New Uncanny X-Men Built For AVX

Uncanny X-Men #12 courtesy Marvel.com

  The geek world shuddered when Marvel ditched Uncanny X-Men’s numbering and relaunched with a brand new one after the Schism event. If you’ve been reading Kieron Gillen’s new Uncanny you know why – it’s a very different book because of Cyclops’ mission – to create an Extinction team to maintain peace and protect mutants through a show of power. Captain America demonstrates his own show of force when he arrives on Utopia in Avengers Vs. X-Men #1.

 “I’ll be entirely candid here: my entire run has been conceived in order to build towards AvX. I knew that was coming, and I wanted to do everything I could to increase its importance for it. You get people saying how they hate their favorite books derailed for a crossover, and I wanted to avoid that. AvX is the logical endpoint of huge chunks of what I’m doing. I sort of call the process “Steering into a crossover.” I’ve done it with most of my Marvel work — in that if you know something enormous is on the horizon, your story best veer in its direction otherwise it ends up feeling false when you do a story which does tie in. If you’re writing a shared universe book, you want it to help the book rather than hurt it. ” Gillen told Comics Newsarama in their exclusive interview.

 

Uncanny X-Men #11 courtesy Marvel

  “So, yes, it’s no accident that final arc is a team-up to defeat a string of world-level threats. It’s about seeing them together one final time before it all goes bad. It’s also about delineating the fundamental difference between the two groups. And part of me is always trying to at assume some people are only reading my book. I even try to assume that people have only read my book ever, so may not even be aware who the Avengers are. In that case, if they’re going to go to war shortly, I want to introduce them into the narrative before it happens.”

 For Gillen’s entire interview here’s the Comics Newsarama link.

AvX Avengers Academy Becomes Marvel’s C.P.S.

Avengers Academy #29 courtesy Marvel.com

  Kids of the Marvel Universe will be forced to choose sides in the upcoming Avengers Vs. X-Men. The war comes to Avengers Academy in issues 29 and 30. Today Marvel revealed preview art and a new interview with writer Christos Gage. The writer recently brought X-23 to the Academy with more mutants on the way and don’t expect the bonds of friendship to build.

  “Avengers Academy is where the Avengers want to put the young mutants of Utopia when hostilities break out,” explains Gage. “They take them into custody and house them at the one facility they know that can handle an infusion of super-powered kids. It’s a bit like Child Protective Services: ‘You’re not under arrest, you haven’t done anything wrong, this if for your own good—but you can’t leave.’

  “Needless to say, there are plenty of folks who are none too happy with this turn of events. And if bringing them to Avengers Academy is intended to keep them out of trouble, it doesn’t quite work out that way.”

  Expect Wolverine’s “daughter” to be in the spotlight. “She has a foot in each camp, so the war between the Avengers and the X-Men is naturally going to affect her more than anyone. She joined Avengers Academy in part because she wanted [nothing] of the Wolverine/Cyclops Schism. Now she’s caught directly in the middle of another war, and there is no avoiding making the choice this time around.”

 Gage adds the members of the X-Club, Sebastian Shaw and Hercules will be visiting Avengers Academy. You may have already seen the preview art of the Olympian naked on campus – seriously.

 For more of his interview and more art here’s the Marvel.com link.

AvX Iron Fist & The Phoenix Force?

New Avengers #26 courtesy Marvel.com

 When you think Iron First you think of dragons but the martial arts master may have a connection to the fiery Phoenix too!

 Marvel gave Comics Newsarama this exclusive first look preview of New Avengers # 26. Iron Fist appears to be shielding Hope Summers (from Avengers who want to seize her?)

 This is a new piece of the Iron Fist/Phoenix puzzle. Here’s the link to see New Avengers #25 featuring Danny Rand bursting with a Phoenix energy signature.

 The preview includes this: “The secret history of the Phoenix is revealed in K’un Lun’s book of the dead Iron Fists. One of the most important chapters in the AVX story.”

AvX: Rogue Vs She-Hulk

X-Men Legacy #266 courtesy Marvel

  I was psyched for a Rogue/Ms. Marvel clash given their tragic history together. Marvel delivered a new green vs green matchup!

  This X-Men Legacy #266 cover features Rogue fighting She-Hulk! I earlier predicted a Carol Danvers win against Rogue but after seeing Rogue’s fighting and tactical thinking lately I think she can tackle Jennifer.

The Mark Brooks cover was featured first on Comics Newsarama.

AvX Chasing Hope

Avengers Vs. X-Men #4 courtesy Marvel

  The mutant messiah is at the center of the Marvel Universe as two superteams are after her. One to protect her. One to destroy her?

  This is the cover to Avengers Vs X-Men #4 by one of my favorite artist, Jim Cheung of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade.

  Hope Summer is giving off what could be the Phoenix image as she is appears to chase by both X-Men and Avengers.

  Marvel revealed this and more AVX #1 interior pages to Comics Newsarama but this is a cover I had to share with you.

 

AvX: The Marvel Family United in Secret Avengers

Secret Avengers #27 courtesy Marvel.com

  Can you feel the Kree force on the stunning cover for Secret Avengers #27? Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel and the Protector are beautifully rendered by Alan Davis.

  Captain Marvel appears to be bursting from a cosmic aura. Is he erupting from the Phoenix entity? Could the original Mar-Vell be returning from the dead? The Phoenix would certainly have the power to resurrect the late Kree warrior.

  Could this be the unexpected result of a mission in Secret Avengers #26? That preview cover showed Ms. Marvel and a task force of Avengers heading to space to possibly confront the Phoenix before the entity reaches Earth.

Thanks to Marvel.com and Comic Book Resources.

 

AvX Darkness Inside Hope

Avengers Vs. X-Men #3 courtesy Marvel.com

  My heart sank when I saw this Avengers Vs X-Men #3 cover Marvel shared today. Hope Summers appears to have a devil inside. The mutant messiah was born in tragedy, chased across time and endured pain and loss. Hope Summers was the start of a new beginning for the mutant race but will she be the end of life on Earth?

Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 Preview Pages

AvX1 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  Marvel revealed preview pages from Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 by the great John Romita Jr. The idea of Captain America’s arrival usually inspires happiness, relief and confidence. Cap’s arrival on Utopia stirs fear and dread.

 When Emma Frost said, “He’s here for you, Hope,” you can feel the tension.

AvX1 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  The Phoenix Force is coming to Earth. Steve Rogers believes it will destroy the world so he’s taking action. Cyclops thinks the entity could save mutantkind. I love Cyclops but he is the new Magneto. Even Erik recognizes how Scott has evolved in his struggle to save the mutant race.

AvX #1 courtesy Marvel.com

  As you read the preview pages I also get the impression that Scott should watch out for Namor. The Submariner’s alliance with the X-Men and love for Emma Frost could be shaken by his long friendship with Captain America.

Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  The big question is which team will win but you have to think how will the sides change before AvX is over?