AvX #8 *Spoilers*

[Starfish]

Hey there, boys and girls, it's that time of the week again, and we're in for another round of mindless yet fun summer entertainment in the form of the latest chapter in the AvX event.

Before I get to the gist of it, let me put up this announcement specifically for Songbird/Diamondback: Transonic was completely absent from this issue. She made no appearance on panel, and was also not mentioned at all in the recap pages or alluded to in the dialogue. Considering that none of Namor's tirades throughout the book even hinted at a captive X-Man, I go with my theory that Bendis was simply unaware of her status when he wrote the issue.

The issue opens just as seen in the preview pages, with Namor assaulting Wakanda's capital with a huge tidal wave and an army of Atlanteans and sea-monsters, Iron-Man dragging Thunderer through the portal to K'un L'un, while the rest of the Avengers rush to the city's defense. As these pages should be well known by now, I won't recap them in detail.

Up next we finally see Hope's arrival in the fabled birthplace of Kung Fu, quickly followed by Iron-Man and Thundered barging through the portal. Logan wants to go back and help when he hears of Namor's attack, but the portal is already closed. Tony mentions that they have enough work to do where they are, and asks Hope if she's ready.

Back in Wakanda, Namor flies through the flooded streets while giving a speech on how the Avengers defied the P5's leadership and power, deserving to... cue humorous interruption when shield meets head.
What follows are several pages of the some of the Avengers stalling Namor until the rest of the team assembled, then a couple pages more of brutal brawling as they team up to beat down the King of Atlantis. Infused with the power of the Phoenix, Namor simply won't stay down, rising up again and proclaiming how he's the chosen one and none shall defy his rule.

Meanwhile on Utopia, Magneto informs the other P5 of what is happening in Wakanda. Emma remarks that this is just Namor being himself, prompting Scott asking if she knows anything about this. She stalls him by stating that Namor wouldn't have followed Scott's leadership anyway, but that they should make the best of it now that they know the location of the Avengers. Scott announces that they'll go to Wakanda right now.

We return to the severely damaged city, where Namor and Thor are battling above the streets. Thor pleads Namor to end this, stating that he has the eye of madness, but the king of Atlantis won't listen. On the ground, Cap calls out for Wanda to intervene, and that she does.

Blocking Namor's energy blast, we see several panels of the both of them exerting themselves, before they both fall from the sky. Wanda is caught by Vision, while Namor falls screaming, the power of the Phoenix seemingly turned against him. Spider-Man asks if they have won, to which Cap responds with a very doubtful “Win?” Wakanda's capital resembles a post apocalyptic wasteland in the background.

That moment the rest of the P5 arrive, but before anyone can do anything, the Phoenix Force leaves the barely conscious Namor and rejoins the remaining four. The P5 have just become the P4, and while their number decreased, their powers were further amplified due to the fraction of the force that left Namor merging with them instead.

Cap almost literally has another ace up the sleeve, triggering the secret weapon he had hidden there. It turns out to be an emergency portal device, given to him by Tony Stark, allowing the Avengers to evacuate to K'un L'un.

Before the P4 can ponder too much about the Avenger's whereabouts, the great old man of the X-Men decides to become involved, and we're treated to an amazing panel of artwork: The four remaining Phoenix-empowered mutants floating above the ruins of Wakanda, partly obscured by the huge, ghostly visage of Charles Xavier.

He tells Scott that for all the has taught him and tried to instill in him as an X-Man, he had become a punishing disappointment. Scott tells Xavier to leave his mind, who instead delivers his ultimatum: Either Scott will stop this madness by himself, or he'll make him. Scott appears unimpressed, stating that Xavier would have already done so if he could, but the powerful telepath replies that even though he loves Scott, he'll do what has to be done if there's no other way.

The issue wraps up in K'un L'un, where the Avengers are reunited. Wanda is still unconscious, the others dismayed about the fact that they barely managed to defeat one of the P5, and it only ended up making the others stronger. Hope looks to Cap and asks what the plan is, but he appears to have no answer.

All in all, much less happened than I expected, with most of the pages devoted to the brawl between Namor and the Avengers. The actual invasion of Wakanda quickly faded into the background, and the fallout between Namor and the other X-Men has been postponed until the next issue. The list of characters on the recap page actually was showing only those appearing in the issue, which means you won't see any reaction from any X-Men who isn't Xavier or Magneto.

