This is the beginning of Marvel's huge event. Keep in mind that the high score given to this comic reflects the nature of the issue and what it represents. AVENGERS VS. X-MEN is going to be a blast to read. Is it going to change the face of the comic book industry? Probably not. Is it going to be crammed to the gills with pure superhero vs. superhero fun and excitement? You bet. Read Full Review

If Marvel had made more of an effort to include layered meanings throughout Avengers vs. X-Men, the entire event would have been damn near perfect. In reality, it's still one of the best crossovers of the past decade, but without more than surface-layer meanings and forced misunderstandings, everything just seems silly in the end. But I try not to think like this. I try to see this story for what it was; a narrative intended to bring years of resentment and anger to a close with a conflict that tore them apart, both literally and symbolically. Read Full Review

Is this worth your money? It's 36 pages on glossy paper that explodes in colors and characters. And the story, though it's only the first issue, is setting things up nicely. I'd gladly pay this much for a book with this many pages with this story and art. Will I continue to buy this series? Well…Okay, Marvel, I was in only for the Walt Simonson Avengers issues. This got me interested enough to see what else is going to happen: I'm going to buy all the cross-over issues as well. Well played, Marvel. Well played. You've got me buying your books again. Read Full Review

Being disappointed by Marvel events has left a sour taste in my mouth. Last year's Fear Itself was so lackluster I stopped reading after two months. Even 2010's Siege was half-baked at a measly four-issue main series. Apparently, Marvel took note with Avengers Vs. X-Men, giving readers a perfect-sized 12-issue main run, a six-issue VS. series dedicated to fights, fights, and more fights, as well as multiple tie-ins throughout the imprint. Read Full Review

The stakes are high, the outcome grim, and the war is about to begin. Save me a seat! Read Full Review

Victor: I definitely agree with you on all points. Great opening issue and set up to some possible incredible fanboy battles. Great story laying out the entire situation from both sides of the fence. Cons. ROMITA JR is a one note hack. (That's my nice way of saying the art sucks for me) Overall, 95 sounds about right. Can't wait till next issue and the battles it will hopefully contain. Read Full Review

Lines are drawn, stakes are raised (no doubt to be raised further still in the coming weeks) and sides chosen in what looks like it's going to be a tremendously fun summer-long slugfest. Read Full Review

Overall, this a highly entertaining book that everyone should get their hands on. Read Full Review

A complete and utter surprise and everything you could hope for out of a big event. If the rest of the series can keep this up, we are in for one heck of a ride. Read Full Review

Setup issues like this are typically not very exciting, but they are necessary. This is not a boring issue, but it is mostly dialogue to establish the motivations of the characters. This series definitely has promise, so if you're interested then you should pick this one up. The digital add-ons are nice, but they aren't enough to warrant purchasing this just for their sake. If you want to check out Infinite Comics 1 it's available on Marvel's digital store or Comixology for only $.99. Read Full Review

Who doesn't want to see their favorite superhero teams throw down against each other? Read Full Review

Overall, Avengers vs X-Men is off to a good start as the story develops nicely. There are a few holes in the plot, but given that we're only a twelfth of the way through, I'm willing to give Marvel the benefit of the doubt. I eagerly anticipate the next issue. Read Full Review

At the end of the day, I rate Avengers vs. X-Men #1 three-and-half stars out of five. It lies directly between fair and excellent, but readers definitely deserved a better quality product for the price and the hype. Read Full Review

This issue's not going to be for everyone, but while I see how it's rooted in current continuity, the conflict in general seems to be fairly sudden, so this issue's not a bad point to jump on and see what you think. I enjoyed this despite it being overly cinematic in the beginning, and really have to say that it's a relative rarity lately in being a Marvel comic that I just simply enjoyed, period. In fact, I'm very much looking forward to the next issue, and I'm actually tempted to snag tie-in issues just to get "more" story beyond just the "core" of this central mini-series. Read Full Review

Again, Avengers vs. X-Men #1 is what it is; an eventuality. This one could easily have been phoned in but what you get is a well-written, well-drawn reward for longtime Marvel readers. It truly reads like the comics event of the summer and so far, delivers on its premise and promise. Read Full Review

There are a lot of quality creators involved in "Avengers Vs. X-Men," enough that I find myself intrigued even though the concept is not one I'm wild about. This first issue was a good example of the creative talent managing to rise above the concept and leaves me hopeful they'll be able to bring something even more interesting to the table as the series progresses. Read Full Review

