The Marvel Universe has been torn to shreds. Civil War, Mark Millar’s seven-part event, is pitting the industry’s most popular heroes against one another. This epic series focuses upon the turmoil surrounding The Superhuman Registration Act; a law requiring all heroes (and villains) to register with the government and reveal their secret identities. The series is focused upon the struggle of conflicting ideals between the anti-registration heroes (led by Captain America), and their pro-registration counterparts( led by Iron Man himself). In the sixth issue of the series, the war has taken a toll on both sides of the issue as the inevitable final battle draws closer.

I honestly worried about Mark Millar’s writing growing stagnant as the series drew to a close. Upon reading Civil War #6, I must say that Millar’s writing remains to be a refreshing mix of action and intrigue. I should be ashamed of myself for thinking otherwise. While this issue serves as a buildup to the looming conclusion of the Civil War, Millar uses the issue as an opportunity to add a feeling of urgency to the series. A fair amount of character development and some solid plot twists serve to build upon the Civil War mythos. I am particularly enjoyed the author’s take on the relationship between Captain America and The Punisher. While Millar shines a light on their obvious disparities in moral fiber, he makes it a point to show the commonly overlooked parallels between the two soldiers. This comic book, however, is far from perfect. The longstanding moniker of the series, “Whose side are you on”, is beginning to lose its allure due to Millar’s negative portrayal of Iron Man and the other pro-registration heroes and villains. I once felt a glaring sense of ambiguity from this title, but as the story moves forward, I am finding it increasingly difficult to empathize with pro-registration characters. Aside from this minor complaint, I thoroughly enjoyed this issue and I highly recommend it to all fans of the Marvel Universe.

The pages of this book are rife with Steve McNiven’s eye candy. McNiven has the daunting task of illustrating virtually every major character in current Marvel continuity. He draws them all, and draws them well. A sense of gritty realism forms throughout the panels and it supplements the serious nature of Millar’s writing. The art never feels to over-the-top or gaudy. Don’t miss the last few pages of this issue, as they showcase the depth of McNiven’s talent.
 
Score: 9/10