Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Marquez
Publisher: Marvel
Following the cliffhanger ending in the first issue of this series, chapter two opens with an emotionally-charged Tony Stark kidnapping Ulysees, thus declaring war on the Inhumans in the process. As the Ultimates and the Avengers negotiate with Medusa so that Captain Marvel can talk with Tony, Ulysees is held captive and interrogated inside Stark Tower. Yet before Iron Man has a chance to go head-to-head with some of his closest allies, Ulysees has another vision which spells doom for all of them.
Being a chapter in a multipart crossover, not a whole lot happens in this issue. The cliffhanger ending is solid, but most of the buildup to that consists of Tony interrogating Ulysees, even though he knows that the kid can’t be blamed for what happened to Rhodey. Still, despite the first issue being more action-packed and layered, Bendis does a nice job here building the tension. Tony’s war with the Inhumans has officially begun, and Carol and the others have no choice but to choose sides. Plus, the ending adds more complexity to the situation at hand, while also bringing a key Marvel character into this conflict.
Like the previous issue, Marquez’ pencils are a major highlight. Considering the amount of close-ups in this issue, he captures each characters’ emotions and anxieties beautifully. Plus, the splash page at the end showcasing Ulysees’ vision is a gem of apocalyptic proportions. Given that Civil War II will have a lasting impact on the Marvel Universe from here on, I’d recommend giving the series a shot.
-Keven Schaefer for Ultimate Comics