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Astonishing
X-Men
1/JULY/2004
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: John Cassaday
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price: $2.99 US/R33.00 SA
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For many people the long wait is finally at an end. Joss
Whedons’ new X-Men project is finally here. All the
speculation can be put aside and the book can start to speak for
itself. Is this the next revolution for the X-Men? Read on to find
out.
With their school rebuilt but their team still broken apart from
past losses and battles, it’s time to start afresh for the
X-Men. With Cyclops’ new
team vision welcomes a return to a more public persona. With infighting
and sarcasm at an all time high can this new turn towards cohesion
be possible? How can this ill-advised and seemingly ineffectual
team of mutants turn things around and bring a beloved public face
to the X-Men once again?
Joss Whedon [Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
Firefly, Fray] has been the focal
point for the media circus that’s surrounded this title ever
since it’s solicitation months ago. This has been for good
reason as he manages to bring a solid writing debut to the X-Men
universe in this first issue. Whedon impresses me most with
his knack for quick-witted dialogue. It’s easy to
see his script writing background coming into play when reading
through the back and forth banter amongst the various team members.
Joss seems to have done his homework and drops some nice little
gems for fans throughout this initial storyline with references
to Lockheed, Kitty Prides pet dragon, and to former
X-Man Colossus.
This issue deals with the new vision and direction for the team
and Whedon does a superb job of explaining this but at the same
time having fun with it. The story leaps into action at the end
of the issue as the bigger picture starts to unfold and Whedon sets
his hooks in and hints at plotlines for the future of this story
arc.
On the whole the writing covers every angle, the introduction of
the new team and explanation of the vision of the main characters,
the setting up of the larger story and plot, and it’s all
sewn together with some gorgeously witty and intelligent dialogue.
The second part of the one-two punch of this Astonishing team is
the artist John Cassaday [Planetary,
I Am Legion]. With so much of the focus directed
towards Joss Whedon many people might have overlooked Cassadays’
influence on this title. After seeing this issue however they’ll
never make that mistake again. To say his art is spot-on would be
a huge mistake, it’s way past that. Breathtakingly
realistic renderings in each and every panel will leave you gob
smacked and aching for more. I must admit that I’ve
been meaning to check out his work on Planetary for ages and after
seeing this comic I am kicking myself for not having done so sooner.
This guy rocks the house and I can’t wait to see what’s
coming in the next eleven issues. My only complaint would have to
be the somewhat dodgy costume designs chosen for the ‘New
Spandex’ look of the team. Beast and Wolverine seem to suffer
the most with this ‘remake’ of old designs with the
former having a somewhat dodgy pair of cut-off baby grows with matching
shin-pads, and the latter having some very strange appendages to
the nasal portion of his mask.
Laura Martin [Ruse] graces Cassaday’s
awesome imagery with her equally sublime palate of colors. Always
spot on and never over the top, her work handsomely compliments
Cassadays and helps create some of the best artwork seen on the
X-Men franchise in recent years. The only problem I have is why
Marvel chooses to use a cheap paper stock for this A-list production.
Annoying show-through spoils an otherwise perfect art choice and
I feel like rapping Marvel over the knuckles for spoiling an otherwise
wonderful looking comic book. Many other publishers have put down
the money to provide a solution to this problem and it’s about
time Marvel did too.
This is something all superhero fans should take a look
at. With writing and art that’s some of the best
that mainstream superhero comics has to offer you’d be a fool
not to check this one out.
Score 9/10
Reviewed By:Iain Duncan
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