Comic: Avengers vs X-Men #6
Written By: Jason Aaron, Brian Michael bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Kickman and Matt Fraction
Pencils By: Oliver Coipel
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: OUT NOW IN STORES & DIGITAL DOWNLOAD (VIA COMIXOLOGY)
Rating: 
Well after five issues of stuff happening at a snail’s pace the opening of issue #6 of Avengers vs X-men feels as if I’ve missed about three months. Starting with the simple explanation that it’s “Ten days later” Charles Xavier arrives at Utopia, only to be greated by Magneto all friendly and such. Utopia is forever changed thanks to the all new ‘Phoenix Five’ arrival last issue and rather than possessed Phoenix-ites, the five chosen X-men actually seem to be in full control of their actions. Scott Summers is simply an all powerful Scott Summers and his Phoenix team are spread around the world, stopping war, famine and general human nastiness.
This issue flits about between threads at break neck speeds. Having bits of Iron Fist, bits of the Avengers in yet another Tony Stark made costume for them all and even a bit of Wanda, The Scarlet Witch, who has been kept on hold for far too long in this event, even though we all know she has a part to play. Despite the issue offering up hints about where this event might be headed, I found it largely incoherent and frankly dull, with lots of characters discussing the situations that have occurred in the last ten days and what they want to do about it (surprise, surprise it’s still “Get Hope”).
The end of this issue arrives pretty quickly and there’s another face off between X-Phoenixs’ and Avengers as they squabble over Hope. (*yaaaawwn). Scott Summers is left pissed off and seeming more like the bad guy than ever before and the much hyped from Marvel ‘No More Avengers’ starts up. All of this rather eventful stuff just washed over me with indifference if I’m honest. The big moment with Wanda was okay but despite the fists flying and the Phoenix Five being all powerful, even against Thor’s hammer, I just wasn’t all that bothered. I’m hoping this months X and A titles will gel this ‘Ten days later’ all together better but despite this being a largely well written issue with some hit and miss artwork from Oliver Coipel, I have to say AvX #6 felt a whole lot like Marvel have felt to me for about five years or so. Flat, uninteresting and playing with events I couldn’t care less about. This AvX event was just about on the brink of truly grabbing me last month but now I feel like reading it is simply going through the motions. Something needs to happen that doesn’t involve flashy new costumes and constant fighting. I need a death, an unexpected twist or a character with a level head to do something I can get behind. AvX has hit it’s midway point and like a runner hitting their limit I’m struggling to make it through the wall.
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3 Comments
I loved the issue. One of the very few American comics I’ve read that was written and drawn with some actual vigor. This reviewer is just old and jaded.
I thought it was awesome. Nuff said.
“Old and jaded” or simply bored of the recycling of plot lines Marvel churn through? I’m just getting the feeling at this point, that come the end of this event, nothing would have changed and all we’ll see is yet another reshuffle of team members across the X-teams and in 2-3 years Wolverine will probably have a stint at wearing the new Phoenix powered costumes.
I’ve said it in previous reviews but mainstream comics are suffering from plot lines revolving around the battling of egos. I’ve never been an Avengers fan anyway but the X-men used to feel stronger than just ‘who can shout the loudest and shoot off their power to try and prove it (but not actually hurt anyone)’.