Diamond Select Toys has announced the next wave of Marvel Minimates will feature characters from Marvel’s Civil War.

Civil War Captain America – Sporting a battle-damaged look, Steve Rogers returns (briefly) for this Minimate version of Captain America complete with removable mask, gloves and even a shackle accessory to recreate his shocking assassination.

Civil War Iron Man – The first Iron Man Minimate to feature his upgraded Extremis armor, this version also includes additional body parts and armor to create your own “un-armored” Tony Stark!

Civil War Spider-Man – While it may not have lasted for long (not counting those new-fangled Scarlet Spiders), Spider-Man’s latest look is captured in two-inch scale for the first time, along with a removable mask and alternate Peter Parker mode!

Civil War Nitro – The mutant that started it all, now you can bring home the villainous Nitro to reenact all your favorite Civil War moments. Just try to keep the explosions to a minimum, okay?

These are New York Comic Con EXCLUSIVES, so best get your tickets for the show, that runs from April 18-20 in NYC.

via Diamond Select Toys

What if Annihilus’ wasn’t defeated? What if the Annihilation made it to Earth? What if the invasion took place smack dab in the middle of Civil War and Silent war?

The answer to that, dear reader, can be found in the pages of What If? Annihilation. Marvel has kindly provided Major Spoilers a sneak peek of the issue that you can check out after the jump.

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Thor, meet Iron Man. Iron Man, meet Thor. Now touch gloves and come out fightin’!

Ever since it was discovered Tony Stark created Clor, readers have been speculating when Thor and Iron Man would come to blows. Looks like it is about to happen in the pages of Thor #3.

Take a look at the sneak peek Marvel sent Major Spoilers. Even though there isn’t dialogue, this looks like it is building to an awesome battle.

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Hey here’s something that shouldn’t get anyone too offended - Michael Turner is doing the variant cover to Thor #1, and it actually doesn’t suck! The variant cover will ship in a 50/50 ratio with the Olivier Coipel cover.

What does the post Civil War Marvel U hold for the god of thunder?

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If you missed out on any part of Marvel’s Civil War series - and there is a good chance you did since many of the title issues and tie-ins sold out - Marvel has announced the Trade Paperback of the series is set to debut this week.

Fans will also be able to experience Civil War in a brand new way with each issue of Civil War Chronicles, which presents every issue of the Civil War event in chronological order, allowing readers to see the nuances of this epic tale in the order they occured. Featuring two Civil War tales per issue, Chronicles will show you a new side of comic books� biggest event of the decade.

Take the jump for the full cover of Civil War Chronicles.

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No, I’m not talking about Tony Stark and SHIELD, but rather two Civil War tie-in issues. Marvel has announced Civil War: Battle Damage Report “prepared” by Tony Stark, and Marvel Spotlight: Civil War Aftermath, examining the effect of the event on the Marvel Universe have both sold out at Diamond.

Look out for other upcoming Marvel Spotlights, giving exclusive looks at major Marvel events such as Death of Captain America, World War Hulk and the new Fantastic Four.

via Marvel Comics

Jeez, the body hasn’t even made it in the ground and already someone is donning the costume of Captain America. As we suspected, Frank Castle - the Punisher - thinks he has the chops and brings his brand of justice to the Hate-Monger.

Marvel sent us a four page preview and both covers, one featuring Castle in Cap costume, and one without, and more info.

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Don’t forget if you missed out on the first printing of Captain America #25, and you don’t want to spend $65 for it on eBay, the second printing hits stores tomorrow.

Marvel Comics announced Civil War: The Initiative has sold out at Diamond and the company is going back to press for a second printing. And of course, there is a variant cover to go along with it.

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Marvel has revealed the covers and release date information for all of the upcoming Fallen Son: Death of Captain America and tie in issues. If you are just waking up to the news Steve Rogers is dead, check out Matt’s review (full of spoilers).

With all the media hype surrounding the event, best let your retailer know if you want these, as they’ll probably go fast.

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Or - “No Joke From Me This Time…”

Yes, once again I am compelled to do this on the day of release, and once again I must warn anyone reading this that I *WILL* be spoilering large aspects of the story. This will be a full review of Captain America #25. If you don’t want to know what happens right now, DO NOT CLICK the “more” link. This is your only warning, as I’m still completely in shock at the events of this issue, and what few filters I may have aren’t filtering worth a rot…

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I think the image says it all. Issue #25 of Captain America has Steve Rogers taking a couple of bullets and is apparently off to the great beyond. If you have been following Civil War, you knew there was a new Captain America coming (Punisher anyone?), but the death of Steve Rogers seems to have taken many by surprise.

Unlike the death of Superman, which had been hyped for months prior to the issue hitting the stands, issue #25 arrived (on time for a change) with nary a peep.

The big question is, “How long is Rogers going to stay dead?” According to Joe Queseda, he’s told his writers if they plan on killing a character, it better have some meaning. At this point I’m going to put my money on “Less Than Two Years” before Steve Rogers is back.

Update:� I’ll go one further.� Knowing there is an undgerground group of heroes working against the registration act, my guess this “death” is a fake out to get Steve off the radar and working with the resistance.�

Is this just another gimmick to bolster sales or is this true storytelling? I’ve been on many message boards this morning and readers/fans seem genuinely angry at Marvel for this turn in story telling. Post your thoughts in the comments section!

The complete AP Newswire piece follows as well as the “shocking” image from page two of the issue as posted by the New York Daily News.

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In the post-Civil War Marvel Universe, the Avengers are playing such a prominant role, the company has decided to make Avengers: The Initiative an ongoing series. This makes the third Avengers title for you to snatch up.

Why the heck is another series needed? In a prepared statement, Executive Editor Tom Brevoort said, “With the reader and retailer reaction to the climax of CIVIL WAR, and the general interest in precisely what comes next for Tony Stark�s Fifty State Initiative, it only made sense to us to promote AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE to a full ongoing series, rather than just a limited. The number of story possibilities set in place by the new status quo of the Marvel Universe are almost endless, and we�re sure that fans will want to experience them all along with writer Dan Slott and artist Stefano Caselli.�

Major Spoilers has a look at the two covers and a four page preview after the jump.

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Civil war is over, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be repercussions. Major Spoilers has the covers and solicitation info for the fall-out issues shipping over the next two weeks.

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Or - “Why Do Ya Do Me Like You Do, Do, Do?”

“Mary Sue: A pejorative term for a character who is portrayed in an overly idealized way and lacks noteworthy flaws, or has unreasonably romanticized flaws. Characters labeled Mary Sues, as well as the stories they appear in, are generally seen as wish-fulfillment fantasies of the author.” Why would I start off with THAT definition while reviewing Civil War: Frontline? Two words: Sally @#(*ing Floyd. From day one of this series, Sally has been an unusually annoying and omnipresent character, the central figure telling the “behind the lines” stories of how the Civil War affects the “real world” of the Marvel U. She’s been strident, unlikable, unreasonable, rude, and flat-out obnoxious, a caricature of every “tough broad” reporter in every two-bit “All The King’s Men” ripoff ever written. And this month she crosses the line from harpy straight to rabid b!+ch, without passing “Go” or collecting her $200 bucks. All this, and the shocking reveal of the REAL reason for the war, after these brief messages!

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