The Illuminaughty... ehem! nati, Illuminati comes together once again, this time to assess the threat of the Phoenix. In hindsight, this is an important story that needed to be told, mainly because most of the mysterious group's members are directly involved in the conflict, and exploring their dynamics during this crisis is certainly worth seeing.

Reed Richards is another reason to validate the telling of this tale. With the exception of The Thing, the Fantastic Four have remained isolated from the AvX ruckus, but this tie-in gives readers Mr. Fantastic's point of view, which is not only honest, but also quite surprising. Just like Stark's anxiety, Xavier's frustration and despair are amazingly conveyed, while Cap and Namor's heartbreaking talk is haunting to no end. Led by a breathtaking flashback that sets the stage for the story, this issue is a success by its plot, as much as by its art.