Avengers Versus X-Men – Page 3

AVX Parties

Marvel revealed the battle plan and this new image to make sure comic fans and stores are ready for the biggest super hero war in history. Avengers VS X-Men Launch Parties are set for Tuesday, April 3 at 8pm (local time), one day before the first issue goes on-sale. In addition to being the first in line to purchase AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1, fans will also be able to receive special items exclusive to these parties, specific to the team—Avengers or X-Men—supported by the store.

Each participating retailer into this event will receive a free Avengers VS X-Men Party Kit from Marvel, featuring exclusive promotional materials. To receive a party kit, the retailer must choose a team—Avengers or X-Men—and will receive special bonuses for their allegiance.

“We’ve never had a bigger story than Avengers VS X-Men and we’re backing retailers with the biggest incentives you’ve ever seen through the Avengers VS X-Men Launch Parties,” said David Gabriel, Marvel Senior Vice-President of Sales. “Whether it’s advertising, promotional material or limited edition variant covers, every one of our valued retailer partners will be able to get the word out to both their regular customers and new fans about this comic event and the exciting Avengers VS X-Men Launch Parties. Some stores will choose to side with the Avengers and some will side with the X-Men, but I can guarantee one thing—Marvel will make sure all of them have everything they need to make AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1 their top selling comic of the year.”

To learn more and the AVX items in the kit click this Marvel link.

Who Will Assemble the Avengers?

Who will take over the Avengers franchise once Brian Michael Bendis moves on? A fan asked Marvel Editor in Chief Axel Alonso on today’s Axel-In-Charge on Comic Book Resources.

“We have a plan…” Alonso responded, ” Let’s just say the Avengers franchise will be in excellent hands. As for Brian, if you’re a fan of his work, you won’t believe what he’s writing next for us. My lips are sealed.”

Speculation:

Could Matt Fraction inherit the Avengers franchise? Fraction’s era on Uncanny X-Men was phenomenal and he’s been steering Iron Man and Thor’s solo books. Could his current Defenders run be leading up to a takeover of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

If Avengers Versus X-Men and the return of the Phoenix lead to the destruction and rebirth of the X-Men – could we see an Age of Bendis for the Marvel’s mutants?

Avengers Versus X-Men’s Big Moments

Axel Alonso is revealing more about Avengers Versus X-Men. In this week’s Axel-In-Charge column on Comic Book Resources this quote got my brain spinning when Marvel’s Editor in Chief was asked which team he wants to win:

“…even though there will be a winner in this story – AVX was never about who would win, but how they would win, why they would win and what they would win. It’s an epic story that will most fast: Each act takes places in two months and ends with a game-changing moment that will kick readers on their butts. And like our most successful events, there will be big moments, big revelations. In Civil War there was Spider-Man unmasking. This story’s got even bigger moments. It’ll be interesting to see how people respond.”

Opinion: I have this feeling an X-Woman is going to be sacrificed. I don’t even want to say who…but I think this series will be the breaking point for Cyclops.

For more of this week’s column here’s the Comic Book Resources link.

Cable’s First Shot in AVX

Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness bring Cable back with full impact in Avengers: X-Sanction #1. This time Nathan is not a father figure, freedom fighter or platoon leader. Cable is an effecient super soldier on a focused mission.

Nathan and Steve Rogers are two determined soldiers with brilliant tactical minds. The fight is big and physical but you get a sense of the strategy behind every move.

I think you can get a sense of the battle strategies Captain America and Cyclops will execute in Avengers Versus X-Men. Cap may even learn something from Cable that could give him an advantage to beat Cyke – knowing when to make sacrifices.

We learn how Cable survived “death” in Second Coming, see a blast from Nathan’s past who sets him on his new mission and learn why he must destroy the Avengers in 24 hours.

The script is tight. The art is big, brash and bursting off the pages. The issue is one big giant teaser for the upcoming AVX but this first shot in the war in a fun yarn on its own.

Cable’s Link to Avengers Versus X-Men

Cable is back with this week’s Avengers: X-Sanction #1. Cable died saving the life of Hope, the mutant messiah and his adopted daughter. How is Cable reborn and why must he eliminate the Avengers? It’s connected to the return of the Phoenix Force and this series acts as a prelude to Avengers Versus X-Men in 2012.

