The Avengers have their backs against a wall. Their numbers have dwindled because the Phoenix Five have defeated and captured a number of their warriors. Wakanda is in ruins thanks to Namor. To turn the tides in this battle against the Phoenix Force, Captain America and his team needs to make some big moves. Obviously, that’s Spider-Man’s cue to come into play. Wait, Spider-Man?! Yes Spider-Man! This issue of AvX brings the web-slinger center stage as he and his teammates try to uncover a plan to subdue this cosmic force and free The X-Men from it’s grasps.

The name of the game in this issue is rescue mission. Jason Aaron gives us the epic suicide mission that’s expected from an operation such as this, but there are really excellent moments thrown in that make the issue really worthwhile. He began to address the relationship between Storm and Black Panther, the king and queen of Wakanda who have been fighting on opposite sides of the war. Hints of the Phoenix Force’s true colors are starting to emerge in the remaining members of the Phoenix Five. It almost seems like we’re nearing Dark Phoenix territory here. These developments are great to see, but my favorite is a small panel in the dead center of the book. It’s a moment between Magik and Colossus where the big man has a moment with some whales. I couldn’t hold back the laughter, which was a refreshing thing to see in this book because you don’t see much comedy in war. Even Spider-Man addresses that when he says that he hadn’t cracked a joke in a while.

Speaking of Spider-Man, I enjoyed his role in this issue. He was really the team’s MVP in this battle and the moments leading up to it. The methods that he utilized in the battle against Magik and Colossus were genius. I didn’t even see that coming. Some may see it as a cop out, but it’s totally in Spidey’s character to do something like that. It’s playful and very much in Peter Parker’s playbook.

It’s the beginning of the end at this point. We can almost see shades of where things could potentially end for these heroes, but don’t go jumping to conclusions just yet. With two Phoenix-enhanced mutants left, anything can still happen.

 

Verdict: Buy

 

AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #9

Written By JASON AARON

Art By ADAM KUBERT, JOHN DELL, LAURA MARTIN, & LARRY MOLINAR

Cover By JIM CHEUNG , MARK MORALES, & JUSTIN PONSOR