A brutal clash betweenCaptain MarvelandCyclopsis kicking off a new war between theAvengersandX-Men, as the team leaders stop holding back. 2012’sAvengers vs X-Menfamously pitted Marvel’s most powerful teams against each other, as Captain America and Cyclops fought over the future of new mutant Hope Summers. This time, the throwdown feels even more personal.
In a preview of Jed MacKay, Valerio Schiti, Federico Blee and Cory Petit’sThe Avengers #21, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes march onthe X-Men’s Alaskan base. Captain Marvel leads the charge, calling out Scott Summers' Cyclops.
While the cover makes it clear that Cyclops vs Captain Marvel is the title bout, the issue’s summary also teases Magneto vs Scarlet Witch, as well as forcingnew Avengers recruit Stormto pick a side. The summary reads:
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…
Cyclops and Captain Marvel have fought before, with Scott using tactical thinking to beat his more powerful rival.
Wolverine Names X-Men’s Best Hero, and It’s Not Cyclops: “The Best Of Us”
Wolverine names the best of X-Men’s heroes, naming the character he sees as the team’s true moral heart - and it’s not his best friend Nightcrawler!
Captain Marvel Calls Out Cyclops in a Battle of the Leaders
But We Think Marvel Is Setting Up a Bait and Switch
The X-Men and Avengers have come to blows on several occasions, as the mutant heroes fight for survival in a world that hates and fears them. Recently, mutants were branded terrorists thanks to an Orchis smear campaign, with the Avengers ultimately coming to their aid and helping to save the day. So why has Captain Marvel seemingly decided to arrest Cyclops? Whatever the answer, it’s clear that Ryan Stegman - current writer of bothAvengersandX-Men- has plans to connect the teams ahead of future events.
While the preview, cover and summary seemingly set up anew round ofAvengers vs X-Men,we’re betting this is a mislead for fans. Currently, Captain Marvel has no reason to target the X-Men, with her and Cyclops' dialogue seeming staged. It’s possible the Avengers are trying to trick someone else into thinking they have bad blood with the mutant heroes, or that Cyclops has asked Captain Marvel to provide a training exercise for his newly assembled team.
If the Avengers don’t want to take Cyclops down now, they will soon, asX-Men #8’s preview shows him planning a Magneto-style attack.
However, since the Avengers are currently following Kang’s tips to stop major disasters before they start, itispossible they’ve been directed against Scott Summers' team. It’s also the case that Captain Marvel has a score to settle against Scott Summers - the two fought in 2023’sX-Men Annual(from Paul Allor and Alessandro Miracolo), whereCyclops was declared the winnerafter overloading Captain Marvel’s energy absorption powers. It makes sense she’d want to lash out in response. However,even if Captain Marvel doesn’t really want to punch Cyclops in the face, his former ally Rogue definitely does.
X-Men Confirms Rogue Is Now One of Marvel’s Strongest Heroes of All Time, After Permanently Absorbing a God-Tier Avenger
X-Men’s Rogue reveals that she secretly still has the powers of a god-tier Avenger, turning her into one of Marvel’s strongest heroes ever.
Cyclops Is Gearing Up for a Villain Era
‘Raid on Graymalkin’ Is Turning Him into the New Magneto
If the Avengersaren’tgoing after the X-Men right now, they’ll have cause to do so soon. Marvel’s preview forX-Men #8(from Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman, J. P. Mayer, John Livesay, Marte Gracia and Clayton Cowles) shows Cyclops preparing to attack the Graymalkin Prison - a new mutant gulag set up on the grounds of the former Xavier school. This attack is part of the ‘Raid on Graymalkin’ crossover withUncanny X-Men, which Marvel has already told fanswill result in a new rivalry between Rogue and Cyclops.
Cyclops leading an attack on a sanctioned prisonwouldbe enough to make him the Avengers' problem, and it’s even possible Marvel is setting Scott Summers up as the new Magneto - a mutant extremist who other heroes believe has gone too far. It’s clear to see how this path could develop, withCyclops recently warning his government handlerAgent Lundqvist that he should step lightly, since he presumably wants Scott’s new team"to be my X-Men, not my Brotherhood."
Cyclops has history of becoming a rebel hero when mutants are under threat, but it’s still not clear why Rogue would object to him attacking Graymalkin in order to get Beast back, especially since she’s expressed a desire to attack the prison herself. Fans will find out the truth asAvengersandX-Menplay out their stories, but it all begins with a fight betweenCyclopsandCaptain Marvel.
Avengers #21andX-Men #8are coming from Marvel Comics December 4.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
