Goose...you'll probably just want to skip this. I get kinda geeky here.

So if there’s one thing that I usually feel really hesitant talking about on the lodge, it is comic books. Not for any real reason other than the fact that I know that interest is pretty low in this circle. And that’s cool.
However...I’m going to break my own rule to talk about what I think is going to go down as one of the landmark events in the history of comics:

CIVIL WAR

You may have heard this mentioned in the media recently. It’s become the best selling series in a decade and is really generating a buzz even among non-comic fans. Marvel Editor in Chief, Joe Quesada was even recently on the Colbert Report to discuss the series. USA Today, the New York Times, CNN, among others has all done pieces about the series. This title has really shown that it may have the ability to bring comics closer to being in the social conscience and mainstream.

So what is Civil War?

A group of super-heroes called the “New Warriors” have a reality television show, which follows them around as they stop villains. The team comes across a group of villains hiding out in Stamford Connecticut. One of these villains is a fairly powerful guy named “Nitro”. In a nutshell, he has the ability to explode. The New Warriors realize that they are probably overpowered, but decide to go in and fight these guys after realizing the type of ratings they’ll get.
The fight spills out of the suburbs and ends up at an elementary school. Nitro lets off a massive explosion, killing all of the New Warriors, as well as wiping out the elementary school, and the surrounding neighborhood. Casualties: over 600.
The government immediately moves to register all super-powered beings, which are basically seen as walking weapons of mass destruction.
This event turns much of the public against super-heroes, and many of them are blamed for the incident.
The dividing line comes between two people: Captain American and Iron Man.

Iron Man believes in the law to the letter, and thinks that superheroes should register. We register guns, and superpowers aren’t different. He becomes the leader and spokesperson for the pro-registration side.

Captain America’s opposition to registration surprises some (How can a guy called Captain America be against his own government). But this is a guy that believes in freedom, and the American dream. And that doesn’t involve giving up personal freedoms so that he can sleep better at night. A hero shouldn’t have to unmask and put their families at risk.

In a nutshell the series is exploring one question:
Which is more important? Your civil liberties or your personal freedoms?

As Joe Quesada pointed out on the Colbert Report: “That’s something that everyone in America is thinking about, especially in this post 9/11 world.”

The story that’s been unfolding so far has been riveting. I’m sure some of you have heard about the big Spider-man news (if not, click here for the big reveal). If not the attached picture pretty much sums it up. But there have been many other big twists that have really developed this story into something very unique.
I can’t recommend enough that you go find a comic store and check this series out. You’ll probably see a lot of crossovers in other books, but you only really need to read the main “Civil War” title to get the story.
The nice thing about Marvel, is that you only need the main title to understand what is going on. But if you want the story expanded, then the all of the tie-ins are available.

You can view a flash trailer for the series here

Alright...we now return you to sports talk.