BRIAN BENDIS ON CIVIL WAR: THE INITIATIVE

**MattBrady** · 11-13-2006, 04:21 PM

As we first told you Sunday, February will see Civil War: The Initiative from Marvel, a one-shot by Brian Bendis, Warren Ellis and Marc Silvestri that promises to take a look at just where things land in the Marvel U post Civil War.

We spoke with Bendis for more – or as much as he could say – about the project (as per Bendis' request related to the Modok-inspired humor, we present this interview verbatim as it occurred)

Newsarama: First off, this isn’t this the long-promised project with Marc Silvestri is it?

Brian Bendis: No it’s not. Marc and I were getting ready to go on our long-promised collaboration, but this project came up around the same time, and the idea was that I had done basically the prologue to Civil War with The Illuminati, and I’m very involved with post Civil War plans since both Avengers books are so encompassing with all the characters.

Marvel just went, ‘Hey – why don’t you do the epilogue chapter of Civil War?’ I’d already written a lot of the issues for my books after Civil War, so I was very clear on what’s going on, so it wasn’t that big of a jump to get me to say yes. Then we were thinking about who would kick ass on the art, and Silvestri was literally standing there, so I pitched it as me and Marc doing the special. It’ll take one of the issues away from what we’re doing next year, but at the same time, who would be a better guy to debut all these cool things?

And he said yes. He’s been really into Civil War, so it worked out great.

NRAMA: So this is all new material?

BB: Right. The book itself is completely original and brand new, and serves as a ‘Where are we now, after Civil War, and where is everything going?’ What you get are prologue chapters to Omega Flight, which I wrote with the help of Mike Oeming; New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, and Thunderbolts, which was written by Warren, because I’d read Warren’s Thunderbolts stuff already, and felt that he had to come on and write that. They’re all connected and tied together into one big story that sets up a lot of cool stuff.

A lot of questions are asked in it – a lot of the things that I would like to see followed up on after Civil War – as a reader – are in there: who is Omega Flight? Why are they Omega Flight? What are the New Avengers doing now? Why are there two Avengers teams? What are their relationships to each other? All of these questions are answered in The Initiative. It sets everything up and dives right into what the books are going to be about the next month.

NRAMA: And Marc is drawing the whole thing?

BB: That’s right. I just got some of the art today, and it’s lovely. It’s got a lot of stuff that he’s never really drawn before, and I’m kind of getting the feeling from looking at this that he’s wanted to. It looks like he’s having a good time. He draws a kickass Iron Man - whoever Iron Man is after Civil War, he’s doing a good job drawing him.

NRAMA: And that’s about all the detail you can give?

BB: [laughs] It’s such a difficult proposition to promote something like this. It’s a high quality book, I’m proud to have my name on it, and I can’t wait to debut it, but anything I say could ruin Civil War. So, I have to be both cautious and respectful to Mark and Tony, and most importantly, the readers of Civil War as to not spoil anything, but at the same time, get the idea out there – and it’s true – anything can and will happen in the end, and big changes are coming. That’s really what The Initiative debuts – the beginning of the changes after Civil War.

NRAMA: And that’s something you’ve said before is important for you – that change has to be shown after an event…

BB: Exactly. When people read an event like this - and I know this from House of M, when you say ‘event,’ you’re saying that something is going to be different – something is going to be changed, and you have to live up to that. If you don’t affect change, people feel, rightly so, that they’ve been duped, and the project, no matter how big, didn’t live up to its promise. I know for a fact that this is a case where it lives up to the promise. Change is a-comin’.

NRAMA: Finally – the title itself. As we’ve seen in Civil War, “The Initiative” refers to the Pro-Registration side specifically as the 50 State Initiative, with each state having its own “militia” of superheroes…to name the special The Initiative…isn’t that hinting strongly about how things just might go?

BB: Maybe. Or maybe someone else took the name and used it for their own plan, robbing the term of any meaning that the Pro-Registration side had hoped to have for it. That’s a fairly common and powerful tactic when you’re doing ideological as well as physically battle, so no – if you’re trying to take something away about the ending of Civil War by just the title…nah…not so much.

NRAMA: So there’s not going to be a story about clones of…

BB: Clors – hundreds and hundreds of Clors. All angry and fighting each other.

NRAMA: Ah, Clor…

BB: Can I say how much I love the word ‘Clor?’ That word was never used or expressed the whole time the book was being discussed or produced, but that issue wasn’t out for a second before someone said, “Clor!”

NRAMA: Actually, that was us…I did that…

BB: It was you?

NRAMA: Yeah – it was…ah! My Modok just broke.

BB: … Your what?

NRAMA: Modok – a little die cast one. A Danger Girl action figure just fell over, and knocked him off a shelf, and broke is head away from his seat. Hey…there’s a little screw in there that keeps him connected.

BB: That’s a secret of the Marvel Universe.

NRAMA: And here I thought he was an artificial person, with a huge head…

BB: Nope – giant head screwed on to a chair. Heh – your Modok broke.

NRAMA: Yeah, yeah…but it was back in Civil War Room where Tom, Mark and I were talking about the cloned Thor, and I was looking for a shorter way to name him, so I asked if I could call him “Clor.” I guess it stuck.

BB: Oh it did. It’s a brilliant name.