[PwrdOff]

I wonder if we are ever going to get an explanation of Wanda's motivation for even taking part in the conflict, not to mention her apparent connection to Hope and the Phoenix, or how this all ties into the repowering of mutants angle. I love that Wanda is basically the ultimate trump card in this whole series, but it is pretty lame for her to just show up, cast one hex, and then faint and get bridal carried around for the rest of the issue.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Before I get to the gist of it, let me put up this announcement specifically for Songbird/Diamondback: Transonic was completely absent from this issue. She made no appearance on panel, and was also not mentioned at all in the recap pages or alluded to in the dialogue. Considering that none of Namor's tirades throughout the book even hinted at a captive X-Man, I go with my theory that Bendis was simply unaware of her status when he wrote the issue.

...

[chariset]

It sounds like this issue was a whole lot of nothing, including the completely predictable plot twist that Namor would lose his share of the Phoenix, and the new wrinkle that Professor X isn't happy with the Phoenix Five

[ariwl1]

The Transonic thing being ignored is kind of confusing. According to villain Unit in one of the Uncanny X-Men tie ins, Hope will need all of her Lights in order to properly merge with the Phoenix Force and do what she needs to do with it and Transonic is one of these Lights. But this crucial plot point has yet to be brought up in the main series.

I suppose that's fair as none of the X-Men or Avengers know that yet, but there's no reason to think Unit was lying about the Phoenix as he mindwiped the Lights of the whole conversation after he told them about it. And at this point I'm not sure how they're going to work this back in again.

[DiceRoll]

So it was pretty much what we all predicted it would be:

Namor loses PF power.

Other P5 members get said power.

Wakanda is wreck.

And Song gets another torturous week of waiting to look forward to.

Also...I thought Thor was captured, or at least to beaten to fight.

[Dog]

The Transonic thing being ignored is kind of confusing. According to villain Unit in one of the Uncanny X-Men tie ins, Hope will need all of her Lights in order to properly merge with the Phoenix Force and do what she needs to do with it and Transonic is one of these Lights. But this crucial plot point has yet to be brought up in the main series.

Go back to that issue. Kenji's dead, so it doesn't matter.

[Kid Kamikaze10]

This issue was pretty blah, though the fight scene was fantastic (outside of the useless power struggle with Wanda. Earth to Marvel Writers, magic is about versatility, not about anime style energy beam clashes).

One random thing... Did the P4 abandon Namor to a pissed off Black Panther/Wakanda? If so, then that's a dick move. Or justice, either way I'd be plenty pissed if I was Namor.

[chariset]

One random thing... Did the P4 abandon Namor to a pissed off Black Panther/Wakanda? If so, then that's a dick move. Or justice, either way I'd be plenty pissed if I was Namor.

I haven't read it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had. He attacked Wakanda, so he should face Wakandan justice.

I assume Doctor Strange in this one was Random Attacker #17?

[jackolover]

Can we get any explanation why the PF left Namor after Wanda zapped him? Why didn't the PF leave Namor as soon as he fell down unconscious? Why did the PF only leave Namor when the other P5 appeared?

[ariwl1]

Go back to that issue. Kenji's dead, so it doesn't matter.

*Rechecks quickly*

Yeah, that is kind of a stickler, but I'd heard theories that the Light thing wasn't an ironclad destiny and perhaps Hope could choose another one to replace him.

But I'm kinda thinking it won't get too much play. Unit did say he wanted to see what happens when the Phoenix doesn't get everything it wants. Based on the solicits it looks like he's going to get his wish.

[BrotherUnitNo_4]

This issue was pretty blah, though the fight scene was fantastic (outside of the useless power struggle with Wanda. Earth to Marvel Writers, magic is about versatility, not about anime style energy beam clashes).

One random thing... Did the P4 abandon Namor to a pissed off Black Panther/Wakanda? If so, then that's a dick move. Or justice, either way I'd be plenty pissed if I was Namor.

But I like energy beams.

[PwrdOff]

But I like energy beams.

Just wait for Bendis' X-Men to come out, and we'll get to see Cyclops vs. Cyclops...KAMEHAME-JEEEAAAAAAN

[Green Griffin]

I haven't read it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had. He attacked Wakanda, so he should face Wakandan justice.

I assume Doctor Strange in this one was Random Attacker #17?

Strange was on a splash page with the Avengers other heavy hitters attacking Namor at the same time.

I hope this is address in Defenders, i hope at lease Namor appears over there again.

[Jumpoff!]

This issue was pretty blah, though the fight scene was fantastic (outside of the useless power struggle with Wanda. Earth to Marvel Writers, magic is about versatility, not about anime style energy beam clashes).

One random thing... Did the P4 abandon Namor to a pissed off Black Panther/Wakanda? If so, then that's a dick move. Or justice, either way I'd be plenty pissed if I was Namor.

I'm not sure you never see them leave , namor is there still and black panther is there just watching the P4 now.