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The villain, alien Ord from the Breakworld, wasn't the most interesting villain but does the job.John Cassaday's artwork is fantastic. This first collection did not disappoint. Whedon's sense of humor is all over the place, usually with great effect, but the characters are all true to their nature. It's not my favorite line up for the team, but it was still a good mix.
As a long time X fan, I am always excited to check out a new series based on this mutant team. His action scenes are very cinematic and he's able to compliment the comedic moments too with very realistic facial expressions. While I enjoy the style, the cure storyline has been done, so it would have been nice to see something original, but I'll be curious to see where they go with it. Prior to this I read Whedon's Fray, an excellent sci-fi vampire slayer book.
Colossus and Nick Fury both pop up as well.I'm enjoying the interaction between the group. Will definitely continue this series in the future, with hopefully some more appearances from the extended X family. So when it came down to choosing between this and Morrison's New X-Men, I went with this (I'm a little burned out on Morrison after Batman R.I.P). This go round, the team consists of Cyclops and Emma Frost leading the team, with Beast, Wolverine, and Shadow Cat.
This series is very well written and it's very original aside from its characters. We can only take this element so far.I was suggested to read this as sort of a refreshment for a second entry into X-men. They constantly fight with eachother about how they are going to go about gaining acceptance. Cyclops, Emma Frost, Wolvie, and Kitty Pride were great choices for an X-men team. I'm use to the difference in mutant abilities, but this book was about the mere clashing of simple human opinion. I picked this up with little previous X-men history.
Joss Whedon is really "Gifted" and the title speaks more to himself, than to the mutants.I was really shocked because the X-men are not happy in the least. I really wasn't let down. I managed to pick up this volume and hit it off fairly well. I found this very fascinating, although I'm hoping that they can all get along. They feed off eachother like parasites. The story is great, because I had no ability to predict what was going to happen next.
It was truly an experience to see these characters differ so much.
Throughout the series, Whedon crafts an exciting story with many twists and turns. I can't recommend this storyline enough.
Each book is very enjoyable and well worth the purchase. Whedon and Cassaday completed 24 total issues during their run with Astonishing X-Men, which are compiled in Astonishing X-Men volumes 1-4.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cassaday's art complements the style perfectly, and does a great deal to help with the story.
It's a great introduction to a fantastic run by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday.
He makes a very complex and rich storyline that avoids being contrived or difficult to follow.
Great characters, storylines, dialogue, illustrations.everything. LOVE IT. There so addictive, and well worth the price.
Now ALL of that emotional impact is washed away with his ridiculous ressurrection. The Dialogue. I kid you not. Love his art. It is overhyped and falsely dubbed as imaginative and fresh when it's actually business as usual. But if you like reading such stuff by all means go for it. Grant Morrison did away with them and I could not be happier. I don't have to say anything else.
And I could overlook this galling and immature cliche if at least Whedon had come up with an imaginative reason. This is the reason why I stopped reading mainstream Marvel and DC comics. This first volume, "Gifted" covers a geneticist finding a "cure" for mutants and the ramifications of that announcement on our beloved outcasts. Colossus died a hero's death. Why, why would Whedon, right out of the gate, commit the most irritating sin a comic writer can do. I mean, c'mon.3).
But now comes Whedon and for no good reason.brings them back. Do we really need the ridiculous skintight uniforms. Here's the Bad:1). His lines are clean, his style fluid and best of all.his characters are REALISTIC. Now, don't get me wrong, Joss Whedon is a talented and imaginative writer. (SPOILER ALERT) Colossus' return. It makes me wanna tear my hair out. That being said he was completely out of his depth with Astonishing X Men.
Joss can write great banter, you gotta give the guy that and he certainly delivers in his volume. I love both Buffy and Firefly. An alien dragon as a pet. John Cassaday's art is awesome. No 25 inch biceps here.the women have individual bust sizes unlike say Marc Silvestri's women who all have gigantic mammaries. But the Gods of Kobol are not that kind.
In conclusion, if you, like me, are tired of comic book cliches, tired of characters dying and returning to life the next month, tired of not feeling any true suspense or fear for your favorite heroes because you know that any major changes will be unmade within a couple of years, then stay AWAY from Astonishing X Men. I think he can write great, witty dialogue and create very intelligent and living characters. A "clone" died in his place. Maybe it's because I have just finished reading Mark Millar's AMAZING run on Ultimate X Men but seeing aliens and such on what is supposed to be a somewhat realistic take was irritating. It makes the regular Marvel Universe look like garbage with their ubiquitous aliens, constant ressurrections, never-dying villains and heroes and countless alternate universes and retcons.
Stupid comic book deaths. The reason behind Colossus's ressurrection. Ord from the Breakworld. Thank GOD for the Ultimate Marvel Universe. Superheroes wear costumes". Seriously.
Here's the Good:1). This is why no one takes super hero comics seriously: when people die it's a temporary condition. 2). 2). I think the entire reasoning for wearing skintight, yellow colored, circus clothing is given by Cyclops as "We're superheroes.
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