Tie-ins to major events in comics can often be hit or miss. While I’ve missed many of the Avengers vs. X-Men tie-ins, I’d have to say that Wolverine and the X-Men #14 as a tie-in to AvX is definitely a hit. It provides some insights and perspectives into the current event that you just can’t find in the main series while still pushing things along for this series own concerns, which is exactly what a tie-in should do.
In this issue, Kitty Pryde is working hard to keep things running smoothly at the school, which isn’t easy considering most of the senior X-men are off fighting the Avengers. This provides some nice perspective on how the major events of AvX are affecting everyone else. It’s a chance to see what sort of influence all of this stuff is having on those not directly involved, a sort of “man on the street” point of view. However, Kitty’s life is further complicated when Phoenix Colossus shows up to ask Kitty out on a date. How sweet. Then again, how could anyone dare say no? This provides a great opportunity to learn a little more about what’s going through the mind of Colossus and how he feels about the power the Phoenix has granted him. It’s a moment where we get to pause and really consider whether or not all that the Phoenix Five are doing in the name of “good” is really all that good. It’s a conversation that provides some much needed depth to the whole AvX event, and I kind of wish there were some of these moments in the main title.
The Phoenix has granted five of the X-Men god-like power, which they believe they are using well. However the question is whether or not anyone can possess god-like power without being changed by it. The answer to that is pretty clear in this issue, and it’s one that some are finding tough to deal with as it begins to dawn on them that perhaps they’re on the wrong side of things. If nothing else, this story helps illustrate a very important truth; no one’s really qualified to be God except for God. What AvX is demonstrating so well is that no matter how good our intentions may be if we had god-like power, the fact is we don’t have a Godly nature, and therefore we could never really be any sort of “good” god. There’s a good reason God proclaims in the Bible, “…there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me… for I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 43:21-22) Not even the power of the Phoenix can change that as the true nature of such self-proclaimed “gods” is beginning to be seen; and it ain’t pretty. One interesting note; perhaps even Colossus is beginning to realize that at the end of this issue.
Most of Wolverine and the X-Men #14 is exposition and conversation, but it’s really good stuff. It adds a lot of depth and context to what’s going on in the greater Marvel U as the AvX war rages on. It also provides some interesting insights into what’s going on inside the heart and mind of at least one of the Phoenix Five. It provides some nice pathos for this big event, which is the one thing it’s been sorely lacking. Too bad it takes tie-ins such as this to make up for that lack.
Score: 5 of 7
A BIG thanks to Astro-Zombies for providing the material for this review. Learn more about them at astrozombies.com.
