The final chapter of Avengers vs. X-Men is almost here and with it the final (?)fate of Hope Summers. Hopefully we will learn her true origin and connection with the Phoenix Force (and perhaps Jean Grey?)
Avengers vs. X-Men #12 courtesy Marvel
The Generation Hope series was so promising with an amazing cast of young characters but was a victim of poor sales and (in my opinion) not fitting in with two planned events. Idie has become a student at the Jean Grey School. The other kids stayed on Utopia and Hope became the source of AvX conflict but what will happen to Hope.
Hope and Storm at Emerald City Comicon 2012 photo by ComicsBlend.com
Hope is a strong young female character. I don’t think we have enough of them in comics today. I always say a new character is making an impact when you see an inspired cosplay fan. (Pixie Cloud of the Great Northwest!) In fact, I saw rival Hopes at Jet City Comic Show this weekend!
photo by ComicsBlend.com
It feels like Hope’s story is coming to an end and she will be sacrificed to save the Earth (and Scott.) Layla (“I know stuff”) Miller was a critical character in House of M and went on be part of Peter David’s X-Factor. As much as I would hate to see Hope go it feels like she should and wrap up story threads born in Messiah Complex.
Avengers vs X-Men #4 courtesy Marvel
Hope triggered the Five Lights which included some new female mutants. Maybe Hope’s final act in AvX will save the mutant race and give birth to more strong characters. The final fate of Hope is in the hands (as they reach for their wallets) of the fans so maybe Hope is alive in the Marvel Now!
Cyclops has become the most powerful force on Earth…possibly the universe. Avengers and X-Men are in mourning. Tony Stark has pushed every scientific mind to find a way to fight the Phoenix Force and come up empty.
It all comes down to Scarlet Witch and Hope. These were the only heroes able to do some damage to the entity. The Phoenix was almost afraid of Wanda.
Avengers vs. X-Men #12 courtesy Marvel
Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert are the creative team on the final showdown. I wanted to share Comic Book Resource’s first look inside Avengers vs. X-Men #12.
The heroes look defeated. Hope and Scarlet Witch have their own issues to work out before taking on the Dark Phoenix Cyclops. Wanda will survive to join Uncanny Avengers. Scott will be part of All-New X-Men. Is this Hope’s fate?
Avengers #30 Love in war. AvX may be an epic with huge battles and ramifications but it’s also about heart and relationships. This tie-in focuses on the romance of Hawkeye and Spider-Woman. Can two emotionally damaged heroes like Clint and Jessica make it work in the damaged world shaken by the Phoenix.
Nightwing #0 The New 52 origin of Dick Grayson revealed. From orphan to sidekick to his own superhero identity.
Spider-Men #5How will Peter Parker return to his own world? How will it end between Peter and Miles Morales? The story that brought together Spider-Men of two worlds comes to a shocking end.
True Blood #5The secret history of the villain that terrified Bon Temps and his connection to Eric Northman’s maker – Godric.
Thanos: The Final Threat #1 He’s the cosmic villain behind the war in Marvel’s The Avengers movie and Avengers Assemble series. Experience Thanos at his evil best in this masterpiece by Jim Starlin. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes must stop Thanos from using the Infinity Gems to seize power and satisfy his mistress, Death. This includes the classic Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2.
Kieron Gillen (Uncanny X-Men, soon to be Iron Man) explores what happens right after the final chapter of Avengers vs. X-Men. What will be the fate of the mutant leader and race? Marvel revealed this variant cover to AvX: Consequences #4 by Mark Brooks.
Magneto is full of rage. Erik pledged his allegiance to Scott and admired what he build on Utopia…until the Phoenix took control. Will the reformed Master of Magnetism go back to his more villainous ways in the aftermath of AvX #12?
Scarlet Witch will join Rick Remender’s Uncanny Avengers to fight a reborn Red Skull and his anti-mutant agenda. I hope Magneto joins his daughter in the fight. I just hope the crafty and cunning Quicksilver finds a home in the Marvel NOW too.
Storm and Black Panther are so over. Cyclops and Emma Frost are at each others throats as the Phoenix Force consumes the X-Men leaders. Hawkeye and Spider-Woman are the one Marvel couple that seem to be heating up due to action of Avengers vs. X-Men.
Marvel revealed art from Avengers #30 by Walter Simonson. Leinil Yu provides the cover showing the lovers on the run.
I think Clint and Jessica’s new romance will survive and thrive because of the conflict. Here’s hoping the hot duo will be part of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers or New Avengers in the Marvel NOW relaunch.
Avengers #30 courtesy Marvel
Brian Michael Bendis did bring Jessica back from back burner status. Could she be a casualty of war and change of writers? Stay tuned? Avengers #30 is out September 19th.
Kieron Gillen and Tom Raney explore the moments after the conclusion of Avengers vs. X-Men #12. Marvel shared the cover and first look inside AvX: Consequences #1.
