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Astonishing X-Men (2004) (Single Issues)
Astonishing X-Men #1
Dream-team creators Joss Whedon (creator of TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly and fan-favorite film Serenity) and John Cassaday (Planetary, Captain America) bring you the explosive #1 issue of the all-new flagship X-Men series! As part of X-men: Reload, this issue marks a return to classic greatness and the beginning of a brand-new era for the X-Men.
23 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2004
About the author
Joss Whedon
488 books4,321 followersJoss Whedon (born Joseph Hill Whedon) is an American screenwriter, executive producer, film and television director, comic book writer, occasional composer, and actor, and the founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures.
He is best known as the creator and showrunner of the television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)', 'Angel (1999–2004)', 'Firefly (2002)' and its film follow-up 'Serenity (2005)', and 'Dollhouse (2009–2010)', as well as the web-series' 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)'. Whedon co-wrote and produced the horror film 'The Cabin in the Woods (2012)', and wrote and directed the film adaptation of Marvel's 'The Avengers (2012)', the third highest-grossing film of all time.
Many of Whedon's projects have cult status and his work is notable for portraying strong female characters and a belief in equality.
credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Whedon
He is best known as the creator and showrunner of the television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)', 'Angel (1999–2004)', 'Firefly (2002)' and its film follow-up 'Serenity (2005)', and 'Dollhouse (2009–2010)', as well as the web-series' 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)'. Whedon co-wrote and produced the horror film 'The Cabin in the Woods (2012)', and wrote and directed the film adaptation of Marvel's 'The Avengers (2012)', the third highest-grossing film of all time.
Many of Whedon's projects have cult status and his work is notable for portraying strong female characters and a belief in equality.
credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Whedon
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 20, 2024
It's a new run, Yes it is!
Strong start, honestly Wolverine has a right to be pissed at Cyclops, Wolverine really loved Jean, and Cyclops each time Jean died got into a relationship faster than Quicksilver.
He isn't really a loyal person, or maybe he just doesn't care he just wants a bed warmer, who knows.
But yeah he totally deserves to get cucked to hell and back in the Krakoa era lol
Crazy Indian scientist woman has decided that Mutation is a disease and she has a cure for it, that's probably a huge lore shifting point, wonder how long this narrative will last.
And Cyclops started to make the X-Men into a super hero team.
I'll be reading this slow as I am yet to finish Unlimited X-men of last era, but we are going places people!
Strong start, honestly Wolverine has a right to be pissed at Cyclops, Wolverine really loved Jean, and Cyclops each time Jean died got into a relationship faster than Quicksilver.
He isn't really a loyal person, or maybe he just doesn't care he just wants a bed warmer, who knows.
But yeah he totally deserves to get cucked to hell and back in the Krakoa era lol
Crazy Indian scientist woman has decided that Mutation is a disease and she has a cure for it, that's probably a huge lore shifting point, wonder how long this narrative will last.
And Cyclops started to make the X-Men into a super hero team.
I'll be reading this slow as I am yet to finish Unlimited X-men of last era, but we are going places people!
October 1, 2015
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There are many reasons I love the month of October. First off, there's Halloween on the 31st which I normally celebrate by candy overload and horror films. Then we have the consecutive birthdays of two idols of mine, rapper Eminem and writer Oscar Wilde on the 17th and 18th respectively, and now, hopefully for the best, it's the month when I first read and review Joss Whedon's promising series, The Astonishing X-Men. I've cleansed my palette from last month's series and I'm ready to embark on a fresh, exciting journey that extends to the content, style and quality of my reviews. Written by Joss Whedon and illustrated by John Cassaday, this 2005 series is composed of a grand total of sixty-eight issues and one of its major storylines has been used as one of the three inspirational material for the pitiful mismatched narrative that was X-Men: The Last Stand movie, and, to a lesser extent, the much more superior 2011 adaptation, X-Men: First Class.
