Astonishing X-Men

Whedon is the best thing to happen to the X-Franchise since Morrison’s run.

Astonishing X-Men is one of the best consistently well written titles out there. First we had Joss Whedon with his witty writing and now Warren Ellis with his great dialogue.

This series shifts back and forth. As it has been acclaimed as one of the best I had to read it. Like so many other series that hype themselves up this one inevitably fell as substandard.

The first story arc is mediocre, I suppose the major focus would be character development since the plot line is the typical mutant cure story and the villain is some sort of squid alien.

The second story creates the character Danger. The Danger Room personified, goofy? maybe but still not that bad. It could have been worse.

The third story seems to be where Whedon really shines. He manages to cripple every character each in a completely unique way. It is so far the only story I’ve read yet where Cassandra Nova didn’t come off as cheesy or as a walking cliche. In reflection this story may be why I continued reading the series despite my disappointment.

Anyway volume four comes along as the last story for the original writer and it is by far one of the worst ones I’ve ever read. The x-men go to the giant squid alien planet (named the Breakworld) to prevent a bomb from being launched at earth. It turns out the launch mechanism is gravity and the bomb is not a bomb but rather a big metal bullet.

Anyway the next volume, number 5 has Ellis as the writer. His first story is weird. I usually like his work but this tale just seemed poor. An odd scifi adventure that takes us across multiverses that were all doomed to destruction.

Then Ellis gives us a crappy story about a mutant that wants to attack the xmen because they’re prettier than herself.

Then the series hits a hiatus where Ellis goes off and writes a story that is still astonishing x-men but for some reason is not included in the main series. This title is Xenogenesis. It was an interesting tale I suppose.

Anyway this brings me to the recent issues after the hiatus.

New writer Dan Way comes in with a decent tale. I don’t dislike it
however his story is going to get real muddled when after the second issue the story will be consecutive after every other issue.
The other story going on in every other issue is by Gage.

Two writers at the same time with interspersed issues? Why not give one a limited series and prevent the confusion among new readers?

Anyway this series is riddled with delays, wanders off into limited series, and since Whedon left has not had an overarching story line.

Each story is a stand alone tale, take it or leave it. I may have disliked Whedon’s run I still enjoyed the fact that each story was tied to the previous one.

The series now is just a mire of random unrelated tales.

Overall Astonishing X-Men is mediocre. I rate it 2.5 out of 5

Of the main X-Men series going on right now (of which there is four with X-Men in the title) I’d recommend X-Men Legacy. It has had the same writer for well over fifty issues and has consistently given a consistent and good storyline.