Race relations break down nightmare!
The Good
Story- despite the wafer thin concept this issue poses many moral questions. The Avengers have not had allot of experience with the phoenix force so I understand their perception that it’s a purely destructive force. The X-men have a more intimate knowledge and relationship with the force. They have seen it destroy and create life (they had Jean, the cookoo’s, Rachel etc all wield the power for both good and bad). This is typified in the exchange between Scott and Steve “You’re too close to this….and your too far”. Also Cap came to Utopia to make demands when they are an independent state? Would he have walked into Latveria and demand Doom turn over his ward? Um….No! On another note let’s look at this story from the perspective of race. If your race whether black/white/Asian etc was on the verge of extinction and your “saviour” the person who will bring your race back to prominence was on the line…is there anything you would not do to protect said person? How would you react to someone coming in and telling you “hand over you’re your Jesus/Buddha etc” ? Food for thought!
Whose side are you on – There are merits on both sides of the fence. Cap is looking at the safety of the planet itself while Scott’s concern is for his dying race a very minute percentage of earth’s population. What’s morally right is based on the benefit of the many…..does this apply here?
Hypocrisy- The Avengers plan to keep hope in “protective custody” while Wanda Maximoff the scarlet witch who decimated a race and killed her teammates is allowed to roam free? She was even invited back into Avengers mansion recently (see avengers vs X-men #0) If Hope is going to be “remanded” that bitch should be given the electric chair (lol) straight up undiluted hypocrisy!
Black Superheroes- We already know Storm will side with the X-men and T’challa is all about the “big picture” so he’ll side with Cap. What does this mean with their often ignored marriage? Probably not a damn thing! More curious is Luke Cage who has a young daughter. He should relate to Scott and the X-men’s need to “protect family” plus we all know two superhumans usually birth a mutant child…so his daughter may in fact be “one of them”. The other person most to be impacted by what takes place (potentially) is long absent Bishop. If Hope is the destroyer him and the avengers believe he will finally be able to come back into the X-men fold + how cool would it be if he was right all along and the X-men have been pursuing the wrong course of action in protecting her? That would be a hoot. Let’s see how things play out and if any or our heroes get a prominent role!
The Bad
Concept- Phoenix again, I know right! lol
Action- Not allot and not what you would expect given the vs in the title.
The Ugly
I expected to be underwhelmed and was surprisingly entertained from start to finish this issue. Will things continue this strong story wise or will it become a big who vs who? Time will tell 4.5/5
