In a recently received press release from Marvel (which you can find after the jump), Marvel announces that the upcoming Jeph Loeb/Ed McGuinness mini, Avengers: X-Sanction, is not just the return of Cable, but it is also “the opening salvo in the upcoming war between the Avengers and X-Men.” Which, in all honesty, we probably should have put together on our own.
Loeb and McGuinness’ book finds Cable returning to the Marvel Universe after his apparent death in Second Coming, and while everyone had originally assumed that his return is implicitly tied only to Hope, it appears there is a bit more to it than that. Apparently Cable is aware of the “tragedies” (plural) that cause the war, and has come to help prevent it — but as these time travel things go, the more he tries to help (by shooting Falcon?), the worse things get.
One should also note the following line directly from the press release: “The time-traveling mutant known as Cable, has returned from the future with 24 hours to save the world…by destroying the Avengers?!” From this one line, we might be able to infer two things: one, that the Cable who is returning might not be the same Cable who died, and two, that this upcoming war is the Avengers’ fault. I mean, if we are to assume that Cable has implicit knowledge of the future, this war and its fallout, isn’t safe to assume that he is coming back to stop those that plan to start it? Isn’t that why people always theorize/fantasize about going back in time to kill Hitler? You know, all “by trying to change the past, you create the future” laws of time travel aside, which would make this all Cable’s fault. (You have to love when time travelers going back in time to prevent great tragedies somehow miss the part in their history books about a time traveler who went back in time and screwed things up for everyone.)
Say what you will about the upcoming event, whether you are for or against it, but Marvel is certainly weaving a long, winding tale here that will hopefully – given the star power behind the main title – have quite the pay-off for longtime Marvel fans. As a note, at least three of the writers (Bendis, Brubaker and Fraction) have been teasing a unified disaster in their books for quite some time now (New Avengers, Captain America and Invincible Iron Man, respectively), so the road has assumedly been established. If anything, Avengers: X-Sanction will hopefully just start pulling threads together by the time it wraps up.
With this sneak-attack prelude “announced” and just around the corner, you can only imagine the top editors at Marvel biting down on a cigar right about now and saying, “Ahhh, I love it when a plan comes together!”
For a five-page preview of Avengers: X-Sanction #1, in stores next week, check after the cut.
Marvel Press Release
The opening salvo in the upcoming war between the Avengers and X-Men is fired in next week’s Avengers: X-Sanction #1 from the chart topping team of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness! The time-traveling mutant known as Cable, has returned from the future with 24 hours to save the world…by destroying the Avengers?! What makes Earth’s Mightiest Heroes such a threat to a better tomorrow? Cable’s on a mission to prevent the tragedies that lead to the events of Avengers VS X-Men…and every move he makes irrevocably changes the direction of the Marvel Universe!
“On the eve of the biggest Marvel event–maybe ever–Ed McGuinness and I are thrilled to be the lead-in for Avengers VS X-Men,” said Loeb. “Hopefully longtime fans and first time Cable, X-Men and Avengers readers will be excited by a story that can be read entirely on its own — and at the same time has lots of stocking stuffer-esque surprises just in time for the holidays.”
Continued belowIt all begins with Cable versus Captain America…and only one will emerge victorious! The Avengers and X-Men are on a collision course…and the first steps towards war are taken in Avengers: X-Sanction #1, available in comic stores and on the Marvel Comics app next Wednesday!
Retailers: Please note that Marvel is rush printing a second printing of Avengers: X-Sanction #1 due to expected demand and its relationship to Avengers vs X-Men. Check the Marvel Mailer and Diamond Daily for more details.
AVENGERS: X-SANCTION #1
Written by JEPH LOEB
Art & Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
ON SALE — 12/14/11
