Avengers Vs. X-Men #9 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. Now, Round 9, also known as Avengers Vs X-Men #9!
Avengers Vs X-Men #9
“We lost Thor.”
Victor: Oh hell to the Yeah!!! I love me my X-Men but much, much, much respect to Spider Man. I told you. I told you that he is NEVER to be underestimated. EVER!!! How freaking cool is it that he succeeded where Thor failed? Wow, I’m so freaking happy.
OK. Time to take a step back. For those just joining us, I just finished AvX #9 and this was my initial reaction to it. Another incredible issue of battle and last ditch efforts by a pebble against a mountain. What about you Geoff? How did this one resonate with you?
Geoff: I thought the issue was amazing. You’re really seeing the cracks in that armor of the Phoenix Five (Four?). Namor’s already fallen. Emma is feeling a little murderous. Magik is, well… Majik. Colossus is starting to lose that good soul of his. I give Cyclops a lot of credit for trying to hang on, but that may yet change too…
It seems when the right person is writing a story from Spidey’s perspective, be it in an issue of Amazing Spider-Man or a big event, it always seems to elevate the tension, the horror, the excitement, and all that stuff. I was terrified for our favorite web slinger!
Spidey imparts some very sage like advice to Hope in AvX #9.
Victor: Me too. In an ideal world, Spider Man would have fallen this issue. Permanently. It would be such a “shock” that it might have revitalized the industry. Not that the face of Marvel can ever “die”. But it would have served a hell of a lot more purpose that Bucky’s “death” during fear itself. Speaking of which, we still do not have our “event” sacrificial lamb. I’m curious as to who will go to the event gods this time around.
Well we both predicted who would fall next. And Emma is definitely losing it. Having that “evil” history and all, it was to be expected. As for Scott, he will be the last to fall. He could never handle that much power. It’s part of the reason he never really cuts loose with his blasts. He’s the most sane and in check of the five. I’m curious to see what it will take to make him break.
Geoff: I’m kind of thinking there won’t be a sacrificial lamb. If you ask me, I don’t think it’s really necessary. Let’s just have a battle that was, at the end of the day, doesn’t serve to just kill someone. That’s not to say there can’t be big things going on at the end, but let’s not have the typical death moment.
How are you feeling about each of the X-Men waking up and realizing things aren’t going that great? I loved that when the Avengers went to meet with Storm, there was Professor X ready to lend a hand.
Consider it a divorce.
Victor: Pity. There usually is one. Maybe Hope or Wanda (again). I’m still hoping for the return of Jean. Whatever it is, we’re definitely angling for a Phoenix created remake of the Marvel U. Hope its as successful as the DC NU reboot.
I feel that the X-Men are not waking up, but just realizing that the Phoenix is the problem. The good they have done is still valid. Just the fact that the power behind that good is insane and probably going to blow up the world. (I can hear a little cackling in my head right now)
It was great that Storm did go to the Avengers and her (ex)-husband. (Not cool on how he dumped her) Also, Professor X did say he was going to stop Scott. We all knew this would happen. I’m just curious to see how Aaron, Bendis and Co will end it. With Emma falling next, it’s a fully Phoenix powered Scott against the combined Avengers and X-Men. Unless it is Scott who falls next, and a fully powered Emma goes berzerk and remakes the world. (Thus being the sacrificial lamb herself) Possible?
Geoff: That could be possible, I suppose. I still think Scott will be the last of the Phoenix Five standing. I just don’t get a feeling that there will be death. Mainly because these are still heroes fighting other heroes. It would seem that a death would lead too much to be left in terms of baggage for the person who killed the other. I just think that if there is a lamb, it might be Scott because he could sacrifice himself to save the day.
Victor: Sounds good to me. Scott has been really getting on my nerves with his holier than thou militaristic attitude. They guys at Marvel are really trying to make him tactically superior, like Cap but are just making him look like a prick.
So let’s move on to art for a second. Loved it. Kubert really knows how to capture pain. He just has those awesome splashes where you can feel the action and emotion that the characters are feeling jump off the page. And there was definitely a ton of both in this issue.
“Oof!”
Geoff: Agreed. Love what Kubert is doing with his time in the series. The action and drama aspects are great and exciting. I loved the shot of Colossus punching Spidey in the face. That literally made me wince in pain. I really loved how dark and scary and creepy the volcano prison is too. The whole setting was moody and works well on parallel with where the story is heading.
Victor: And the writing was top notch. You really felt like this was a Spider Man comic, not just a part of an “event”. A terrific job all-around.
So let’s talk ratings. I give this book a 100 for amazing art, perfect storytelling, and great action. I hope the rest of the series keeps up the amazing pace. How about you Geoff?
Geoff: This was a pretty phenomenal issue. In an event that was already giving us everything we want out of a big time, popcorn action story, I think this is not only my favorite issue of AvX, but the best one yet. Great script. Great art. Great Spidey action. I’ve gotta go 100 too. This is grade A stuff.
Victor: I’m glad we finally agree. Also, I’m glad we agree on the high caliber value of this “event”, the best one we’ve seen from all the comic companies in a long time. Who knew that a fight between the good guys would be more interesting that a major team up against a world ending threat? Until next issue.
Geoff: Until then! Three more to go before D-Day!
A COMIC BOOK BLOG RATING
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Phenomenal issue. Lots of great art from Kubert. Lots of thrills and chills from Jason Aaron. Great Spidey issue. | None. |
| Rating |
3 Comments
Hey Vic there isn’t going to be a company wide reboot. It is a relaunch of new number ones but still in continuity.
Uncanny Avengers is clearly set after AVX with Captain America realising mutants are important and therefore having an Avengers/X-Men squad.
Also Marvel has announced AVX consequences which apparently deals with the fallout, which includes a characters death.
Yet again Marvel damage their event with early marketing campaigns.
As for the issue itself. It was definitely one of the better ones of the series. The series has lacked heart or even an emotional core for so long, so it was nice to see something approaching character development.
There is a sense of “Avengers are always right” which does detract from the whole series. But not much so than the character assassination the X-Men are having. Only a small fraction of the X-Men are even in this. It would have been better to maybe expand upon the X-Men’s take on things. 12 issues is a long time really. Maybe I ask too much to get a more in depth response than the few panels of Storm going “oh they are bad.”
Great issue, my favorite so far along with #06. At some point I actually thought they would kill Spidey, as unlikely as that sounds, but even though he survived those impossible injuries, that was intense.
Marvel has pretty much confirmed someone dies in AvsX. Considering how they’ll try to make the Avengers more concerned in mutant business, and who we’ve seen in the teasers of Marvel Now, I’d say it will most certainly be an X-Men who dies. Cyclops would be the most significant choice, the one that would have a greater impact, but I don’t think they will waste the chance to have him meet the young X-Men from the past in Bendis’ new series. If he’s not the one to go, I’d put my bets in Emma or Hope, because no one else would make much sense. But I’m nearly sure whoever dies will be sacrificing for the greater good to stop the Phoenix, probably even a suicide this time around. But if it’s someone else to kill them, then that will certainly be Wanda. They blame her for enough already, having her take care of this would make sense, since no one else is likely to carry the burden.
I love the panel where storm and black panther get their marriage annuled, its hilarious.
“Since you sided with the xmen, you are an enemy of Wakanda, and the high priest annulled our marriage”
“But Black Panther, you are the high priest”
“get out”