A direct
continuation from the previous issue and running simultaneously with
AvX #12, the final battle against Hope and the Scarlet Witch is
retold from Scott Summers' point of view. Consumed by the Dark
Phoenix upon the death of Charles Xavier, and no longer able to
distinguish thought from action, Cyclops sees his life flash in
front of him before momentarily transcending beyond reality. All
along, Kieron Gillen exposes Scott's feelings as they pop in his
mind like a fever dream until he finally falls.
Reading the final
pages of this story is heartbreaking. The first X-Man, he who was
supposed to take after Professor X, is reduced to a disturbed
individual, who, despite acknowledging the horrors he unleashed,
feels no regrets because for him the end justifies the means. His
final gesture is spine-chilling: he is actually happy of what he
accomplished. Scary. Can someone please assign Dale Eaglesham to a
high-profile team book ASAP? His talent is invaluable.