Avengers vs X-Men barrels on in this latest issue, but is it good enough to warrant a  purchase?  Read on.

The official description from Marvel:

Jonathan Hickman joins superstar artist Olivier Coipel (SIEGE) to launch Act Two of the biggest Marvel event of the year!

What is Pax Utopia?

The Phoenix has come to Earth, and everything changes…

And the Scarlet Witch enters the fray!

What do you do if you’re an Avenger and your faced against a threat that is beyond your control?  You persevere and try and find a way to beat back that threat, no matter what the cost or the odds against you!  But while you do that, the very thing that you see as a villain will continue its business.  In this case the Phoenix Five are attempting to convert the Earth into a better and (apparently) more peaceful place.  So are they really bad or are the Avengers just resistant to change?

Jonathan Hickman ignores the action that has run rampant in this series, in order to inject some much needed story into these proceedings.  Philosophical discussion, political arguments and true character development are all on display here.  I’ll be the first to admit that up to this point Avengers vs X-Men, has been a brainless but fun event that has accomplished little more than achieving some solid fight scenes.  But this latest issue offers a script that elevates the narrative to a place where it becomes a very strong read.

The story at play here requires an artist that can balance both the action oriented scenes and the slower moments with a strong sense of visual style.  Thankfully Olivier Coipel is up to the task, as he does a masterful job rendering all the subtle emotional nuances contained in this book.  His detailed panels offer a kinetic energy that keeps the story flowing along nicely all the way to the final page.

This is where Avengers vs X-Men succeeds in elevating itself in overall quality.  Marvel offers fans a strong narrative, carried by a solid script that’s accompanied by good art and because of that this issue comes recommended.

4/5