Avengers vs X-Men #1(of 12):
Summary: This issue starts with the Phoenix Force obliterating an alien world in some far off galaxy. From there we head to the Avengers, who are bickering(hey, Bendis DID do the script for this one, what else would you expect?), at least until something slams through the wing of a plane before hurtling to the earth. The Avengers move like a well oiled machine and save the people on the plane, as well as making sure nobody on the ground was harmed. From there the team heads to see just what crashed and find Nova(!). Meanwhile, Lord Summers(that would be Cyclops for the uninformed) is training Our Lord and Savior Hope(Hope for the uninformed) on Crazy Mutie Island(Utopia for the... you get the point). Lord Summers keeps pushing Our Lord and Savior until she lashes out at him with the Phoenix Force, sending him hurtling back. Back with the Avengers, after running some tests, Iron Man has discovered that the Phoenix Force was headed towards Earth and would undoubtedly be looking for a new host body. Tony's sensors pick up an energy signature similar to the Phoenix on Crazy Mutie Island. Captain America heads to Wolverine's school to tell him what was going on, and to inquire if Wolvie knew where the Phoenix Force was going to be heading. Wolvie figures that it would be heading to Our Lord and Savior and Cap wants to know if the Avengers could count on Wolverine... Back on Crazy Mutie Island, Lord Summers is discussing Hope with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants(otherwise known as his team of X-Men), and feels that the Phoenix Force could be a godsend for the mutant race since it was a force of rebirth... As well as destruction, as Jugger-Colossus astutely points out. Lord Summers only wants to see the Force in a good light, at which time the team is interrupted by the arrival of Cap. Cap tells Lord Summers that the Avengers wanted to take Our Lord and Savior into protective custody since the common belief was that the Phoenix Force would try to bond with her, an event that could have dire ramifications for the entire universe. Lord Summers doesn't want to listen to Cap because he's Lord Summers, and as such is always right, which leads to Cap telling Lord Summers that he wasn't asking to be given Our Lord and Savior... Uh-oh... Lord Summers respond to Cap's bluster by blasting Cap, so Cap calls for the Avengers to assemble, at which time a massive helicarrier arrives at Crazy Mutie Island full of Avengers. Lord Summers tells Emma Frost to protect Our Lord and Savior at all costs as this issue ends.
Thoughts: I have to say, this was a very strong opening chapter to this event. Yeah, there were a few things that kind of irked me, such as Nova suddenly being alive(not that I'm gonna complain about that!), the Phoenix Force somehow already being a part of Our Lord and Savior Hope even though it hadn't yet reached the Earth, and the Avengers somehow sneaking a helicarrier that close to Crazy Mutie Island without setting off all sorts of defenses... With how insanely paranoid Lord Summers is, I'm kind of surprised Cap and the Avengers managed to get that close. Other than those few quibbles, I liked this comic a lot. Bendis kept his inane dialogue to a minimum, which is always a good thing. The Brotherhood threw the first punch(so to speak) thus solidifying themselves as the bad guys here(in my mind at least). Now, considering you have a large battalion of Avengers standing right at the gates of Crazy Mutie Island, I'd think they should be able to walk through the Brotherhood and take Our Lord and Savior, so I'm extremely curious to see how the Brotherhood responds to keep things even. And on top of all that, there's the specter of the Phoenix hanging over everybody's heads like the Sword of Damocles... Like I said, as far as opening issues go, this one hit almost all the right notes and gave us action right off the bat. A really good story plus some really good art(some of John Romita Jr's best art in like two years) equals a great comic.
Score: 9 out of 10.
Oh... It's ON now!!!
Huh.. Surprised that you didn't do Avengers Academy first xD (though i can see why)
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, just got through reading this one myself. Question though,
Are you going to be following the events of AvX through the tie-ins? or just picking up the main line?
Dayumn X!
ReplyDeleteI am on the side of Crazy Mutie Island!!!
No seriously, I am choosing the HOLY Lord Summers side here. Just CUZ I can! xD.
