Avengers Vs X-Men #6 review

The Phoenix Force has touched five members of the X-Men, giving them the power to change the world. It's a week after the end of last issue, and Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Magik and Colossus have spent the intervening time doing good. They've fed the hungry, stopped wars, ended the energy crisis and they plan to do more. But before they go on, leader Cyclops demands that the people of the world pledge to live in peace, accept his Pax Utopia.

It's hard to argue with success, and even their recent enemies, the Avengers, can see that the mutants are doing a lot of good. Captain America has his team watching the 'Phoenix Five', but a grudging admiration is beginning to emerge within some members. President Barack Obama, though, has no doubt - while a heaven on earth is being created, the beings behind it are answerable to no one but themselves. And he's not having it: 'Something has to be done.'

The Avengers decide that means grabbing Hope, supposed intended Phoenix host, from Utopia island in a hit and run mission. But if they think they're going to get away with it, well, Cyclops and Emma actually know what they're thinking. Things look bad for Cap and co until a wild card appears - the Scarlet Witch. Her chaos magic can hurt Cyclops, allowing her to teleport the Avengers, and Hope, away. Cyclops decides he's had enough interference and utters three little words: 'No more Avengers.'

Which makes him either the wickedest, or stupidest, man on Earth. Given that he saw the tragic fallout after a deluded Scarlet Witch demanded 'no more mutants', to do the same thing is madness.

And intriguing. This event story is finally running full steam ahead, with big things happening and big stakes to play for. It's good that, finally, not all Avengers are blindly following Captain America, with Beast and Black Panther both going their own way. It's likewise good that Cyclops is seen as something other than lunatic aggressor (even if it's just until the end of this chapter).

Writer Jonathan Hickman adds some fine touches, such as Cyclops' reason for continuing to sport a visor, even though his new powers make it unnecessary; a surprising conversation between Colossus and an army of Zzzaxes; and a side trip to K'un Lun. More worrisome is his characterisation of President Obama as a hawk, ordering the Avengers to step in the minute US interests are threatened - the Phoenix Five have turned  a SHIELD base into a school.

He talks fine words about self-determination, but it's clear where he's coming from. This impression is emphasised by Marvel's head-scratching habit of apparently instructing artists to have sitting presidents hug the shadows of any room they're in. Here it makes Obama seem rather sinister.

I doubt that's what Hickman, penciller Olivier Coipel, inker Mark Morales and colourist Laura Martin intended. I do believe the positioning of Cyclops, during an inconclusive chat with a doubting Charles Xavier, is deliberate (click on images to enlarge). 

Tell me that's not classic 'would-be benevolent despot in secret headquarters'. While the X-Men are doing good, it seems we're meant to be of the same mindset as the President. Well, it's comics' default position, when someone with immense powers is improving the world in the blink of an eye. Rather than ask ordinary women and men, especially those in the developing world, how they feel about being able to forget the fundamental worries of daily living, the superheroes always decide that self-determination is more important than progress. That's Professor X's position here, as Cyclops asserts that all men will eventually accept the 'future' he's imposing: 'It's cheating ... it has cost nothing.' 

Cyclops isn't even demanding everyone bow down in return for his golden age - he just wants people to live in peace, and think of ways to make the world even greater. That really does sound like a good deal. The Phoenix Five are solving problems humanity has so far proven unable to beat, and letting even more people live free - how is that bad?

Remember how the Avengers cocked up way back when, in The Korvac Saga? A villain turned benevolent god aimed to transform the world for the better, but the Avengers could see only the villain, and Paradise was lost. I don't expect to see it, but logic demands the Avengers reference that occasion during current events - they really have been here before, so what have they learned? Will they make the same decisions again?

This issue costs the regular $3.99 but comes in at a meaty 36pp of story, which is far better than Marvel's usual deal for this price point. And rather good pages they are, with plenty to enjoy, and much to ponder before next issue arrives. I blow hot and cold on Hickman, but I've no major qualms about this issue; he balances big, daft superheroics with intriguing philosophical issues. The only thing I'd change would be the raid on Utopia, which has the Avengers donning stealth costumes more wacky than cool. If there's an action figure range on the way - and what other reason could there be for such silliness? - some kids are going to be giggling.

Still, Coipel and Morales give it their best. They grab the script by the scruff of its neck and draw the heck out of it. The scenes of the Phoenix Five cleaning up Mankind's mess are magic, while quieter moments - such as Scott and Emma using telekinesis while relaxing - help sell the idea that the future isn't so scary. And there's a page from the K'un Lun history books referring back to New Avengers #25 that looks simply fantastic. It's a shame this art team aren't around for the whole 12 issues.

Jim Cheung and Justin Ponsor produce a heck of an imposing cover - again, is there much doubt we're meant to find the Phoenix Five more scary than heroic? I do know I find them interesting enough to be back here next time.

Maybe by then I'll even learn to not read so quickly that I mistake an ad for a story page. Still, the juxtaposition of these pages did give me a laugh.