Astonishing X-Men

JOSS WHEDON / JOHN CASSADAY /MARVEL

    Being a hardcore Buffy fan, I went into Astonishing X-Men#1 with high expectations; they were exceeded.  Joss Whedon has brought his mastery of characterization, pacing, and drama to the X-Universe, and, after a good 10 years, I’m finally excited about reading an X-Men comic again.  Moreover, Whedon himself is clearly excited about having the opportunity to write the X-Men, and his affection for the characters and their history is evident on every page.  Wisely concentrating on only a core team of 5 members (Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, Kitty Pryde, and Emma Frost), Whedon is having a field day reminding us of why the X-Men used to be THE superhero comic before floundering in a morass of excess titles, clunky crossovers, and an overloading of characters.  From Kitty explaining her mistrust of Emma with a reference to the classic X-Men#129 to her vocal disbelief and revulsion towards Frost’s teaching purview at Xavier’s school (“you teach ethics?”), Whedon deftly intertwines pathos, humor, and ambiguity to reinvigorate these characters without sacrificing their history and continuity.  Indeed, while Whedon seamlessly references X-Men continuity (right up to Morrison’s run), he never allows it to take precedence over the characters and their interactions.  As this team of X-Men attempts to educate their young mutant charges and gain the trust of the public, Whedon, as he did so masterfully on Buffy and Angel, never lets the reader lose sight of the fact that it is the characters, their interpersonal conflicts and private struggles, that drive the story.

    Issues 1 through 6 are available in the trade 'Gifted'.