Nah its cause I think what Scott is doing since M-day is completely like him in a "seduction of the innocent" sort of way. He thinks only he can protect the mutants! So he does all these crazy FASCIST things thinking only he is the sole savior overlord of the mutantkind. Going so far as doing things what Magneto used to do.
Also dare I say? I *Gulp* Like Crazy Mutie Island?
*hides in the corner from X about to go Pheonix*
No No No! its its c-cuz future solicitations r-reveal Wolverine's X-men siding with Lord summers which coincidentally turns out to have my favourite bunch of X-men around!
*Shrugs* Better?
Knowing the way I do things, Rage? I'll almost definitely end up picking up EVERY book connected to this event. I am, and always have been, a sucker for Marvel events, so I'll prob add the few Avengers/X books I don't already read. But yeah, any other week? I would TOTALLY have read Academy first! :P
ReplyDeleteHA! No sweat, Average One. The comic shop I go to every week is a X-Men backing store, so I'm used to being around you crazy X-fans! :P I really have to remember to call Lord Summers, HOLY Lord Summers from this point forward... Anyway, I can def see where you're coming from, especially if your favorite x-characters are gonna be on the X-side of the fence... That's gonna make things awkward for Wolvie unless he flips sides himself. I wonder how and why Wolvie's team is gonna (re)join HOLY Lord Summers and his Brotherhood... That should be interesting. I'm also hoping for some interactions between Cap and Namor(who's another character I could see switching sides), as well as seeing what role(and side) Wanda plays here.
I'm really interested in seeing what part Cable plays in this series, because the way you love X-Man, I love Cable he is honestly my favorite hero and seeing as now he can fully use his abilities I wonder what that will hold for the war.
ReplyDeleteThat's a simple one Megaman.....he is the backup recovery player. Only Nate Grey and Cable's potent power levels are able to rival the Phoenix (Dr. Magtaggert revealed this in Cable #29 when discussing both X-man and Cable's genetic and power relationship). When Hope looses control and goes insane, it will be primarily Cable in all his 'X-man' potential plus combat/experience (an advantage that he upscales Nate Grey on) closing the battle with his bewitched daughter Hope. That will be one emotional impact on Cable...just hope he doesn't burn his life force out in the process of stopping Hope near the end of the event. At least that's how it should end. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI too loved this issue. I thought Romita's art was heavily lacking in some areas, but he made it up for it with some really good stuff as well. I am firmly on the avengers side in this as well which should come as no surprise. It seems that we are setting up a civil war type arc. However, the two sides have a somewhat understandable reasoning (or so it seems) behind what they are trying to do. I just hope that the mutants don't get portrayed in such a stupid horrific light that no one can relate to them or root for them in this event. I highly doubt I will ever switch sides, but i would like to be able to see from the other perspective as well!
ReplyDelete-As for the fights coming up? Cap hands down!Yes, I know I am a major mark for cap, but I just don't think there is any possible way summers could go toe to toe with Rogers. As for next issue? Im going to take magneto over Iron-man. Regardless of the tech, i feel like magneto hasn't had a good reason to really throw down lately and hes going to have a lot of built up anger (if magneto: not a hero was any testament) and will be ready to unleash! Namor over thing, because Namor's crazy fast and powerful, if he wanted to drop thing in the ocean itd be all over with!
NOTE: These are strictly opinion and yes i am aware that it probably won't be a one on one brawl with a clear winner. These are just my picks! Anyway I am thankful for this event so far and us marvel fans have something to cheer for and about! We the readers are the true winners!
Also, Nova was crashing to earth trying to outrun the phoenix force in the marvel .1 teaser issue. I know this doesn't explain why is is alive or returned i guess i should say, but it makes me wonder if this is even richard rider...
ReplyDeleteThe Nova isn't Richard Rider according to the interviews I read but a new Nova from Earth. Not sure how he got his powers if Richard had the collective Nova Force while in the cancerverse, however.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the Avengers' side. Cyclops' side is too "all about me" and narrow minded. I was bothered by Cap's speech. It wasn't as good as his usual speeches.
