263: Civil War X-Men Stories!

What’s Covered?

Civil War: X-Men # 1 - 4, Wolverine V3 # 42 - 47, X-Factor V3 # 7 - 9, Cable & Deadpool # 30 - 33.

Roster Watch

Synopsis

Civil War: X-Men # 1 - 4: Internal Stryfe

Writer - David Hine

Pencils - Yanick Paquette (#1 - 4), Aaron Lopresti (#3)

As the Superhuman Registration Act divides heroes, the X-Men face their own civil war. With mutant numbers dwindling after M-Day, Cyclops wants to keep what remains of mutantkind united, but Bishop believes they must police their own to survive.

When Domino and Shatterstar break the 198 out of their government-controlled camp, Cyclops refuses to order their capture, widening the rift between him and Bishop. Viewing the Office of National Emergency (ONE) as a necessary evil, Bishop aligns with Tony Stark, who grants him authority to work alongside Sentinels and hunt the escapees. But Cyclops, along with Beast, Iceman, and Angel, isn’t about to let mutants be rounded up without a fight.

As the chase intensifies, Johnny Dee—a mutant with the power to control others—secretly manipulates events from the shadows. Using his stomach tentacles, he forces Cyclops to blast Bishop at full power, escalating tensions to the breaking point. Meanwhile, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Sabra and Micromax fight alongside Bishop to enforce the law, leading to an all-out battle between the factions.

The conflict comes to a head when the 198 are locked inside a bunker rigged to explode. Desperate, Val Cooper breaks the legs of the general holding the shutdown code, but Johnny Dee murders him before the code can be used. In a last-ditch effort, Cyclops unleashes a massive optic blast, overloading Bishop so he can absorb the energy and blast the doors open. However, Cyclops loses control and can't stop firing—until Leech steps in and neutralizes his powers, saving everyone.

In the aftermath, Bishop sees the cost of his choices, and Val Cooper offers him a new position, further entwining him with the government. The X-Men may have saved the 198, but their unity is shattered—proving that in this war, mutants can’t afford to be divided.

Wolverine V3 # 42 - 47: Vendetta

Writer - Marc Guggenheim

Pencils - Humberto Ramos

In the aftermath of the Stamford disaster that sparked the Civil War, Wolverine sets his sights on Nitro, the villain responsible for the explosion that killed hundreds. Determined to bring him down, Logan embarks on a relentless hunt, ignoring Iron Man’s warnings to leave it to the authorities.

Teaming up with a S.H.I.E.L.D. black ops squad, Wolverine corners Nitro, only for the villain to unleash a devastating blast, wiping out the entire team—except Logan, who heals and comes back stronger. When he finally gets his claws on Nitro, he brutally carves him up, forcing the explosive villain to confess that someone boosted his powers.

Before Wolverine can finish the job, Namor and his Atlantean warriors attack, seeking vengeance for Namorita’s death. Outnumbered, Wolverine barely escapes and infiltrates Atlantis, where Nitro is being held. Under interrogation, Nitro gives up the name Walter Declan, a shadowy figure with ties to a company profiting off super-powered destruction—Damage Control.

Logan digs deeper, only to be ambushed by mercenaries wielding adamantium weapons. One manages to slice into his neck, nearly taking him out, but he is rescued by Atlanteans. Before he can act, S.H.I.E.L.D. captures him, and in a rare show of power, the Sentry effortlessly dismantles him.

Locked away, Wolverine exploits Maria Hill’s mistake, escaping when she assumes his claws can be de-powered. Now fully unleashed, Logan tracks down Declan in the streets and executes him—but what are the consequences of his actions? Has he truly brought justice, or has he just added more blood to the cycle of violence?

This arc is a brutal, fast-paced revenge thriller, blending political intrigue, superhero warfare, and Wolverine’s relentless pursuit of truth—no matter the cost.

X-Factor V3 # 7 - 9: Truth, Power, and Uncertainty

Writer - Peter David

Pencils - Ariel Olivetti (7), Dennis Calero (8-9)

As X-Factor Investigations continues to navigate the chaos of M-Day, they face threats from all sides. Cyclops delivers devastating news to Siryn—her father, Banshee, is dead, leaving her reeling. Meanwhile, the sinister Singularity Investigations, led by the enigmatic Tryp Senior, attempts to buy X-Factor Investigations for a staggering $50 million. When Madrox refuses, Tryp escalates matters—violently—hurling Jamie out a window and revealing a shocking truth: he was responsible for Jamie’s parents' deaths.

