Will this be the event of the year? Could this be the greatest comic story ever? If anything, it's going to give fans plenty of action and fighting they've been longing to see.
The Good
Let me start off by saying I am not 100% on the AVENGERS VS. X-MEN bandwagon. Yes, I gave this a high score but I'll get into that in a bit.
First of all, forget last week's issue #0. It had its value and there were some good scenes but this truly is the beginning of Marvel's biggest event this year. The main reason why is two words, PHOENIX FORCE. This is something you shouldn't mess around with. Where has the Phoenix Force been all this time? It doesn't really matter. What we know is it's still on the old rampage across the universe and is now headed to Earth to find a host (because there aren't suitable hosts elsewhere in the universe I suppose).
If you've read the recent POINT ONE compilation, you know Earth is going to receive a little warning before the Phoenix Force arrives. This was one the scenes I loved in the issue. It may not have been the familiar character we all love in the costume but definitely makes things interesting. If you're not sure who I'm talking about, dig out your copy of POINT ONE.
The arrival of this individual alerts the Avengers of the coming of the Phoenix Force. Obviously this will take them to Wolverine who is pretty sure who the Phoenix Force is going after. Yes, this is all a major set up for what's to come.
For those concerned there will be another round of no action as in issue #0, you need not worry. Without spoiling too much, let's just say there is a conversation between Cyclops and Captain America. Besides that, there will be action in this issue.
This is what it all comes down to. The Avengers and the X-Men are the two greatest teams in the Marvel Universe (sorry Fantastic Four). Comic readers love when heroes clash against heroes. This is going to be the ultimate clash. With the fate of the world and the universe at stake, of course they won't be able to hold back. We've been seeing a lot of interaction between the two and even members being on both teams. This has all served to make things more intense. Bendis is on hand to provide the script for everyone. That means we'll get plenty of his punchy dialogue. John Romita Jr. has shown (in the early issues of AVENGERS) that he's ready to take on multiple characters and big action.
This is how an event ought to begin.
The Bad
I probably shouldn't worry about it but where has the Phoenix Force been all this time? Also, I remember the time when the likes of Quasar sat out at the edge of the solar system ready for any oncoming threats. This (in a way) lead to some destruction and the need for the Avengers to save the city. The dialogue during it all felt off at moments. Thor's back (I'm behind in MIGHTY THOR and didn't realize this) was barking orders at Iron Man. Spider-Man saves a bunch of civilians in a giant webbing while tons of rubble are falling around them into the same webbing. I'd imagine some people were still getting hit by chunks of debris.
It also has to be said that Cyclops gets pretty intense. More so than usual. It seems a tad out of character but if it has anything to do with the return of the Phoenix Force and the fact that Jean Grey is dead, it's understandable.
The Verdict
This is the beginning of Marvel's huge event. Keep in mind that the high score given to this comic reflects the nature of the issue and what it represents. AVENGERS VS. X-MEN is going to be a blast to read. Is it going to change the face of the comic book industry? Probably not. Is it going to be crammed to the gills with pure superhero vs. superhero fun and excitement? You bet.
This is what comic book fans always debate. Who would win in a battle. Now we get to see it. The inclusion of the Phoenix Force raises the stakes to a crazy level. There are times when you seek a comic that will change the way you look at comics and there are times when you just want to be entertained to all ends. This issue and series will provide the entertainment. We'll have to see how the rest of the series goes to see if it changes the industry. Clearly there will have to be more than just fight after fight. With everything riding on this, you can imagine that they have it all planned out.
Note: The Marvel AR app is pretty cool in giving some extra 'special features.'