Ripped from the pages of New Avengers, the Eisner Award-winning team of Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev present an explosive hidden story of Marvel's secret past, the secret history of Marvel's most secret team - how they came together and how they are ripped apart. Plus: Spidey's got a new lease on life, new powers and a new costume, courtesy of his new best friend Tony Stark. So what could possibly go wrong? With clouds quickly building on the horizon, the bonds that Spider-Man now forges may very well determine his capacity to withstand a coming storm. The Marvel Universe is about to split down the middle, and the line is drawn here! You will be asked: whose side are you on? Collects New Avengers: Illuminati; Amazing Spider-Man #529-531; Fantastic Four #536 & 537.

Ripped from the pages of "New Avengers", the Eisner Award-winning team of Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev present an explosive hidden story of Marvel's secret past, the secret history of Marvel's most secret team - how they came together and how they are ripped apart. Plus: Spidey's got a new lease on life, new powers and a new costume, courtesy of his new best friend, Tony Stark. So, what could possibly go wrong? With clouds quickly building on the horizon, the bonds that Spider-Man now forges may very well determine his capacity to withstand a coming storm. The Marvel Universe is about to split down the middle, and the line is drawn here! You will be asked: whose side are you on? This title collects "New Avengers: Illuminati"; "Amazing Spider-Man" No. 529-531; and "Fantastic Four" No. 536 and 537.

2008-05-07 Essential catch up material

As someone who has not followed a marvel story arc in a few years. I found this an absolutely essential read to get me up to speed with what was going on in the Marvel Universe in the lead up to Civil War. The Maleev artwork , in the Illuminati one-shot, eased me in, as it was his and Bendis' Daredevil run that was the last arc I followed. This section was the stand out for me, reminding me of the Sidney Lumet movie "Twelve Angry Men", but obviously taken to a "super" degree. It's not the life of one man at stake, but the whole world. The Fantastic Four and Spider-man sections worked well, but not as fluidly for me as the Illuminati. Certain factors felt slightly too forced (see the editing team's bickering), but you see why they crowbarred in certain points when you read Civil War, and once you do that, all is forgiven. Like I say essential to get you up to speed, even if it does lack subtlety at points.