Writer Jed MacKay

Artist Farid Karami

Colorist Federico Blee

Letterer Cory Petit

I’m glad Jed MacKay doesn’t write the X-Men this way, but then again, his Age of Revelation was a pretty epic story, told over multiple pages, and issues.  This issue is the Avengers talking at Kang, as he’s up to one of his classic Kang attacks.  I think, I was looking for Storm, and any X-Men appearing.  Storm gets a cool, “What is the meaning of anything, Kang,” with her hands on her hips.  Kang, you are so lucky she isn’t stabbing you with all of her knives. 

Scarlet Witch brings up friendships. 

We see Juggernaut and Quentin Quire playing baseball, and jerk me, immediately asks, “these two are who you show for the X-Men?!” But right below that panel, we see Magik talking to FalCap, and the rest of the X-Men and Avengers.  I want to know more about those two talking?  Does Magik keep bringing up his “boy / girl thing” that he said to her in Civil War II?  Then she teleported him to Hollywood, and out of the fight?  I bet she brings it up.

Avengers appear to defeat Kang, but then he asks which one of them will survive the death of this universe, so we’re still rocking Kang stories for the next two issues. 

. . .

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler Mark Bagley

Inker Scott Hanna & John Dell

Colorist Frank D’Armata

Letterer Cory Petit

For this big anniversary issue, Brian Michael Bendis, and Mark Bagley, one of my all time favorite creative teams, came back for a fun little backup story.  We get the Big Three – Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor, chatting it up.  Fighting Viper, who I’ve liked ever since she married Logan, that one time.  My one problematic fave.  Hulk shows up.  Captain Marvel shows up.  Beast, having a big start to the year.  Scarlet Witch, and Wasp.  We get just the best final page ever, as it is the Avengers Anniversary, in-universe, and everyone shows up!

Including Kitty Pryde, asking Logan, “uh, Logan?  Is this an X-Men thing, or an Avengers things?”  She’s the best, and we get our first Kitty Pryde of 2026! 

X-Men I see : Sunfire, Sunspot, Namor, Cannonball, Logan, Kitty Pryde (not an Avenger, yet, maybe?), Quicksilver,

The People’s Princess, Crystal, is there, Tigra too.  Moon Knight, She-Hulk, Monica Rambeau.