Head Writer / Coordinator Anthony Flamini

Writers Stuart Vandal, Ronald Byrd, Madison Carter, Michael Hoskin, Chris Biggs, Mark O’English & Mike Fichera

Cover Artists Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines & Morry Hollowell

Cover Dated 2006

This handbook is written from Iron Man’s perspective, which is a fun take on a handbook.  Marvel will repeat this for the Heroic Age handbook, which was from Captain America’s perspective.  Both of them are the Director of SHIELD, when they write their handbooks.

Iron Man, above, tells the origins of the United States government and the costumed community.

Before we get too far along, my wife owns this cover but as a shirt!

My wife is pretty awesome about, if I buy her a comic book related shirt, she’ll wear it.  Most likely, only to bed, but that works for me.

Other profiles in this handbook are –

Arachne, who I always think of as the second Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter.  She sides with her fellow Force Works leader, Iron Man.

The Avengers, who are – Luke Cage, Captain America, Iron Man (himself), Spider-Man, Spider-Woman (who isn’t who she says she is), Sentry and Wolverine.

Bishop, who will break ranks from the X-Men and join Iron Man’s side

Cable, who takes Captain America’s side

Luke Cage, who will be Captain America’s deputy leader

Captain America, leading the right side of the Civil War

Daredevil, who isn’t who he says he is

Deadpool, who is on Iron Man’s side

Falcon, who is naturally on Cap’s side

Goliath, who will not make it out of this event

Green Goblin, who is two events away from being the Director of SHIELD . . . or HAMMER in his case.  Now that I think of it, I’m pretty sure Osborn got his own handbook too.  It was called “Dark Reign Files” and it featured nothing but villains, so I didn’t keep it.  Cap got two handbooks, Heroic Age : Heroes and Heroic Age : Villains.

Hercules, who was on Cap’s side

Human Torch, I imagine all four members got their own profiles as they were pretty divided during Civil War.  Johnny went to Cap’s side

Invisible Woman, stuck with her husband, Reed but eventually went to Cap’s side

Iron Man, lead the wrong side of the Civil War

Reed Richards, who was Iron Man’s deputy leader

Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers, was on Iron Man’s side

Moon Knight, who I don’t recall which side he went on.  His profile ends with Iron Man not knowing which side he will end up on.

New Warriors, who foolishly set up the beginning of Civil War with their silly reality show antics

Nitro, who also setup the beginning of Civil War

O*N*E who had the simple job of standing in giant Sentinels that were operated by flatscans, in front of the Xavier Institute.  Not to protect the X-Men, mind you, or mutants but to be a presence and to block the view.

The 198, the non X-Men mutants, who came to the school after the events of House of M, better known as M-Day

Punisher, who was on Cap’s side

Quicksilver, it is this profile that I finally noticed that Cap’s side got Wanted posters and Iron Man’s side get registration cards.  Moon Knight was on the wanted side, as is Quicksilver.

Runaways, who are – Chase, Karolina, Molly, Nico, Old Lace (!), Victor and Xavin.  I think they were mutual

Sentry, who was on Iron Man’s side

SHIELD, who were naturally on Iron Man’s side

She-Hulk, who was on Iron Man’s side – now I fee like my memory isn’t being tested now that I know the secret to this handbook

Speedball, who directly lead to this event along with his New Warriors

Spider-Man, who started on Iron Man’s side but switched to Cap’s

Thing, who stayed mutual

Thunderbolts, who were on Iron Man’s side

Wolverine, who hunted Nitro and was on Iron Man’s side

X-Factor Investigations, who all registered

Lockheed gets an image!  His powers are Empath, Flight and Fire Breath

Shadowcat (Katherine “Kitty” Pryde) gets one too!  If you look closely, Lockheed is in her picture too!  Her powers are transforms her body into intangible state.

The X-Men stay pretty neutral during the event

Yellowjacket, Hank Pym, was on Iron Man’s side

Young Avengers, who were – Hawkeye, Hulkling, Patriot, Speed, Stature, Vision and Wiccan.  Their spotlight reads like they also stayed neutral

. . .

This is how we’re kicking off our Civil War portion of this month!  I already reviewed Cable and Deadpool 30 but I have a few more titles with the traditional Civil War quarter cover design.