The Avengers and X-Men will face off against each other again in the Marvel Universe, with the beloved thunder goddess, Storm, caught right in the middle. We've seen an Avengers vs. X-Men crossover in the Marvel Comics before. The original event, which took place in 2012, featured the Earth's Mightiest Heroes facing off against Marvel's Merry Mutants, as the two Marvel teams clashed over the Phoenix Force. More recently, the Avengers and X-Men teamed-up to take down the anti-mutant organization Orchis, who were trying to destroy Krakoa and eradicate mutantkind, so it looks like they are currently in good terms. However, it looks like that will change later this year when the Avengers and the X-Men will once again battle it out, and Storm is forced to choose a side.
The next Avengers vs. X-Men crossover was revealed in Marvel's December 2024 solicitations that include Avengers #21, and its cover art illustrated by Valerio Schiti features a coming battle between Captain Marvel and Cyclops, so the two leaders are clearly not in good terms. The most intriguing part of this is how Storm is shown on the side of the X-Men, even though she recently became an Avenger to replace Thor, who took a leave of absence. It's also worth noting that Jed MacKay is the current writer of both the X-Men and Avengers comics, so it looks like each comic title has been building up to this epic crossover.
What is Marvel's next Avengers vs. X-Men about?
Marvel shared a description for December's Avengers #21 in solicitation:
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...
This conflict between Captain Marvel and Cyclops will lead to major developments between various heroes in both teams. It would be interesting to see Scarlet Witch's confrontation with Magneto about their traumatic history after both characters recently went through dramatic resurrections. But the focus of the story appears to be Ororo Munroe, a.k.a. Storm having to choose between her new Avengers teammates and her mutant family, and her decision could shape her role in the Marvel Universe for years to come.
Storm was searching for a new place to call home after the fall of Krakoa, and the Genesis War won on Arakko. Avengers member Captain America offered the Omega-level mutant a role on the team, just as a major catastrophe was approaching Earth. She joined her new Avengers team - with her ex-husband T'Challa (Black Panther), but it looks like the upcoming Avengers vs. X-Men face-off will shake things up in a major way.
Avengers #21 from Marvel Comics will be released on December 4, 2024.
