Here we are in the middle of  the blockbuster Avengers Vs. X-Men mega battle, and I thought it might be cool to step back and review the precursor event to this series, Avengers: X-Sanction #1. Remember that one?

It came out in December 2011 and you probably read it and forgot about it since the poor thing hit the stands nearly a year before the Avengers/X-Men arc was to take place.

Maybe you read it, maybe you didn’t. If you did, then you need to go back and read it again. If you didn’t, then you need to.

X-Sanction brings together some epic comic book talent. The words of Jeph Loeb and the art of Ed McGuinness, with Dexter Vines on ink and Morry Hollowell coloring the whole shebang. Loeb and McGuinness are masters at creating big amazing comics the likes of which could never reasonably be made into movies. They hammer out action packed superhero books designed to make your mouth water. This is why we love comics.

Issue number one reunites Loeb with Cable, a character he had cut his teeth on with Marvel early in his career.

Quickly we are brought up to snuff on the “Cable being dead” problem. Most of the first issue is dedicated to non-stop action calumniating in a final panels which has a very clear message, the Avengers must die!

The argument has been made that McGuinness’ art style has a real cartoonish look, and maybe it does, okay it does, but I think it’s cool. Who decided that comics have to look a certain way, or be ultra realistic? This is art, and pop-art at that, it needs to look cool. My take on the discussion at least.

This issue is worth digging through the back issue bin for at the ol’ comic shoppe. I really had a good time reading it again and I think you will too. 

Dig it up.