NRAMA: Can I get a piece of the Clor action when the licensing kicks in and the movie gets rolling?

BB: Or you can just have all the fans blaming you when their mood shifts and they decide that “Clor” is a dumb name after all…

NRAMA: Will that happen?

BB: Trust me.

bishop-m · 11-13-2006, 04:33 PM

This should be something. I'm interested to see how the whole Civil War shakes out. Plus it has Bendis! Ellis and Silverstri!! You can't go wrong.

Darthphere · 11-13-2006, 04:35 PM

Matt Brady's MODOK broke.

lpjunior · 11-13-2006, 04:37 PM

I was stirring up Anti-"Clor" sentiment on Millarworld the week after 4 came out.

And I STILL say it's a stupid name! Y'know, the actual book calls him "Codename Lightning," what's wrong with what they wrote?

Darthphere · 11-13-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpjunior

I was stirring up Anti-"Clor" sentiment on Millarworld the week after 4 came out.

And I STILL say it's a stupid name! Y'know, the actual book calls him "Codename Lightning," what's wrong with what they wrote?

I think Codename Lightning is as stupid or even worse than Clor.

Phobophobe · 11-13-2006, 04:39 PM

Can I say how much I love the word ‘Clor?’ That word was never used or expressed the whole time the book was being discussed or produced, but that issue wasn’t out for a second before someone said, “Clor!”

I'd love to see Marvel actually attempt to trademark "Clor" and get their asses sued off by the actual, real-life Clor.

Ye Olde Iowa · 11-13-2006, 04:41 PM

I really like the name Clor. It kinda sounds like you are trying to clear your throat, which is fitting methinks.

The Initiative sounds pretty cool, though it just seems like my original plan of buying the main CW mini, FrontLine, CWX-Men (if only I had known it would be that bad!), and CWYA&R is going down the drain. I can't get enough of this stuff and all of these tie-ins are both enjoyable and relevant. Way to take all my money Marvel! Clor be damned, I'll be broke before this is all said and done!

Darthphere · 11-13-2006, 04:41 PM

Wait, this is the $5 book right?

Punchy · 11-13-2006, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darthphere

Wait, this is the $5 book right?

Yes.

Howard · 11-13-2006, 04:45 PM

Matt, I told you if you kept touching and playing with your MODOK it was going to fall off!

samnoir · 11-13-2006, 04:45 PM

So, is Cap's Shield on the cover metaphorical or are we going to get posts trying to figure out what kind of weapon can blow holes into it?

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tgail · 11-13-2006, 04:47 PM

I bent my wookie...

**MattBrady** · 11-13-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samnoir

So, is Cap's Shield on the cover metaphorical or are we going to get posts trying to figure out what kind of weapon can blow holes into it?

vibranium-adamantium alloy bullets?

do I get geek points for that?

MattB

Darthphere · 11-13-2006, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

vibranium bullets?

do I get geek points for that?

MattB

You lost them all when you broke MODOK.

Zain · 11-13-2006, 05:03 PM

Get to the real story, is your MODOK ok?

BENDIS · 11-13-2006, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darthphere

You lost them all when you broke MODOK.

you beat me to it

Darthphere · 11-13-2006, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zain

Get to the real story, is your MODOK ok?

They did everything possible, but he didnt make it. Im sorry.

artiepants · 11-13-2006, 05:12 PM

dude, i'm stoked. honestly, more excited for post-CW then CW @ this point: Might Avengers, Secret Avengers, Thunderbolts, Back in Black... yeah!!!

Eiriken · 11-13-2006, 05:26 PM

Oh, i feel for you Matt, I once broke my Shadowcat when I was drunk, and she's unscrewable... Glueable though

Prometheus3 · 11-13-2006, 05:28 PM

Civil War: The Initiative sounds like Marvel's version of DC's Brave New World but done with only one artist instead of many. Oh and instead of being $1.00, Civil War: The Initiative will be $3.99. Great.

Mundungus · 11-13-2006, 05:46 PM

Woo, I guess if this is the succession to the main title I'll pick it up.

Though I'm not much for Silvestri. He isn't bad, just not my cup of tea, but maybe this'll surprise me.

Ravager · 11-13-2006, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eiriken

I once broke my Shadowcat when I was drunk, and she's unscrewable... Glueable though

Thats filthy! Think of what Colossus would say!

Kevin Ryan · 11-13-2006, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus3

Civil War: The Initiative sounds like Marvel's version of DC's Brave New World but done with only one artist instead of many. Oh and instead of being $1.00, Civil War: The Initiative will be $3.99. Great.

Actually, it sounds more like that House of M: The Day After one-shot that Claremont did a year ago, showing the new Excalibur/X-factor/etc.

Though if The Initiative ends with a bunch of Beyonders sitting around having tea, I might get suspicious.

mavinga · 11-13-2006, 05:57 PM

Marc Silvestri is one of the very best, I'll buy it.

motteditor · 11-13-2006, 05:59 PM

Sweet looking cover.

Quote:

A lot of questions are asked in it – a lot of the things that I would like to see followed up on after Civil War – as a reader – are in there: who is Omega Flight? Why are they Omega Flight? ... All of these questions are answered in The Initiative. It sets everything up and dives right into what the books are going to be about the next month.

I hope this question is still going to be answered in the actual book. I'd like to know who Omega Flight is and why they're Omega Flight.