Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: John Cassaday
Publisher: Marvel Comics
I’m not going to lie, I haven’t been absolutely crazy “ga-ga” about Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s Astonishing X-Men. I mean, let’s be honest, we all complain about creators not being able to hit deadlines, books being delayed, and storylines being completed in annuals released eons after they begin. There is no bigger culprit to this problem than Astonishing X-Men. This series launched in the fall of 2004, it is now fall 2007 and we haven’t even gotten 24 issues. Three years to write a 24 issue storyline. Okay, so Astonishing X-Men is touted as the best X-book since Morrison left but I’d have to disagree. Craig Kyle and Chris Yost have crafted excellent stories in New X-Men and multiple X-23 mini-series, all of which were developed and released during Whedon’s tenure. X-Men: First Class is an amazing series featuring the original team of X-Men, a series originally slated as a mini-series and transformed into an ongoing. And now with the onslaught of the “Messiah Complex” for this first time since the days of Morrison on X-Men and Austen on Uncanny X-Men, I am once again becoming a regular X-reader. To Whedon’s credit, it has been said that Astonishing takes place outside of regular X-continuity. I can buy that and I did buy that up until I read Uncanny X-Men #492, also on shelves this week, which directly refers to incidents involved in Astonishing X-Men. Now allow me to counter my own point, no matter which way you slice it. Joss Whedon’s run on Astonishing X-Men will be remembered as one of the best X-Men space sagas ever, when it is collected and read from start to finish. Aside from that, it has been a great example of comic-book storytelling.
The delays and drawn out release of this story has really affected the way that I feel about this title. But, and this is a big “but”, when I look back on this series as a whole, it has been meticulously told and one of the most beautifully drawn X-Men stories in a very long time. Whedon also has earned points in my book for giving my all time favorite X-Man, Cyclops, enough character depth to make him respectable once again. Brubaker seems to be doing the same thing with “Messiah Complex” but it has been Whedon that has returned Cyclops to “leader” status. I usually like it when the X-Men stay grounded and deal with more Earthly” issues, but Whedon has been able to pull off this space saga so well that I sometimes when reading Astonishing X-Men, I forget we are dealing with Earth based super-heroes.
What ultimately works with this issue is the way Joss Whedon begins to unravel everything that has been taking place in this storyline. Being the penultimate chapter and all, I’d hope the plot would unravel and thicken, but it is Whedon’s execution that makes this issue easily one of the best of the series. The pacing seems slow, but it’s not, it’s methodical. Whedon has been building up to the revelations in this issue for a very long time.
The one thing that really draws me into this issue is the way Whedon portrays Cyclops. For the past few years, Slim Summers has been nothing more than a basket case. Sure, he’s bedded two of the hottest and craziest women in the Marvel Universe, but those two women also have the ability to control his mind. However, the one thing no creator can ever take away from Cyclops is the fact that he is, and forever will be, the greatest leader of the X-Men. He is a master strategist; a tactician that will always lead his X-Men to victory no matter how often Wolverine goes into “loose cannon” mode. The scene where Cyclops is tortured and in turn stalls long enough for the X-Men to get into position is fantastic. Whedon takes the ever-mentally handicapped Cyclops and gives him an edge, the aura of complete “badassness” that his character severely needs. After all, he has bedded two of the hottest women in the Marvel Universe.
There are a great deal of revelations in this issue as well. The mystery behind the Breakworld and the rock that prophesizes Colossus as it’s destructor takes a very interesting turn that I can’t wait to see play out. There have definitely been a lot of underlying themes and plot points throughout this series and when it is completed and I read it all as a whole, I’m sure it will resonate for years to come. Of course my favorite moment comes when Cyclops reveals his final “lie” to Kruun. It was predictable, I had a feeling it was coming but the sheer fact that it happened on such a huge scale was phenomenal. I won’t reveal what happens, but if you’ve been reading this series you know exactly what I’m talking about.
John Cassaday’s artwork is just that, John Cassaday’s artwork. He is one of the premiere talents of our day and I hope he continues his work with Marvel. Hell I’ll take him at any publisher. Cassaday is one of the top names in the industry and continues to prove that with each issue he draws. I know I opened up this review commenting on delays and such, but when the final product hits comic shelves, I see Cassaday’s work and I could care less how long it took, it’s so pretty.
Overall, this is the best issue of Astonishing X-Men in Whedon and Cassaday’s long run. I was thinking about docking this book a bullet because of the rampant delays of this title, but I came to the rationalization that it is a bit too late in the game for that. This is one of the finest penultimate chapters of a storyline and ultimately a creative run I have ever read. This is just a damn good read. Once again I am super-excited about the X-Men, and I am on the edge of my seat for the conclusion of this storyline, no matter how long it takes.
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