A+X 18, Survive 1

A+X 18
Vision and Kitty Pryde: Krueger (w) and Sliney (a) and Mossa (c)
Captain America and Cyclops: Duggan (w) and Yardin, Lolli, and C. Smith (a) and Mossa (c)

In story the first of this final issue of A+X, Kitty Pryde and the Vision have been unknowingly transported to the remains of Murderworld, the first Murderworld to which Arcade brought the X-Men. They move around only to find that they are unable to use their powers there and can't figure out why. They're faced with ghostly images of many of their friends and loved ones, both living and dead, and eventually faced with images of Arcade's murdered victims. The last part doesn't really seem like a trap and Kitty and the Vision are astounded to find that Murderworld itself has gained sentience but, unlike its creator, it doesn't like all the things it's been tasked with doing. It wants the two heroes to shut it down, ashamed of everything it's done in the past. They convince it that it's a separate entity from Arcade now and that it can make its own path. Murderworld restores their consciousnesses to their bodies (everything had happened in their mind, which is why they couldn't use their powers) and they leave as friends. Not an awful little story here as we see two characters with very similar powers and similar sentiments work together to help another being with loads of guilt and a tie to machinery.

The second story is the conclusion of the long-running Captain America and Cyclops team-up which finds Cyclops and his team leaving Latveria before Doom arrives back but not before destroying a ton of his stuff and stealing his new Doombot prototype. Back at the ranch (GUYS, THAT'S A SAYING BUT IT'S ALSO LITERAL HERE), Cap convinces Agent Adsit that these Skrulls are totally fine and encourages him not to arrest them. He does the same for Cyclops when Cyclops returns, though he advises him to seek legal counsel and still defend himself in court to allow the legal system to clear him. They begin to bicker again and Tempus shows up to try to get Scott out of the situation without any issue but Dr. Strange also shows up as a counter measure to ensure that Tempus doesn't show up and steal Cyclops away. They talk amicably and prepare to leave while Cap and Cyclops begin to fight one another once more. Not a lot more to talk about here that I haven't talked about in all my other reviews for A+X so far. Fitting then that this is the last one. So ends a series that was somewhat ill-advised in the first place and lasted WAY longer than anyone probably thought it should but proved ultimately harmless.

Survive 1
Bendis (w) and Quinones (a) and Beredo w/ Quinones (c)

With the events of CATACLYSM now in the past, everyone is sifting through the wreckage to see what will come of it all. The frame of the issue is a eulogy for Captain America that Tony gives to the hero crowd (though he mentions Thor's loss too). In the course of the eulogy, he mentions what has happened and what will happen as a result of it and the hard work that Cap always inspired, segueing into both a short look at lawyer Franklin Nelson (Foggy!) meeting with Monica Chang about how she's going to be put on trial for failing to protect the world just as SHIELD is likely to be dismantled in the wake of this disaster. Tony's part of the speech that highlights Cap's tendency to be reborn segues into a look at Reed Richards investigating the ruins of the Baxter Building and talking with Sue about the future and how he's learned about the potential they all have from the other universe and that something will need to replace SHIELD. Tony's talk about young heroes taking up the mantle of Cap cuts to Kitty talking with the President of the United States about furthering the mutant goal and about how the President has been trying to pass pro-mutant legislation, a goal he hopes will be furthered by Kitty's recent heroic actions. Finally, Tony's speech about how he can't keep the Ultimates going with Cap and Thor gone leads to a look at Spider-Man and Spider-Woman helping in the clean up and talking about what happens next for all of them, including deciding that the two of them, plus Kitty, Bombshell, and Cloak and Dagger, will be forming a new Ultimates.

Lots of information in this issue as Bendis paves the way for the new look of the Ultimate Universe, one that will re-launch with new ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR, ULTIMATE X-MEN, and ULTIMATES titles. There's not a ton of heart or real character building in this book but it accomplishes its job as it very clearly sets up the next phase for the Ultimate Universe. I'm still not convinced that Captain America is dead and this book did very little to confirm anything, even despite the funeral and so on and so forth. It's on to a brand new day for the Ultimate Universe and it seems like all of the pieces are in place to get things started. Check this book out if you want to see where it's all heading but it's entirely avoidable if you've simply heard the announcements for the upcoming books (thanks for ruining another book, solicits!).