Check out Our Review [WITH SPOILERS] for Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man #1!
Writer: Christos Gage
Penciller: Travel Foreman
Yeah, this is how you do a crossover tie-in! This Civil War II puzzle is first and foremost a Spider-Man story but it also delves into Ulysses, the precognitive Inhuman who kicked off the conflict between heroes. What makes this particular Civil War II tie in so compelling is that it provides some quiet moments with Ulysses, so when he next appears in the main event book, there will be more there for readers to latch on to. In other words, Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man #1 is additive to the Civil War II event, and that’s a good thing.
The basic premise of this tie-in is that Spider-Man takes Ulysses on his rounds, to show the new hero the ropes and to provide some moral support. Christos Gage just nails Ulysses’ voice, even more so than regular Civil War II writer Brian Michael Bendis, and provides a fully realized character instead of a plot point. Not that Bendis has been doing a bad job at all, but it should be noted that Gage does it better in the pages of this “Spidey” tie in.
Don’t think that Spidey takes a back seat to Ulysses. The issue starts with a fun battle between Spidey and the Vulturians (a team of Vulture wannabes that were last seen waayyyy back in…I believe in Web of Spider-Man #2, and God, I loved that issue as a wee nerd). From there, Spidey takes Ulysses on a tour of Parker Industries and tries to hook up the newly created Inhuman with an internship. There’s also some real fun moments with the Human Torch and Harry Osborn.
The art does exactly what you want it to as Travel Foreman nails the quiet moments with the same aplomb he does the “Spider-Man vs. bird-people” action. This is not a tacked on tie-in as fans will grow to appreciate Ulysses as a character as he takes part in a light and airy Spidey adventure. Fun stuff as the Civil War II tie-ins are starting to pummel comic shops.
This is not essential reading but it sure is fun and it makes the main Civil War II book better by filling in some blanks.
