Avengers vs X-Men #9 Review


It all comes down to Spider-Man, but is old webhead up to the task?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Marvel:

Their numbers dwindling, the Avengers stage a daring raid on the X-Men’s prison to rescue their captive members—and you won’t believe where it is!

• Alliances begin to change as the nature of the Phoenix becomes apparent!

• And in the end, it all comes down to Spider-Man!

This may be the bleakest issue of AVX yet, as heroes on both sides finally start to realize the true cost of the Phoenix Force.  It’s a bloody, hard-fought set of battles that in the end put one single Avenger in the cross-hairs of two members of the Phoenix Five.  But hope for the Marvel universe remains strong, as this event series marches toward its final issues.

Jason Aaron pens a rather hefty script that at times can be a bit cumbersome, as the overabundance of inner dialogue bogs down the story’s pace.  But for the most part he succeeds in delivering a stellar narrative, that makes play of the X-Men side of this event while still focusing in on the dire situation the Avengers find themselves in.  It’s not a perfect tale, but it’s a very emotional one that offers both depth and substance all the way to its final page.

Adam Kubert handles the art and delivers some very complex and impressive panels.  Fine pencil strokes inform a world that fits the story in a way that successful carries the plot to its climax.  From the massive cast to the varied landscapes, the dynamic work on display here is simply outstanding.

Avengers vs X-Men #9 further cements the successful parts of this event series while glossing over some of its more problematic moments.  The creative team succeeds in giving fans a strong issue that yields an exciting cliffhanger, and despite some minor pacing problems this book still offers more than enough good to warrant a purchase.  Recommended.

4/5

 

 

S#!T Talking Central