Because these images could be viewed as giving away who survives the conflict, especially the cover, I’m going to give you this before you scroll down:
SPOILER WARNING
THESE IMAGES MAY GIVE AWAY PLOT POINTS OF AVX #11 & 12
SERIOUSLY
HERE THEY COME
OK
Cyclops is on the cover of All-New X-Men #1 so we can assume he survives the final chapter of AvX. The hook is how they heck are they going to get the Dark Phoenix Force out of him!
AvX: Consequences #1 courtesy Marvel
Wolverine and Storm are shown (arguing in the Blackbird?) over what to do with Scott after his actions.
AvX: Consequences #1 courtesy Marvel
Finally Abigail Brand of SWORD is seen talking with Magneto – over the fate of the Phoenix entity?
THIS POST CONTAINS MAJOR PLOT POINTS FROM AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #11
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ AVX#11 YET PLEASE NO READ MORE
SERIOUSLY
HERE IT COMES
Avengers vs. X-Men #11 is an epic and heartbreaking chapter that brings the complicated lives of Scott Summers, Professor Charles Xavier and in a way Jean Grey full circle. I don’t mean to offend any religious sensibilities with my next point. Professor X, Cyclops and the Phoenix Force are the mutant father, son and cosmic spirit.
Cyclops has been driven his entire life. Driven to lead by Professor X. Driven to extreme measures to save his fellow mutants. Now the Phoenix Force has driven Scott to nearly destroy the woman he loves and kill his mentor.
Brian Michael Bendis tells Marvel.com why this story led to the Professor’s death.
“When I joined the X-Men office I was quite surprised what a polarizing figure Charles Xavier had become among the editors, creators, and readers. Maybe it’s because he’s bald but I never have a problem with him. Analyzing it, it is clear that the franchise just simply outgrew him. All of the characters had moved on to a place where Charles himself wasn’t really needed anymore. I don’t think anyone did it on purpose; it was just one of those organic storytelling things.
I spent a lot of time championing his place in Avengers Vs. X-Men only to find that I was really one of the only [people] who cared how he felt about the whole thing. After one of our retreat days a small group of us got together and the question was brought up that maybe he would be more interesting dead post-AvX than he was in life pre-AvX.
Knowing what my plans were post AvX [with ALL-NEW X-MEN], the death of Charles Xavier made every scene I have coming up for the next year more passionate, more interesting and more controversial. I was very happy that we voted to whack the man.
A small group of us getting together to decide to murder Charles Xavier is all sounding very Godfather-ish. [Laughs]
Avengers vs. X-Men #11 courtesy Marvel
Bendis reveals the consequences of this death.
“Charles Xavier is a founding father of the pro-mutant movement. If there is a mutant living by that manifesto, he or she is living a manifesto invented by Charles Xavier. The other mutants all around the Marvel Universe will have very strong feelings about his death. Some will try to carry on his message, others will decide that the dream is dead, and others will never forget Scott Summers for what he has done and will do everything in their power to make every day of his life a nightmare.”
Bendis is not just a writer. He’s a fan. Bendis explains how it feels to kill an icon in such a dramatic confrontation?
“It felt very Shakespearean. I don’t always write in a very Shakespearean way but as I was putting the final touches on the scene and then when I saw the pencils I was quite surprised how large the tragedy truly felt. Not only does Cyclops, who is arguably not in control of his own actions, [to] murder his father, for lack of a better word, but he does it in front of every major player in the Marvel Universe. This isn’t some rumor that’s been spread around. Everyone saw him do it. Scott knows what he has done.
And then I was struck with the feeling that as the new writer of X-Men I was walking into the franchise as the man who murdered Charles Xavier, gave Wolverine his memories back, and decimated the mutant population without even being on an X-Men book. And then I thought I may need to unplug my computer once and for all. [Laughs]
How does a lifelong X-Men fan like myself feel? I write this review while it’s still pretty raw.
This book is brilliant. Even as I saw what was building I still felt the shock and awe as each powerful moment happened.
Captain America’s plea and the Hulk’s answer – perfection.
Olivier Coipel has drawn one of the most beauitful images of Rogue ever created.
The cover promised a massive fight but I love how Emma and Scott’s conflict slowly burned into that shocking moment when Cyclops seized Emma’s share of the force.
I’m so impressed that Bendis used Bobby as the voice against Scott instead of Logan, again.
“This is what it felt like for Jean” was the moment that just nailed me in the heart. As a guy who still might cry while reading the original Dark Phoenix Saga seeing Scott possessed by the entity was as scary and saddening.
The nightmare comes full circle: Scott is now the Dark Phoenix.
As a fan I’m carefully dodging sites here and there to avoid learning who died in AvX #11. As a blogger I vow to make sure I give you plenty of spoiler warning so I don’t ruin the story for you.
I’m about to head to my local comic book shop now – I’m excited and dreading what might happen! Stay tuned for my opinion and news from Brian Michael Bendis and more on this week’s Fatality and what it means for the future of the X-Men, Avengers and fans.