Before we begin with the first issue, let's introduce the main players of this series as seen in the debut. The cast, for now, is small which I'm expecting to grow as the series progresses because what is X-Men without its multiple arcs starring ensemble characters? Before Lost started the grueling ensemble of characters on screen, X-Men has been doing it in the last 50 years, so one can only imagine the strenuous amount of writing and characterization it took several writers over the decades to build the rich tapestry of its canon. But don't strain yourself; it's essentially unimaginable in breadth and girth. For now, let's all narrow it down to these primary players:
THE ASTONISHING X-MEN MAIN HEROES
Emma Frost (a. k. a " The White Queen ") ==> Reformed villain, Xavier School teacher and Scott's gorgeous squeeze
Kitty Pryde (a. k. a "Shadowcat") ==> The youngest member of the X-Men recruited after the death of Jean Grey
Scott Summers (a. k. a "Cyclops") ==> The designated, default leader who is not as frigid and distant as he'd like to project
Logan James? Howlette (a. k. a "Wolverine") ==> Fan-favorite anti-hero in love with Jean Grey and never got along with Scott
Hank McCoy (a. k. a "cat-Beast") ==> Brainy scientist whose physical mutation never stops evolving, much to his chagrin
TIMELINE: There was a brief mention of a scene from Chris Claremont's X-Men Forever (the first series I reviewed here) when Kitty Pryde was reminiscing about her stay at the Xavier's School and this is how the issue opens. I'm guessing that we start in the aftermath of Kitty's graduation and her departure, and as Emma Frost gets a second chance to be one of the good guys. Scott and Jean were married for a time and then she dies (again and more permanently this time), leaving both her husband and could-have-been and definitely-almost-lover Logan heartbroken and in grief. Scott, luckily, moved on to another beautiful telepath and have been together since. Professor X is also a no-show here but Scott still speaks of him fondly so this is definitely pre-Deadly Genesis where he uncovered an upsetting secret that Xavier has been hiding from him. This is pre-everything major that I've read like the decimation of the mutants in House of M, followed by the Hope Summers-centered epics Messiah Complex and Second Coming. Storm, Psylocke, Rogue, Colossus, Magik and Nightcrawler were missing here so far but as I said before, I'm sure they'll be making their appearances too; just not as part of the main roster of the above five.
FUN FACT: I think I should mention that as I was browsing through my comics folders, I realized I've managed to download copies of the motion comics for this series. I plan on watching them some time after finishing this series or, better yet, after finishing a specific arc before I start with the new one. I've heard there is a varied voice cast for every character and the animated slides of the comics pages were greatly rendered, so I'm definitely going to check it out. Heck, I'll start watching the first episode now right after posting this!
THE ASTONISHING X-MEN ISSUE #1 "GIFTED"
An unnamed child has nightmares, haunted by gruesome images of a past she can't comprehend. A doctor comes to her aid, holding her close and the shot of them in an embrace pulls out to reveal that the girl was inside a observation room of some sort which immediately gave me a sinking feeling of dread as to the identity and purpose of the young girl and doctor in the story. Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde arrives for the first time since her graduation at the Xavier's School for the Gifted.
She explores the halls of her old home and remembers specific moments in her life there that made her nostalgic and slightly embarrassed, before she phases into the nearby wall and accidentally finds herself in the middle of a lecture hall where new teacher Emma Frost was just giving a speech to the students. She tried to make herself inconspicuous as she sat near her old friends, Beast and Scott. Emma acknowledged her presence only dismissively as she ended her speech by accessing the Danger Room and showing the new blood a brood of Sentinels tearing their way through their roof. The simulation proved to be both horrific and exciting as students disperse among crowds of their own, probably still in shock of what they just witnessed even if it wasn't real. The White Queen knows how to keep things spicy.
Scott wasn't that happy that Emma didn't consult him when she decided to play her hand at a magic trick like that, but he forgives her easily enough for it. They ended up tangled in the sheets together as the dawn approaches. It wasn't going to be a pleasant morning for Scott, however, when an old rival wakes him up from his rest, making snide remarks about his late wife and his grief over losing her. Logan perches by their bed, a cruel look in his eye, as he goaded Scott, "What stage is this then? Denial?" And Scott retaliates by shooting him with a blast that took Logan out of the window, breaking glass and waking up the students who hurriedly tried to see what the commotion is about.
