Review - ASTONISHING X-MEN #24

WRITER: Joss Whedon

PENCILLER: John Cassaday

INKER: Chris Eliopoulos

COLORIST: Laura Martin

EDITOR: Axel Alonso

RELEASE DATE: January 23, 2008

 

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My wife introduced me to the work of Joss Whedon before we where married. It was through BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and I quickly became a fan. Later, after we where married, we accumulated the complete series on DVD and I spent a lot of time watching them and deconstructing the stories. By studying the story structure I was able to see the method to the madness. I have a tendency to do that, breaking down stories to see how they work. It’s fun and a good mental exercise.

When we found out that he would be writing the Astonishing X-Men, we where excited! Now, 24 issues later, I can look back and see how his mad master plan had began…

One of the hallmarks of Joss Whedon’s writing is his ability to weave a story that grabs the readers and sends them off in one direction. Once they get comfortable and think they know where the story is going, he spins them around and makes an unexpected stop in a new zipcode. That is pretty much how the whole Astonishing X-Men series has been, and this installment is no exception.

Enough of that, on to the issue.

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Issue #24 starts off with the Astonishing X-Men on the Breakworld trying to save the Earth. Since being launched into space, we have discovered that Colossus is destined to destroy the Breakworld, Lockheed was working with S.W.O.R.D., watched Cyclops die (he got better), the long awaited consummation of of a relationship as old as the new X-Men, and they even managed to capture the leader of a whole planet! Translation: LOTS OF STUFF HAS GONE DOWN!

Hold up in equivalent of the only hospital on the whole planet, the Astonishing X-Men, S.W.O.R.D. survivors, and alien sympathizers try and make their plans to save the Earth from a 10-mile long missile aimed at the Earth. Yeah, as Beast said in issue #22, “That’s no moon.”

As with the last several issues, we really see Scott Summers come into his own as a leader.  Yes, he has been leading the X-Men in one fashion or another for quite a while, but many time he was portrayed as not having total confidence and getting a lot of input. Now we have a Scott Summers who is large and in charge. He makes his plan and takes no whining about it. His plan? Split up into two groups, one handle the missile, the other go threaten Breakworld.

Things quickly go pear-shaped as we discover the mastermind behind it all (not who you think) and the true nature of the threat to Earth.

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Not to go back and start tooting the Whedon horn again, but this issue is another solid homerun. Taken by itself, it is simply good, but within the context of the whole story it adds to a run that is destined to be one of the legends. But, there are some complaints. Whedon is masterful with the one liners and wit. That was a hallmark of Buffy and Serenity and he carries it over into his other work. But the problem hits when his wit clashes with some of the other character traits. Example: Scott tries to strike a deal with Powerlord Kuun, your world for ours. After the Kuun essentially turns him down, Scott cracks a joke, “Are you TRYING to wipe out your world?” He cracks a joke at an enemy who has no sense of humor and sees anything but physical strength as a weakness. Still, the dialogue is good and fun to read.

The art by John Cassaday in this issue is just as good as the others. He will defiantly go down as one of the stellar artist of the day, but there seems to be the occasional slip. Occasionally a face looks off, or Colossus no longer seems muscular. But over all, it is on the same level as we expect.

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The thing that makes me wonder is the same as lots of Marvel titles: When The Hell Does This Happen? The whole series seems to have taken place within a matter of weeks, with only a day or two since they landed on Breakworld. I mean, back on Earth we have a major storyline with the X-Men tying up, Scott disbanding the teams, Wolverine gathering X-Force, etc. There are several members of the Astonishing missing from that crossover, and it makes me wonder if that is a hint to some happening in this series.

Bottom line: If you have enjoyed Whedon and Cassaday’s work up till now, you will continue to be astonished. Their handling of the X-Men is one which was long overdue, and as long as you accept that what you thought you knew is probably wrong, you are gonna enjoy this issue.

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