What did Civil War (Marvel) mean for comics?

The year 2006 feels like a long time ago now. The '90s were long gone, but superhero comics still hadn't recovered from that strange era. Back then, Marvel He commissioned writer Mark Millar to carry out the most important event in the history of the publisher: Civil War.

This story is widely known, primarily because it was the most important source of inspiration for the third standalone Captain America film within the MCU. It was precisely thanks to this delivery that this event would come to the attention of the mainstream public.

But what did it mean at the time?

The context

The 2000s were not easy for the United States. 9/11 had sown distrust in the country. The idea of an invincible superhero like Superman, capable of saving the world, was becoming increasingly unrealistic. And the DC hero's vision became less and less plausible.

Fortunately, the writing philosophy of “The House of Ideas” was always very distinct, and under its model of humans as heroes, they were able to breathe new life into superhero stories. Civil War arrived to give the industry a new push and show us that we can still enjoy comics. 

The phenomenon

Surely, dear reader, you have heard this story before. Two heroes, Captain America and Iron Man, friends, clash in a conflict that puts their perspectives on freedom and responsibility at stake.

On the one hand, the American icon of World War II defended the autonomy of superhero activity. While the genius, millionaire, playboy and philanthropist supported the institutional regulation of heroes.

The film adaptation of Civil War put the spotlight on the boy scout in blue (although it's clear that Robert Downey Jr. stole the show at various moments). However, In the comic, the viewer's position is much more neutral, so it depends on each reader which side of the conflict is right.

This prompted all comic book fans to share their opinions. Letters, internet forums, phone calls, debates, etc. Everything became a topic of discussion among Civil War fans, which also caused the number of followers to grow.

The legacy

Heroes, as vulnerable and flawed beings, are nothing new. But The great merit of Civil War was to put all these ideas in an attractive setting, which is also contingent. Responding to readers' concerns. Allowing them to draw their own conclusions.

We know we haven't said everything about the Civil War comic. So, we're counting on you, the person reading these words, to contribute to this enriching discussion. So, tell us. What aspects of the comic are the most memorable for you? What other things would you highlight?

Image: The Artifice