I Think Marvel Just Set Up Civil War 3 And It Could Work This Time Thanks to Wolverine

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Laura Kinney: Wolverine #2

After a mission to liberate a young mutant goes awry, Wolverineunintentionally finds herself at the ground zero of an explosion that rivals the devastating blast that triggered the first Civil Wart. Tensions toward mutants have already been at an all-time high since Krakoa’s collapse and now an explosive crater in Chinatown will only exasperate preexisting fears. I think this could be the beginning of a new Marvel Civil War.

In Laura Kinney: Wolverine #2 - by Erica Schultz and Giada Belviso - Wolverine picks up the trail of an underground mutant-child smuggling operation. After teaming up with Daredevil, the two interrupt the sale of a young mutant boy. However, the boy and his handler swiftly escape, but not before Wolverine can follow their scent.

Finding herself in the middle of an anti-vigilante protest, Wolverine makes a scene, only stoking the flames of hatred and fear towards heroes, let alone mutants. However, Laura soon finds the victimized mutant. Within moments of making contact, the young mutant triggers a devastating high-casualty explosion.

Tensions Against Powered People Are the Highest It's Ever Been

Laura Kinney: Wolverine #2 - Written by Erica Schultz; Art by Giada Belviso; Color by Rachelle Rosenberg; Lettering by VC’s Cory Petit; Cover by Elena Casagrande & Edgar Delgado

Across Marvel’s many superhero stories, I’ve seen an uptrend in the public’s growing frustration towards powered people. Following the disastrous fall of Krakoa, leading to the mass emigration of mutants back to their original homes, greater conflicts are beginning to brew between mutants and humans once again. Meanwhile, the rest of the world saw one of its most trusted Avengers throw Earth into eternal darkness while a long-time villain stepped up to save the day. Following Luke Cage's repealing of New York City’s anti-vigilante laws, new frustrations directed toward the superhuman community are rising as well.

As history often repeats itself, Marvel’s current socio-political ecosystem is as fragile as just before the first Civil War event. Congress had previously failed to pass a Mutant Registration Act but soon set its eyes on the entirety of the superhuman community. Following the explosion that took over 600 lives, the Superhuman Registration Act gained the traction it needed to pass, triggering a ruthless Civil War that shattered every pillar of peace created by superhuman society. As Marvel currently finds itself in an equally sensitive period, I can’t ignore the glaring similarities between then and now.

Mutantkind and Heroes Are Both In the Hot Seat

One Instance Is Enough to Trigger an Avalanche of Fear

Now, as Marvel’s mutants and vigilantes face a constant barrage of unsettled frustrations and grievances, it would only take one extreme enough of an act to push tensions beyond salvation. Unfortunately, a high-casualty explosion in the middle of an anti-hero protest is just the push needed to do so. Without the full story, I could easily see how the average citizen would see this as an act of terrorism. A peaceful protest against “heroes” and vigilantes in opposition to Luke Cage’s pro-power politics is met with a lethal bombing at the hands of one of the most well-known X-Men.

As this hypothetical citizen, I know that mutants held the world hostage with their miracle drugs and now are back to hiding in plain sight. I know an Avenger triggered a global vampire outbreak, killing millions. I know that a dictator had to save the day and is now attempting his own global takeover. I also know that an X-Man is currently an Avenger, tying this unchecked team of world-altering powers to the terrorist bombing in Chinatown. If there is ever a time to re-propose a second Superhuman Registration Act, it’s now. People are angry and mutants and heroes look untrustworthy.

Charles Xavier’s Escape From Prison Isn’t Helping the Problem

Some X-Men Are Willing to Break the Law For Their Ex-Leader

However, while the global superheroic community is busy preparing for the One World Under Doom event, Marvel’s mutants will be the first to be targeted by a Registration Act. Following the fall of Krakoa, the X-Men have scattered across the country, increasing fears that a nationwide mutant takeover could happen. And now, Wolverine is found in the middle of an explosion released against protesters. Miscommunications will breed over reaction, leading to bigger fights than necessary. Meanwhile, we can’t forget the potential impact that Charles Xavier’s escape from Graymalkin will have.

More than any other mutant currently, Charles Xavier is globally considered the greatest threat of all mutantkind. His public and private actions in Krakoa’s final days cemented the end of his reputation as the ex-leader surrendered himself to his well-earned punishment. But now, Professor X is on the loose and some X-Men teams are doing their best to secretly harbor the fugitive. Independently, these actions could be clarified, and the correct parties blamed. But at the rate these events are occurring, it would be hard for the average citizen not to connect the dots. “Mutants are the enemy.”

The Avengers’ Promise to Back the X-Men Could Split Superhuman Society Further

Marvel Is Looking at a Three-Front Civil War

Usually, most non-mutant heroes try to stay out of mutant-related problems. However, during a visit from the Avengers to the Alaskan X-Men, Captain Marvel and Cyclops promised to stand as allies if anything great befell either team. In that promise of unity comes the real kindling for a third Civil War. If a new Mutant Registration Act were to pass, the Avengers would have to take an official stance to protect their mutant allies. However, I don’t believe that every Avenger, let alone every hero, would be as supportive.

As I’ve said, public opinion about superheroes is rocky at best right now. Any attempt to help mutants perceived as violent terrorists would only hurt a hero’s reputation more. Not every hero will be as altruistically supportive as others, only sparking more heated debates and confrontations between mutants, other vigilantes, and the government. All it takes is a single instance to justify years worth of hate and fear. In a time of severe global unrest and complicated feelings toward mutants and heroes, Wolverine’s freedom-fighting mission may have just become the catalyst that kickstarts Marvel’s third Civil War.

Laura Kinney: Wolverine #2 is now available from Marvel Comics.

Wolverine

NAME

James "Logan" Howlett

Alias

James "Logan" Howlett

Created By

Roy Thomas, Len Wein, John Romita Sr.

POWERS

Retractible claws and Adamantium skeleton. Superhuman senses, stamina, and strength. Healing factor and longevity.

Franchise

X-Men, Marvel

Age

197 (in the MCU)

The human mutant Wolverine (a.k.a. Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing factor, senses, and physiology. Subjecting himself to experimentation to augment his skeleton and claws with adamantium, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive, and short-tempered. Making him the X-Men's wildest and deadliest member, and one of Marvel Comics' biggest stars. He's played in Fox and Marvel's movie franchises by Hugh Jackman.

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