4. The Ending Is Stupid

Civil War’s ending is one of the biggest anti-climaxes in comic book history. I have issue 7 laying open in my lap right now as I type this and it actually hurts me to look at it. It’s such a fundamental misunderstanding of character and story arc that I am literally jumping for joy at the idea that Cap 3 will change it.

For those who haven’t read it. The story ends when, after a big knock-down drag-out fight, Steve Rogers gives up and cries. Not joking. Just as Steve is almost done beating the living hell out of Tony, he is tackled by a group of multicultural civilians belonging to various branches of emergency services. He then looks around at the collateral damage to the city in an “oh my god, what have I done” manner and surrenders. This is despite the fact that BOTH SIDES were bouncing around the city wrecking things and Tony brought literal supervillains to the fight, but no, it was Steve who was in the wrong. Steve takes off the mask and lets himself get arrested, still crying like someone stepped on his lollypop. Ugh.