“AXIS” is a damn fine comic, and an even better event comic. Depending on how closely you’ve been following Remender’s work at Marvel, you’ll either love it, or be thoroughly confused by it. The book is so steeped in the history created by “Uncanny X-Force” carried on by “Uncanny Avengers” and spins directly out of Avengers Vs X-Men.

WRITTEN BY: Rick Remender

ART BY: Adam Kubert

PUBLISHER: Marvel Comics

PRICE: $4.99

RELEASE: October 8, 2014

 Zac Thompson:

Needless to say, it’s all a little complicated. Despite the three pages of intro exposition, the book still feels a little heavy. Luckily, it all goes away rather quickly to bring a thoroughly engaging look at the monumental threat created by Red Onslaught. The details of his creation are a little murky, but the hell he brings upon the Earth is very real.

Remender brings his trademark wit and breakneck pacing to the world of event comics and we’re all better for it. This feels a lot more focused than “Original Sin” already, and Red Onslaught feels like a threat worthy of $4.99. That is to say, the impact on the larger Marvel universe is already starting to rear its ugly head. There are slight hints of where the universe stands after “Original Sin” but it really feels like Remender has largely ignored everything outside his own universe and has now gone for broke.

The result is an event comic that feels at least two years in the making, and may spell certain doom for the status quo as we know it. So far, it’s thoroughly engaging but still has some faults. Adam Kubert’s pencils are sadly quite inconsistent. Given the increased page count, this is understandable, but his layouts get confusing more than once. The book depends on epic two page spreads, and Kubert’s work should be singing in these moments, but instead falls into a confusing demonstration of massive conflict.

Despite some art confusion, the book reads like silk. The fact that it reads like a continuation of Remender’s Uncanny Saga is both to its detriment and benefit. Those who have been following along will really find a lot to enjoy, while those who are new to his writing and largely isolated version of the Marvel universe may find themselves in over their head.

Apart from all that, AXIS #1 moves some characters in huge ways. Cyclops finally atones for the death of Charles and joins his brother’s cause. While Scarlett Witch proves to be the absolute highlight of the large cast, as Remender reminds us of her insane power, and Red Onslaught’s lust to tap it for himself.

I feel as if she will be responsible fore the inversion we’re about to see, but it’s too early to tell. So far AXIS #1 is the best event comic Marvel has released since Civil War, and in my mind that’s really saying something. Let’s hope the subsequent chapters maintain the quality.

7/10

Torin Chambers:

It’s finally all coming to ahead; the epic saga that Remender began in the pages of Uncanny X-Force, and AXIS couldn’t be more glorious. With Remender at the helm, delivering a story that has been in the works for years, it’s enough to give a little boy hope. Hope that marvel will at long last have a competent event that doesn’t collapse under its own bloated hubris. An event that deserves to be read and not shrugged at because “well, what did you expect from an event comic?”

If you have yet to read Remender’s spellbinding Uncanny X-Force and Uncanny Avengers then you’ll be fully lost, I’d say they are both required reading. Numerous dangling plot threads from both are thrust to the forefront of AXIS. We open on Los Angeles as the Avengers assault Plantman, whose overgrown much of the city. This is one of our first looks at some characters who’ve undergone some pretty radical changes recently, specifically Sam Wilson as Captain America and a dishonoured Thor wielding Jarnbjorn. Soon after launching their assault on Plantman the Avengers are struck by malicious comments. ‘Comments’ isn’t the right word, more like commands. Commands that begin to tear the team apart at the seams. Attacking each of their own insecurities to pit them against each other. It’s a really fucking neat idea. The way Remender plays with Red Onslaught use of Xavier’s powers is brilliant and this is just the start. I cannot wait to see the depth of depravity that the Red Onslaught takes Xavier’s formidable telepathic powers to.

One of my only gripes comes from how Red Onslaught’s first real ‘Onslaught’ is dealt with. Iron Man conveniently happens to have some magic technology that blocks out telepathy so he’s safe and can in turn save everyone. Then somehow he gives it to all of the super heroes that will now be fighting Red Onslaught but can’t give it to the billions of civilians Red Onslaught is corrupting. It would have been really rad to have the heroes work through their insecurities and come together as a team that way; instead it comes off as a cheap deus ex machina. Amongst all of the incredibly solid storytelling it stuck out like a sore thumb.

Remender and Kubert are excellent together. Kubert’s art harkens back to more classic comic art much more so than Mike Deodato’s work on Marvel’s last event Original Sin. It certainly does the job, but it is a bit plain. Deep down I wish longtime Remender collaborators Jerome Opeña or Daniel Acuña were drawing this book, they were instrumental in setting the tone for Uncanny X-Force and Uncanny Avengers.

AXIS is by far the most accomplished first issue of an event in a long time. There’s hot and heavy action, a lot of it, but what makes AXIS stand above the rest is its deeply personal moments. Events fail time and time again because they are all about the event itself, not the characters who are embroiled in that conflict. The good guys all team up and beat up all the bad guys, end of event. With AXIS we feel for these heroes, they become more than superheroes, they become people. People I care about. This is the superhero comic event of the year and it couldn’t be in more competent hands than Rick Remender.

8/10