Nick Peron

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Civil War: Front Line #11

Nick Peron

Credits

Civil War continues from Amazing Spider-Man #538….

Embedded, Part 11

Following the passage of the Super Human Registration Act (SHRA), the superhero community has been torn in half. Reporters Ben Urich and Sally Floyd have been covering the conflict for their respective newspapers.[1] The investigations have uncovered a conspiracy that suggests an ulterior motive for the ongoing superhero civil war.

Meeting up in Times Square, the two reporters have found themselves caught in the middle of the final battle between Captain America (Steve Rogers)’s anti-registration Secret Avengers and Iron Man (Tony Stark)’s pro-registration forces.[2] Eventually, when Captain America saw that the public supported Iron Man’s side, he ordered his army to stand down and surrendered to the authorities. It was only then that people took stock of the damage and destruction done to New York in the conflict.

Emergency crews quickly started restoring order, putting out fires, and treating the sounded. 53 people, six of them super-powered were counted among the dead.[3] Those heroes who could still stand — on either side of the conflict — began helping with damage control.[4] What was abundantly clear was something had to change in this new legal reality.

Later, both Ben Urich and Sally Floyd are granted an interview with Captain America. As they arrive at the Raft maximum security prison, Sally reveals that she is leaving the Alternative, just as Ben quit his job at the Daily Bugle.[5] She came to this conclusion to leave the Alternative after she was arrested for refusing to divulge a source and had to be freed by Congressman Eugene Sykes.[6] Ben then tells her that after this interview he has an idea to propose to her about the future.

After being security screened by CLOC (the Sentry’s artificial intelligence) they are allowed to enter Captain America’s cell. Sally is shocked to see how well they are treating Steve Rogers, noting that his cell is six times larger than her apartment. Steve greets them and learns that Ben and Sally are there to interview both sides of the conflict and after they are done with him, they have a scheduled interview with Tony Stark. Steve admits that he and Tony hasn’t had a chance to talk since his surrender and wants them to pass along the message that he is sorry for everything that happened. However, Ben tells Rogers to tell him in person as the point of their interview is to explain himself to the American people.

When asked if he crossed a line when he stood up against the Super Human Registration Act, Captain America goes into his often repeated speech about how he believed that the SHRA violated the fundamental rights afforded to all Americans. However, he realizes now that he has lost, that going to war was probably not the best way to have handled things. He should have gone to Tony Stark and Reed Richards with his concerns and offers his apologies to the American people and the country he loves.

That’s when Sally finally chimes in and says that she never voted for him to represent her. She says that if she wanted to pay for an army, it had better be answerable to her. She then asks Steve if it was all the bloodshed and death was worth it for Rogers to figure out that people wanted the Super Human Registration Act.[7] She then accuses Captain America of breaking the country and asks him how he plans on fixing it. Cap has no answer for her.

As they leave the prison, Sally admits that her interview is turning into an opinion piece. This is because everything that Captain America said to justify his position angers her, particularly since everyone is going to have to pay for the damages through their taxes. Ben understands her frustrations but reminds her that they have their interview with Tony Stark coming up in ten days and that the bombshell they are going to report on is going to tear everything in half. He asks her to let him do the talking next time.

Over the next ten days, Ben Urich works to finish his report, Sally’s relationship with Danny Granville blossoms. Meanwhile, the Sentry (Bob Reynolds) finally comes out and gives his support for the SHRA.[8] To maintain objectivity in their final report on the war, Ben and Sally keep in touch with those who continue to be against the new law, such as Spider-Man.[9] The pair have also decided to start their own publication and have rented out a small office of 53rd Street. Even with the civil war threatening to spill beyond US borders,[10] reconstruction continued and life started going back to normal. The 50-State Initiative kicked in four days after the war ended,[11] and heroes said their final goodbyes to those who died.[12]

Soon, ten days have passed and it is time for their interview with Tony Stark. Stark welcomes them in, telling the two reports that number 76 on their list of improvements under the SHRA is to be more transparent with the press. Ben then tells Stark that their interview isn’t about the things that are happening as a result of the SHRA, but about Tony specifically. Ben and Sally then outline the conspiracy surrounding the civil war and who the traitor is. They go over how the law was rushed through congress, that the creation of Prison 42 was supposed to pressure heroes into registering. They also talk about how the Green Goblin (Norman Osborn) was conscripted into doing wetwork for SHIELD. That someone had compromised the nanites that kept Osborn under wraps and used him to stage an assassination attempt on Atlantean dignitaries. That following his arrest, Osborn was then given stewardship of the Thunderbolts. The purpose of stoking conflict with Atlantis was to further push support for registration, all the while Stark’s company profited from the lucrative contracts to outfit the government with the gear needed to enforce the new law. Finally, Sally reveals who they think the traitor is: Tony Stark himself, and she applauds him for such a masterful deception.[13]

Tony tells them to get the hell out of his office, but admits to nothing. Ben tells Stark that they aren’t going to publish the story as it will jeopardize what he is trying to accomplish. However, he leaves his card if Tony should ever want to talk on the record. With that, they leave Tony’s office. After a moment of thinking things over, Tony looks at his Iron Man helmet, then out the window to the still smoldering city. He then angrily grabs his helmet and throws it across the room before breaking down in tears.