With the mutant hero from the future attacking Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in such a crucial storyline here’s what you need to know about the fan favorite mutant with a complicated origin and future history.

New Mutants 87 portrait_xlarge — New Mutants #87 the debut of Cable courtesy Marvel.com

Cable debuted in New Mutants # 87 as a cyborg warrior who took the kids of New Mutants and made them a pro-active fighting force. The title was soon reborn as X-Force.

The origin: X-Man Cyclops was married to a woman named Madelyn Pryor (she was actually a clone of Jean Grey/Marvel Girl created by Mister Sinister) and they had a baby named Nathan.

In the pages of X-Factor (the original five X-Men reunited) Nathan was infected by a techno-organic virus from the future by Apocalypse. Just when all hope was lost, a woman from the future appeared to Cyclops and said she could save his baby if she let him take the child into the future where they had the medical technology to save him. That woman was sent by Rachel Summers (the daughter of Cyclops and the real Jean Grey from the future.)

Nathan’s life was saved but he became a cyborg. His mutant powers of telekinesis help keep his body together and the virus at bay. Nathan grew up in a war-torn future ruled by Apocalypse.

Cable went back in time to prevent his future. Stryfe was Cable and X-Force’s archenemy and during the X-Cutioner’s Song storyline Stryfle revealed he was a clone of Nathan.

Cable 2 portrait_xlarge — Cable #2 cover courtesy Marvel.com

Hope was the first baby born after the decimation of mutants and elimination of the mutant gene from humanity. The baby was hailed as a mutant messiah by some and the harbinger of a future apocalypse by others. Cyclops let Cable take the baby into the future to protect her. Hope returned as a teenager. Cable sacrificed his life to save her.

The Phoenix Force is speeding towards Earth. The Phoenix image manifested around Hope in the past so could the entity be coming to make her its new host? Marvel has said a surprise decision by one team related to the impending return of the Phoenix is what causes the AVX war.

Could this actually be Styfle attacking the Avengers? Has Cable returned only to be sacrificed again?

It seems way too soon for Cable to return. Honestly I was a fan when he first appeared in New Mutants before learning his real identity and origin. The only other time I enjoyed the character is during Second Coming when he was about to die. Cable’s scenes with his father and adopted daughter were moving. For such a man of action the best moments I like were very quiet and still encounters with Cyclops and Hope.

Which Side Will Beast Choose: Avengers Versus X-Men?

Secret Avengers #13 detail — The evolving looks of Beast on Secret Avengers #13 courtesy Marvel.com

“Oh My Stars and Garters!” which side will Beast take in Avengers Versus X-Men? Marvel’s hairy hero shares a history with both teams. Hank McCoy is a brilliant scientist but he often goes with his heart over his head when it comes to a fateful decision.

Hank is one of Professor X’s original X-Men. After leaving Xavier’s Hank worked for the Brand Corporation where an experiment turned him into the blue hairy beast he is now. The Avengers recruited Hank where he made lifelong friendships with Captain America, Iron Man and other iconic Avengers. Hank always came to help the X-Men in their time of need like the Dark Phoenix Saga but always returned to the Avengers.

Because of government intervention of the Avengers, Beast leaves, briefly joins the Defenders along with original X-Men Angel and Iceman. When Jean Grey is found alive, all 5 original X-Men reunite to form X-Factor for a long run of adventures.

Beast detail — Beast leaves Utopia from Uncanny X-Men courtesy Marvel.com

All 5 rejoin the X-Men for many years. Beast used his brains and brawn to help protect the mutant race while facing several ethical dilemmas. Shortly after establishing Utopia, Hank became disillusioned with Cyclops leadership and vision for the X-Men.

Captain America recruited Hank for the Secret Avengers but when Wolverine decides to split the X-Men, Hank answers his call for help. Hank rebuilds the old Westchester school now named after Jean Grey.

Wolverine and Storm are members of both X-Men and Avengers. Beast is back with the Logan’s X-Men but could he go against Captain America and his old friends in the Avengers?

