Before reading any further, do note that there will be spoilers for AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #11 discussed below. You’ve been warned...
Still with us? Okay, here we go….
In this week’s AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #11, Professor Charles Xavier dies at the hands of Cyclops. The issue, written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by Olivier Coipel, sees the Avengers recruiting as many Marvel heroes as possible before heading out to take down the remaining two members of the Phoenix Five – Cyclops and Emma Frost. Unfortunately, the corruption of the Phoenix becomes too much for Cyclops to bear, resulting in him lashing out and killing his former mentor in the process. A world without Professor Xavier will be carrying over into Marvel NOW! as part of the X-Men’s new status quo.
Apparently, killing of Xavier wasn’t always part of the plan for AVENGERS VS. X-MEN. According to Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso, that idea came later in the development process.
== TEASER ==When we first crafted Avengers VS. X-Men, we didn’t set out to kill any characters but as the story progressed it became obvious that this had to be the last stand of Charles Xavier. He’s one of my favorite characters and while like all fans I’m sad to see him perish, both Brian and Olivier deliver a powerful, dramatic conclusion to his story. Rest assured his death will reverberate across the Marvel Universe, leading into major launches like Uncanny Avengers and All-New X-Men this fall.
Lastly, here are a few preview pages from AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #11, showcasing the battle between Xavier and Cyclops. The issue is on sale now.
Erik Norris is a freelance writer for sites such as ComicVine, IGN and CraveOnline.com. You can stalk him on Twitter @Regular_Erik.