Antebellum Marvel: Civil War: Front Line #2
Previously in The Amazing Spider-Man #533
I’m traveling the road to Civil War with Marvel so I can be caught up by the time this storyline hits the big screen. Please do not comment with spoilers if you’re familiar with this particular story arc, but you are welcome to provide non-spoiler answers to any questions I may ask in the review. If you are interested in following along, here’s the reading order I’ll be following.
Who’s In It:
Tony Stark (Iron Man), Peter Parker (Spider-Man), Robert Baldwin (Speedball), Ben Urich
What Happens:
Front Line continues its on-the-ground coverage of the ensuing civil war shortly after the world learns Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Suddenly, reporter Ben Urich is part of the story since Peter Parker was one of their own at The Daily Bugle. He blows off the press hounding him on his way home, only to find Peter Parker waiting in his elevator.
Meanwhile, Sally Floyd is getting an education from Firestar on what the SRA means for the lesser-known superheroes. She doesn’t think it’s right that she is now a criminal because she doesn’t want to put her family and friends in danger by revealing her identity. Not to mention what would happen if her school found out. Yes, she’s a superhero, but she also has a job that helps her pay for school. With so much on the line, Firestar quits.
I can’t help but wonder what the government thought would happen. If you turn these people into criminals, it might be easier for most to stop helping. Then what does that mean for the civilians who’ve come to depend on their help?
Meanwhile, Jameson is still butthurt and refuses to publish whatever story Urich gets out of Parker. He feels Parker played the paper, and him, for a fool.
We also witness - through Urich - the first time the new law is viciously enforced. Prodigy has been drinking and refuses to remove his mask when the law goes into effect. Iron Man tries reasoning with him, but the two fight causing much damage in the streets before Iron Man is able to have him subdued and arrested. Urich declares this the first act of the civil war, even if most didn’t realize it at the time. And no one bothered to question the enforcers.
In part two of The Accused, Speedball (Robert Baldwin) is still being held in an undisclosed federal prison and denied legal council. The president has decided he would be more useful as a registrant and vocal supporter of superhero reform. He will work for S.H.I.E.L.D., training agents on how to apprehend heroes. Or he will go to jail forever. Even though Speedball insists they can’t do that to him and that he did nothing wrong, he’s placed in prison - where he is almost immediately attacked by other inmates who call him a child killer.
Next up: What the hell is The Program?