You know who I feel really sorry for? Bishop. He came from the future to try and prevent the destruction of the X-Men and the hell that followed (albeit wrongly believing Gambit to be the X-Traitor, though he had pretty good reason to given what future-Gambit was like), and was met with disbelief, mockery and even hostility. And when Onslaught finally manifested, it was only through him almost killing himself that the X-Men survived the night. So, when he revealed that Hope was the other thing that causes the nightmare future he comes from, the X-Men...again ignore his warnings and assume he's ignorant crazy future dude. Seriously, is no-one on Utopia worried that the girl who's supposed to execute the Six-Second War is eager to host the Phoenix?
ReplyDeleteOMG, good call! How awesome would it be if Marvel actually did that? They could have a "The Search for Bishop" arc (maybe in "New Mutants," in their loose-end tying capacity) so that the X-Men can apologize to him for being idiots?
DeleteI kind of see things the way RadT sees them, Megaman. It makes sense that Hope is gonna go full-out Phoenix, which will cause the X-Men and Avengers to team up. She'll defeat them both leaving Cable to expend all of his powers to defeat Hope, killing her in the process, while leaving Cable powerless and full of guilt(and possibly with his own series.)... Least that's how I see it with 11 issues to go! :P
ReplyDeleteAgreed with Cap over Lord Summers. Yes, I'm a huge Cap mark, so that has a lot to do with it, but I'm pretty sure Cap could figure out a way to out-think Lord Summers on the battlefield. I'm gonna go with IM over Mags, simply because IM has countered Mags powers before. If he could figure out a way to negate Mags powers years ago, you have to think he would have even better Magneto-proof armor by now! Totally agree with you in regards to Thing and Namor though, Cap. No way Thing takes Namor! None!
Ah yes, that .1 issue... Yup, I do remember that issue(with Terrax I believe), but like you said, it didn't explain if it was Richie as Nova, or if it was somebody else like Anon said. I'll be curious to see who this new Nova is and how he got those powers...
HA! Awesome point, Crystarr! I don't know what it is, but the X-Men REALLY hate listening to Bishop... Seriously, he was dead-on with Onslaught, and looks to be 100% right about Hope, and yet HE'S the bad guy! I just wish he'd come back, point at all of the X-Men and say, "I told you so!!!"
Glad to see so many happy Marvel fans with regards to this issue. Here's hoping they can keep up the momentum for the next 11 issues.
haha thats good to here and I totally agree with the Namor and Wanda thing here! But I also wonder what role Rachel Summers or Nate Grey play.... If any that is..... I guess all we have left to do is wait and see.
DeleteI know for a fact that the New Mutants comic isn't one of the primary crossover titles linked to the AvX event, Average One. So it's very hard to see Nate Grey involved, but maybe near the end of the AvX event, he and the NM (after the JIM/NM crossover) may have some freedoms to aid against Dark Phoenix Hope. Lord knows with Hope's uber-mimic ability + the full Pheonix force uncontrolled/untamed, earth 616 is gonna need all the fighting power it can get! Now: It would make sense (if Cable has time that is) to telepathically seek Nate since he has waaaay more experience and Shamaniac wisdom with such vast power levels than he does. It also makes since for Cable to contact his sister Rachel as well since she has way more experience with utilizing Pheonix Force (second to Jean Grey) than Hope or Cable. If Cable can hand some of his awesome power scale or reawaken the latent powers in both Rachel and Nate with all three joining forces against Hope, that would be the most awesome finish ever in the history of Marvel Comics....bump the Dark Pheonix saga! In this way, Cable won't risk complete burnout and possible death. Don't mind the burnout so much, but got a problem with Cable possibly dying. Sorry, I like and have so much respect for the character.....hated when he was thought dead the first time.
ReplyDeleteI swear!....at times....I NEED TO BE A COMIC WRITER!!!
ReplyDeleteSince Cable is a soldier, that means he's a strategist. Look back at the Avengers X-Sanction or any comic book prior for that matter. Think about it...he even strategized when he first met/battled Nate Grey, protecting infant Hope, battled Stryfe and Apocalypse, and the list can go on. Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised if he did join forces with Rachel and Nate especially with what's at high scale stakes.
