Based on the Graphic Novel by Joss Whedon & John Cassaday. The X-Men have evolved. Cyclops and Emma Frost re-form the team with the express purpose of "astonishing" the world. But when breaking news regarding the mutant gene unexpectedly hits the airwaves, will it derail their new plans before they even get started? As demand for the "mutant cure" reaches near-riot levels, the X-Men go head-to-head with the enigmatic Ord, with an unexpected ally - and some unexpected adversaries - tipping the scales! Experience the blockbuster re-imagining of the X-Men like never before in this prose adaptation! © Marvel
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The X-men franchise has remained popular for nearly 30 years by constantly refreshing its story line yet keeping its core group of characters in a variety of unresolved long-running situations. This current incarnation features Whedon (creator of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise) and Cassaday (Planetary) at the top of their game, as they create a highly entertaining action soap opera. The plot involves elements that will be familiar to both old fans and movie viewers—antimutant sentiment; tension between team leader Cyclops and lone wolf Wolverine—but Whedon's dialogue is fresh and to the point, while Cassaday's detailed and intense art gives all the goings-on a sense of importance. The main story involves a possible cure for the mutant gene that is at the center of a struggle between the X-men and Ord, a murderous alien who has a mysterious personal grudge against the team. Complications include the cat-monkey–like Beast pondering whether to attempt to take the cure, possibly vindicating the antimutant forces' belief that mutations are a disease. For those who may not be up to speed on the minutiae of X-history, Whedon brings in returning member Kitty Pryde as a convenient viewpoint character. While a few nods to formula feel forced, this story demonstrates once again why the X-men are the top team in superhero comics. (Jan.)
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*Starred Review* Marvel Comics scored a coup by signing Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Whedon to write one of its popular X-Men comics. This collection of the first six issues of Astonishing X-Men shows Marvel's maneuver paying off artistically as well as commercially. The strengths that made Buffy a long-running cult hit are also in play here: a group of good-looking young outcasts who use their special abilities to protect mankind; vivid characterizations conveyed through deft dialogue that veers from the inspirational to the smartass; and a perfect balancing of action, soap opera, and humor. In fact, the cast of Buffy can be viewed as analogues of individual X-Men, from Giles = Professor X through Dawn = Kitty Pryde. Few scripters from outside the industry have demonstrated the mastery of the medium that Whedon displays in this early effort, which Cassaday enhances with graceful yet dynamic artwork. In the wake of writer Grant Morrison's noble effort to desuperheroify the X-Men by replacing their garish costumes with black leather outfits, Whedon's decision to revert to their four-color roots may raise some eyebrows. But given Whedon's impressive results, it's hard to find fault with how effectively he has carried out his retro approach. Gordon Flagg
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