Avengers #26

This issue really is an Avengers vs X-Men tie-in. It continues the focus on Protector, that will extend into next month's issue too. As with last issue the highlight is Walt Simonson's Thor. And this time we get to see him in extended cosmic combat with the Phoenix Force. There's no Iron Man or Red Hulk in this issue, but there is a cameo by Captain America. So this issue will only be put in his library and Thor's. I suspect next issue will only be seen in the Thor library. Noh-Varr met Annie in Dark Avengers Annual #1, when he left the DA and became Protector. In his backup story in Ms Marvel #50 she was his girlfriend, where he encountered a future Annie. He introduced her to the Avengers in Avengers #7, and she was in a couple more of the issues of this series. Noh-Varr's confession to Annie that he might not be coming back to Earth may not just be because it's a suicide mission. It may also have to do with the Kree Supreme Intelligence giving him orders last issue, which he will act on this issue. The thing Noh-Varr leaves with Annie will probably become important at some point. My guess is he dies out in space (maybe in Secret Avengers #28, whose blurb says an Avenger will make the ultimate sacrifice), but he can be recreated from the shard back on Earth. How does the 2nd part of this issue fit with SAv#26? In that story the Avengers fail to capture the Phoenix Force and then retreat to the Kree homeworld Hala. This issue obviously finds them on Hala. However the end of SAv#26 conflicts somewhat with the end of this issue. In SAv#26 Ms Marvel and Protector meet the resurrected Captain Marvel, and discuss betraying the Avengers because of their joint Kree heritage. But here Ms Marvel seems to be caught unawares when Noh-Varr makes his move. Perhaps Carol thought they'd decided not to do anything. And didn't expect Protector to act alone.