Marvel's Civil War #4: The Delayed Fourth Installment Finally Hits Comic Shops

The fourth issue of Civil War is the long-anticipated follow-up to July's third issue that revealed the return of the formerly deceased Thor. Since that issue, the series has seen several delays that have left fans eager to see the end of the third issue's cataclysmic battle in a tizzy. September 20 sees the fourth issue hitting comic shops and a continuation of said battle.

Fans looking for wall-to-wall action will not be disappointed by the issue's first half. The action is as intense as comic fans can ask for, especially the battle of attrition between Iron Man and Captain America. The battle even includes a major death, as promised by the Marvel higher-ups. The death will echo throughout the remainder of the issue and likely through the rest of the series, leading to some shake-ups among the two sides of the Superhero Registration fence. One of those shake-ups includes an emotional scene involving the Fantastic Four.

However, that's not to say that the issue is a home-run. The explanation for Thor's return is extremely farfetched. Not only is it hard to swallow, but some fans will feel cheated. And while the issue's final reveal will keep diehards coming back for more, more than a few readers will be so turned off by the explanation regarding Thor's return that they may decide to put the book down before that pivotal last page.

The artwork by the team of McNiven, Vines, and Hollowell is fantastic. They capture the atmosphere of the opening battle brilliantly. One of the more striking pictures is the battle-damaged Captain America. It not only is a hallmark of the many ferocious battles he faced in the past, but it also a testament to the conviction he has towards his cause. It paints a powerful picture.

While Mark Millar may have somewhat stumbled, Civil War remains one of the most powerful and emotional books on the market. It remains second to the recent Ultimates arc, another Millar work, as Marvel's best book currently on the market. However, one would hard-pressed to find a better Marvel book currently on the shelf. The exposition with Thor, though, is just a huge killer and, hopefully, Millar has something else up his sleeve for future issues.

Story: 7 of 10
Art: 9 of 10
Cover: 7 of 10