Over the past seven months, I have taken it upon myself to have a monthly goal. January was easy - no doughnuts. February was no fast food. March was writing everyday. April was private. May was walk everyday (at least a mile five days a week). June was private. July . . . well, July failed.
After much deliberation, I decided that in August, I would read a comic everyday and write a short blurb about it here. So, without further ado, August 1st brings us . . .
AvsX # 9
You can assume, safely, that when I finally get the Uncanny X-Periment caught up, I will have a nice, big, fat review of all AvsX for you. Until then, this small morsel will have to satisfy you. On a larger scale this crossover has felt awkward. Hope's ascension to the Phoenix has been building for a very long time. This subplot, however, has been yanked into the story of Wanda's redemption and tied together with an excuse for super-hero fisticuffs.
This crossover seemed to want to mimic the events of Civil War. Two allies, torn asunder by a big, life-changing issue, must now fight. Characters must then chose sides and battles are fought. The problem is, Civil War took the time to examine why each character has joined their respective side. Cap believed that the Registration Act was a violation of civil liberties. Iron Man believed it was the best way to keep super-heroes in business. Everyone else fell in line - but we had reasons for those lines. A timely, relevant, and moral question was put forward and we watched as Firestar, Luke Cage, the Thing, and everyone else stated a reason to side against each other.
AvsX, there's no real reasoning. The Jean Grey School X-Men aside, all the X-Men follow Cyclops blindly. The Avengers have no doubt that Cap is right and follow him just as blindly. At times, it just doesn't feel right to not have them question this conflict.
However, with AvsX # 9, we see things begin change. Suddenly, after the major disaster of last issue, loyalties begin to wane - at least in the case of Storm and Professor X turn on their teammates. This isn't exactly a surprise, as Storm had been an Avenger recently and the Prof made his feelings known last issue. For Storm, I want to believe that this will have a profound effect on her with Scott and the X-Men -- and will hopefully elevate her to higher level of super-hero.
The other big star of this issue is Spider-Man. While I enjoyed Storm's role in this issue, Spider-Man proves himself through and through. I've come to believe that Spider-Man is the quintessential Marvel super-hero. He's down to Earth. He's filled with guilt, but not enough to make him Batman. He's governed by a passionate moral center. And most of all, he never gives up. I mean, who many times do we have to see him under that big machine and push it off of himself.
This issues features a pounding on Spider-Man by Colossus and Magik. Spider-Man takes it. He just takes it. He keeps getting up, he keeps pressing their buttons, and cracking wise. He just doesn't stop.
And in the end, despite being a bloody pulp on the ground, Spider-Man wins the day. Against all odds, Spider-Man come through as a true Avenger - as a true hero - and wins. Colossus and Magik are defeated and he gets carried back to Kun'Lun.
Of course, once there, the danger presents itself again.
The issue has some nice details, but lacks in areas. Jason Aaron does an excellent job giving the issue a "Dark Phoenix Saga"-type vibe with Emma Frost and Illyana. It's interesting to note that these two have become ruthless while Scott and Peter have become kinda crazy (whales with crab legs). Kubert's pencils are excellent and he does a good job illustrating this story.
Overall, one of the best out of this rather, er, uncertain crossover.
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