The Good
After opening up a school dedicated in loving memory of one of the most important people in his life, Logan has been striving to give mutant kids a place where they can call their home. So the idea that Logan would be the one that would eliminate Hope because she was said to be the vessel for the Phoenix Force seems like a contradiction. And to be honest, this is actually something I questioned a lot when reading the AVX story arc. Would Wolverine have it in him to actually kill Hope? I think the best part about this issue is that Jason Aaron deals with this possibility. Wolverine is the best at what he does, but does that mean he would actually kill Hope?
This isn't the only issue we see Aaron deal with in this book. Kid Gladiator is also whisked away and embarks on a journey back to his Shi'ar home planet. Whether he actually makes it home is another matter entirely. Aaron also throws in some action packed moments alluding to the AVX story where Iceman has to fight Red Hulk. There are some great scenes in this issue and it gives the reader a great idea of where the school and the kids are in relation to this conflict.
The Bad
I really love this series, but I do think that having some of those action scenes thrust into the center of the story did make it feel a bit off. Sure it was great to see where the characters stand in this big battle between the X-Men and the Avengers, but it felt slightly out of place in a book that has been mainly about the school and its students. This one just didn't quite flow as smoothly, in my opinion, as the other books have in the series.
The Verdict
Although there have been better books in this series, this one was still a solid read. Sure it wasn't as great as the last issue, but it did have some redeeming qualities. I liked seeing Kid Gladiator in this issue; I felt that he really showed his true colors. Does he really hate the school, or deep down does he love his school and the kids he met there? It was really sweet. Jason Aaron also dealt with whethor or not it's in character for Wolverine to be the one to eliminate Hope if it called for it, and that was definitely interesting. Once again, beautiful art by Nick Bradshaw, Norman Lee and some very vibrant and beautiful colors by Justin Ponsor. Another great issue of WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN.