Jason Arron has proven himself a capable writer. This mundane finish is not Arron’s fault alone; he had to work with what he was given. Even so, Arron manages a couple of good moments with this issue.  I liked how Tony Stark turned to faith when science failed to produce a solution. There is also a bit regarding Hope Summers ascertaining her true purpose relating to the Phoenix force I felt was well-played. 

Adam Kubert is back with the titanic task of penciling this oversized issue. Adam’s art does capture the scope of the conflict, although some of the pages do feel a bit inconsistent. Having multiple inkers work on a single issue may have contributed to blame here. Still, his art tells the story well enough. Though I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was hoping to see Olivier Coipel rendering the final round.

Taking the story as a whole, having too many writers collaborating on a single story may not be the best approach, in the same manner that too many chefs can ruin a stew. Twelve issues with multiple tie-in titles was a little too bountiful, the more the story progressed, the more tired it became. I feel less would have produced more in this case. Take the largely successful Avengers/Justice League crossover. Yes, it employed the same overgeneralized formula; however the results were very satisfying and dare I say epic.

Marvel’s strength as a publisher has always been its characters and their relatability. Now with AVENGERS VS. X-MEN behind us and Marvel Now soon to kick off, maybe Marvel will return to what made them a dominant force in this medium: crafting courageous tales with strong characterization and less emphasis on trite devices to carry a story.

Round 12 Grade: C

AVENGERS VS. X-MEN Overall Grade: C+