Astonishing X-Men is the name of four X-Men comic book series from Marvel Comics, the first two of which were limited series. The third volume, an ongoing series, began in 2004, with its first run written by Joss Whedon and art by John Cassaday. It was then written by Warren Ellis with art by Simone Bianchi and Phil Jimenez. Daniel Way and Christos Gage then took over the title writing alternating stories. They were followed by James Asmus who wrote one issue, then Greg Pak, who took over for four issues in November 2011. Marjorie Liu wrote the final 21 issues of the series until its end at issue #68 in 2013.
The title's fourth volume and second ongoing series launched in 2017 during the "ResurrXion" storyline. The first run was written by Charles Soule and illustrated by a rotating cast of artists. Matthew Rosenberg and artist Greg Land would then take over the series before its end in 2018.
Volume 1 (1995 limited series) The original Astonishing X-Men was a four-issue limited series that replaced Uncanny X-Men during the 1995 alternate universe storyline "Age of Apocalypse", in which all X-titles were given new names and issue numbers. In the storyline, Professor X was murdered 20 years in the past by his own son, Legion. Magneto, witnessing his friend's death, committed himself to Xavier's dream and created his own team of X-Men. However, he was unable to prevent the rise of the despotic Apocalypse and hence the series primarily dealt with the X-Men's battle against him.
Astonishing X-Men, written by Scott Lobdell and illustrated by Joe Madureira, featured a team of X-Men led by Rogue and consisted of Sunfire, Blink, Morph, Sabretooth and Wildchild.
Roster Issues Years Roster 1–4 1995 Rogue, Sunfire, Blink, Morph, Sabretooth, Wildchild
Collected editions Title Material Collected Pages Publication Date ISBN Astonishing X-Men (X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse Gold Deluxe Edition) Astonishing X-Men (vol. 1) #1–4 96 August 1, 1995 X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic Book 2 Astonishing X-Men (vol. 1) #1, X-Men: Alpha, Age of Apocalypse: The Chosen, Generation Next #1, X-Calibre #1, Gambit and the X-Ternals #1–2, Weapon X (vol. 1) #1–2, Amazing X-Men #1–2, Factor X #1–2, and X-Man #1 376 August 9, 2006 X-Men: The Complete Age Of Apocalypse Epic Book 3 Astonishing X-Men (vol. 1) #2–4, X-Calibre #2–3, Generation Next #2–3, X-Man #2–3, Factor X #3, Amazing X-Men #3, Weapon X (vol. 1) #3, Gambit & the X-Ternals #3 and X-Universe #1 360 April 19, 2006 X-Men: The Age Of Apocalypse Omnibus Uncanny X-Men #320–321, X-Men (vol. 2) #40–41, Cable #20, X-Men Alpha, Amazing X-Men #1–4, Astonishing X-Men (vol. 1) #1–4, Factor X #1–4, Gambit And The X-Ternals #1–4, Generation Next #1–4, Weapon X Vol. 1 #1–4, X-Calibre #1–4, X-Man #1–4, X-Men Omega, Age of Apocalypse: The Chosen and X-Men Ashcan #2 1072 March 7, 2012
Volume 2 (1999 limited series) The second limited series to bear the title Astonishing X-Men was published in 1999. Its three issues were written by Howard Mackie and illustrated by Brandon Peterson. The story occurs after the storyline The Shattering. Most of the regular X-Men left the team over a conflict with Professor X. An interim team consists of Cyclops, Phoenix, Wolverine, Archangel, Cable, and Nate Grey.
This team protected the Mannites (a group of super powered, genetically engineered children) from Death, a horseman of Apocalypse. Wolverine was apparently murdered by Death in the final pages of the series, but it was later revealed that "Death" was actually a mind controlled Wolverine, and that the "Wolverine" who was killed was an imposter, a shapeshifting Skrull.
Roster Issues Years Roster 1–3 1999 Cyclops, Phoenix, Wolverine, Archangel, Cable, Nate Grey
Collected editions Title Material Collected Pages Publication Date ISBN Astonishing X-Men: Deathwish X-Men #92, 95; Astonishing X-Men (vol. 2) #1–3; Uncanny X-Men #375 160 October 2, 2000 X-Men: The Shattering Uncanny X-Men #372–375; X-Men #92–95; Astonishing X-Men (vol. 2) #1–3 288 July 22, 2009
Volume 3 (2004–2013) In 2004, Marvel used the title Astonishing X-Men for an ongoing X-Men series initially written by Joss Whedon and illustrated by John Cassaday. The series is noted for its independence from crossovers and large-scale events in the Marvel Universe such as House of M, Decimation, Civil War, Messiah Complex, Avengers Vs. X-Men, and Battle of the Atom. This was previously due to the long delays between issues and Whedon's own stated desire to remain away from big crossovers, which he personally disliked, and what he saw as hectic and unfollowable X-Men continuity.Wizard #165, 2005 This policy persisted almost to the end of the series, with the sole exception being the "X-Termination" event in 2013.
