Avengers: Secret Warsis mere years away, and audiences continue to speculate what Marvel could include in the movie. With a title already directlyinspired by two classicAvengersstoriesfrom the comics, the pressure is on for the movie to deliver the same impact that made these comic events historic.
Of course, the Marvel Cinematic Universe doesn’t have to restrict itself solely to using material from the twoSecret Warsevents for the film. With the X-Men next to join the MCU, and given the pastX-Menactors confirmed for coming films, another comic event might hold the secret to a memorable event film. Trust us, theseAvengers vs. X-Menmoments are exactly whatAvengers: Secret Warsneeds to succeed.
8Captain America vs. Cyclops Would Have Fans Losing Their Minds
Avengers vs. X-Men #1 by Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction, John Romita Jr.
In the war between mutants and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, it’s Cyclops who throws the first shot. At this point,House of Mis still fresh in everyone’s minds, especially Scott’s, as he appoints himself as the sole representative and revolutionary behind the mutant community.
Cap and The Avengers try to cease Hope Summers when she’s suspected as the Phoenix Force’s next host, but when his adopted granddaughter is at stake, Scott wants to keep mutant business among mutants. It’s hard not to go wild to seetwo of Marvel’s greatest leadersduking it out, something that should translate well onscreen.
7A Huge Avengers vs X-Men Brawl Unleashes Every Member Possible
Avengers vs. X-Men #2by Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction, John Romita Jr.
Once Cyclops throws the first punch, the fight is on as the X-Men don’t hesitate to have Scott’s back, and the Avengers take charge to defend their fearless leader. What follows is a war for the ages, with every member imaginable from both sides laying the smackdown. Many of these fights continue to branch off throughout the series.
Match-ups like Red Hulk vs. Colossus,Magneto vs. Iron Man, Wolverine vs. Captain America, and many more quickly take center stage. It’s hard to pick a favorite fight, but any one of them would produce the same amount of gravitas on the big screen. Any ofAvX’snumerous battles deserve the cinematic treatment.
6AvX Put Spider-Man Through His Most Brutal Fight
Avengers vs. X-Men #9by Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction, and Adam Kubert
In the comics, Spider-Man is battle-tested through his most grueling of fights, but in the MCU, his No Way Home skirmish with Green Goblin comes the closest to true brutality.Spider-Man’s best fightsshowcase his true level of endurance, and few wars have tested that endurance quite like when he fought Colossus and Magik.
To say that the two X-Men beat the unholy hell out of Peter Parker might be an understatement. Blood pours out of his mask and his costume is torn to shreds by the fight’s end, but somehow, Spider-Man survives and wins. It would be one of his most impressive onscreen outings if the MCU finds a way to adapt this for Tom Holland.
5Cyclops Completes His Turn to Becoming a Villain
Avengers vs. X-Men #5by Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction, and John Romita Jr.
All the angst, drama, and trauma leading to Avengers vs. X-Men had deeply affected Cyclops. The way Cyclops watched the mutant population dwindle in real time left a mark on Cyclops' psyche that is on full display throughout the series. While readers who watched his story unfold understand his struggle, the series nonetheless positions Cyclops as an antagonist.
The unhinged aggression he directs at The Avengers, be it misguided or justified, made him the de facto villain of the story. That villain arc is fully complete when he takes the Phoenix Force for himself. As leader of the Phoenix Five,Cyclops leads the mutant revolutionby force with an iron fist, practically becoming the person he once hated.
4Cyclops Killing Xavier Perfectly Bookends The X-Men Franchise
Avengers vs. X-Men #6by Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction, and Olivier Coipel
Cyclops' most notable feat as the Phoenix’s host is killing Charles Xavier. A beef between him and Charles Xavier had long been brewing, and this moment saw their feud reach a crescendo. Out of everything from this series, this might be the most likely to be adapted for Avengers: Secret Wars, and it’d be fitting to do so.
For starters, knowing that Avengers: Secret Wars will officially close out Fox’sX-Menfranchise to open the door for the MCU’s, killing the patriarch played by Patrick Stewart feels like a fitting swan song. Not to mention, James Marsden’sCyclops seldom had any definitive momentsin the movies. Killing off Professor X is big enough to make up for it.
3Namor Also Returns As A Major Villain inAvengers vs. X-Men
Avengers vs. X-Men #7by Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction, and Olivier Coipel
Namor takes a pivotal role inAvX, by aligning the X-Men. Not only that, but the mutant becomes a centerpiece by being one of the five who adopt the Phoenix Force in Cyclops' Phoenix Five. Not only that, but arguably Namor’s most iconic moment takes place when he floods Wakanda underwater, as part ofBlack Panther’s war with Atlantis.
The Sub-Mariner has already gone to war with a different Black Panther, Shuri, in his onscreen MCU debut. He had already left his imprint by attacking Wakanda and killing Queen Ramonda, but with the material thatAvengers vs. X-Menprovides, there’s still damage he could create despite the olive branch he reaches with Shuri.
While audiences remember theIron FistNetflix series, fans remain skeptical as to what is and what isn’t canon from the Netflix era until Marvel introduces them in their newer shows and movies. In their recent animated series,Eyes of Wakanda,it’s been confirmed that Iron Fist is still canon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This is perfect for anyone hoping that the MCU brings Hope Summers to the big screen. Danny Rand is important in Hope’s journey in AvX as, after fleeing the chaos of the Avengers vs. X-Men war, he trains h34 while she hides out at K’un L’un. Iron Fist may be low on the MCU hierarchy, but his role in AvX could boost his stock all over again.
1The Aftermath of AvX-Men Creates A Mass Mutation
Avengers vs. X-Men #12by Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction, and Adam Kubert
Following the ramifications ofHouse of M,the ending ofAvengers vs. X-Menresets the status quo for the latter’s franchise by bringing back mutant births. If introduced for the MCU, this could produce the reverse effects whilst producing the same effect. In short, this ishow the MCU could bring mutantsinto the mix.
The MCU has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to tell stories about mutants, so to speed up the process and ensure the in-universe population of mutants is astronomical, Avengers vs. X-Men’s ending could be exactly howAvengers: Secret Warsdecides to create more mutants in one flail swoop.