As the Phoenix targets Earth looking for a host, I expect Hank push himself to find a scientific solution even if it means exploring unethical options. Hank has been tested so many times: trying to find a cure for the Legacy Virus knowing that a mutant would have to die in order to save millions or reaching out criminal geniuses like Doctor Doom and Mr. Sinister in order to save the mutant race from extinction after M-Day.

New X-Men 117 cover Beast — New X-Men #117 courtesy Marvel.com

I think Beast will try to be the peacemaker. Hank is a natural bridge between the teams. A shocking decision related to the impending return of the Phoenix is what triggers the war. Cyclops is willing to make more drastic decisions and sacrifices than Captain America. Hank’s disillusionment with Scott has only grown so I would expect him to side with the Avengers. I expect Marvel’s most brilliant yet thoughtful scientist hero to be tested to his limit in AVX.

Avengers Versus X-Men Event Highlights

The Phoenix is coming. Marvel’s biggest teams are going to war. The men behind the event of 2012 took fan questions and delivered details and teases sure to generate excitement.

Marvel presented the Avengers Versus X-Men writing team (Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, Jason Aaron, Jonathan Hickman) along with X-Men Editor Nick Lowe and Avengers Editor Tom Brevoort.

Here are some of the rapid fire highlights. My thoughts follow in italic:

“Wolverine and Storm have to redefine themselves in the Marvel Universe.” Bendis. This could be an opportunity to rethink their decisions after Schism which could be sever or mend their friendship with Cyclops.

“New armor for Iron Man with a specific foe in mind.” Fraction. Could this be a suit that can take a beating from the Juggernaut powered Colossus or a stab from Wolverine’s adamantium?

Thor gets up to come big time cosmic colossal shenanigans. Fraction. Now that Colossus is nearly God like thanks to Cytorrak, he could be a match for Thor.

“Cyclops is willing to make more sacrifices than Steve Rogers.” Brubaker.

“A new reader friendly take on the Phoenix.” Aaron.

X-Sanction starring Cable is a prelude and leads up to AVX. “Specific events Cable has come back in time to prevent are connected to AVX. It’s the opening shot of AVX.” Brevoort. Cable will do anything to protect his daughter Hope. This could be a clue that Hope is the target host for the Phoenix Force.

AVX #0 is in March. The Prelude is brand new material. Not a recap. Art by Frank Cho. Bendis.

Black Panther and Storm’s marriage. “Storm’s allegiance is very much split down the middle. Her choice will be heard very loudly. A big one for Storm.” Bendis. Storm is my all time favorite female hero. I have an ominous feeling Bendis could sacrifice her. There’s a reason she joined Avengers.

“Storm joining the Avengers was a separate decision” not predicated on AVX. Bendis

“The end of Avengers: Children’s Crusade will set up and calibrate how the X-Men, Avengers and the world feels about Scarlet Witch.” Yesterday I posted my thoughts on a Dark Phoenix Versus Scarlet Witch battle.

Professor X stayed out of Schism. “He can’t just stand on the sidelines.” Aaron. I immediately thought of the classic psi war between Charles and Jean in the Dark Phoenix saga. Can the greatest mutant mind – if Professor X still is – take on the Phoenix and win if needed? Charles has stayed out of Cyclops way but this conflict could lead to a showdown between the Professor and Scott.

How will SHIELD be involved? “There’s an opportunity for a lot of players in Marvel universe to pick new allegiances” Bendis hinted there could be a “potential reinvention” of a law enforcement group like SHIELD.

Those are some of the highlights, more to come!

Phoenix Versus Scarlet Witch!

I almost posted this last night but couldn’t wrap my head around it but after today’s Avengers Versus X-Men announcement – my brain is spinning!

Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix versus Scarlet Witch (during the Avengers Disassembled period.)

Who would win?

Both formidable females are beautiful, all powerful, consumed by their power and out of control because of their emotion.

Two beloved women on two of the most important teams in comic history. What would happen if these two women at their most powerful…went to war? Continue reading Phoenix Versus Scarlet Witch!

COMICS BLEND

Escape. Engage. Enjoy.

Tag: Avengers Versus X-Men