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AICN COMICS: Bug talks with Marvel’s Axel Alonso about AVENGERS VERSUS X-MEN!
@’s by Marvel Editor Axel Alonso!!!
AMBUSH BUG (BUG): So for those out there who aren't familiar with what's been leading up to AVENGERS VS. X-MEN, can you fill them in on how this all came about?AXEL ALONSO (AA): We’ve been lining up this story for years, and we’re finally ready to let loose the perfect inciting incident: A living comet that razes worlds and leaves something new in its wake hurtles toward Earth and a new host for its power, inspiring very different reactions from the Avengers and the X-Men – positions that cut to the very core of who they are, and what they stand for. What ensues is a battle royale between the world’s two biggest super hero teams – and after “Marvel Studios’ The Avengers,” super hero franchises – for nothing less than the fate of the planet.
Since this is the first event story where Marvel Universe heroes and X-Men heroes have an equal role and stake in the story, we’ve brought in five of our top writers – Brian Bendis, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman and Ed Brubaker – to sculpt the story, and three of our top artists – John Romita Jr., Olivier Coipel and Adam Kubert – to illustrate one of the three acts. To keep the pedal to the metal, we’re shipping biweekly.
BUG: Seems the Phoenix Force and Scarlet Witch will be factoring in greatly in this book. Both have been gone a long time. What made you decide to bring these two powerful forces back for this miniseries?
AA: These are two phenomenally powerful entities. The Phoenix Force is the spirit of destruction and rebirth – bad news to any planet it visits, unless you’re the seeds that sprout in the scorched soil it leaves behind. The Scarlet Witch knows a thing or two about destruction herself. Ten years after she uttered the words that almost destroyed the mutant race – “No more mutants” – she remains a polarizing figure in the Marvel Universe. Can the X-Men ever trust her again? Can the Avengers? Indeed, with the Phoenix Force hurtling to Earth toward an earthbound host, should anyone?BUG: I've been intrigued by the match-ups you've been setting up. Magneto vs. Iron Man, Cyclops and Captain America, Spider-Man and Iceman. Red Hulk and Colossus. Will these stories overflow into other titles or is this event going to be taking place just in the team books?
AA: As the “versus” in the title suggests, AVENGERS VERSUS X-MEN will feature lots and lots and lots of fighting between your favorite Avengers and X-Men characters – one-on-one battles and group battle royales. But, honestly, can there ever REALLY be enough punching, kicking and force-blasting? I think not. Which is why we’re bringing you AVX: VERSUS, a limited series that offers in-depth, cover-to-cover slugfests, lovingly rendered by some of our best artists. If you’re looking for subplot, subtext or soap opera, look elsewhere. If you’ve ever stared at your bedroom ceiling at night pondering who’d win in a fight – Cap or Wolverine, Spider-Man or Ice Man, Thor or Storm, Black Widow or Pyslocke – and how, this is the book for you.
BUG: Who will Wolverine, Beast and Storm be fighting for since they are on both teams?AA: Good question! Given the recent split in the X-Men, who will Wolverine side with? Can he put aside his differences with Cyclops? Indeed, should he? All I can say is, there will be surprises, twists and turns.
BUG: I remember the old AVENGERS VS X-MEN miniseries from the late eighties fondly. Will that miniseries be considered and referenced at all in this series?
AA: Nope. We took great pains to make AVENGERS VS X-MEN as accessible to the newcomer as the long-term fan. If you can wrap your mind around the basic concept of a comet headed toward Earth, and the reactions it inspires, you’ll be just fine. That said, if you read seminal Marvel stories like “House of M,” “Messiah CompleX,” or the “Dark Phoenix” saga, you will be rewarded.
BUG: I've heard rumblings of people suffering from event fatigue in our AICN Talkbacks. What do you say to those people to convince them that this event is worth their time and money?
AA: AVENGERS VS X-MEN is what super hero comics are all about: The world’s two most powerful super-teams going toe to toe in a no-holds-barred war that will have a winner. The stakes are huge, both sides have defensible positions – you WILL choose a side – and the outcome of the battle will transform the Marvel Universe.
BUG: AVENGERS VS X-MEN begins in April!
Join the conversation on Twitter.
Ambush Bug is Mark L. Miller, original @$$Hole / wordslinger / reviewer / co-editor of AICN Comics for over nine years. Mark has just announced his new comic book miniseries GRIMM FAIRY TALES PRESENTS THE JUNGLE BOOK from Zenescope Entertainment. He is also a regular writer for FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND and has just released FAMOUS MONSTERS first ever comic book miniseries LUNA (co-written by Martin Fisher with art by Tim Rees) You can order it here! Support a Bug by checking out his comics (click on the covers to purchase)!
(Just announced: NANNY & HANK is soon to be a major motion picture from Uptown 6 Productions!)
THE DEATHSPORT GAMES’ Facebook Page
FAMOUS MONSTERS PRESENTS LUNA: ORDER OF THE WEREWOLF’s Facebook Page
Proofs, co-edits & common sense provided by Sleazy G
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Hmmm....that's tough one.
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Jan 17, 2012 11:21:35 AM CST
Who drew the second image? (the big battle scene cover)
by wesley snipes
It's amazing. Tightly detailed yet dynamic and bold. It's like John Romita Jr at his best but with more detail and cleaner.
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Yes it's him
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Jan 17, 2012 12:34:24 PM CST
I'm getting a little excited for this after readin that interview.
by fat_rancor_keeper
Sounds like some fun reads.
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The X-Men should have this.