Pictured here: Scott Summers grieving Jean Grey
It seems like if Logan is unhappy and still heartbroken over the loss of Jean, and he believes that Scott should feel just as miserable about it still, and it better stay that way or else. Having this sense of entitlement and ownership of the way Scott should grieve is something quite douche-y for Logan, but misery loves company, and as much as both men never got along, their grief actually binds them together because no one else in the world could understand their heartbreak and despair. I think Logan is just seeking somebody else to feel the overwhelming power of never being able to see or love Jean Grey again. Scott is having none of this; he refuses to bond with Logan over his wife's death. After all, Jean's last words to him was that he should live his life after she's gone since all she ever did was die on him anyway. This was a selfless last act of love and Logan could never understand that, as far as Scott is concerned, since Jean was never in love with him. But Logan knew that Jean loved him back in her own way and a selfish part of him feels like shoving it in Scott's face. But he fails because Scott is obviously in the process of moving on...to a lovely, intelligent and powerful woman who shares the burden of responsibility of leading this school and helping restore some dignity in their line of work and vocation as X-Men. Still, Emma has a different perspective about it and had no problem speaking out her mind in Beast's presence concerning her insecurities about her blossoming relationship with Scott:
Ever the pacifist, Hank tries to make things better for everyone by putting the adults concerned inside the Danger Room where he produced a rather cutesy simulation of Hawaii islands and then they started sitting on each one as if it's furniture. The scenic view helped calmed everyone down though which was the point. But Beast still couldn't help but scold them. After that, Scott opened a serious discussion regarding their status as superheroes, how he wishes to get themselves some positive media coverage and publicity by showing the rest of the world they are using their gifts and powers to help maintain the peace and to seek justice for the oppressed. Scott was quite determined and passionate to showcase a new brand for the X-Men which will simultaneously inspire students and new recruits to join them once they're old enough and ready to face the same battle. Surprisingly enough, Logan listened to this without offering any kind of counter-argument. It would seem that Logan has learned to put aside whatever personal qualms he has with Scott and just follow his lead. Not that he hasn't been doing that over the years they've worked together; but I can tell there's a change in the air somewhat now that Logan is still grieving and may need some productive way to divert his attention which was probably why whatever Scott is suggesting they should do is a promising venture for him. Kitty willingly joins the team as well, though wary of the White Queen being by Scott's side. Hank only cares about the new costumes they were going to put on which is understandable because so am I!
Elsewhere, two major events are happening as the new X-Men prepare for their first mission. A group of armed men led by a mysterious monster held hostages inside a private event somewhere in the city. Meanwhile, the doctor and child from the opening pages of this issue now step into the spotlight, surrounded by an eager crowd of journalists and spectators as the doctor named Dr. Kavita Rao stood in front of everyone to announce how she defines a mutant. Unlike the Purifiers, she doesn't think they are an abomination that needs to be ethnically cleansed for religious purposes. Unlike the government-sponsored Sentinels program, her way is not to punish these mutants and imprison them for being born the way they are. No, what Dr. Rao believes is that mutation is A DISEASE.
I'll probably have more fleshed-out insights regarding Dr. Rao's belief by the next issue. But make no mistake: I'm offended. Now this is a familiar one because we have seen this so-called 'mutant cure' as the major plot in The Last Stand which was handled poorly, actually, because there are some contradictions and inherent consistencies in that script. I want to see how Whedon approached the idea here in the original source material. Speaking of loosely based adaptations, the poster for X-Men: First Class, particularly the costume choices of the characters there were definitely inspired by this panel, including the haphazard way it was shot where the camera angle tips to the corner a little bit. Go ahead and search for the posters online and see for yourself. Also, Emma Frost's appearance here is also the basis for the costuming choices for January Jones in the film. The resemblance between the way the character was drawn here and the way the actress looks in the scenes of the movie is unmistakable so I feel like bringing it up, especially since I love January as herself (even if her portrayal lacked life in the movie) and the White Queen and her journey towards being a heroine after being such a badass villainess for so long.
I'm going to rate this issue in pragmatic terms. I don't want to start with a high rating already since this is just the introduction and as evenly paced as everything was including the reveal at the end, and as amusing were the interactions among our heroes, I still want to start my review of this series by saving for my high ratings which is why I'm giving this one a seven out of ten because it was better than I expected but not quite there yet. As a fan of most of Whedon's work in television, I know that he's one writer who does know how to take his time formulating his stories so I'm confident that he's going for the kill once he knows the time is right and pieces are set in motion as flawlessly as he could manage. So far, the premise is teeming with potentials. I like the main players selected and I'm all on-board for the trip!
