Astonishing X-Men #3
Author: HEIDI
July 29th, 2004
Astonishing X-Men #3
Marvel Comics
Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: John Cassaday
Colorist: Laura Martin
Price: $2.99
Rating: 4 stars
Based on the hype and utter balls of Marvel to ?reload? the X-Men line of titles AGAIN, I really wanted to hate Astonishing X-Men. Oohh, the writer did Buffy, oohh, John Cassaday is the hot Penciller, and on and on. Well, color me embarrassed again, as I have enjoyed each issue immensely. Not only has Joss Whedon done his homework, but his inner geek is showing with each glowing page.
Whedon hand-picked his team, keeping the Grant Morrison line up from New X-Men with the exception of the dearly departed Jean Grey. Instead, Kitty Pryde plays foil to the cunning, but reformed Emma Frost. A high point for me is watching the relationship unfold here, as Kitty and Emma have a long, bitter history. The fact that Whedon brings that ball right into play made major brownie points with me. I also have really liked the interaction between the men on the team, as their testosterone boils over time and again. Wolverine doesn?t try to be civilized, and it is a breath of fresh air.
Issue three is the third part of the Mutant Cure storyline. As Hank hovers on the line of wanting the cure to work, the rest of the team says their peace. Fights break out, and the ever present danger room is once again scene to a make up session of sorts, as the group Whedon has chosen hovers on that fine line between love and hate. In the middle of this are the students, who are witness to their teacher?s altercations and alliances. With a cure on the horizon, and mutiny afoot, things aren?t about to get better any time soon.
Artist Cassaday is making good on his art work by being timely and excellent at his craft. His work has never looked better, and colorist Laura Martin is the secret weapon. From her days as Laura Depuy, working on The Authority and JLA, to the salad days of Cross Gen, Martin is worth every piece of change they pay her. Martin always goes that extra mile, with incredible shadowing, and a beautiful palette.
Astonishing X-Men is the best ?reload? going, along with District X. I know some Claremont fans may disagree, and as much as I respect and enjoy what he is doing on Uncanny and Excalibur, the Astonishing title is the current crown jewel here. Readers avoiding the book because of the hype need to give this title a gander. It is worth the $2.99 cover price, with the extra bonus of Martin colors.
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4 Responses to “Astonishing X-Men #3”
July 29th, 2004 at 7:21 pm
Heidi, you are so right. Whedon is making all right moves; kinda bring the superhero element back to the forefront. I loved it when Kitty threw the whole Hellfire thing in Emma’s face. The group dynamics are great. And I’m a sucker for Cassaday’s art. Good stuff.
July 29th, 2004 at 7:41 pm
Yep, the Emma-Kitty moment has been one of the best, along with Emma comparing herself to a “ghost” in issue one. Whedon really nails it.
July 30th, 2004 at 8:23 am
What about Hank creating Hawaii in the danger room to cool things off - but not being specific about scale. Cracked me up seeing the X-Men each sitting on their own little island. It’s always nice when a hyped up book lives up to the hype and I definitely think Astonishing X-Men does. I’m enjoying it immensely.
August 13th, 2004 at 9:14 pm
I’d like to talk to Laura Martin. Her work is pure cinema onAstonishing. I color digitaly, and she’s got me excited and happy about it for the first time in a long while. Is there any way to write her a fan letter?
God. That Spandex. All spandex before this looked like highly reflective tin. Laura Martin’s Spandex looks like Spandex.