Special Topics in Media

Marvel Civil War: Issue #3

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April 04, 2023 10:00am

1h 17m

In the third installation to our Marvel: Civil War season, cohosts Garret Castleberry and Kyle Hammonds assess the superhero culture clash under way in writer Mark Millar and artist Steve McNiven's event mini-series. Following polarized debate concerning the "Superhero Registration Act" legislation in Issue #2, part 3 focuses on the growing division within the superhero community as factions face unprecedented socio-political opposition. In addition to the main narrative, Garret and Kyle explicate the comic book convention of "crossover events" (6:36), rhetorically recap the allegorical tensions that situate between the graphic page and real-world resonance (11:30), the skewed potency of Marvel's secret society "the Illuminati" (18:13), the hubristic blindspots that elude Reed Richards (30:03), and Captain America's "chili pepper rating" with his incognito mustache (43:35) among other prescient details. Finally, Garret interrogates Kyle's ultimate allegiance to mark Issue #3's conclusion, resurfacing the Season 6 question, "Whose side are you on?"

Hosts: Garret Castleberry, Kyle Hammonds

Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)

Recommended readings paired with Season Six "Marvel's Civil War":
Mark Millar & Steve McNiven. Civil War. Marvel Comics, 2006.

Chris Gavaler. Superhero Comics. Bloomsbury Academic Press, 2017.

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