AvX!!!!!!!

(L-R): AvX #1 Team X-Men Variant, AvX #1 Limited 1:25 Variant cover by John Romita Jr., AvX #0 Limited 1:25 Variant cover by Jimmy Cheung (at the back), AvX #1 Limited 1:100 Variant cover by Ryan Stegman, AvX #1 Team Avengers Variant, (below) AvX #0 Limited 1:50 Phoenix Variant cover by Staphanie Hans and AvX #1 Limited Retailer Incentive Variant cover.

Avengers Assemble!!! It has been a long time since I have read that line. And with that Marvel kicks off probably the biggest cross-over for 2012: Avengers vs. X-men. There has been a lot of  big comic events that I have missed (Fear Itself, Dark Reign,Brightest Day, Blackest Night come to mind) and so AvX is a must for me. This big event is going to be written by the team of Brian Micheal Bendis, Jason Aaron, Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction with art by John Romita Jr. (wow!!! havent seen a JRJ for a while), Olivier Coipel and Adam Kubert.

(L-R): AvX #0, AvX #1 Blank Variant cover and AvX #1

So basically it is a clash between Marvel`s 2 biggest franchises: The Avengers and Marvel`s Merry Mutants: The X-Men. I haven`t read any X-Men comic lately. I skipped on that (which sucks and stupid `coz I am currently collecting The Uncanny X-Men and Uncanny X-Force series) thus I am basing my knowledge on how the events unfold for this cross-over. On one side: Mutant-kind took a big hit having their population wiped clean (more than 90% lost their mutant powers) and thus Cyclops took the reins of leadership to safeguard and govern his kind. With them is Hope, the Mutant Messiah which is to be the saviour of Mutant-kind. One the other side: The Avengers discover that an intergalactic entity known as the Phoenix Force is on its way to earth, and it has chosen Hope as its new host. Cyclops sees this as the last hope for all mutants, Captain America views this as the death and destruction of mankind. And with that all communication breaks down and they start off the opening salvo at the Mutant Island of Utopia.

I have read #0, Round 1 and New Avengers #25 (tie-in), and I must say I am looking forward to all the upcoming rounds and tie-ins. I'm not really expecting a plot that is too deep but enough to give all the events depth and complement all the action that is being promised to us. The first tie-in (New Avengers #25) is a little bit flat though. But over-all a good start.

Here is a list of what we currently have and what is coming in the next couple of weeks:

1. AvX #0 - 28 March 2012
2. AvX Round 1 - 04 April 2012
3. New Avengers #24 - 11 April 2012
4. Avengers #25 - 18 April 2012
5. AvX #2 - 18 April 2012
6. Wolverine and the X-Men #9 - 18 April 2012
7. AvX Versus #1 - 25 April 2012
8. New Avengers #25 - 25 April 2012
9. Secret Avengers #26 - 25 April 2012
10. Uncanny X-Men #11 - 25 April 2012

The AvX looks promising and I will post updates on upcoming events, match-ups and issues regarding this this long-awaited battle. So whose side are you on? Are you with the Avengers? or with the X-Men? Let the battle begin.