of mutant pariah/saviour, now that he's been infused with the terrigen mists. It makes perfect sense, both in the way the character is tied to the X-Factor name since he, along with many other characters in this title, was a member of the government-sanctioned X-Factor team in the early 90s series of the same name, and because their attempts to understand M-Day and the Decimation are fundamentally linked to the current status of Quicksilver, since he was partially responsible for it.

In addition to that, there are some excellent scenes where X-Factor clarify their position with regards to the X-Men and the Civil War event, and the unofficial Best New Character since Jessica Jones, Layla Millar, delivering a line that's worth buying the issue for in itself.
B+