Avengers vs. X-Men #4

The fourth-issue of Marvel's big summer event only moves forward the larger story in a minuscule way as the Phoenix Force awaits in space above Earth. However, Avengers vs. X-Men #4 does give give us a face-to-face confrontation between Hope Summers and Wolverine as the mutant messiah attempts to convince the man who wants her dead that she should be given the opportunity to try and control the Phoenix Force.

With frozen beers and a well-reasoned argument Hope convinces Logan to help get her to the moon where she can confront the looming cosmic entity. Although Logan agrees, he proves to have other motives leading to another confrontation between Marvel's two marquee teams on the surface of the moon.

The comic does a good job by showcasing how powerful the Phoenix Force is (it takes down Thor and the rest of the space-fairing Avengers with little effort), and Hope's early scenes with Wolverine work really well, but Logan's multiple turns are a little awkward and far too rushed.

In the end we're left an okay comic with a couple of nice scenes but where the big tease of Hope becoming the new Phoenix is still unfulfilled. I'm probably done with the series until the focus shifts to the actually event and its fallout, rather than just teasing us about what's coming (especially at $4 per issue). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]