Civil War: Front Line #1 (Story 1)

Background

From Marvel: There's a truth buried deep in the heart of every war, and reporters Sally Floyd and Ben Urich will be there, uncovering that truth in the midst of the biggest conflagration in the Marvel Universe! In the wake of the Stamford Disaster, the public cries out for Super Hero Registration. Are the costumed heroes of the Marvel Universe protectors or ticking time bombs? Find out here when Spider-Man has his say. And you won't want to miss as one hero makes public a painful secret.

Story 'Embedded Part 1'

Many stories begin with life, either its commencement or conclusion. This story begins with the latter, the life of John Fernandez. He was a reporter who was hired to follow the New Warriors around the country for their reality show, and he was one of the victims of Nitro's explosive attack on Stamford. After the memorial service, the mourners gather at a bar and we meet our two focus points for this series: Ben Urich and Sally Floyd. The pair talk for a bit, and then part ways.

Later, Ben Urich bemoans an assignment to cover an upcoming Iron Man press conference. Later still, Sally Floyd sits in her apartment and listens to the voices of people who have left messages on her answering machine. She is shocked when she hears a voice inside of her apartment, and freaks out when she comes face-to-face with Spider-Man. Spider-Man is there to offer her an exclusive story, which she accepts. The story: who Spider-Man is.

This is more figurative than literal, and Spider-Man basically explains why he doesn't want to unmask and support the Superhero Registration Act. The reason is that his loved ones would inevitably become victims of those who hate and despise him. Spidey leaves Sally with a tip: go to the Iron Man press conference. She follows his advice, and is therefore one of the witnesses to Tony Stark revealing his identity to the world.

General Comments

I will be completely honest here and say that I did not like this issue the first time I read it. In fact, I was sort of dreading reading it again for the purpose of reviewing it. However, to my pleasant surprise, when I re-read it "Front Line" began to grow on me. It is very well written and provides a look at the everyday folk who are being affected by the Superhero Registration Act and the resulting Civil War. Hopefully, Sally Floyd will grow as a character and Ben Urich will show up a little bit more. Likewise, the art seemed quirky at first, but it fits with the story.

Overall Rating

A very well-written story, and the art fits with the story. This is a very good book, and highly recommended. However, be aware that there is no action.