"Avengers Vs. X-Men< #1 explodes in April

Pulling out all the stops in anticipation of "Avengers vs. X-Men," Marvel Comics has revealed a seven page preview of "Avengers vs. X-Men" #1 by Brian Michael Bendis with art by John Romita Jr. The first seven pages of the publisher's crossover event, released via EW.com, features a meeting between Captain America, Iron Man and the President detailing the dangers of a Phoenix force returned, teases Wolverine's choice between two teams and sets the stage for the conflict between Cyclops and Cap.

During a 2011 "AvX" press event, Bendis teased the incoming challenges for the Avengers during the conflict. "We've got a very interesting arc for the Avengers," Bendis said. "What's been going on lately is that they've been tested...they're wondering what it means to be an Avenger...when the world is throwing one terrible disaster at them after another...it takes a toll on a society and the Avengers are left to take the blame for it, as it were. They're going to want answers from Captain America." The writer further mentioned members of both the Avengers and X-Men, such as Wolverine and Storm, would play a big role in the story.

In January, Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso spoke to the plans for "AvX: Versus," the only stand-alone tie-in series for the event, which expands a number of bouts between Earth's Mightiest Heroes and Marvel's Merry Mutants. "Let's be clear: there's lots and lots of fighting in "AvX," Alonso said. "In fact, so much fighting that we often found ourselves saying, 'If only we had more space for this cool slugfest between Red Hulk and Colossus!' And that's where 'AvX: Versus' comes in. It provides the real estate. It's pure eye-candy. Cover-to-cover fighting with little to no plot or exposition -- just some of our best artists cutting loose from scripts by some of our best writers, including some of our 'AvX' writers. We're going right for the fanboy jugular. We're not looking to win an Eisner, you know? This is the least 'essential' but most fun tie-ins we've ever done."

The seven page preview follows a number of "AvX" reveals from Marvel, including a five page preview of Bendis and Jason Aaron's "Avengers vs. X-Men" #0, "AvX" cover reveals throughout the month of January and most recently Sara Pichelli's "Avengers vs. X-Men" #3 variant cover. The oversized issue of "Avengers vs. X-Men" #1 hits stores in April.

Stay tuned to CBR for more on "Avengers vs. X-Men."