RECOMMENDED: 7/10
DO READ MY REVIEWS AT:
There are many reasons I love the month of October. First off, there's Halloween on the 31st which I normally celebrate by candy overload and horror films. Then we have the consecutive birthdays of two idols of mine, rapper Eminem and writer Oscar Wilde on the 17th and 18th respectively, and now, hopefully for the best, it's the month when I first read and review Joss Whedon's promising series, The Astonishing X-Men. I've cleansed my palette from last month's series and I'm ready to embark on a fresh, exciting journey that extends to the content, style and quality of my reviews. Written by Joss Whedon and illustrated by John Cassaday, this 2005 series is composed of a grand total of sixty-eight issues and one of its major storylines has been used as one of the three inspirational material for the pitiful mismatched narrative that was X-Men: The Last Stand movie, and, to a lesser extent, the much more superior 2011 adaptation, X-Men: First Class.
Before we begin with the first issue, let's introduce the main players of this series as seen in the debut. The cast, for now, is small which I'm expecting to grow as the series progresses because what is X-Men without its multiple arcs starring ensemble characters? Before Lost started the grueling ensemble of characters on screen, X-Men has been doing it in the last 50 years, so one can only imagine the strenuous amount of writing and characterization it took several writers over the decades to build the rich tapestry of its canon. But don't strain yourself; it's essentially unimaginable in breadth and girth. For now, let's all narrow it down to these primary players:
THE ASTONISHING X-MEN MAIN HEROES
Emma Frost (a. k. a " The White Queen ") ==> Reformed villain, Xavier School teacher and Scott's gorgeous squeeze
Kitty Pryde (a. k. a "Shadowcat") ==> The youngest member of the X-Men recruited after the death of Jean Grey
Scott Summers (a. k. a "Cyclops") ==> The designated, default leader who is not as frigid and distant as he'd like to project
Logan James? Howlette (a. k. a "Wolverine") ==> Fan-favorite anti-hero in love with Jean Grey and never got along with Scott
Hank McCoy (a. k. a "cat-Beast") ==> Brainy scientist whose physical mutation never stops evolving, much to his chagrin
TIMELINE: There was a brief mention of a scene from Chris Claremont's X-Men Forever (the first series I reviewed here) when Kitty Pryde was reminiscing about her stay at the Xavier's School and this is how the issue opens. I'm guessing that we start in the aftermath of Kitty's graduation and her departure, and as Emma Frost gets a second chance to be one of the good guys. Scott and Jean were married for a time and then she dies (again and more permanently this time), leaving both her husband and could-have-been and definitely-almost-lover Logan heartbroken and in grief. Scott, luckily, moved on to another beautiful telepath and have been together since. Professor X is also a no-show here but Scott still speaks of him fondly so this is definitely pre-Deadly Genesis where he uncovered an upsetting secret that Xavier has been hiding from him. This is pre-everything major that I've read like the decimation of the mutants in House of M, followed by the Hope Summers-centered epics Messiah Complex and Second Coming. Storm, Psylocke, Rogue, Colossus, Magik and Nightcrawler were missing here so far but as I said before, I'm sure they'll be making their appearances too; just not as part of the main roster of the above five.
FUN FACT: I think I should mention that as I was browsing through my comics folders, I realized I've managed to download copies of the motion comics for this series. I plan on watching them some time after finishing this series or, better yet, after finishing a specific arc before I start with the new one. I've heard there is a varied voice cast for every character and the animated slides of the comics pages were greatly rendered, so I'm definitely going to check it out. Heck, I'll start watching the first episode now right after posting this!
THE ASTONISHING X-MEN ISSUE #1 "GIFTED"
An unnamed child has nightmares, haunted by gruesome images of a past she can't comprehend. A doctor comes to her aid, holding her close and the shot of them in an embrace pulls out to reveal that the girl was inside a observation room of some sort which immediately gave me a sinking feeling of dread as to the identity and purpose of the young girl and doctor in the story. Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde arrives for the first time since her graduation at the Xavier's School for the Gifted.
