Civil War II Gets Expanded But Also Delayed

Marvel’s big summer event is going to last well into the fall thanks to a round of delays and the addition of an eighth issue.

Civil War II #5, the next installment of Marvel’s superhero slugfest, is now scheduled for release on Sept. 14, about a month after its initial release date of Aug. 17.

Writer Brian Michael Bendis writes on his Tumblr blog that the delay is for the best possible reason.
"Well, if you peek over at David Marquez's Facebook you’ll discover that he and his amazing wife Tara just had a kick ass baby boy. A very cute baby too. And not all babies are cute at the start :),"

Bendis writes. "Not a delay hell, or a conspiracy, just a new baby in the middle of the hardest issue to draw. the ending of four shows that five is a monster."

Marquez taking some time out to get to know his new son is certainly understandable, and Bendis goes on to say that the artist is already back to an output of about one new page a day.
Delaying one issue, naturally, has a ripple effect on the schedule for all of the following issues. Civil War II #6 has now been delayed until Oct. 5, and Civil War II #7 is set for Oct. 19.

In addition, Bendis confirmed that Civil War II has been expanded from seven issues to eight. "I came up with a better ending but needed the pages," he explains. "Very grateful that they let us do our thing."

Civil War II #4 is on sale now.