AVENGERS
VS. X-MEN
(Marvel, First Printing, 2013; Softcover)
Collects
Avengers Vs. X-Men
#0-12 and Point One
#1 (cover dates January- December, 2012)
Writers:
Jeph Loeb, Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan
Hickman, and Matt Fraction
Artists:
Ed McGuinness, Dexter Vines, Frank Cho, John Romita, Jr., Scott
Hanna, Oliver Copiel, Mark Morales, Adam Kubert, and John Dell
Colorists:
Morry Hollowell, Jason Keith, Laura Martin, Larry Molinar, and Justin
Ponsor
I
picked this one up at my local library. I tend to vote with my wallet
against these endless crossovers, but for free...why not. This is a
crossover built on the back of the umpteen crossovers that came
before it, from Messiah Complex to House Of M and
everywhere in between. Bendis seems so impressed with himself that he
needs to reference his own work to convince everyone else of how
important his empty calorie writing really is. Bendis references his
past works as much as Roy Thomas, although he lacks Thomas' love of
the characters and actual knowledge of the history of the artform to
back up his ego.
The
basic gist of this is that Hope Summers, the “messiah” first
mutant born since the Scarlet Witch altered reality and depowered all
but 198 mutants at the end of House Of M, is destined to
become the host for the Phoenix Force, the primal force responsible
for the death of Marvel Girl (Jean Grey). Phoenix has been so misused
and crapped up that it is best left to the history books, as most
writers don't know what to do with it.
The
Avengers determine that the Phoenix Force is a threat to Earth and go
to the mutant island base Utopia in order to bring Hope into custody.
Cyclops sees Hope as the messiah sent to save the mutant race, and a
fight ensues. It becomes a battle royal, with Hope becoming a hot
potato in reverse. Iron Man devises a way to splinter the Phoenix
Force, figuring that would eliminate it. Instead, the force goes into
five different X-Men. Lots of broken bones and back and forth
fighting later, and the predictable ending happens.
I
had all but given up on modern Marvel. My 9 year old son has since
softened me on modern Marvel Comics. I can accept that these
characters as they stand today are his definitive versions of
them. This is his golden age of comics. I have learned to let go of a
lot of things these past few months. At the end of the day it doesn't
matter what this “old man's” opinion is. My day is done. The
future of the medium belongs to him, although I think I'll hang
around for quite a while to yell at you kids to get off of my lawn.
Junk
Food For Thought rating: 2.5 out of 5.
The
OCD zone-
I find library copies to be fascinating studies of durability in the
workmanship and materials of these collected editions.
Paper
stock: Glossy coated stock.
Binding:
Perfect bound trade paperback.
Cardstock
cover notes:
Laminated cardstock cover.
Interesting that you've softened on the newer stuff lately! I haven't read this crossover, but I almost feel like I have because of how much Bendis references it in the post-AvX X-Men comics I've been reading lately. I even read the AvX: Consequences miniseries designed to cash in on the crossover even after it was over, but never the thing itself. It'll be interesting to see how the experience of reading it stacks up to everything I've surmised about it from these other comics.
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