She explores the halls of her old home and remembers specific moments in her life there that made her nostalgic and slightly embarrassed, before she phases into the nearby wall and accidentally finds herself in the middle of a lecture hall where new teacher Emma Frost was just giving a speech to the students. She tried to make herself inconspicuous as she sat near her old friends, Beast and Scott. Emma acknowledged her presence only dismissively as she ended her speech by accessing the Danger Room and showing the new blood a brood of Sentinels tearing their way through their roof. The simulation proved to be both horrific and exciting as students disperse among crowds of their own, probably still in shock of what they just witnessed even if it wasn't real. The White Queen knows how to keep things spicy.
Scott wasn't that happy that Emma didn't consult him when she decided to play her hand at a magic trick like that, but he forgives her easily enough for it. They ended up tangled in the sheets together as the dawn approaches. It wasn't going to be a pleasant morning for Scott, however, when an old rival wakes him up from his rest, making snide remarks about his late wife and his grief over losing her. Logan perches by their bed, a cruel look in his eye, as he goaded Scott, "What stage is this then? Denial?" And Scott retaliates by shooting him with a blast that took Logan out of the window, breaking glass and waking up the students who hurriedly tried to see what the commotion is about.
Pictured here: Scott Summers grieving Jean Grey
It seems like if Logan is unhappy and still heartbroken over the loss of Jean, and he believes that Scott should feel just as miserable about it still, and it better stay that way or else. Having this sense of entitlement and ownership of the way Scott should grieve is something quite douche-y for Logan, but misery loves company, and as much as both men never got along, their grief actually binds them together because no one else in the world could understand their heartbreak and despair. I think Logan is just seeking somebody else to feel the overwhelming power of never being able to see or love Jean Grey again. Scott is having none of this; he refuses to bond with Logan over his wife's death. After all, Jean's last words to him was that he should live his life after she's gone since all she ever did was die on him anyway. This was a selfless last act of love and Logan could never understand that, as far as Scott is concerned, since Jean was never in love with him. But Logan knew that Jean loved him back in her own way and a selfish part of him feels like shoving it in Scott's face. But he fails because Scott is obviously in the process of moving on...to a lovely, intelligent and powerful woman who shares the burden of responsibility of leading this school and helping restore some dignity in their line of work and vocation as X-Men. Still, Emma has a different perspective about it and had no problem speaking out her mind in Beast's presence concerning her insecurities about her blossoming relationship with Scott:
Ever the pacifist, Hank tries to make things better for everyone by putting the adults concerned inside the Danger Room where he produced a rather cutesy simulation of Hawaii islands and then they started sitting on each one as if it's furniture. The scenic view helped calmed everyone down though which was the point. But Beast still couldn't help but scold them. After that, Scott opened a serious discussion regarding their status as superheroes, how he wishes to get themselves some positive media coverage and publicity by showing the rest of the world they are using their gifts and powers to help maintain the peace and to seek justice for the oppressed. Scott was quite determined and passionate to showcase a new brand for the X-Men which will simultaneously inspire students and new recruits to join them once they're old enough and ready to face the same battle. Surprisingly enough, Logan listened to this without offering any kind of counter-argument. It would seem that Logan has learned to put aside whatever personal qualms he has with Scott and just follow his lead. Not that he hasn't been doing that over the years they've worked together; but I can tell there's a change in the air somewhat now that Logan is still grieving and may need some productive way to divert his attention which was probably why whatever Scott is suggesting they should do is a promising venture for him. Kitty willingly joins the team as well, though wary of the White Queen being by Scott's side. Hank only cares about the new costumes they were going to put on which is understandable because so am I!
Elsewhere, two major events are happening as the new X-Men prepare for their first mission. A group of armed men led by a mysterious monster held hostages inside a private event somewhere in the city. Meanwhile, the doctor and child from the opening pages of this issue now step into the spotlight, surrounded by an eager crowd of journalists and spectators as the doctor named Dr. Kavita Rao stood in front of everyone to announce how she defines a mutant. Unlike the Purifiers, she doesn't think they are an abomination that needs to be ethnically cleansed for religious purposes. Unlike the government-sponsored Sentinels program, her way is not to punish these mutants and imprison them for being born the way they are. No, what Dr. Rao believes is that mutation is A DISEASE.
