For all the hoariness of the heroes-vs.-heroes trope, the set-up of Marvel Comics' next big crossover event rotates around an interesting premise: The cosmic power known as the Phoenix Force is coming back to Earth, apparently targeting a young mutant girl called Hope. Once bonded with mutant telepath Jean Grey, the Phoenix Force has been wielded for both salvation and destruction.

As you'll see in the pages below, the Avengers want to shut down the Phoenix while the X-Men believe that it's the key to the continued existence of mutantkind. Since it's superhero comics, this difference of opinion won't be settled in a series of spirited debates. The plots practically begging for Netherrealm or Capcom to make a fighting game out of it. Avengers vs. X-Men #1 comes out this April in comics shops and digital comics storefronts everywhere. Click each page for a larger version.

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