This is what AvX should have been about all along. Captain America's plea to his final recruit is so sincere and desperate that probably even the Red Skull would have said "yes." Equally heartfelt is Rogue's appeal to the Avengers; this moment defines the future of the relationship between both teams and everything that will come with "Marvel Now." What follows is an emotional rollercoaster as Professor X takes the lead in the final battle against Cyclops and Emma Frost.

The writing in this penultimate chapter is great; Scott Summers' descent, although surrounded by fireworks, fights and displays of power, is really the story of a man that lost his way, and no one did anything to prevent it even though it could be seen from a mile. The coming of the Phoenix was distracting enough that it was easy to forget a even scarier force that rises at the end of the issue. Oliver Coipel outdoes himself with the most beautiful Rogue anyone has drawn in years, and Laura Martin goes all out with the nicest color palette ever.