Summary

• In the wake of the tragic Fall of X and the catastrophic Blood Hunt crossover, the Avengers have realized that they need to do better, leading them to re-evaluate their purpose as Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
• After failing mutants during the Orchis War, Captain America offers Storm a spot on the Avengers, as a liaison for mutantkind, so that the Avengers will never again forget to ensure mutant safety.
• This shift in priorities could, and should, make the Avengers stronger, as the strive to be the heroes the entire Marvel Universe needs.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Avengers #17!!

The Captain America confirmed that the focus has shifted: the Avengers see themselves as the heroes responsible for rescuing everyone – even mutants.

Avengers #17 shows the team beginning to deal with the aftermath of Marvel's Blood Hunt crossover. They're all coping in their own ways, and Sam Wilson chooses to take a moment to get in touch with the X-Men's resident weather goddess, Storm.

Cap uses their conversation to offer apologies that the Avengers "failed" mutants and did not do more to stop Orchis before they caused such irreversible damage to mutants and their new nation. While Ororo reminds him that her people didn't see it coming either, Cap seems stuck on the idea that the Avengers were responsible for saving them.

The Avengers Declare Themselves Responsible For The Entire Marvel Universe

The Avengers #17 – Written By Jed MacKay; Art By Valerio Schiti, Bryan Valenza, & Cory Petit

This shift in the Avengers' priorities could be helpful when mutants are still scattered and recovering from the loss of Krakoa.

Relations between the Avengers and X-Men have often been strained, to say the least. The team has been notably absent during mutantkind's greatest catastrophes, with Emma Frost, Cyclops, and others calling out their lack of or action during attacks like the Genoshan Massacre. Things have boiled over into direct conflict more than once, most obviously during the AvX event, which had the Avengers heavily contributing to mutants becoming divided amongst themselves. If the Avengers dropped the ball on helping mutants, it didn't start with Krakoa, but until now they did not seem to view it as their problem.

Captain America's conversation with Storm seems to be a turning point. Sam's sentiment implies that the Avengers should have a bigger role in mutantkind's safety, and he even offers Storm a spot on the team to ensure that mutants have a voice among them. In the best case scenario, this shift in the Avengers' priorities could be helpful when mutants are still scattered and recovering from the loss of Krakoa. However, things rarely work out for the best when the X-Gene is concerned, and it would be all too easy for the Avengers to eclipse their autonomy.

The Avengers' dedication to saving the planet makes turning a blind eye to mutant suffering seem borderline hypocritical, so Cap's stance is "righting a wrong" in a way.

Recognizing Past Failures Will Make The Avengers Stronger

A New Mandate For A New Era

Whatever the risks, Sam is hardly overselling the Avengers' position in the world. They've been one of the most prominent superhero teams for decades, often carrying the world on their shoulders. The Avengers' dedication to saving the planet makes turning a blind eye to mutant suffering seem borderline hypocritical, so Cap's stance is "righting a wrong" in a way. Blood Hunt left the team nursing their wounds, but they seem to be rising to even more responsibility instead of staying down. The Avengers are owning up to their failures and dedicating themselves to doing better by the world, including mutantkind.

Avengers #17 is available now from Marvel Comics.