Uncanny Avengers: Civil War II (Comics) | Review

A fracture tears through Marvel's heroes as Civil War II asks a simple question: what if you could prevent disasters? Ulysses emerges with precognitive abilities, splitting heroes between Captain Marvel's preemptive action and Iron Man's free will philosophy. For the Avengers Unity Squad, this conflict arrives at the worst moment.

Writer Gerry Duggan (Infinity Wars, Punisher Kill Krew) delivers a tie-in that makes the larger event feel like background noise compared to the team's far more urgent internal crisis. The Unity Squad isn't debating philosophical abstractions about determinism or free will.

They're watching Rogue die slowly from M-Pox while Red Skull tightens his telepathic grip using Professor Xavier's stolen brain. Civil War II becomes the catalyst that finally shatters Steve Rogers' carefully constructed bridge between humans, mutants and Inhumans.

Civil War II collects Uncanny Avengers issues 13 through 18, beginning with Bruce Banner's death at Hawkeye's hands following Ulysses' vision. The Unity Squad attends Banner's funeral, where tensions simmer. Doctor Voodoo's brother Daniel makes a disturbing proposition involving the Hulk's corpse and resurrection capabilities.

Rogue's condition deteriorates as M-Pox ravages her body. The Terrigen cloud awakening Inhuman abilities is a death sentence for mutants and her time is running out. Cable and Rogue can't wait for diplomatic solutions, even if it means betraying the Unity Squad's mission.

The mutant members secretly ally with Sebastian Shaw and Toad, desperately searching for a cure to M-Pox decimating Earth's mutant population. This betrayal happens without Steve Rogers' knowledge. Cable pushes for aggressive action, his future perspective making him impatient with present-day caution and maneuvering.

Quicksilver recovers from a broken leg, physically vulnerable and isolated from teammates. Red Skull exploits this weakness, using Xavier's telepathic powers to manipulate Pietro's mind. The speedster becomes a sleeper agent, his actions controlled without his awareness or consent.

Steve Rogers faces an impossible decision when he discovers the mutant faction's secret mission. Does he maintain cohesion by supporting their unauthorized actions, or honor the principles the team was founded upon? His choice will either keep the squad together or fracture it permanently, destroying Xavier's legacy.

Rogue discusses Red Skull with Deadpool when Daniel Drumm interrupts, proposing a deal with the Hand involving Bruce Banner's corpse. This creates another crisis for the fractured Unity Squad. Doctor Voodoo must confront his brother's betrayal and dark intentions.

Daniel Drumm's deal with the Hand escalates as the mystical ninjas seek Banner's body for resurrection. Doctor Voodoo confronts his brother's betrayal while wrestling with whether family loyalty outweighs preventing Banner's desecration and potential weaponization.

Red Skull's endgame crystallizes as he tightens control over Unity Squad members. Using Xavier's brain, he delves into Synapse's trauma, exploits Wasp's feelings about Pym and manufactures a mental illusion convincing Rogue that Xavier has returned. His manipulation reaches depths making physical threats seem merciful.

The volume balances Civil War II connections with ongoing plotlines seamlessly. Banner's death provides context but doesn't dominate. Ulysses' visions pressure the team, forcing characters to choose sides. The conflict amplifies existing fractures rather than manufacturing new ones.

Cable's time-travel device malfunctions, trapping him in the present permanently and stripping away his escape route. This forces him to confront a timeline where his warnings might be ignored. The failure has emotional consequences, making Cable desperate and willing to take extreme measures to prevent futures he's witnessed.

The volume concludes with the Unity Squad fracturing under Civil War II tensions, M-Pox crisis and internal betrayals. Steve Rogers' unity concept faces its test as members choose conflicting sides. The squad's dissolution sets the stage for Red Skull confrontations.

Artist Ryan Stegman (Inhuman: Genesis, Inhuman: Lineage) handles the initial issues with dynamic energy. His panel works during funeral sequences capture emotional weight without melodrama. Action beats feel kinetic during Quicksilver's mind-controlled assault, where Stegman's speed lines convey Pietro's velocity effectively.

Pepe Larraz (Avengers: No Surrender, Inhuman: AXIS) takes over mid-volume with cleaner linework. His work shows shifts signaling intrusion. Larraz excels at quieter moments where body language tells stories dialogue can't, particularly scenes between Rogue and mutants.

Richard Isanove's coloring maintains visual consistency across artist transitions. He uses muted tones for funeral scenes, vibrant energy bursts during action sequences and sickly greens when depicting M-Pox's effects on Rogue. His palette choices guide emotional responses without overwhelming pencil work, letting the art breathe.

Duggan's writing sharpens focusing on character relationships rather than event mechanics. Civil War II debates receive minimal space. Duggan examines how conflict accelerates fractures. His dialogue rings authentic, avoiding quips for voices reflecting personalities and desperation.

Civil War II as a tie-in succeeds by treating the event as backdrop. Duggan understands readers invested in the Unity Squad care about Rogue's survival, Red Skull's manipulation and the team's dissolution than Captain Marvel versus Iron Man debates. This delivers on ongoing storylines while acknowledging the Marvel Universe.

The connection to previous arcs strengthens the narrative. Red Skull's possession of Xavier's brain, established in Rick Remender's original Uncanny Avengers run, reaches a crescendo here. The M-Pox crisis builds toward Inhumans Vs. X-Men without feeling like mere setup.

Pepe Larraz's artwork elevates material that could feel rushed. His visual storytelling during telepathic manipulation sequences makes concepts concrete and threatening. The transition between Stegman and Larraz flows quite smoothly thanks to Isanove's coloring, maintaining the visual identity of the arc despite changing pencilers.

Steve Rogers' dilemma drives the volume's core. Maintaining unity means compromising his principles, yet enforcing them fractures the team. Duggan avoids easy solutions, showing Rogers making choices where every decision costs him dearly regardless of outcome.

Uncanny Avengers: Civil War II is available in physical form as Uncanny Avengers Vol. 3: Civil War II trade paperback, collecting issues #13-17. For digital readers, it's on Amazon Kindle, ComiXology, Marvel Unlimited and other digital comic platforms.