Recurring Characters

Ben Urich, Sally Floyd, Secret Avengers (Captain America, “Daredevil”, Patriot, Living Lightning, Spider-Man), Pro-Registration Heroes (Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, Sentry, “Yellowjacket”), Skyhawk, Thing, Typeface, Doris Urich, Danny Granville, CLOC, SHIELD

Continuity Notes

  1. The SHRA is a new law that was passed into law in Civil War #2. It requires all superheroes to register with the government. This law will remain on the books until Siege #4.

  2. The story takes place during the events of Civil War #7 and its immediate aftermath.

  3. Of the six superhumans that are reported killed in the final battle, only one has been positively identified and even that is proven wrong.

    • Namely, Typeface who is depicted as being dead in this story and whose death is later confirmed in Civil War: Battle Damage Report #1. However, he appears alive and well again without explanation (as of November, 2024) in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #5.

    • Battle Damage Report states that the status of Lectronn, who was also in the final battle is unknown. However, a profile for Lectronn in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #3 reveals that he managed to survive and escaped arrest. However, as of this writing (November, 2024) the character has not been seen since.

  4. Two of the heroes depicted in the aftermath of the battle are impostors. They are:

    • Yellowjacket is a Skrull impostor named Criti Noll. Noll took Hank’s place prior to House of M #1, as seen in Mighty Avengers #15. This is ahead of a Skrull invasion of Earth that will primarily be chronicled in Secret Invasion #1-8.

    • Here we see a hero dressed as Daredevil is actually Danny Rand (aka Iron Fist) in disguise. Per Civil War: Choosing Sides #1, Matt Murdock asked Danny to pose as Daredevil for a time. This is because, Murdock’s double identity was leaked in Daredevil (vol. 2) #32. Just prior to the Civil War, Murdock was going off to prison and he wanted someone posing as him on the outside to obfuscate the truth about his double life. See Daredevil (vol. 2) #82-87.

  5. Ben quit his job at the Daily Bugle last issue so he could publish his story about the conspiracy surrounding the SHRA and not affect the Bugle’s profitability as the paper has been struggling to maintain readership at the time of Civil War, as pointed out by Joe Robertson in Civil War: Front Line #5.

  6. Sally was arrested in Civil War: Front Line #5, but was released in issue #7 after Sykes had forced her to realize some harsh truths about the SHRA. Sally previously reported against Sykes due to his anti-mutant stance, as seen in Generation M #1-4.

  7. Only a handful of superhumans were seemingly killed during the Civil War. They include:

    • Goliath (Bill Foster): Who was killed while fighting the pro-registration side’s clone of Thor in Civil War #4. As of this writing (November, 2024) he remains among the deceased.

    • Jack O’Lantern (Steven Levins): Was killed by the Punisher in Civil War #5. He will be resurrected when his body is possessed by the demonic entity known as Lucifer in Ghost Rider (vol. 6) #8

    • The Jester (Jody Putt): Was killed by the Punisher in Civil War #5. He is still considered among the deceased.

    • Bantam (Roberto Velasquez) died fighting Thunderclap in Civil War: Front Line #3. He is still considered among the deceased.

    • Slyde (Jalome Beacher): Was seemingly killed to send a message to Hammerhead in Civil War: War Crimes #1. Someone dressed as Slyde started appearing in Avegers Stand-Off: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega #1. However, as of this writing (November, 2024) it cannot be confirmed if this is Jalome Beacher, or someone using his old identity. For all we know, he could be someone who bought the Slyde identity.

    • Hammerhead is also seemingly killed in Civil War: War Crimes #1 after being shot in the head. However, it is later revealed in Amazing Spider-Man: Extra #1 that he survived.

    • The Plunderer (aka Parnival Plunder): Was seemingly killed by the Punisher in Civil War #6. In reality, this was a body double named David Kivlin, per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Update #1. He turns up alive and well in Marvel Comics Presents (vol. 2) #5-7.

    • Goldbug (Matthew Golden): Was actually killed by the Punisher, also in Civil War #6. Time of this writing, he is still among the deceased. His identity has since been franchised out, as seen in Spider-Woman (vol. 5) #6.

    • Digitek (Jonathan Bryant): Seemingly committed suicide after being arrested by blowing his brains out in Civil War: Front Line #6. However, Civil War: Battle Damage Report #1 states that he couldn’t have killed himself unless his CPU was totally destroyed. This turned out to be the case as we’ll see him alive and well in Captain Britain and MI13 #15.

  8. The Sentry has been hesitant to get involved and remained on the sidelines for much of the conflict. See Civil War: The Return #1.

  9. Here we see Spider-Man wearing his black costume. This is done in mourning after his Aunt May was shot by an assassin aiming for him in Amazing Spider-Man #538. He will continue wearing this costume until Amazing Spider-Man #544.