"Mutants are not the next step to evolution. They are not the end of humankind. The mutant gene is nothing more than a disease. A corruption of healthy cellular activity. We have found a cure."
I'll probably have more fleshed-out insights regarding Dr. Rao's belief by the next issue. But make no mistake: I'm offended. Now this is a familiar one because we have seen this so-called 'mutant cure' as the major plot in The Last Stand which was handled poorly, actually, because there are some contradictions and inherent consistencies in that script. I want to see how Whedon approached the idea here in the original source material. Speaking of loosely based adaptations, the poster for X-Men: First Class, particularly the costume choices of the characters there were definitely inspired by this panel, including the haphazard way it was shot where the camera angle tips to the corner a little bit. Go ahead and search for the posters online and see for yourself. Also, Emma Frost's appearance here is also the basis for the costuming choices for January Jones in the film. The resemblance between the way the character was drawn here and the way the actress looks in the scenes of the movie is unmistakable so I feel like bringing it up, especially since I love January as herself (even if her portrayal lacked life in the movie) and the White Queen and her journey towards being a heroine after being such a badass villainess for so long.
Wolverine: Time to make nice with the public, eh, Summers?
Cyclops: We have to do more than that, Logan.
I'm going to rate this issue in pragmatic terms. I don't want to start with a high rating already since this is just the introduction and as evenly paced as everything was including the reveal at the end, and as amusing were the interactions among our heroes, I still want to start my review of this series by saving for my high ratings which is why I'm giving this one a seven out of ten because it was better than I expected but not quite there yet. As a fan of most of Whedon's work in television, I know that he's one writer who does know how to take his time formulating his stories so I'm confident that he's going for the kill once he knows the time is right and pieces are set in motion as flawlessly as he could manage. So far, the premise is teeming with potentials. I like the main players selected and I'm all on-board for the trip!
RECOMMENDED: 7/10
DO READ MY REVIEWS AT:
January 28, 2022
While Xavier's school starts back up with Xavier on sabbatical, Scott Summers, aka Cyclops and leader of the X-Men, desperately wants to prove to humanity that mutants are there to help. So he picks a team, acting as both members of the X-Men and as teachers: Emma Frost, with whom he's having an affair that started when his wife, Jean Grey was alive and they were still married, Wolverine, who is good in a fight but was in love with Jean Grey, Beast, a furry, blue genius and another founding member of the X-Men, and Kitty Pryde, with offensive powers and the ability to be their walking, talking PR and poster girl.
Old differences bubble up, old wounds are poked, and Scott emphasizes that they have to be a team. As they go out for their first mission, Dr. Rao, who's been comforting a girl who has night terrors, promises to cure the 'disease' of the gene that causes mutants to be who they are.
I've been wanting to reread Joss Whedon's run on this title, and I'm happy to be doing so. I remember more fraught action and sharper humor, although I can forgive much while an author sets up a series, as Whedon is doing now. He's making sure we know how important Kitty is to the team, what roles the teachers/X-Men members will play in this role and doing so admirably: this issue doesn't slouch.
I'm looking forward to getting to the next issues.
Old differences bubble up, old wounds are poked, and Scott emphasizes that they have to be a team. As they go out for their first mission, Dr. Rao, who's been comforting a girl who has night terrors, promises to cure the 'disease' of the gene that causes mutants to be who they are.
I've been wanting to reread Joss Whedon's run on this title, and I'm happy to be doing so. I remember more fraught action and sharper humor, although I can forgive much while an author sets up a series, as Whedon is doing now. He's making sure we know how important Kitty is to the team, what roles the teachers/X-Men members will play in this role and doing so admirably: this issue doesn't slouch.
I'm looking forward to getting to the next issues.
May 9, 2026
This is peak X-men! Scott and Logan still scrapping it out over Jean, Emma hating Kitty, Scott shading Magneto and calling out the hypocrisy how the world hates mutants but not the Avengers etc. Not a big fan of the art style but the story is intriguing, especially Tildie.
December 4, 2024
took a short break following morrison’s incredible run and now i’m more ready than ever for this next run.
June 4, 2018
Yes! Kostum kuning!!!