ReplyDeleteI think the Rachel link is the really interesting one. I mean she DID house(still does?) a portion of her world's Phoenix Force, no? You'd think that would make her way more important to the way this story shakes out, but I get the feeling Rachel and Nate won't get any major role in things. They'll probably battle against some fringe Avengers and hardly ever(if at all) appear in the main AvX book. Now Cable WAS brought back prior to AvX and given his full powerset(by Hope, who maybe subconsciously knew he'd need them), so he's around for a major reason you've got to think. But sadly, I don't see Rachel showing up outside of Legacy nor Nate popping up outside of NM.
ReplyDeleteMostlikely sad and true X75, but we can always Hope!
ReplyDeleteI guess you both are right.It's a sad day when we realize that the house of ideas would waste such a potential, but I guess it's time to enjoy the event for what it really is!
ReplyDeleteHey, who knows though. The first issue impressed me and that's really all I care about! As long as that trend continues, the next 6 months will be REALLY good!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking Hope's just somehow copying the phoenix force's powers due to its proximity to the earth and not necessarily acting as host to the phoenix, maybe that role of host will end up being somebody else's or somebody on the avengers' side, even? Who knows, the other host + phoenix might actually end up fighting against hope + a copy of the phoenix powers.
ReplyDeleteThat's not a bad theory either... And it would explain why Hope is exhibiting the Phoenix Force, while we know the Force hasn't reached Earth yet. Marvel hasn't hidden the fact that the Scarlet Witch is going to be involved in some way here, maybe SHE'S going to be the new host to really throw a curveball at us.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, too, where Jean Grey fits into the mix. Ever since "Messiah Complex," Marvel has always tied Hope not just to the Phoenix Force, but to Jean herself. It makes me wonder if the denouement is going to be Hope about to cause the Six-Second War and Jean somehow returning, retaking control of the Phoenix and averting the War. (Maybe the Phoenix Force created Hope as some sort of interim host? Is that why Hope destroyed the entire town in Alaska where she was born? It replaced the baby born with her? I feel like that could be the case, because it would be a lot easier for Marvel to kill someone who wasn't "real" at all.)
ReplyDeleteMy only complaint about this issue is that I just feel like Cyclops has totally lost his mind. The only thing I could see being the explanation is Hope mind-controlling Scott, like she did the Lights. Otherwise, I hope that Marvel makes sure to show some of the X-Men questioning Scott's increasingly erratic leadership.
Also, I'll just say that I actually find myself hoping Marvel goes with the Six-Second War. How cool would it be if they actually had Hope screw the pooch?
"Maybe the Phoenix Force created Hope as some sort of interim host? Is that why Hope destroyed the entire town in Alaska where she was born? It replaced the baby born with her? I feel like that could be the case, because it would be a lot easier for Marvel to kill someone who wasn't "real" at all." <-THIS. This is probably my new favorite theory about how this ends. It would make sense in telling HOW Hope arrived and why everybody died(although I don't get why somebody like Iron Man wouldn't "see" the Phoenix Force, although I'd happily overlook that), plus allow Marvel to turn her completely evil, and then kill her without a huge backlash, since, as you said, she's always been a piece of the Phoenix Force.
ReplyDeleteEh, I've been saying Lord Summers has been insane for years now! :P Him simply attacking Cap was just another step in his madness. I'll just say absolute power and all that jazz and leave it at that. Some people aren't meant to wear the crown, and I feel that Lord Summers shouldn't be the guy in charge of mutantkind, because yeah, he's gone nuts! :D
I'm so curious to see which way Marvel goes with this... As we've seen, everybody has a theory, and many of them seem like they COULD happen, and would actually make sense! Here's hoping Marvel doesn't decide to pick the WORST ending to this story. If it's up to Bendis, I have a sinking feeling we'll somehow get Norman Osborn: Master of the Phoenix Force... :/
OMG, I'm telling you right here, right now, if Norman Osborn becomes Phoenix, I'm ditching Marvel Comics entirely!
DeleteHA!! With Bendis as one of the writers, you just KNOW he at least offered that up as a possibility at one of Marvel's writer retreats... Let's just hope the other writers nixed that idea...
ReplyDelete