This week is a big one for Jed MacKay’s X-Men. Not only will the Cyclops-led team be storming the newly formed Greymalkin Prison – and coming into conflict with Rogue’s X-Men – but Avengers #21 seems to pit them against the Avengers. It’s a showdown that makes sense: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the Children of the Atom previously threw down in 2012’s Avengers vs. X-Men, Cyclops has made no bones about taking hard measures to protect mutantkind, and Captain Marvel is striving to make sure the Avengers live up to their name.
Mackay and Valerio Schiti even kick off Avengers #21 with opening pages that sets the stage for a showdown. The Avengers (minus Black Panther, who’s still in the Meridian Diadem) arrive in Alaska to find the Avengers waiting for them. Captain Marvel shouts for Cyclops to get outside and face her. Cyclops, being Cyclops, takes her up on the challenge. And you’d think the issue would erupt into a massive superhero battle.
But Mackay decides to gloriously zig where other writers would zag…and has the two leaders embrace. I won’t get into too many details, but this is not the big superhero showdown fans were expecting (or dreading). Quite honestly, that’s why it works. MacKay knows how to subvert expectations, while also highlighting what’s great about both teams. As someone who never brought into the Avengers vs. X-Men rivalry (and who got into comics via Giant-Size X-Men #1 and New Avengers), I love this approach.
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You know what else I love? Schiti’s artwork. Schiti returns after Farid Karami took over a pair of issues, once again proving that he’s born to draw superhero comics. Those opening pages come into mind, as they sum up the Avengers and X-Men. The Avengers stand tall, ready to take on any and every threat to the Earth. The X-Men are shown to be relaxed, but the kind of “relaxed” a tiger might adopt before jumping on its prey – which is fitting considering everything the world’s thrown at them. Federico Blee’s color art further highlights the divide: the Avengers’ costumes are a collection of bright hues, while the X-Men are clad in darker colors.
MacKay also deserves a lot of credit for how he pairs off different Avengers and X-Men, showcasing that these two teams have more in common than they, or most importantly fans, might think. Beast, agonizing over his past, finds support in Iron Man – who himself has struggled with some dark impulses. Storm, having recently joined the Avengers, and Temper, trying to find her place, share a beautiful moment. I’m also torn on whether I love the Scarlet Witch and Magneto reconnecting or Captain Marvel and Cyclops’ conversation in the end more.
Avengers #21 is the kind of surprise we need more of in comics. It joyfully subverts fan expectations, traffics in some well-crafted character development, and is gorgeously illustrated. Whether you’re an X-Men fan or an Avengers fan, there’s something for you here.
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