Avengers Vs. X-Men: Vs. #2 Review

Avengers Vs. X-Men is here.  And what better way to handle this than to have our resident Avengers fan (Geoff Arbuckle) and our resident X-Men fan (Victor Kutsenok) come together in a place of neutrality to talk about their favorite teams coming to blows over a cosmic power coming to Earth.  So, let’s talk about the second issue of the companion series featuring battles that couldn’t fit into the main book. Let’s talk Avengers Vs X-Men: Vs. #2!

Avengers Vs X-Men: Vs. #2

Victor: So Vs#2. All action, no plot. Two pretty awesome battles. Spider Man versus Colossus and Gambit versus Captain America. I had my picks going in but if issue #1 was going to be any idication, I was positive I would be disappointed. Luckily, the fights went exactly as expected and my picks were correct. How did you feel about these fights when you first heard about them?

Geoff: I pretty much figured these would end as they did. I mean, c’mon… It’s hard for Cap to be taken down in a fist fight. You’d have to be kinda crazy to think Gambit would have much to show there. As far as Spidey vs. Colossus, I’m glad it ended the way it did. With two likable characters, you wouldn’t want there to be a particularly bloody fight.

How did you feel about the change in way Cap looked when he find out where Hope’s going? I liked it 100% more, but there is a continuity issue that might drive some nuts.

Victor: Very few people can take cap down in a fist fight. And even with powers, Gambit didn’t really stand much of a chance. I really would have liked to see a Wolverine/Cap brawl as in issue #3 of the AvX main event but this little joke of a battle was doable. Gambit was represented properly and even put up a bit of a challenge. I found it very funny that once Cap actually decided to pay attentuon to the fight, it was over in seconds. The Fun Facts were hilarious once again and really moved the book along. I do have a small question though, is that Cap’s original shield or is it a new one as I seem to remember the Sepent destroying Cap’s shield during Fear Itself?

Continuity wise, I don’t think too many people will care.

Geoff: That’s a very good question about the shield. Technically, it should be an alloy with Uru metal included, but it didn’t mention that. To be honest, I don’t really have an answer for that. You’re right though, the Serpent did shatter Cap’s shield with his bare hands.

Back on the continuity point for just a moment, this is what you get when you have someone like Steve McNiven drawing a book compared to JRJR. He’s going to do the flourish that will make it awesome.

I absolutely love the Fun Facts. When I saw Kieron Gillen was involved with the writing, I knew those little boxes were going to be great again. Let’s shift to Spidey/Colossus. I found that even more entertaining than the Cap/Gambit bout.

Victor: Definitely. I love Spider Man. Always have. He is the everyman and the one super hero that all teenage boys can relate too. Especially the ones who were bullied and abused in school. He is the underdog that no one expects to win but has the respect of every hero in the Marvel Universe. Spider Man has fought the Juggernaut before and didn’t really do that well. I didn’t expect him to stand a chance this time either. However, its not the result that I loved so much as the attitude and resolve that Spider Man exuded. That splash image of him standing in a tattered suit with his arms up ready to fight to the end bursting with confidense and bravado defines the character perfectly. Still, even after saying all that, I’m glad Colossus won.

Geoff: Absolutely. You have to know also that Colossus didn’t really want to grind him to dust either. You hit that second part right on the head. Spidey is the guy you want to always win or at least show that he can never be pushed over by someone bigger and badder than him. The attitude of both fights in this book was pitch perfect. You don’t hate either guy in either fight. In fact, even if it is a joke to have Gambit beat Cap, you couldn’t be all that upset if the story handled it properly. The same goes for if Spidey came up with a great way to topple Colossus. You couldn’t be terribly disappointed by the outcome if handled well.

Victor: I agree. Compared to issue #1, where the results in both battles were questionable, at least to me, this one was perfection. It focused on the characters much more than the actual battles. You really got to see what each character represents. And just like you said, they are all very popular characters. Two of them have been the face of Marvel since forever. This issue really had it all. From the amazing art, to the hilarious banter, to the awesome action. If the rest of the issues are this good, I say to hell with plot and just enjoy the ride.

So how would you rate this book Geoff?

Geoff: I agree with you. I’m going to big at 95%. Great action. Good writers doing good things with good characters. And yes, that art was beautiful.

Victor: I’m actually giving this one 100%. To me, it was the perfect issue. I could find no fault in it at all.

Well, until next month, when Colossus picks on someone his own size and one of the worlds deadliest assassins gets to see some magic.

Geoff: Until then!

Tags: Avengers vs. X-Men Avengers Vs. X-Men: Vs. Generation Hope Slider X-Men