How many times have we seen superheroes fighting each other? It's one of the biggest comic book clichés apart from a character dying and returning. Heroes often run into each other, a big misunderstanding takes place, the heroes fight but come to their senses and team-up before the fight is finished.
The Avengers and the X-Men are the two biggest team of heroes in the Marvel Universe. While they have been at odds before, they tend to respect each other and are willing to work together.
All of that is going to change. We've been seeing image after image pitting members from one team against those from the other. With some of the match ups being teased, you can't imagine they will end well. The big question is what exactly is big enough to cause these two teams of the biggest heroes in the Marvel Universe to fight each other?
== TEASER ==To add more fuel to the fire, these aren't necessarily two random teams of characters. Many of them have been on both teams. We currently have Wolverine, Storm, and Beast on both teams plus Namor has been an Avenger before. This, if anything, strengthens the relationships between the two teams. Most of the heroes on both team are reasonable characters. If something comes up, it should be possible for them to at least try to talk things out.
This actually isn't the first time the two teams had a fight. In 1987, X-MEN VS. THE AVENGERS came out as a four-issue miniseries. This story dealt with some pieces of Asteroid-M (which had been destroyed) falling to Earth. Magneto was with the X-Men after his trial in front of the world court. He was still wanted as the trial hadn't fully reached it's conclusion.
As for AVENGERS VS. THE X-MEN, there are at least two things that will have them all on edge. The first is the return of Scarlet Witch. Ever since she lost control and disassembled the Avengers and nearly wiped out all the mutants on the planet, she has been seen as an enemy to both sides. The X-Men and Avengers have been trying to decide what "must be done" with her before and after her disappearance. The recent story in AVENGERS: CHILDREN'S CRUSADE has dealt with her return and will conclude prior to this event. Because she's appearing on the cover to issue #0, chances are she'll play a big role in this event.
What little information we've had (besides teasers and covers) is the return of the Phoenix Force. It's making it's way back to Earth and will be looking for a host. You can't blame everyone having bad feelings over this as when Jean Grey's essence was involved, there was still too much of a danger present and an entire star system was destroyed. The Phoenix Force is an incredible threat and if it does find a host, that host could become be the world's greatest threat.
Who is the logical choice? Hope Summers of course. Ever since Hope showed signs of being a redhead, the immediate thought was she was Jean Grey reborn. This wouldn't really make sense as she had parents, who unfortunately were killed along with several others when she was born. After Bishop decided she had to be killed because she was the cause of his miserable life (in the X-Men's future), Cable took her and they ran through time. As Cable raised her, there were moments when a certain familiar flaming bird was seen reflected in her eyes. If Hope became the host, the Avengers would likely see her as a threat and feel they need to deal with her in some manner in order to save the world.
Hope is supposed to be either a mutant messiah or the cause of the miserable future for mutants. During Second Coming when it appeared Cable sacrificed his life for her, he discovered yet another miserable future where pretty much everything was wiped out. The supposed reason for the desolate future was because Hope wasn't around to save the world. Cable discovered that the Avengers were responsible for what happened/happens to Hope.
The current X-Sanction story is dealing with Cable returning to the present while he has less than 24 hours before the techno-organic virus finally engulfs his body and kills him. He is hunting down members of the Avengers one by one in order to try to prevent the death of his "daughter." This action will lead into AVENGERS VS. X-MEN.
Will Hope become the host for the Phoenix Force? Despite seeing an image of her possibly in possession of the Phoenix power, it would be too predictable. There have been other hosts for the Phoenix Force after Jean Grey. Rachel Summers was able to have some control over it since she was Jean's daughter in another reality. Quentin Quire was briefly a host during PHOENIX: ENDSONG. In PHOENIX: WARSONG the Stepford Cuckoos got mixed up with the Force. Korvus had some control over it through the Phoenix Blade belonging to his ancestor. It's possible that Hope might be off the hook in becoming the next host.
The Phoenix Force isn't only interested in Jean or redheads. In fact, there's already been a cover reveal for NEW AVENGERS showing Iron Fist possibly getting possessed or trying to contain the Phoenix Force. Maybe to really get both the X-Men and Avengers worked up, the Phoenix Force should target Scarlet Witch as its new host. The only thing is the Phoenix Force tends to attach itself to those with telepathic abilities.
Comic readers are already up in arms over this coming event. Yet there's no denying that people are talking about what's coming up. With so many other characters becoming Avengers, this battle is including and will affect most of the Marvel Universe. It's going to be a sticky fight, especially with the Phoenix Force involved. The real curiosity is what role Scarlet Witch will play, will Hope survive and could this be the chance Scarlet Witch needs to fully redeem herself?
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