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5-JVvCrGC8
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It looks like Wolverine is on the Avengers side and Storm is taking on Iron Man so I guess she is with the X-Men. I can't really tell what Beast is doing. Just jumping at somebody.
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Jan 17, 2012 1:05:15 PM CST
Exciting! Is it going to be decompressed? Will I be able to read each $4 issue in 5 minutes? Will there be endless crossovers ruining every other title involved?!
by no_more_comic_movies
YES!!! But wait...there's even MORE:
Will there be talking heads?
Will there be 1-2 moments of actual story per 22 page issue?
Did Marvel's EIC just try 2 sell me digital copies of older "SUPER-DECOMPRESSED EVENTS" by no-so-subtly hinting that I'd be rewarded with "DA FULL STORY" if I did?
Will I have to buy other monthly, decompressed titles in addition to this in order to also get...DA FULL STORY?
Is this a desperate cash grab and short term sales solution to combat and/or deny the sad reality that neither Marvel or DC have been able to attract hardly any new, young readers for over a decade now, and that they have gone the way of milking every cent they can from their long-term fans instead of delivering a quality product that attracts new ones?!
Sounds epic! I'll be sure to camp out before release to get my paws on it...along with the 10 additional titles that it crosses over with...u know...so I get the "full story". That's only 'bout $50-$60 a month? That should keep me entertained for at least 10 minutes. Can't wait to see those talkin' heads.
Remember, nothing is more exciting...
...than conversations. -
With Iceman giving a big white shot at Spidey. Weird.
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You know I once dated Hawkeye
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The Punisher pops up, pissed about PunisherMax being cancelled and slaughters them all!!!!!
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Just in time for summer! Now we can have all new #1s all over again!!!
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Jan 17, 2012 2:10:44 PM CST
If Storm is fighting the Avengers, where does T'challa fit in the scheme of things?
by stalkeye
Will conflicting views lead to The Divorce Court or is BP P-Whipped and decide to take on Earth's Mightiest Heroes?
Stay tuned Kiddies. -
Reboot the universe back to where it was after Heroes Reborn, i.e. before Bendis and Quesada destroyed everything
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Hope Summers.
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Even though, and I'm sorry X-fans, Cap would own Cyclops and make him his bitch. However, I am getting slightly worn out by the big events. Fear Itself just finished and that was supposed to 'transform' the MU, I just wish we had more time to experience it. Other than that, this is a must-buy for me.
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Where does Squirrel Girl fit in all of this?
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Jan 17, 2012 4:15:15 PM CST
But will there be hugging and kissing and other assorted violence?
by pink_apocalypse
That's a quote from Radar. Radar from M.A.S.H. read comics.
I dated Iron Man for a while. It started from Demon in a Bottle, and ended sometime after I stopped caring. I think Armor Wars II. I would think he'd put up a fight with Magneto.
I'm confused. Is there Avengers Versus X-Men *and* AVX: Versus, with one focusing on story and the other on fighting? Or is it just one title? It's worded funny to me.
If there's no compelling emotional resonance behind this fight, I'll pass, thanks.
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Jan 17, 2012 4:26:51 PM CST
Q: I fondly remember the 80s Avengers vs. X-Men mini. Is it going to be referenced? A: Nope.
by harlock999
Ha. I mean, obviously, I didn't actually hear the interview take place, but that strikes me as RUDE.
Then, Alonso has the cajones to state, "We wanted to keep this thing accessible." (So yeah, no original Avengers vs. X-Men reference.) "But we will be referencing House of M, Dark Phoenix Saga, Messiah Complex, etc..."
WTF?!?
Ha, modern Marvel sucks.
Can you say "cash grab," kiddies? -
A few years ago it should've went to Cap, but these days Cyke is written like a genius powerhouse with questionable morals who can always win with prep time like Batman. These days, according to Warren Ellis he is "The best superhero in the world". Whoever wins, readers (and writers) will be pissed off.
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no continuity, no plots, the same shit over and over. cool art only goes so far...
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Q: Does this mean they'll get rid of the redundant titles and try something new?
A: Nope. -
If he'd have said "We are tying this into Marvel History in a way that will thrill long-time readers and not leave new ones in the dark" I would be in.
My comic book guy tried to put one of those Cap/Cable issues in my pull pile.
I said "No thanks. I don't buy that extra shit." -
Because I still don't give a shit about Hope or her underlings, and the dust hasn't settled from Schism, and whatever happened to done-in-one adventures that showed the goody guys doing heroic stuff? Now, before the new status quo can even be fully realized and the characters can be explored, here we go again with yet another earth-shattering event. What will happen? Will Hope be offered the Phoenix Force? Will Scarlet Witch regain her powers and recreate mutants? Will Wolverine and Cyclops settle their pointless, still rather ill-defined differences and kiss and make up? Who cares? Who really fucking cares? Hey look -- Fights!
I don't want to sound bitter. I'm not one of those guys. But really, these sorts of things used to happen once every coupla years. Not every six months. There's no exploration. No depth. Just shock after shock aftershock. I wish Borders was still around so I could just read this shit without paying for it. -
Agreed. If they had a big event every three years, I'd be on board. Instead, you have events like Fear Itself, which was supposed to be epic, but ended up being exceedingly boring. Really, who the F cares about Sin?! They killed off millions of people, to the point that 616 was looking like AoA or something, and they still managed to bore the shit out of me.
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Zzz...
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Jan 18, 2012 10:51:44 AM CST
YEah....this is getting old...I am still digging Fearless....the search for the missing hammers...and now this is overlapping??
by dogmatic
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Jan 18, 2012 10:52:08 AM CST
IT seems we are doomed to be getting these events once a year and they are getting longer.
by dogmatic
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