Joss Whedon run (2004–2008) Whedon/Cassaday's Astonishing X-Men is a continuation of Grant Morrison's New X-Men title and features a similar line-up of characters, including Cyclops and Emma Frost (as co-team leaders), Beast, Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat, Colossus, and Wolverine. This team became the usual focus for a majority of issues during Whedon's run. The run introduced a number of original characters into the Marvel Universe including Kavita Rao, Abigail Brand, S.W.O.R.D., Armor, Ord, and Blindfold. Whedon's run on the series was a critical and commercial success. The roster of the book was also the focus of various limited series at the time, such as X-Men: Phoenix—Endsong, X-Men: Phoenix—Warsong and World War Hulk: X-Men.
"Gifted" (issues #1–6) The first story arc focused on the introduction of several key characters and their involvement on the team. Whedon introduced a "mutant cure" designed by Indian Benetech scientist Kavita Rao, who was secretly sponsored by warrior alien Ord. The prospect of "real" humanity arouses the interest of a heavily mutated Beast, who visits Rao only to discover that the drug is the product of illegal experimentation on an unknown victim(s). The X-Men raid Benetech and reunite with Colossus. With Colossus's help, the team takes down Ord, but not before it is revealed that a mutant (most likely an X-Man) would destroy Ord's home planet, Breakworld, within the next three years.
With this 2005 arc, Whedon brought back Colossus four years after his comic book death in 2001.
"Dangerous" (issues #7–12) This arc features a Sentinel attack with a mystery mastermind. The culprit is the Danger Room itself, which has become sentient and fights the X-Men in a humanoid form called Danger. The Sentinel that destroyed Genosha becomes aware of its actions and ceases its attack on the X-Men. It is revealed that Professor X imprisoned Danger and made it an unwilling servant, leaving the X-Men disgusted. It is also revealed that Emma Frost is aligned with the Hellfire Club.
"Torn" (issues #13–18) The X-Men are manipulated by a new Hellfire Club, consisting of Cassandra Nova, Emma Frost, Perfection, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and Sebastian Shaw. It is revealed that when Nova's mind was imprisoned by Emma into a biological "slug", Nova placed a subtle suggestion into Emma's mind to cause Emma to believe she had to help Nova destroy the X-Men and free Nova, and that Cyclops' inability to control his optic blasts is result of a childhood trauma. Nova initially defeats the X-Men by manipulating their greatest fears. In the end, Nova's plot is revealed to Emma by Cyclops, but it is unknown whether Emma returned the consciousness of Nova to the slug or if it went elsewhere. Moments later, Ord and Danger burst into the room, and they are all forcibly teleported away by S.W.O.R.D. to a spaceship headed for the Breakworld.
The final panel of issue 15, in which Shadowcat crouches in a sewer clenching her fists, was an homage to the final panel of Uncanny X-Men #132, in which Wolverine did the same.
"Unstoppable" (issues #19–24 and Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1) The final arc takes place on the alien Breakworld. The X-Men square off against the Breakworld leaders, who intend to destroy Earth by firing a giant bullet at it. The Danger subplot is also resolved, and it is revealed that Danger is hard-coded not to kill. Shadowcat phases inside the Breakworld bullet, and when it reaches Earth, makes it intangible, so that the bullet passes through Earth. However, she is unable to remove herself from the bullet and vanishes with it into space.
Warren Ellis run (2008–2011) Marvel announced at San Diego Comicon 2007 that following completion of the Whedon/Cassaday run on Astonishing X-Men, the series would continue with the new creative team of Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi. Ellis later confirmed this story on his website, saying the series would be retitled Astonishing X-Men: Second Stage. He also mentioned that, like Whedon, he would be given complete creative freedom without having to pay mind to the franchise's sprawling continuity.
This run was expected to debut in early 2008, but was pushed back to July 2008, with the "Second Stage" subtitle dropped.SDCC '07 – ELLIS DOES ASTONISHING X-MEN , Newsarama A sketchbook was released before the first issue and showed costume redesigns by Bianchi. The characters showcased were Dazzler, Beast, Nightcrawler, Archangel, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Colossus, Storm, and Wolverine. While some of the characters did not appear in the book, Ellis had mentioned earlier that a majority of Bianchi's drawings were made public to promote the title, and that upon his run's announcement the final cast had not been set.
Ellis and Bianchi's first issue, Astonishing X-Men #25, featured the team relocated to San Francisco, with a base in the Marin headlands. The story takes place in the aftermath of the House of M story arc, which put mutants on the verge of extinction. The initial "Ghost Box" arc was printed under the Manifest Destiny label, but did not feature any crossovers with other titles. The only addition to the team was Storm, with Colossus and Kitty Pryde having left the team.
"Ghost Box" (issues #25–30) Now based in San Francisco, Ellis established the X-Men as protectors of the city. The new team consisted of Cyclops, Emma Frost, Beast, Wolverine and Armor, and later, Storm arrived. The X-Men uncovered a plot of mutant synthesis from an unusual murder. The killer (designated 'X') was located, fixing and restarting the eponymous "ghost box" in a spaceship. X was defeated but killed himself rather than surrender information about his intentions and "the Annex."