ACT I: THE RED SUPREMACY
With the heroes lost, the world’s fate lies in the hands of the vilest syndicate known to man.
Scarlet Witch is forced to join Dr. Doom, the man who unleashed her power to cause M-Day, or she will watch those she loves most die.
The return of one of the Marvel Universe’s great villains!
An Avenger quits, a heart is broken, and the world as we know it is gone.
The Good
Story– Magneto and his villains take the fight to Red Onslaught and his sentinels while Evan/young Apocalypse and Kid Omega help. Enchantress briefly gains control of the villain though it does not last. Scarlet Witch and Dr. Strange try to conjure a spell to bring the remnants of Professor X to the fore. Strange is taken out and Dr. Doom helps finish the spell and things go black. In the aftermath the heroes all escape from the sentinels and Red Skull’s body is left unconscious. The X-men and Avengers disagree about how he should be dealt with but the Avengers take him and leave resulting in bad blood between the two.
Cover-This issue has Magneto and the villains on the left and their heroes on the right they are separated by the axis logo which runs from top to bottom. It looks good though not memorable.
Art-Leinil Francis Yu is on pencils, Gerry Alanguilan is on inks, Matt Milla, Laura Martin and Edgar Delgado on colors. It’s a great looking book and all involved should be commended.
Emotional– If you’ve been reading Uncanny Avengers and watched the development of the relationship between Wasp and Havok, the loss of their child etc. Then you will no doubt find yourself moved by their separation as the X-men and Avengers leave on less than amicable terms because of the Skull. On that last page as they steal glances at each other I expect a great many fans to have their hearts broken.
Apocalypse– So after Evan the clone of Apocalypse has been going to the Jean Grey School of Higher Education it’s always been looming in the horizon that he would become one day become Apocalypse once more. In “Wolverine and the X-men” that has been a reality of the mutants impending future. Now the reality is here and I must say the Nature vs Nurture debate unfolding or that will unfold has me straight trippin. This is also another throwback to the Onslaught saga where Apocalypse and Uatu the watcher observed the whole thing.
Black Heroes- Storm made a cameo.
Real Threat– So Dr. Doom helps the Scarlet Witch with her spell. There is a spark of energy and a blackout when everyone regains consciousness Doom is gone and what appears to be the Red Skull if left on the battlefield. The heroes then all start acting uncharacteristically as they almost fight over the Red Skull’s body.
Team up- Deadpool and Iron Man have great chemistry and I can see marvel pairing them in the future.
The Bad
A myriad of complaints but I’m running to class so….
The Ugly
This is perhaps my favorite issue of the Axis series thus far but it’s far from perfect. I give it a 3/5
The continuing battle to break the ‘3-Black Heroes Rule’
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The 3-Black Hero Rule: If three or more Black superheroes are placed on the same team in the same comic, the comic book is then referred to as a ‘Black’ comic, dropping it instantly to second tier (or lower). Sales of the issue will be impacted, comments will be made, and the adventure will drop from cosmic, global, or even international… to local in feel, tone, and storytelling.
Subtle ‘Storytelling’ impacts of this Rule include:
– Blacks are not allowed to talk and/or agree in a 3-Black Hero environment
– If there are 3-Blacks in a mainstream White issue, they have to be on different teams
– If there are 3-Blacks in a mainstream White issue, It must be a major Marvel Event (or a ‘Black’ perceived comic)
– Blacks will need to be vouched for
– Conversation between them will be split by art frames or led into/over-seen by a White character
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Now that’s out the way, let’s get back to this current opportunity for ‘Blackness’ in the World of Marvel Superheroes…
Uhm… we’ve got Falconamerica (Avengers) and Storm (X-Men) in this issue. They didn’t speak. They didn’t agree. And… she’s still not with T’Challa.
We got Falconamerica. He’s head strong. He’s unyielding. He’s confident… to the point of dang near arrogant (in this White environment). He DEFINITELY not the Sam Wilson we know.
It sucks that the 3-Black Rule is holding up in this issue, but I refuse to give up hope that the Rule will be broken in this story arc. There are just TOO many powerful Black Mighty Avengers that could help to solve and stabilize this challenge!!
Falconamerica presents a MAJOR opportunity to break this comic book CURSE… oops… I maeant… RULE.
-Blackmage