Hope is at the center of the battle on the cover Avengers Versus X-Men #2. Marvel revealed the amazing cover by superstar Jim Cheung today.
Iron Man and Magneto are in the foreground. It appears Wolverine (with claws ready to slash) is leaping for Hope (who appears to be in a fiery light, is she hosting the Phoenix?)
This cover fuels the fan fire to many points raised so far:
– Matt Fraction said Tony Stark was making a new armor with a specific foe in mind. Last week’s AvX teaser images included an Iron Man versus Magneto fight by Adi Granov.
– Which will Wolverine choose? On AVX #1 Logan appears to be on the Avengers team going into battle against the X-Men. In this image Logan is clearly going in for the kill – aiming for Hope.
– The Phoenix Force is heading to Earth in search of a human host. Emma Frost has seen the Phoenix image surround Hope before and some call Hope the mutant messiah so she seems to be the likely candidate for the entity.
Marvel included this description along with the image:
“With the opening salvo fired, the time for talking is over and in Avengers Vs. X-Men #2, allegiances are decided upon as quickly as they are broken. What side does Wolverine choose and what decision will Hope make that may turn the tide of the war… just as it begins?”
Comics Newsarama made more interesting points based on the cover.