Civil War #4 — Nick Peron

Oct 17

Oct 17 Civil War #4

Civil War, Part 4

Civil War continues from Civil War: X-Men #3 ….

Following the passage of the Super Human Registration Act (SHRA), the superhero community has been torn in half.[1] One side, led by Captain America (Steve Rogers), are against registration while the other, led by Iron Man (Tony Stark) support the new law. This had led Cap’s “Secret Avengers” walking into a trap set up at a Stark owned chemical plant where they have had to fight the pro-registration forces. In the middle of the battle, Thor suddenly appears on the scene, much to the surprise of everyone because they believed the thunder god to be dead.[2] When the Falcon (Sam Wilson) tries to get Thor to explain what he is doing, he suddenly attacks the Secret Avengers.[3]

Not far away, Iron Man and Captain America continue their private battle. Tony continues to try and reason with Steve, primarily because Rogers has been seriously injured. However, Cap stands back up as he refuses to surrender. Seeing that he has no choice, Iron Man unleashes a sonic weapon that not only incapacitates him, but his followers as well. Tony’s team is unharmed because they have ear plugs that they were wearing in case of a situation like this. However, Hercules remains unaffected and while everyone is distracted, he ambushes Iron Man with a fuel tanker car. The resulting explosion takes out the sonic device and the force of the blast, allowing his comrades to get back on their feet again.

The battle between pro and anti-registration forces then resumes in earnest.[4] But they have been beaten, so Hercules orders a full retreat. With that, the Falcon swoops down and collects Cap. In the scramble to get away, Goliath (Bill Foster), confronts Thor and is killed, when the thunder god shoots a bolt of lightning through his chest.[5] This shocks everyone on Cap’s side to stop in their tracks. However, when Thor fires another last of lightning, the Invisible Woman (Susan Richards) — disgusted by what has happened — shields the Secret Avengers from the bolt and tells them to get out immediately. Those who haven’t been captured manage to revive Cloak (Tyrone Johnson) from the tranquilizer darts he was hit with at the start of the battle and he teleports everyone away.

In the aftermath of the battle, Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) gives a verbal command to Thor that makes him shut down like a robot. He and Yellowjacket (Hank Pym) don’t understand how their creation employed lethal force and Reed tries to explain things to his wife. Sue doesn’t want to hear it and tells him to not say another word. Spider-Man (Peter Parker) is also disturbed by what happened and questions if they are doing the right thing still because Tony promised him that their side was working to make sure nobody got hurt. None of them notice that they are being watched by Uatu the Watcher, who looks on these events with a mournful expression on his face.

Back at Avengers Tower, while the other heroes are given medical attention, Mister Fantastic and Yellowjacket examine their Thor to find out what went wrong. Peter Parker uses this opportunity to ask Hank what went wrong. Pym understands Peter’s reservations because Bill Foster was his long time friend.[6] Still, he supports the cause and doesn’t know why their clone — created from samples collected by Stark in secret years earlier — went rogue. He figures that it might be the lack of a mortal host to make him function properly.[7] When Peter looks into the blank expression in the clone’s eyes, he asks Hank if he still thinks they are doing the right thing.

Meanwhile, back at an old SHIELD safehouse, Cap’s Secret Avengers are also undergoing medical treatment. Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond) expresses his concerns because half of their forces were captured during the trap at the chemical plant and suggests they surrender in the hopes of being given amnesty. Steve is unconcerned because their actions have convinced twenty more supporters to the cause.[8] This still doesn’t convince Kyle, nor does it ease Cable’s concerns about Thor, Stature also has had a change of heart because she doesn’t want to fight people she considered friends. Steve tells them that they aren’t being forced to remain on the team and the three depart soon after. Little does this trio know that their exit is being observed by a masked man, hiding out on a fire escape.[9]

Later, a funeral is held for Bill Foster in New Jersey. Because they were unable to return him to his natural size, the burial has required 38 burial plots and cranes to hoist the body. Bill’s body is also unceremoniously draped in a trap in lieu of a coffin. Watching the burial, Happy Hogan remarks that this is a sorry site. Tony agrees, and says that he felt responsible and picked up the cost of the burial so Foster’s family didn’t have to shoulder that burden. Bill’s death also has Tony doubting his mission. That’s when he is approached by Miriam Sharpe, however this time she has come out of condolence. She is proud that Tony has decided to support the SHRA and wanted to give him a something. An Iron Man action figure once belonging to her son. Before he was killed in the Stamford Disaster, the boy considered Iron Man his favorite superhero. She tells Tony that she wants him to have it so he can be reminded that, no matter what, he is doing the right thing. Among the other mourners, Reed Richards notices that Peter Parker has been acting weird lately, yet remains completely oblivious from the same look that he is getting from Sue.[10]

Over the next few hours, the Invisible Woman has what seems to be an ordinary night with her family at the Baxter Building. However, after Reed has gone to sleep for the night, she writes him a letter explaining that she, nor her brother, can support the SHRA anymore and have decided to join Captain America’s side. As they leave in the middle of the night, they are observed by the Thing (Ben Grimm), who watches them leave with an expression of morose silence on his face.[11]

Lastly, back at Avengers Tower, Richards and Stark go over their situation following their last battle. A number of the people on their side have defected to Captain America’s side, greatly diminishing their fighting forces. More over, the 50-State Initiative is still not ready to be deployed.[12] This has forced them to consider using their new Thunderbolts initiative, using nanite controlled super-villains to bolster their ranks. The Wasp isn’t exactly thrilled with this, because the villains they already have in their ranks are some nasty customers.[13]

… Civil War continues in Wolverine (vol. 3) #46.

