If you're a fan of The Colbert Report, you'll recognize the image at right as the mock-up comic book cover that Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada prepared for Thursday night's show, where he brought Stephen Colbert up to speed on Civil War, the "Marvel Comics Event" that pits superhero against superhero to explore the permeable boundary between homeland security and personal liberty. In his weekly conversation with the comics site Newsarama, Quesada takes fans backstage:

"Before the show, Colbert came into the green room and set the tone for me. First he gave me the warmest welcome, shook my hand and told me he's a huge Marvel fan...As he left he gave me the wag of the finger and said, 'You know how the show works?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Remember, I'm an idiot,' I told him that I was one as well and then he went off to do the show."

Newsarama also has a recap of Quesada's interview, including his libertarian interpretation of Iron Man.

MediaBistro