The following was originally publishing in the Weekly Planet 7/4/18.
Every comic fan has a first. That book or that story that introduces to you what the medium of sequential art can do and instills in you a love that won’t go away. Mine was the original Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. What began on a whim rooted in love for Firefly and X2: X-Men United ended with a new, obsessive love of comics.
The book is nearly pitch perfect. It’s the essence of superheroism and the X-Men boiled down and served up right. Everything you love about the banter and team dynamics of Buffy or the Avengers movies is on display here. Whedon is perfectly able to translate his unique brand of wit to the page. He is supported all the way by a never-better Cassaday, who draws such clear panels with a great sense of orientation. The fights feel like fights, not just characters striking poses. In terms of both art and story, everything flows elegantly from one point to the next.
The book hones in on a small team of characters and really digs deep. Each of them gets a superb story of their own, alongside their service in the main story. Emma Frost and Beast have honestly never been more charming or engaging. Kitty Pryde is as spot on as you’d hope (Whedon always said Buffy was just his wanting to write Kitty Pryde). Cyclops is at his most likable here, and Wolverine is doing what he should always be doing: mentoring a young girl and stabbing dudes. It’s truly one of the best X-stories there is and you can grab the whole collection RIGHT NOW here at FP!
There have been many X-books since Whedon and Cassaday concluded their run. Some great (X-Men Red is currently changing my life), some not so great (there was a rough five to seven years there, depending on who you ask). But I am elated that the X-book that meant the most to me is currently riding high.
After a twelve issue run by Charles Soule, the book is now turning over a new leaf with FP favorite Matthew Rosenburg and artist Greg Land! Starting with this week’s Issue #13, there will be an entirely new creative team on the book as well as a new X-team IN the book.
After a recent stint as a villain, Havok discovers a threat to the world and goes to the X-Men for help. Can they trust him? Should they trust him? It’ll be up to the team of Beast, Dazzler (!!!), Colossus, and Warpath to make those calls. And you’ll just have to read it to find out.
To say that I’m excited for this book would be an understatement. To say that I think you should read the original Astonishing X-Men is THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF UNDERSTATEMENTS. In either case, you’ll get some darn good Colossus. Which is good. He could use the support. Poor guy’s been through a lot lately…
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