Recurring Characters

Pro-Registration Heroes (Iron Man, Doc Samson, Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Thing), Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, Thunderbolts (Bullseye, Jack O’ Lantern, Jester, Lady Deathstrike, Radioactive Man, Songbird, Venom), Tigra, the Wasp, Wonder Man,“Yellowjacket”), “Secret Avengers” (Captain America, Cable, Luke Cage, Cloak, Dagger, “Daredevil”, Falcon, Firebird, Goliath, Herucles, Living Lightning, Machine Man, New Warriors (Justice, Debrii, Silhouette), Nighthawk, Monica Rambeau, Triathlon, Young Avengers (Patriot, Hulkling, Stature, Hawkeye, Vision)), Thor clone, Human Torch, Jane Foster, Night Nurse, Punisher (unidentified), Happy Hogan, May Parker, Mary Jane Watson, Miriam Sharpe, Franklin Richards, Valeria Richards, SHIELD

Continuity Notes

The SHRA is in the process of being enacted after the so-called Stamford Disaster that happened last issue. This law will pass later this issue and remain in force until Siege #4.
Everyone is shocked to see “Thor” because, at the time of this story, the thunder god was dead following the latest Ragnarok cycle, as seen in Thor (vol. 2) #80-85. This is not the real Thor, but a cyborg clone created by Iron Man and his allies, as we’ll learn later on in this issue. The real Thor will be resurrected in Thor (vol. 3) #1.
The man dressed as Daredevil in this story is not Matt Murdock. In fact, it’s Danny Rand (aka Iron Fist) disguised as Daredevil, as will be explained in Civil War: Choosing Sides #1. Previously, Matt Murdock was dealing with the fall out of having his true identity revealed in Daredevil (vol. 2) #32. In fact, Murdock was jailed at the time of the Civil War event, as seen in Daredevil (vol. 2) #81-87.
The man appearing to be Yellowjacket is actually a Skrull spy named Criti Noll, who has taken the place of the real Hank Pym ahead of a Skrull invasion of Earth. This will be revealed in Mighty Avengers #15. Noll took the place of Pym prior to House of M #1.
As of this writing (October, 2024), Bill Foster remains among the deceased. His spirit (or someone posing as him) will next be seen in the Olympian afterlife known as Hades in Incredible Hercules #129.
Bill Foster has been friends with the real Hank Pym dating back to Avengers #32.
Yellowjacket mentions how Thor had human hosts in the past. This is more or less true. Let’s break down the details and why this clone acted differently:
- “Hank” mentions Donald Blake, who was Thor’s first modern day host starting in Journey into Mystery #83. Thor #159 explains that Thor was exiled as Blake to teach him humility. Thor eventually abandoned the Blake identity when the enchantment that caused his transformation was transferred to the hammer made for Beta Ray Bill in Thor #339. It’s later revealed in Thor (vol. 3) #1 that Blake wasn’t real, but a mystical construct created by Odin.
- Also mentioned is Jake Olsen, who Thor was seemingly bonded to in Thor (vol. 2) #2. This was seemingly done to save Olsen’s life. However, it was later revealed in Thor Annual 2000 that Olsen died and his spirit went to Hell, while Thor took possession of yet another simulacrum, because magic. This identity was ultimately abandoned as well following the events of Thor (vol. 2) #49.
- A name that isn’t mentioned, despite actually being an actual mortal bonded with Thor is Eric Masterson, who was merged with Thor for an extended period between Thor #432-437.
- The reason why the Thor clone went rogue is explained in Mighty Avengers #20. “Yellowjacket”, the Skrull spy, made it to do so to further distract Earth’s heroes ahead of a planned invasion of Earth that will take place in Secret Invasion #1-8.
Among those supporters is someone who appears to be Machine Man. However, as revealed in Marvel Comics #1001, this is actually an impostor who took his place between X-51 #12 and Nextwave #1. As of this writing (October, 2024), his purposes for posing as Machine Man are as yet unrevealed.
Next issue we will learn that this masked man is actually the Punisher.
For more on Peter’s second thoughts about registration see Amazing Spider-Man #534-535 and next issue.
For more on the fracturing of the Fantastic Four during the Civil War event see Fantastic Four #538-542.
The 50-State Initiative is a plan to establish government sanctioned superhero teams in all 50 states. This ambitious goal will begin in Civil War: The Initiative #1/Avengers: The Initiative #1.
This so-called Thunderbolts army of supervillains is being gathered by Baron Zemo who is actually playing both sides so he can enlist their aid in stopping the Grandmaster. See Thunderbolts #103-105.