  10. Namely with Atlantis, who were egged on by a failed diplomatic assassination in Civil War: Front Line #8.

  11. The 50-State Initiative is a program that will train superheroes to populate teams in every state. See Civil War: The Initiative #1 and Avengers: The Initiative #1.

  12. It’s not implicitly stated here, but this is likely the funeral for Captain America, who will be seemingly assassinated in Captain America (vol. 5) #25. He didn’t really die but got caught in a timeloop, as will be explained in Captain America: Reborn #1-6. The reason why his death isn’t specifically named is likely to not spoil the reveal at the time of publication.

  13. They basically recap the events of Civil War: Front Line #1-10. Osborn is given control of the Thunderbolts in Thunderbolts #110. The accusations that Tony was responsible for everything that has happened (as of this writing) have yet to be problem. In fact, the Norman Osborn profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #8 states that they are merely allegations. Was Stark really responsible? See below.

Topical References

  • A bar room TV is depicted as a CRT model television. This should be considered topical as this is now an obsolete technology.

  • Sally is depicted using a pocket tape recorder that was still commonly used by reporters when this comic was published in 2007. This should be considered topical as these devices have since been replaced for digital recorders and smart phones.

  • To demonstrate how out of touch Captain America is to modern day America, she asks him his knowledge on things that were part of the cultural zeitgeist when this comic was originally published. These should be considered topical as they are real world reference and some of them would be considered dated and out of touch by modern readers standards. They are:

    • Mypsace: Which was once the most popular social media app in the world from 2003 to 2009. It soon fell out of favor following the advent of Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. While it still exists today as I write this in November, 2024, the site is mostly abandoned by users.

    • The World Series: Which is the annual finals of Major League Baseball where the two top teams of they year compete for the championship.

    • American Idol: Was a popular reality TV singing competition that began in 2002. It was still incredibly popular at the time of publication. Other than a 2 year haitus between 2016 and 2018, the series still airs on television to this day.

    • The Simpsons, is a long running animated sitcom that began in 1989 and is still going after 36 seasons (time of this writing). The series was at its most popular during its first 8 to 12 seasons depending on who you ask.

    • NASCAR: A popular racing sport that had its start in 1947 and still runs to this day.

    • YouTube: One of the first and most popular video streaming sites. It was founded in 2005 and was relatively new at the time this story was originally published.

    • Paris Hilton, who was reality TV show star at the time this comic was published. She was tabloid fodder due to her wild behavior and was frequently the target of jokes that punched down.

  • The Urich family computer is depicted as having a CRT model monitor. This should be considered a topical reference as this is now an obsolete technology.

… Civil War continues in Black Panther (vol. 4) #25.

The Stark Conspiracy: Fact or Fiction?

The truth about if Tony Stark is the traitor or not is left open ended. As I’ve stated countless times throughout my index of this series, the Official Handbooks make a point of saying that he is merely alleged of being the mastermind of all of this. If he had a direct hand in it, then Tony would likely have been the mystery man we see pulling Norman Osborn’s strings. Some other websites out there insist that it is Tony, and that’s based on nothing concrete, just bad research. An allegation is not proof of a crime.

As of this writing, the full truth about this conspiracy has never been fully resolved and given that Civil War was written nearly 20 years ago, I doubt we’ll every get a concrete answer as Marvel has moved on to many other things in the years since. Maybe some clever writer down the road will revisit this, but I wouldn’t bank on it.

So what are my thoughts? I think it is hard to say. The idea that Tony would intentionally inflate tensions all to enrich himself seems very out of character even during the period of time we’re talking about. Yeah, Tony did some sketchy things during Civil War, but to do something like that for greed seems too out of character and not have any repercussions. Because that’s exactly what happens: Nothing. These are pretty serious allegations, I’m surprised that it hadn’t been explored more fully, but it is what it is.

I think there are two possibilities: One, and the theory I think is the most likely, is that this is skullduggery that is part of the upcoming Skrull invasion. Part of the pre-invasion was to divide the superhero community and make everyone distrust each other. Secret Invasion pretty well points to the fact that the Skrulls had some hand in the civil war. Particularly when you remember that “Yellowjacket” was later exposed as a Skrull spy. It’s not impossible that the Skrulls infiltrated Tony’s business to make it look like he was profiting from the war.

On the other hand, if it really was Tony, I would imagine that he could have used the Skrull invasion as a scapegoat for his dirty dealings. I don’t think he’s above doing that either. I don’t think we will ever know either because Tony no longer remembers what he was up to during the Civil War thanks to a mindwipe he experienced in Invincible Iron Man #8-19, when his mind was restored between issues #20-24, his memories from the civil war era were not backed up, which seems pretty convenient.

So it’s not impossible to consider that Tony was the traitor and conspirator. I just don’t think we’ll ever get a satisfactory answer.

Civil War Reading Order:

Road to Civil War:

Chapter 1:

Chapter 2:

Chapter 3:

Chapter 4:

Chapter 5:

Chapter 6:

Chapter 7:

Epilogue