Choose Your Side With This Captain America: Civil War Reading List

by Andrea Purcell

It’s time to choose your side in the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Civil War. As the world tries to deal with the fallout from the Avengers battle with Ultron, the government must step in to protect its citizens from the threat of another cataclysmic fight. When Captain America is forced to protect his friend Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier, from the government’s reach the team is split into opposing factions. With one side now lead by Iron Man, who supports the government oversight, and the other by Captain America, who wants to operate without regulations, as they must now decide who will win this war.

To prepare yourself for the oncoming fight, we’ve picked a few trade paperbacks that will give readers more history on the Civil War between Captain America and Iron Man that was already waged in Marvel Comics. Choose carefully, it’s time to pick a side.

Marvel's Captain America: Civil War Prelude

From Iron Man 3 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier to Ant-Man and The Avengers: Age of Ultron, the seeds to Civil War have been spread across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Follow the path of the oncoming battle with Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War Prelude (JAN160941), the official comic prologue that will help fans fill the blanks between their favorite Marvel movies. It’s spy versus spy as Iron Man takes action against the threat of the Mandarin; while Captain America fights the unstoppable assassin known as The Winter Soldier. Fans of Marvel know to stay after the credits for a peak at what’s next, but here’s your chance to get a glimpse of what happened before the movie starts.

Civil War

Captain America: Civil War takes its name from the storyline of Civil War (OCT150961); one of Marvel’s most successful events that waged war in comic issues from 2006 to 2007. While the circumstances surrounding the story might be different, the core of this battle has stayed the same. As Captain America and Iron Man go to war over the government regulation of the Superhuman Registration Act, friends are pitted against each other and families are torn apart. This earth shattering event helped to change the Marvel Universe forever as heroes were forced to ask themselves, whose side are you on?

Civil War: Captain America & Iron Man

You must understand your enemy to win a war, so no matter what side you’ve chosen Civil War Captain America & Iron Man (DEC150892)should be on your reading list. Delving into both sides of the conflict, this trade starts by focusing on Captain America’s team. Sharon Carter, codename Agent 13, must chose whether to trust her superiors or go into hiding from SHIELD while The Winter Soldier comes face to face with Steve, but hesitates to join his cause. Then join Team Iron Man as Tony fights for what he thinks is right, but why has he chosen to lead the charge? Finally, Tony and Steve meet secretly in hopes of ending this war, but a former Avenger has a trick up their sleeve and all bets are off for a happy ending to this conflict.

Civil War: The Amazing Spider-Man

After five films and three actors, Spider-Man will finally join the Avengers on screen in Captain America: Civil War. In the Marvel Comics Universe things played out a little differently, and Peter Parker’s life was changed forever after the events in Civil War Amazing Spider-Man (JAN072438). As a part of Iron Man’s team, Peter must make the most difficult decision of his life – should he reveal his secret identity to the public? With the lives of his family and friends at stake, Peter and Tony travel to Washington DC as the Superhero Registration Act is to be enacted and Peter is forced to choose between the law or his life.

Civil War: Black Panther

Black Panther will make his live-action film debut in Captain America: Civil War, but his history in Marvel comics goes back to a half century. In Civil War Black Panther (DEC150894), King T’Challa, the Black Panther himself, embarks on a diplomatic tour from Wakanda that spans the globe. From Latveria for a meeting with Dr. Doom, Atlantis to meet with Namor, and even the Moon to meet with the Inhumans; T’Challa sees firsthand the worldwide implications of the war Captain America and Iron Man are fighting. When he lands in a ravaged America to meet with Tony Stark, T’Challa must decide whether to stay on the sideline or to enter the fray; and his answer could change America forever.