Uncanny Avengers #2: Response To The Marvel Cinematic Universe?

In Avengers & X-Men: AXIS #7 — part of the Avengers & X-Men: AXIS miniseries that ran from October to December of 2014 — readers inferred that Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were not Magneto’s children. How? Well, when the inverted Scarlet Witch tried to cast a spell that would only strike down family members, Magneto was left standing — while Quicksilver fell. Readers started to light up the forums with questions: are Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch even mutants? Are they Inhumans? Marvel left fans sort of dangling until this Wednesday, February 25, 2015 when Uncanny Avengers #2 was released.

Warning: Uncanny Avengers #2 Spoilers and Revelations

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In this issue, writer Rick Remender reveals that both Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are not mutants at all — they’re a creation of the super villain the High Evolutionary. It’s also later discovered that the “mutants two” are actually the “mutants three” because they actually have a sister — a character named Luminous who was commanded by the High Evolutionary to kill both Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. This family is still dysfunctional no matter how you retcon it.

Remender certainly knows how to get readers’ attentions, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he has ulterior motives. And those motives have to deal with the license bickering between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Fox’s Marvel film universe. In a way, this is kind of like the Judgment of Solomon. Marvel Studios and Fox had an agreement to share Quicksilver, but Marvel Studios wasn’t allowed to say that he was Magneto’s son or even use the word “mutant.” I guess Marvel didn’t want any sort of inconsistencies so they basically rewrote the history of the newest members of the film version of the Avengers. In short, Marvel Studios just let Fox have the old history, so they could be done with the hassle.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been tiptoeing around the issue of mutants for a while now. In one episode of ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Phil Coulson mentions that telepaths have never been proven to exist — which is basically a way for the writers to drive it home that the X-Men aren’t in their universe. During the post-credits scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), both Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are seen in their respective cells trying to use their powers to escape. Watched and experimented on by Hydra leader Baron Von Strucker, he notes that this is the “age of miracles.” Fans in the audience knew the writers wanted to write “age of mutants”, but due to licensing restrictions, the word “mutant” was banned.

This is a pretty brave move because the fan response has been mixed. Some like it, as it spices things up and adds another element of mystery. Others feel that Marvel is tampering with a rich history that had a compelling dynamic. With Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch set to make their debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe this summer, it seems that the comics are trying to keep things consistent. Will Marvel Studios and Fox ever play nice? The hope is that they will so that fans can enjoy a massive crossover. Hey, Sony recently put Spider-Man under the care of Marvel godfather Kevin Feige, so anything is possible.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is set for a North America release date of May 1, 2015, and is being directed and written by Joss Whedon, and starring Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner / The Hulk, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye, Don Cheadle as Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Pietro Maximoff / Quicksilver, Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch, Paul Bettany as J.A.R.V.I.S. and Vision, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig, James Spader as Ultron, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, Idris Elba as Heimdall, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Thomas Kretschmann as Baron Wofgang von Strucker, and Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaw.

Next: Read the review for Uncanny Avengers #2

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