Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Avengers vs X-Men: The Battle Begins Today

Avengers vs X-Men “It’s Coming” Promo Image - Iron Man vs Magneto

The Blot has fond memories of reading the original The X-Men vs. The Avengers mini-series when it was released in the late ‘80s. Who knew 25 years later Marvel would doing it all over again, but this time bigger and badder!?! I haven’t been reading as many Marvel books these past few years. Their incessant need to constantly have a companywide crossover year after year had taken its toll on me. Instead of inspiring me to read more Marvel comics, it had had the complete opposite effect. I had pretty much stopped reading Marvel entirely. That is until I started seeing these Avengers vs. X-Men promo images popping up all over the web.

Avengers vs X-Men “It’s Coming” Promo Image - Hawkeye vs Cyclops

Avengers vs X-Men “It’s Coming” Promo Image - Psylocke vs Black Widow

While the creative team behind the Avengers vs. X-Men crossover is quite impressive, it’s not what drew me in. No, I went gaga over the thought of Wolverine vs Captain America, Thor vs Storm, Psyloche vs Black Widow and Iron Man vs Magneto. This mini-series is shaping up to be one of those battle royals we don’t see in comics anymore, and I can’t wait! Does a series like this even need writers? Just get some of the most killer artists Marvel has in its stable and let the characters duke it out until only one is left standing…and we all know that’ll be Wolverine, right?

Avengers vs X-Men “It’s Coming” Promo Image - Luke Cage vs Beast

Avengers vs X-Men “It’s Coming” Promo Image - Rogue vs Ms Marvel

Avengers vs. X-Men #1 drops in stores worldwide today, Wednesday, March 4th, and by all accounts this book is going to be selling like gangbusters. Stores even had official early release parties last night to ring in the release of this crossover. Now I don’t think this book will have the same dramatic effect DC’s New 52 had, but it’s clear AvX is going to give DC a run for its money. Rumor has it AvX is already going to be the highest selling book of the month. I’ll be interested to see if the book lives up to the hype and whether or not it’ll be able to sustain these types of sales numbers.

Avengers vs X-Men “It’s Coming” Promo Image - Daredevil vs Archangel

Avengers vs X-Men “It’s Coming” Promo Image - Spider-Man vs Iceman

Avengers vs X-Men: The two biggest franchises in comics history go to war! A 12 issue event written by the unprecedented team of Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction with art by the blockbuster trio of John Romita Jr., Olivier Coipel and Adam Kubert. Avengers vs X-Men brings Marvel's biggest characters into conflict for an unforgettable battle beginning…today! It’s no longer coming - It’s here! Does the return of the Phoenix to Earth signal the rebirth of the mutant species? That’s what the X-Men believe! Unfortunately, the Avengers are convinced that its coming will mean the end of all life on Earth! The stage is set for the ultimate Marvel showdown in this oversized first issue!

Avengers vs X-Men “It’s Coming” Promo Image - Storm vs Thor

Avengers vs X-Men “It’s Coming” Promo Image - Spider-Woman vs Gambit

Avengers vs X-Men “It’s Coming” Promo Image - Colossus vs Thing