So, I recently decided to start reading comics again, maybe get one of the omnibus-style publications every month so as to not go too crazy – and for whatever reason, I started with the Civil War trade-paperback. I got home and read it from cover to cover in one sitting and to be quite honest I was quite disappointed. I was expecting back and forth arguments with compelling reasons from both sides to explain their stances. I wanted to know how they convinced Spider-Man to reveal his secret identity. I wanted it to feel like an epic, sweeping storyline, but instead, it felt like I was reading the abridged version.
I went off and did a little research and found out that the reason it felt like the abridged version was because… well… it pretty much was the abridged version. There were roughly another seven or eight trade-paperbacks, each roughly the size of the one I bought, covering the events from the perspective of all kinds of other teams and individuals in the Marvel Universe. This made me a little bit sad, and slightly overwhelmed. If I wanted to read the entire story I would have to track down and buy all these other books? No thanks.
Now, I was doing this research on my tablet, and I recalled looking into something a long time ago but ultimately deciding it wasn’t for me as I didn’t really want to read comics anymore… The Marvel Unlimited service. Wow. Was I shocked when I looked into exactly how many comics were available to read online, and the breadth of the titles was utterly delightful as well. I could read the entire run of X-Men comics from day one, as well as get into The Inhumans, catch up with Daredevil, maybe even swot up on the Red Hulk and Hawkeye… I could even delve into the past of someone I was always quite interested in: Doctor Strange.
So, instead of shelling out £9.99 a month on a sliver of a story, I’ve decided I’m going to make use of my tablet and subscribe to Marvel Unlimited. For the same price as buying one trade-paperback a month, I’ll have access to an insane amount of comics, and particularly in the case of the Civil War: The whole story.
This post is in no way sponsored by Marvel Unlimited.
