Avengers Vs. X-Men may have been hitting the #1 spot in terms of sales, but the reaction from fans and critics alike has been far more mixed. The story has been very uneven in terms of pacing and characterisation, and X-Men fans in particular have not been at all happy with how some of their favourite mutants have been portrayed. As the Phoenix casts its dark influence over the final two members of the Phoenix Five, it seems more and more likely that it will be Cyclops who dies at the end of the event; a real shame considering just how well his character has been developed over the last decade or so. In an interview with Comic Book Resources, Marvel E-i-C Axel Alonso addresses the conclusion of Avengers Vs. X-Men and reveals where he stands when it comes to Scott Summers. Also below is some preview art from AVX: VS #5, although you can find more of that (and the full interview) by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.
On What We Should Expect From The Conclusion Of Avengers Vs. X-Men:
Sticking the landing is of utmost importance when you're doing a story of this scope. "Avengers Vs. X-Men" end caps eight years of stories and sets the table for the future of the Marvel Universe, so we paid close attention to the closing act. Right out the gate, we knew the general shape of the ending, but we wanted to stay flexible enough to incorporate surprises that came in the actual writing. Tony Stark's arc for instance – we knew its general shape, but what it eventually became, and what it set up for Iron Man’s future, even took us by surprise. The close of "AvX" is filled with "oh $%#!" moments that will have readers buzzing, but they’re all emotionally true.
The journeys these characters –Avengers and X-Men – have been taking for the past several years come to a close here. There’s redemption and disgrace, there’s a moment of sacrifice that will knock people back on their heels. "AvX" ends with seismic impact. It affects both the Avengers and X-Men. I won't say who lives or who dies, but both teams will reassess what they are, what they do, and how they do it. As for the individual players – there will be redemption, disgrace and sacrifice, and not everyone will get out alive. Some characters will reassess their place in the universe – literally – and some will have a lot of 'splainin' to do. Some will have regrets; others won’t. The fates of some characters might be controversial, but they will be emotionally true.
We're definitely pulling no punches when it comes to Cyclops. He plays a central role in this story, right down to the end. Cyclops has shouldered a huge burden for some time – and the Phoenix Force has tapped into a part of him that, well...I better shut up. [Laughs] Cyclops will always be my favorite X-Men character. When I first became X-Men group editor, the mutant population had been decimated by "House of M," and that was the starting point for my first summit. "Messiah CompleX" took the X-Men from no hope to some hope – literally – and Cyclops was central to everything. He elbowed aside Professor X to take control of the X-Men and became the uncontested field general that his dwindling race needed. The fact that Wolverine was willing to step aside and play lieutenant speaks volumes about their ongoing rivalry: Logan always knew Scott had "it" in him. It was alpha recognizing alpha. To guide his race back from the brink of extinction, Scott had to be willing to get his hands dirty, had to be willing to go to hell for the love of his people. There’s an element of tragedy to that, to be sure, but it is one definition of a hero.
On Fan Dissatisfaction That The X-Men Are Now Seemingly Being Portrayed As The Villains:
Fans root for whoever’s worldview they most relate to. Back when we did "Civil War," a majority of readers rooted for Cap – either because they shared his position or simply due to his underdog status – but Tony also had his share of backers. His methods were Machiavellian, but his position was always defensible, always understandable. The same is true for the X-Men in "AvX." I know there are people out there that are rooting for the X-Men – or rooting for what’s left of the Phoenix Five – because we hear from them all the time. Generations of readers continue to relate to the mutant worldview. Mutants have lived in a world that hates and fears them for some time now; while the Phoenix Five’s methods might be a bit excessive, there's a cheering section for them and guys like the Punisher that are willing to fight dirty to get the job done.
On Whether It's The Phoenix Force Which Has Made Them "Villains":
Are the X-Men – or the Phoenix Five – villains? Well, from what we’ve seen, the Phoenix Force appears to be a corruptive power that taps into something that's already there in its host – which explains why Namor, a certified hothead, went overboard so quickly. Are Cyclops and Emma doomed to walk down a similar road? Can the power be harnessed? Keep reading.