Each issue of A X seems to get less and less marketing and I think it’s a shame cause each issue gets more and more interesting. It will get interesting once they run out of A list characters to pair, or they’ll just begin reusing characters and pairing them with someone else. The Iron Man/Beast story was fun dialogue wise. The action moves too quick to really enjoy, so the back and forth between Tony and Hank was really the highlight of the story. I liked the small stuff in this story. The nameless S.H.I.E.L.D. agent admiring the coolness of Tony’s armor and Tony asking Hank if he called him “Dude”. I don’t think I’ve seen enough of Dale Keown’s art in Marvel comics because my eyes were spoiled by every panel. Also there’s a cameo from a hero that was in issue 1 of this series and Keown draws that character very well.
Now the Iceman/Thor story was really interesting because of the computer animated art style. If this doesn’t make you want to see a computer animated Thor tv series then something is wrong with you…or you don’t want another Green Lantern: The Animated Series cancellation thing to happen. The story is fine and all, but it never tells you why Thor and Iceman are together, or where they are. Are they in Asgard or are they just in a random location? The background is just darkness and snow so you have no idea. There’s little to enjoy in this story besides looking at the characters. Thor is being a stupid viking and getting slapped around by Frost Giants while Bobby just makes jokes. And all while this his happening you’re thinking, “Wait. Iceman is surrounded by snow. He’s in his element. Why doesn’t he just go ape on these Frost Giants. Well after things get real, he does and it’s quickly over. There’s not much story telling in this book, just really really good art.