Review: Avengers vs. X-Men

With the cosmic entity known as the Phoenix Force hurtling towards the Earth, the world's most powerful superheroes find themselves at odds. Captain America and the Avengers seek to eradicate the Phoenix, while Cyclops and the X-Men welcome its arrival. Tempers flare as these superheroes do battle against one another, but which side will win?

Avengers vs. X-Men collects Avengers vs. X-Men #0-12, written by Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, and Jonathan Hickman, with illustrations by John Romita Jr., Oliver Coipel, and Adam Kubert. This all-star cast promises to bring one of Marvel's most epic events to date. 

Much like Marvel's Civil War, Avengers vs. X-Men pits hero against hero. This time around, Marvel's two biggest franchise duke it out for supremacy. The source of this conflict comes in the form of the Avengers' and the X-Men's differing opinions on the Phoenix Force. The premise is promising as the Phoenix Force is ambiguous enough to create a schism between the two factions. The problem, however, is in the execution. For the most part, the majority of the characters come across as unlikable due to their Kanye West-sized egos. The Avengers especially come across as pig-headed and are in fact the instigators of the war between Earth's Mighest Heroes and Marvel's Merry Mutants. It's quite clear that they have limited experience with the Phoenix Force and, to make matters worse, they have shown a history of not getting involved with so-called "mutant issues." This makes them seem like they should step aside and allow the X-Men to handle the situation.

Despite the fact that each issue is attributed to a different writer, there is a remarkable consistency between each issue and it would be difficult to discern which writer wrote each issue. That said, the issues written by Brian Michael Bendis and Jason Aaron do tend to have a surplus of jokes in them. This creates an uneven tone that contrasts with the serious nature of the subject matter. 

Additionally, the combined efforts of these writers was not enough to save them from continuity errors. For long-time X-Men fans, this event is sure to make your blood boil with a rather glaring plot flaw. The entire conflict hinges upon the Phoenix Force and the fact that the Avengers believe it to be evil due to Jean Grey's supposed inability to control it. The Dark Phoenix Saga is referenced as an example of this. However, the real Jean Grey was NOT present during the Dark Phoenix Saga. That was a replica of the character and the real Jean was elsewhere at the time. As such, she did not commit suicide trying to save the world from the Phoenix Force. That was her replica. On top of that, Jean was able to control the Phoenix flawlessly in her later appearances. Did any of you guys read Grant Morrison's New X-Men run?!

Another issue Avengers vs. X-Men faces is in its art. The first handful of issues are taken care of by John Romita Jr. While his art works fantastically in non-event comics, the epic scale of this collection isn't suited to his talents. Similarly, Adam Kubert's art is plain and lazily drawn. It's especially frustrating since his art closes the collection. In this middle of all of this is Oliver Coipel's art. Coipel is honestly one of the greatest artists currently working in the industry and it would have been wise to have him draw the entire series. His pencils are crisp and expressive, and he knows how to set a scene in a way that is creative and dynamic.

In general, Avengers vs. X-Men is an admirable event title that features some of the best writers Marvel has to offer. The overall plot is strong, Coipel's art is gorgeous, and the action is thrilling. If that weren't enough, Jim Cheung's covers are breathtakingly beautiful. That said, the conflict is fairly superficial and the Avengers come across uniformly as a bunch of jerks. Essentially, the Avengers are the popular kids at school who are bullying the outcasts. Overall, not a good look for the Avengers. Lastly, there are a lot of characters present in this event and many go underused. Bendis and company would have done well to focus on the characters who have connections between the two teams. For example, rather than do an issue from Spider-Man's perspective it would have been more interesting to explore the story from Storm, Black Panther or Scarlet Witch's perspective. As one of Marvel's more divisive events, both X-Men and Avengers fans alike will find issues with this collection. Thankfully, the pulse-pounding action and colourful art should be enough to sway your opinion.

Rating: B+

Review: X-Men, Second Coming

Second Coming is one of the best X-Men storylines in recent years. It is cohesive, thrilling, and, most importantly, emotional. It focuses on the return of the so-called mutant messiah known as Hope. Many consider her to be the saviour of mutantkind and will usher them away from the brink of extinction. This, of course, makes her a target for those who wish to wipe out all those with an X-gene.

Spread out across all of the primary X-Men titles from 2010 through 2011, Second Coming is the brilliant conclusion to what could informally be known as the Messiah trilogy. For casual fans of the X-Men, this story will be largely confusing and may be overly complex. It weaves in the narratives of dozens of characters and operates on the foundation of several exisiting storylines. In order to understand what is going on, it's essential to be familiar with such concepts as M-Day and the Cooperstown Massacre. For those who have been reading the X-Men for years, this will be a non-stop action ride that has its fair share of triumph and heartarche. Writers Mike Carey, Craig Kyle, Chris Yost, Matt Fraction, and Zeb Wells do an incredible job piecing together this intricate web of narratives. Cyclops, Wolverine, and Hope are the emotional core of this crossover. They are written well and are each very layered in their characterizations.

There are several standout moments in Second Coming. Some are as small as Hope eyeing a hair brush set in a drug store, while others are as big as the epic battle that sees the X-Men facing off against the deadly Nimrod Sentinels. As mentioned previously, this event is very emotional. Characters are gravely injured while others become casualties during the X-Men's fight to protect Hope. While this contributes to the gravity of the narrative, there are other themes at work as well. A particular point of conflict arises concerning Cyclops' decision to commission a group of killers to carry out covert missions to assassinate threats to mutantkind. When this secret team is exposed, it has dire consequences and opens up discussions regarding the true nature of heroism. For this reader, the most poignant moment of Second Coming arrives during the denouement. Storm, known for her strong set of morals, confronts Wolverine about his active participation in Cyclops' team of killers. The scene is tense and impeccably well-written. Storm's words are cutting and brutally honest. While the world operates in shades of grey, Storm makes it perfectly clear that the X-Men are moving far too close to the darker end of the spectrum.

As referenced above, Second Coming isn't the most accessible of narratives. For anyone new to the world of the X-Men, it will leave you with far too many questions to be able to comprehend the storylines. Nevertheless, it is incredibly detailed and is a thoroughly satisfying read that is sure to leave the veteran reader with some kind of emotional response. Second Coming has its share of flaws, but it is one of the most impressive offerings by Marvel in recent years. It shows the world once more the difference people can make when they band together to fight for a common goal. It's powerful.

Rating: A