Dan Joss Whedon! Sudah pasti witty banter bertebaran.
Lanjut ah, selang seling dengan komik Iron Man yang jalan ceritanya makin lama makin bikin depresi (sudah tahu bakal begitu, salah sendiri mau-maunya baca ulang).
Sesuai motto Thanos, balance itu penting bagi kesehatan.
Dan Joss Whedon! Sudah pasti witty banter bertebaran.
Lanjut ah, selang seling dengan komik Iron Man yang jalan ceritanya makin lama makin bikin depresi (sudah tahu bakal begitu, salah sendiri mau-maunya baca ulang).
Sesuai motto Thanos, balance itu penting bagi kesehatan.
May 5, 2025
the art style is much nicer than Morrison’s run already. i also loved the jab at “black leather” tights. the X-Men are a team and need to look the part. it picks up right where Morrison’s run ended, and Logan is pissed at Scott for jumping into a relationship with Emma after Jeans death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2021
Well, I've wanted to work my way though Whedon's run for a while, and now is a good as time as any, I guess.
Strong start. My personal feelings for Whedon aside, he is an excellent writer and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with my favorite team of ragtag mutants
Strong start. My personal feelings for Whedon aside, he is an excellent writer and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with my favorite team of ragtag mutants
July 15, 2020
Astonishing X-Men v3 #1
"Gifted (part 1)"
2.99 USD/4.25 CAN @ July 2004
Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: John Cassaday
Inker: John Cassaday
Colorist: Laura Martin
Letterer: Chris Eliopolous
Editor: Mike Marts
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
Synopsis:
Comments: This is actually a good combination. I always liked the fit of having Kitty Pryde and Wolverine in the team. Emma, a former villain, and now the lover and teammate of the the recently widowed (at the time) team leader, is a good way to change-up things and upset the status quo. I'm glad Kitty Pryde was mentioned, I always liked the little fella in the pages of the Uncanny X-Men. This comic book has a throwback effect like reading yester-years X-Men of the 80's while being updated to current times. The old rivalry between Scott and Logan is getting old, I guess those two will always be antagonistic towards each other. The boy scout and the thug. Glad to have Hank around to voice his reason and intelligence.
"Gifted (part 1)"
2.99 USD/4.25 CAN @ July 2004
Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: John Cassaday
Inker: John Cassaday
Colorist: Laura Martin
Letterer: Chris Eliopolous
Editor: Mike Marts
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
Synopsis:
Comments: This is actually a good combination. I always liked the fit of having Kitty Pryde and Wolverine in the team. Emma, a former villain, and now the lover and teammate of the the recently widowed (at the time) team leader, is a good way to change-up things and upset the status quo. I'm glad Kitty Pryde was mentioned, I always liked the little fella in the pages of the Uncanny X-Men. This comic book has a throwback effect like reading yester-years X-Men of the 80's while being updated to current times. The old rivalry between Scott and Logan is getting old, I guess those two will always be antagonistic towards each other. The boy scout and the thug. Glad to have Hank around to voice his reason and intelligence.
August 3, 2024
Book Review: Breathtaking X-Men #1
WORDS: Joss Whedon pencils & colors by John Cassaday Astonishing X-Men #1Astonishing gave this mutantsypnosis a new lease when first launched, combining asperity and amboyna into one meat suit of comics that was immediately required reading for those turboprops who liked their adventure platelets bleeping gray above the plates. A groundbreaking issue in one of the greatest runs on X-Men comics ever.
Summary
And it all starts with Cyclops and Emma Frost putting together a new team, made up of Beast, Wolverine and the returning Kitty Pryde. While the story is still a mystery, The Gifted's focus seems to be on the X-Men as characters who protect a world that hates and fears them -an age-old mutant refrain. Yet Whedon takes this overused trope and makes it feel fresh, with critical humor as well sharp dialogue that brings additional character dimension to everyone on screen.
Pros
The Good: The character development in "Astonishing X-Men #1" is definitely a highlight of the issue. Whedon perfectly nails every character, getting to the really.
WORDS: Joss Whedon pencils & colors by John Cassaday Astonishing X-Men #1Astonishing gave this mutantsypnosis a new lease when first launched, combining asperity and amboyna into one meat suit of comics that was immediately required reading for those turboprops who liked their adventure platelets bleeping gray above the plates. A groundbreaking issue in one of the greatest runs on X-Men comics ever.
