"Avengers vs. X-Men's" zero issue was released today and focused on two characters: Hope and the Scarlet Witch. Cover by Frank Cho and Jason Keith. Property of Marvel Comics.
By: Jacob Elyachar
Warning! Spoilers are ahead!
The zero issue of Avengers vs. X-Men came out today and it was one of the best ways to start off a huge Earth-shattering event.
Avengers vs. X-Men Zero has two main stories highlighting two of the massive players involved in the maxi-series: the Scarlet Witch, Magneto’s daughter that decimated the Mutant Race and nearly destroyed the Avengers, and Hope Summers, the Mutant Messiah and one of Cyclops’s powerful X-Men.
Scarlet Witch returns to heroics after she goes after M.O.D.O.K. who tries to destroy an ex-A.I.M. scientist. Ms. Marvel and Spider-Woman assist her and convince her to return with them to the Avengers Mansion. Before entering the door, she is immediately confronted by her ex-husband the Vision who berates her and declares that she is not welcomed anymore. Devastated, a tearful Scarlet Witch is carried away by an angry Ms. Marvel.
The second part of the story focuses on Hope, who is caught sneaking out of Utopia by Cyclops. He confronts her about sneaking out of Utopia and fighting crime. Hope counteracts him and states that she is not only doing her job of protecting mutantkind but also questions him about the Phoenix and his dead wife, Jean Grey. When Cyclops refuses to open up, she absorbs his power and retreats to stop the Serpent Society, who broke into a San Francisco bank. Just as she is about to finish them off, Cyclops and co-leader Emma Frost arrive to stop her. Before they leave, Hope tells them that the Phoenix Force is coming back to Earth and she is ready for it.
Final Thoughts and Grade: This issue was one of the best issues in months for both franchises. Both authors: Brian Michael Bendis (Avengers) and Jason Aaron (X-Men) did a wonderful job weaving this precursor to one of the biggest comic events of the year. In addition to the two fantastic scripts, Frank Cho delivers some of his best art that readers have seen in years.
Avengers vs. X-Men is off to a fantastic start and this author is among Marvel’s millions of fans that cannot wait to pick up the first issue of this mini-series next week. Grade: A
