Marvel's Civil War II (Free Comic Book Day 2016)

 By Mark Rodriguez

This was an interesting way to start up this event. Several things that happen in this battle against Thanos is what kickstarts the events of Civil War II, but the battle itself is mostly alluded to or shown in short flashbacks during the actual story. You had to read this Free Comic Book Day special to get the full context of the actual fight. Let's check it out.

The story opens with Rhodes flying in to visit Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers because he missed her. Carol and Rhodes kiss while Black Panther tries not to throw up in his mask. Rhodes ask who they're waiting for, and just then the Inhumans arrive. Rhodey sees that they brought Ulysses along with him and he remembers him. They're trying to help him control his ability to see visions of the future, and hopefully this can bring humans and Inhumans closer together. Just then, he has a vision of Thanos.

Later at PROJECT PEGASUS, where all things that contain power are being stored, the heroes lie in wait of Thanos, three hours before his estimated arrival. Just then Thanos appears, and the heroes lunge in to attack. He is confused at their arrival, but he demands to have the Cosmic Cube. Thanos blasts them with his gun but Captain Marvel absorbs most of it. The Human Torch fries him with full power and She-Hulk tackles him down. Captain Marvel, Dazzler and the Human Torch all blast him and War Machine swoops in to open fire as well.

Thanos asks how they even knew he would be here and Medusa wraps her hair around him. War Machine swoops in and Miss America tells Medusa to fall back, but it's too late. He tosses Medusa into War Machine and the missile that was meant for Thanos hits She-Hulk instead, causing a huge explosion powerful enough to destroy half the base. Throughout all the smoke and ashes, Rhodey calls out for She-Hulk, Thanos appears and rams his fist right through him.

Thanos demands the Cosmic Cube and all of the heroes attack him without holding back. Captain Marvel lands the final blow. As Carol hurries to tend to Rhodes, Blue Marvel says that She-Hulk is barely breathing while Black Panther holds her body. Carol cries out as she holds Rhodes while Dazzler radios for help.

Buzzed

The story shows a new version of the Wasp trying to break into a high security building using her tiny size to do it. The story flashbacks to months ago when a woman named Nadia came to visit Dr. Pym. Just then she heard from her smartphone that Giant Man AKA Hank Pym had sacrificed himself in a recent battle against Ultron. She shrinks in size to sneak into the house and finds the new costume for the Wasp and decides to take over the role, feeling it's what Hank would have wanted.

She says in time she will introduce herself as the Wasp to the rest of the Avengers and show what she's capable of. We see her set several bombs throughout this security system and she sets them off. As she flies out we see that she was actually flying around inside the Vision the whole time, who is now suffering from multiple explosions hitting him from the inside all at once. What the hell Nadia?

My Opinions- 

So the events of Civil War issue one take place before and after this particular fight. Like I said, it's mostly alluded to, but you gotta pick this one up to actually see it. There's also an issue 0, so we'll see how that also ties into all of this. Once again the heroes are going to be fighting each other while the villains just sit and watch, so we'll see how this goes. 

I have to say, I feel bad for Rhodes. In the movies he barely has a role as War Machine. He finally has more of a major role in Captain America Civil War, which was about around this general time, and everybody wanted him to die rather than just get his legs broken, just because everyone is hellbent on having someone die in the movies for whatever reason. However in the comics, now it seems Rhodes is going to have to die to prove a point and set this new story into motion. Poor dude. 

I never knew Carol and Rhodes were involved. I do remember a little smile shared between the two in Avengers End Game, I wonder if that was a nod to that. 

The story fits pretty well with what we saw. The only thing is, in Marvel Civil II # 1, Ulysses was pretty shaken up over his vision and here he seems pretty relaxed. I guess we can say the Inhumans helped him calm down, but then they mention how they've been helping him out with his visions and how they work... and this is all stuff Captain Marvel and Black Panther should already know...

Good comic to get you ready for Civil War II. I noticed they even ripped the frame of Thanos punching through War Machine right out of this issue.

As for Buzzed... I didn't care too much about it, though if Nadia wants to be a good guy, showing off her skills by attacking the Vision from the inside is probably not the best way to do it. It's like walking over and kicking Captain America's ass and then saying "See? I'm strong enough to kick his ass, can I join the Avengers now?" I wonder if we'll be seeing her throughout the Civil War II storyline. 

Love the split second of impact before the missile explodes, right out of a movie. But wow, this is really gonna have a huge effect on She-Hulk in the next few years