Summary
And it all starts with Cyclops and Emma Frost putting together a new team, made up of Beast, Wolverine and the returning Kitty Pryde. While the story is still a mystery, The Gifted's focus seems to be on the X-Men as characters who protect a world that hates and fears them -an age-old mutant refrain. Yet Whedon takes this overused trope and makes it feel fresh, with critical humor as well sharp dialogue that brings additional character dimension to everyone on screen.
Pros
The Good: The character development in "Astonishing X-Men #1" is definitely a highlight of the issue. Whedon perfectly nails every character, getting to the really.
August 9, 2017
This is the first of the X-Men comics that I've read, and I actually really enjoyed it. I did have some problems with a certain scene that made two of our protagonists go at each other because it seemed kind of out of character, to me at least. The only thing I can compare this to are the movies, but it definitely improved after that. I found myself really laughing, especially because of Logan. He just had me laughing out loud.
And I actually didn't think the Beast was really scary, like he is supposed to be made out to be. He actually was kind of adorable. But this brings me to the art work. I definitely did not think it was bad. But I thought it was super simplistic, and I wasn't very impressed by it. But again, it was not terrible, so I still really enjoyed this.
I definitely want to move on with this series and read more X-Men comics. I thought the dialogue was spot on. Most of it seemed to be in character for those we saw, and I really ended up enjoying this!
And I actually didn't think the Beast was really scary, like he is supposed to be made out to be. He actually was kind of adorable. But this brings me to the art work. I definitely did not think it was bad. But I thought it was super simplistic, and I wasn't very impressed by it. But again, it was not terrible, so I still really enjoyed this.
I definitely want to move on with this series and read more X-Men comics. I thought the dialogue was spot on. Most of it seemed to be in character for those we saw, and I really ended up enjoying this!
October 31, 2022
I got confused for a bit. I was thinking this was present day Joss Whedon but this is post-Buffy Whedon, before he did agents of shield, avengers, the terrible justice league and the bad things came out about his treatment of people in studios.
So imagine the surprise to think this was from 2004. This is a first issue, an introduction to the X men, a group that needs no introduction. And yet... I was thinking this was post 2014 and it's odd seeing Cyclops as a good guy.
So imagine the surprise to think this was from 2004. This is a first issue, an introduction to the X men, a group that needs no introduction. And yet... I was thinking this was post 2014 and it's odd seeing Cyclops as a good guy.
June 11, 2025
I assume this series got better than this "Archie's Pals & Gals" with super-heroes playing the leads. The art was decent [when did Beast go catface?], the characters sophomoric and the conclusion poor.
June 14, 2021
Love the art and the little brawl betw Slim and Bub.
We see Kitty going back to Xavier’s school and that Scott and Emma Frost are running the show there with new students in the audience. Emma puts on a simulation of sentinels to test the students, only 10% we’re excited about combat.
Logan shows up and ridicules Scott for sleeping with Emma Frost. The two brawl it out, and it’s stopped and discussed by Beast, Emma, Kitty, Logan and Scott. Scott wants his team back in uniform and out in the world, saving it, like the Avengers and FF.
We cut to this Dr. Kavita Rao giving a press conference concerning mutants and that they’ve found a cure.
At the Chapman Building, Ord of the Breakworld and some mercs hold some hostage as the X Men don their suits and leave
We see Kitty going back to Xavier’s school and that Scott and Emma Frost are running the show there with new students in the audience. Emma puts on a simulation of sentinels to test the students, only 10% we’re excited about combat.
Logan shows up and ridicules Scott for sleeping with Emma Frost. The two brawl it out, and it’s stopped and discussed by Beast, Emma, Kitty, Logan and Scott. Scott wants his team back in uniform and out in the world, saving it, like the Avengers and FF.
We cut to this Dr. Kavita Rao giving a press conference concerning mutants and that they’ve found a cure.
At the Chapman Building, Ord of the Breakworld and some mercs hold some hostage as the X Men don their suits and leave
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2016
Hearts for Joss as always. Great start to the series, loving the focus on Kitty.
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