In ‘Avengers vs X-Men’ (2012) #2, it is all-out war between the Avengers and the X-Men. Meanwhile, Hope is locked safely in a room with the Lights. When neither side has the upper hand, Wolverine and Spider-Man seek out Hope. There, they find Hope having dealt with the Lights. However, before Wolverine can gut her, Hope blasts him and Spider-Man. Then, she makes her escape.

In ‘Avengers vs X-Men’ (2012) #3, Wolverine comes to an hour later. Quickly, he realizes Cyclops’ surrender is a ruse. In fact, Magik has created the illusion that she is Doctor Strange transporting herself. Before he can act, the X-Men teleport to Long Beach to hunt down Hope. At Avengers Tower, Marvel Girl tells Wolverine they have traced Hope’s energy signature to five different locations.

Soon, Captain America divides the Avengers into five teams sent to the five locations: Wundagore Mountain, Tabula Rasa, Wakanda, Latveria and Savage Land. In ‘Avengers vs X-Men’ (2012) #4, Hope recruits Wolverine on a mission to the moon. There, she hopes to bond with the Phoenix. On site, Wolverine betrays Hope and gives her location to the Avengers.

At the same time, Emma Frost intercepts Cap’s transmission. Soon, the X-Men meet the Avengers in the Blue Area of the moon. In ‘Avengers vs X-Men’ (2012) #5, the X-Men battle the Avengers. In an explosive battle, Hope rejects the Phoenix. At the same time, Iron Man’s Phoenix-Killer Armor detonates the Phoenix splitting it. As the smoke disappears, the Phoenix Five rise from the ashes. Mysteriously, they depart with Hope.

In ‘Avengers vs X-Men’ (2012) #6, the Phoenix Five begin world-building. Cyclops rebuilds Utopia, Magik ends war, Emma Frost destroys the Sentinels, Colossus destroys nuclear misssiles and King Namor removes nuclear submarines. Certainly, the Phoenix Five seem unstoppable. However, Captain America and the Avengers question their new-found omnipotence. Seeing the Phoenix Five as a threat, they commandeer a tactical mission to retrieve Hope Summers.

When Utopia is under attack, Scott’s adoptive granddaughter changes sides with the Avengers. Decisively, it turns the battle and shatters Cyclops’ humanity. On the Blue Area of the moon, Scott consults with Jean Grey created out of moon dust. From there, he decides to rid the world of the Avengers. Earlier, Scarlet Witch had a grim vision where the Phoenix Five annihilated the Avengers. Soon, that vision may come to pass.

In ‘Avengers vs X-Men’ (2012) #12, occurs the final battle. Finally, Cyclops has attained the full power of the Phoenix while the other Phoenix Four have been depowered. In a titanic battle, Cyclops is omnipresent on Earth across time and space. Earlier, Tony reveals that the reason the Phoenix has been defeated by Scarlet Witch. Really, the Phoenix and Scarlet Witch’s Chaos Magic are like yin and yang. In fact, when Wanda said “no more mutants”, Phoenix said “more mutants.”¹

During the battle, Hope and Scarlet Witch go toe-to-toe with Cyclops. In a final Iron Fist punch, Hope fells Cyclops. With Cyclops defeated, Hope claims the Phoenix. Sensing the urgency, Wanda helps her extinguish the Phoenix flame. At the same time, the Phoenix is used to recreate the mutant population on Earth. In the end, though homo superior survives, it is at great cost. Indeed, Professor X is dead, Cyclops is in custody, and the X-Men are divided among themselves. Visiting Scott in prison, Cap acknowledges his responsibility. Over the years, he did not work sufficiently for mutants’ civil rights and plans to set up the Uncanny Avengers.