Pretty much ever since 2012’s Avengers Vs. X-Men, the two teams have been at odds. While there have been team-ups here and there, particularly with the onset of the Krakoa era, Marvel’s mutants couldn’t have been further from the publisher’s preeminent team, ideologically. But with a new threat on the horizon (that would be Doctor Doom), and a good decade plus of that storytelling mode, Avengers #21 finally settles the beef between the teams with a baseball game, a hearty meal, and plenty of, well, heart.
Written by Jed MacKay with art by Valerio Schiti, Avengers #21 is the prime example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Depicting Captain Marvel punching Cyclops right in the face, that is definitively not what happens inside the issue. If anything, it’s the opposite, as the two old friends (though I would be hard-pressed to think of a time they’ve interacted in the past 25 years) bring their teams together in Alaska for what is a holiday party in everything but name.
The behind-the-scenes trick here is that MacKay is writing both Avengers and X-Men, meaning he’s familiar with all the characters, their arcs, and current status quo. And what better time to bring the teams back together than when the same dude is writing their upcoming adventures? Luckily, it all works thanks to some surprisingly sweet scenes involving Glob Herman, a reunion of sorts between Scarlet Witch and Magneto, and a private convo between Captain Marvel and Cyclops at the end of the issue that sets the status quo for the Marvel Universe for the next year.
Schiti, of course, draws this all with aplomb. Some highlights include the size differential between Juggernaut and Illyana, Glob’s freak out moment in the kitchen, and the framing of that final one-on-one scene. Schiti brings weight and gravitas when necessary, and lightness when now.
And speaking of lightness, while we’re getting it in an Avengers title instead of X-Men, it’s a delightful, nostalgic throwback to see an X-Men baseball game once again. It’s rare we get a hang-out issue these days that isn’t interrupted by some overarching threat, and the chill vibes of this issue lead to one of the most enjoyable outings for the title yet.
Was it entirely necessary to have this issue? Maybe, maybe not. If the X-Men and Avengers were on the same side fighting Doctor Doom over the next year, I certainly wouldn’t have blinked an eye, it’s how superhero comics have worked since the beginning of time. But it’s nice to see MacKay doing what he does best: character work, humor, and heart in equal measure.
Avengers #21 Rating:
Avengers #21 Official Synopsis:
AVENGERS VS. X-MEN! Jed MacKay pits his Avengers against his X-Men in a story that sows the seeds for some major future developments! Captain Marvel and Cyclops square off! Scarlet Witch and Magneto finally confront their history! And Storm’s loyalties are put to the test…
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