Well done gentlemen. Very well done. Read Full Review

John Romita Jr.s illustrations look better than ever. With the help of colorist Laura Martin, The Phoenix Force looks white hot. Written by a handful of the finest writers Marvel has produced: Jason Aaron (Wolverine & The X-Men), Brian Michael Bendis (Moon Knight), Ed Brubaker (Winter Soldier), Jonathan Hickman (FF Vol. 1) & Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man). Nuff said! From Marvel Comics. Read Full Review

The hype is over and thankfully this issue has absolutely nothing to do with the dreadful #0 issue from last week. The book sets the stage perfectly and it appears the fighting is going to be full-on in the next issue. This issue is definitely worth checking out if you are at all interested in this mega-promoted event. Read Full Review

While there are still some elements that left me wanting, like our own government's rather dull response to the coming crisis, or splash pages that didn't fully blow me away, I am still glad to jump on this Marvel event. Unlike previous event books, the set-up by Bendis and Romita actually has me believing this is a conflict years in the making. No small accomplishment for a book that still manages to bring the newest reader up to speed. Bring on Round 2. Read Full Review

In the end, the issue is a strong start for an immense series that promises to be absolutely explosive. The final pages are a fanboy's and fangirl's dreams come true and this book definitely has something to satisfy any long time superhero book readers. Read Full Review

Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 gets it's point across, starts the crossover off and explains the things that need explaining, and if I take away my worries and reservations about what it's exemplifying, it is crafted well enough to earn 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. There is more here than "And then they fight!", but how much more is still unclear" Read Full Review

Oh, and for the record: Team Avengers. Cyclops is being a bit of a d-bag here. Read Full Review

To the X-Men, however, handing over what many believe to be the Mutant Messiah their only chance at fighting back from extinction to a species known to hate and distrust them isn't going to go over well. What's going to be intersting is how these characters and two teams are going to coexist after all the smoke clears. I can't wait until issue #2. Must-read. Read Full Review

Unlike most Marvel events, the hope is that this one will start off modestly and grow stronger over time. Issue #1 is a perfectly decent opening chapter, but it almost feels perfunctory in a way. The conflict needs to grow and evolve in interesting ways over the next 11 issues. And Cyclops certainly needs to be handled with more care going forward, lest this series repeat Civil War's mistake of making one faction look so crazy and militant that no one can sympathize with them. Read Full Review

The issue was nothing that will blow a readers mind but it got the job done in giving Avengers vs. X-Men a strong foundation. Brian Bendis does a fine job presenting both sides of this latest Marvel conflict. The reader can understand the stances Captain America and Cyclops are taking and why the Phoenixs return causes them to disagree. Even with some bad choices in how to open up the story I ended up enjoy the majority of the issue. Now hopefully this momentum that started with issue #1 continues into Avengers vs. X-Men #2. Read Full Review

As with many superhero tales, there's evidently plenty of fodder here for meaningful discussion. I just wish the book itself had managed to be that interesting. Read Full Review

I will admit that I came in with a pretty heavy bias against this series, but I still maintain that it failed to do all that much with its concept in this opening effort. There were some cool moments throughout, but nothing that really grabbed me and guaranteed my return for the next part of this event. Things could very well pick up in the issues to come, but I don't feel the need to see how that'll play out. Your mileage may vary, but I'll happily spend my comic book dollars elsewhere. Read Full Review

There's nothing particularly off-putting about the storytelling here, but there's nothing particularly compelling either. Read Full Review

I really wanted Avengers vs. X-Men #1 to be an incredible read. Even though I grew up loving Marvel and DC almost equally, I would have to admit that at my core I am a Marvel guy first. I have dropped all of the DC titles that I was getting after the New 52 reboot. And none of the second and third wave of titles from Warner Brothers has done anything to get me excited about their new universe and line of comics. So, Marvel has become my only outlet for my super hero addiction. Therefore, I wanted to love this big event and have something that would get me excited about super hero comics once again. Read Full Review

The art for this issue was probably the worst part of this issue. I am not a big fan of John Romita' Jr. I only like his art for Kick Ass, but his art for Avengers does not really fit the characters. It is very bulgy and does not allow us to enjoy the story. We should of gotten better art for a big story arc like Avengers Vs. X-men. I hope we get better artists for upcoming issues.Even though this issue was not the best. I still see potential for this story arc, which is more than I can say about Fear Itself. I say skip this issue and wait for the next issue. You may enjoy issue 0 more than issue 1. Read Full Review

Writing-B-(82.2%)
Art-D-(63.4%)
Story-B+(87.6%)
Total-C+(77.7%)