Chopping Block Review: Avengers Vs X-Men #12 -Spoilers

This is it. The final chapter in the Avengers Vs X-Men saga. The toll on both teams has been huge, leaving some changed forever. So how does it all go down? Can the Phoenix powered X-Men be defeated by the combined forces of Avengers and X-Men? Spoilers below, so beware!

————————————————————————————————————————-

So it all comes down to this: a phoenix powered Cyclops vs just about every other X-Men and Avenger there is. Death has claimed a huge name in the Marvel Universe, as the immensely powerful Cyclops murdered his mentor, Professor X.  So who do you get when Thor, Captain America, Wolverine and the rest can’t seem to make a dent in the one eyed threat? Well, the answer is a bit disappointing in my opinion.

I should say that, yes, it is pretty easy to see who it is that confronts the Dark Phoenix Cyclops, but it didn’t make an impact. Don’t get me wrong, Jason Aaron has penned a great story over the last eleven issues, and Adam Kubert is constantly on point with the visuals. But to have to have it come down to Hope and the Scarlet Witch, it just didn’t live up to the urgency seen throughout the series. The heroes have all tried and failed, they went to Iron Fist’s mystical land to prepare, the greatest minds in the world have tried to find out how to stop the Phoenix force, and the answer is Hope and Wanda?

Perhaps I am used to epic throw-down endings that Marvel events used to have: like the Age of Apocalypse, Maximum Carnage, and Fatal Attractions. There was no titanic battle here, and for me that was a let down. Many of Marvel’s big events have ended like this, with a puppy’s whimper. Don’t believe me? Look to House of M, World War Hulk and more to see how the climatic battle is just not present. Now, dangling plot lines were wrapped up, as the “no more mutants” decree went away, which empowered people around the world with genetic mutations. I felt that was a great result from the series, as it opens up the world to all new problems, threats and new heroes. This sets the stage for the Marvel Now era, and the future looks bright indeed. Recommended, I give Avengers Vs. X-Men #12 a @@@@ out of FIVE.