Determined to uncover the full scope of M-Day, Jamie orders the team to seek out top-tier heroes for information. Their investigation is interrupted when a rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. dupe of Jamie attempts to arrest them, further complicating the mystery. At the same time, the Tryps (both Senior and Junior) are revealed to be neither human nor mutant, adding a new layer of intrigue to their threat.

Siryn, undeterred by the dangers, uses her sonic scream to force Spider-Man to reveal what he knows about M-Day. Meanwhile, Quicksilver lurks in the shadows, offering mutants the chance to temporarily regain their lost powers—though the results often turn disastrous.

With the truth about M-Day finally exposed, X-Factor faces an even greater dilemma—where do they stand in the brewing Civil War? Jamie is torn, unwilling to commit to either side. Layla Miller, ever mysterious, sends Jamie to a precise location, where he stumbles upon a hero being harassed by S.H.I.E.L.D. and decides to help them escape.

Tensions reach a boiling point when the X-Men arrive, searching for Quicksilver. X-Factor doesn’t back down, openly challenging Cyclops and his team, calling them out for their complicity in mutant oppression. In a rare moment of restraint, Scott chooses to walk away, leaving X-Factor to carve out its own uncertain path in a world where trust is in short supply.

Cable & Deadpool # 30 - 33: A sellout and a messiah (complex)

Writer - Fabian Nicieza

Pencils - Staz Johnson

In Cable & Deadpool #30, the irrepressible Deadpool finds himself in a battle with the Great Lakes Avengers, only to be outmatched by the mighty Squirrel Girl, who reveals that the team has already registered under the Superhuman Registration Act. Confused and frustrated, Deadpool is then recruited to track down unregistered heroes, tasked with taking down those resisting the act. Meanwhile, Cable extends an offer of asylum to Captain America, providing him sanctuary at Providence. Deadpool, ever the wildcard, targets Daredevil, unaware that the stakes of his mission are far higher than he could imagine. Before long, the resistance to the Registration Act assembles, preparing for the showdown that’s about to unfold.

In Cable & Deadpool #31, Cable brings Deadpool to meet with the President of the United States. Their conversation isn’t as cordial as one might expect, and the political tension mounts as the two mercenaries navigate the moral and personal implications of their involvement in the Civil War.

Finally, in Cable & Deadpool #33, things take a dramatic turn as Cable and Deadpool end up face-to-face with President Bush in the White House. The President orders Deadpool to capture Cable, and what follows is a chaotic battle between the two. Deadpool is tricked by Cable into admitting that he’s been given a badge by the US government, granting him the authority to do anything he pleases. This stunning admission not only embarrasses the President but also undermines the credibility of the registration movement, turning the political tide against those enforcing it.

Through a mix of sharp wit, sharp blades, and irreverent humor, Cable and Deadpool continue to be a high-stakes, action-packed, and often unpredictable tale set in the heart of the Civil War.

My Connections and Creators

Boring or Great?

I found the Civil War: X-Men arc to be a little underwhelming. Part of this is because Bishop is not very compelling to me and I don't think the character had enough gravitas to hold my attention on the pro registration side. That being said, Bishop probably was the best choice, however it would have been fun to see Beast choose more of an "intellectual path" like Reed and Tony and lean into this former Avengers roots.

I don't often keep up with the Wolverine solo series, however this was fantastic. I must say though that Marc Guggenheim is a legend at Marvel so it shouldn't be surprising that he made a great little arc. I'll also give this arc credit (as well as the larger event) for making me more interested in the Avengers, especially to see how Wolverine interacts with the larger team. I also think it was pretty fitting that Wolverine is the one to be like "Am I the only one who wants revenge on Nitro!?"

X-Factor Investigations had a HUGE moment as their investigation of M-Day was a central plot point throughout the series. On one hand, it seems odd to have that play out as a minor point during a larger event, on the other hand, I understand that this was probably some of their most read material (due to the cross over,) so it's not a terrible time to drop a bombshell. It certainly endeared me to the team more to see them clash with Cyclops (who annoys me) and stand up for "the little guy" in their little slice of New York.

Cable and Deadpool was fun, as always. I hadn't really read many Deadpool comics, but I did see the movies. It's fun to see what this thread of Deadpool wanting to be an X-Man and loving being a legit member of the government. It was pretty clever how Cable used this to undermine the pro-registration side of things, but I've officially gotten tired of his messiah arc here. I think it's ruining the character.

Larger Impacts

While the Civil War will clearly have a big impact on the Avengers, the mutants have always been off in their own corner, so I'll be interested to see how much, if any, this event impacts them all moving forward.

Art

I loved Cable & Deadpool's art. I assumed it was Rob Leifeld (that's a compliment), but it was Staz Johnson. I'll need to keep my eye out for more of this work.