Astonishing X-Men

Just finished reading issue #31, which was long overdue, as have been all issues since the original run of Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. The Warren Ellis/Simone Bianchi arc, Ghost Box was hardly worth the wait, as it took over a year to complete a six issue arc. I'll take a stab at that it would be Bianchi's fault, given that he's no longer the artist on the series, while Ellis still remains. To be honest, I didn't much care for the look of his art, and was becoming skeptical of the series in general. But with Phil Jimenez taking over for the art duties, the book now has the feel of the original run once more.

Anyone else reading this title?

I left with Whedon and Cassaday.

Not only was the wait not worth it for those two creative giants, but I also didn't like the fate of my favorite X-Man.

Well, it might be worth checking into again. I felt with this issue that some of the old spirit was back.

Honestly, I'm not a big Warren Ellis fan anymore.

He's gotten a bit too full of himself in my mind.

I don't really want to support any of his Marvel projects.

Whedon and Cassaday's run was my all time favorite run on any X book. I just LOVED it.

When Ellis took over I was skeptical. I'd never read anything of his, and I was worried that I wouldn't like it. Well, I was right. I hated his first arc. I haven't even finished reading it. I bought all the issues, but I have yet to read the last two. The story was boring and the art SUCKED. Honestly, it was some of the worst art I've ever seen. Bianchi might be fine for covers, but he is NOT good for interiors.

I bought #31 for two reasons. One, I recently read the second half of Ellis' run on Thunderbolts and I LOVED it. So, I wanted to give him another chance. The second reason was because Jimenez was on art instead of Bianchi. I like Jimenez in his own right, but he is a TON better than Bianchi.

I didn't care much for #31. It looked good, but the story was meh. The rescue took up like 90% of the book.

Ben Akers wrote:I left with Whedon and Cassaday.

Not only was the wait not worth it for those two creative giants, but I also didn't like the fate of my favorite X-Man.

Kitty is my 3rd favorite X-Man, and while I'm not happy with her fate, I still LOVED Whedon and Cassaday's run.

Ben Akers wrote:Honestly, I'm not a big Warren Ellis fan anymore.

He's gotten a bit too full of himself in my mind.

I don't really want to support any of his Marvel projects.

Fair enough. As you were.

Batman25JM wrote:Whedon and Cassaday's run was my all time favorite run on any X book. I just LOVED it.

When Ellis took over I was skeptical. I'd never read anything of his, and I was worried that I wouldn't like it. Well, I was right. I hated his first arc. I haven't even finished reading it. I bought all the issues, but I have yet to read the last two. The story was boring and the art SUCKED. Honestly, it was some of the worst art I've ever seen. Bianchi might be fine for covers, but he is NOT good for interiors.

I bought #31 for two reasons. One, I recently read the second half of Ellis' run on Thunderbolts and I LOVED it. So, I wanted to give him another chance. The second reason was because Jimenez was on art instead of Bianchi. I like Jimenez in his own right, but he is a TON better than Bianchi.

I didn't care much for #31. It looked good, but the story was meh. The rescue took up like 90% of the book.

Ben Akers wrote:I left with Whedon and Cassaday.

Not only was the wait not worth it for those two creative giants, but I also didn't like the fate of my favorite X-Man.

Kitty is my 3rd favorite X-Man, and while I'm not happy with her fate, I still LOVED Whedon and Cassaday's run.

I would agree with you on the worst interior art ever, if it weren't for the art in Batman: Unseen. THAT is shite. Bianchi is just mediochre.

Ben Akers wrote:I left with Whedon and Cassaday.

Same here.

blue halo wrote:Well, it might be worth checking into again. I felt with this issue that some of the old spirit was back.

Eh, the only thing from Ellis that I've absolutely loved was Nextwave. I'm still holding out hope for more.

You know how 'Ghost Box' (the Bianchi arc) was bad? I saw that #31 came out and Jimenez is penciling, so I thought I skipped #30. I went through it, and lo and behold - I actually read it but completely forgot it. My mind must have erased it, but I accidentally brought it all back...

I'm not a huge fan of Jimenez, he's a hit and miss for me (I LOVED his one-shot Polaris New X-Men issue with Morrison when it was published; hated almost anything else he ever done since), but I can see at least the art department of this book getting improved this time around. Nextwave makes me forgive Ellis for every story of his I dislike, so I can live with another disappointment. I hope I'm wrong, but I won't feel bad if this arc fails too.

I hate that we have ANOTHER new form of Sentinel... The Phalanx, initially, were people that turned into Sentinels, essentially. Bastion had his Prime Sentinels that were people that turned into Sentinels. Then we just had that awful crap during Utopia with people that turned into Sentinels. Now Ellis is using some sort of dead people that turn into Sentinels angle, concurrently with the Necrosha event that is involving dead people being resurrected through the use of Phalanx remnants...

Does this all seem like a lot of recycling????? Shouldn't such a renowned writer be able to come up with SOMETHING new?

Also, I'm calling it right now... the Brood got to Brand.

I liked the Ghost Boxes arc mostly for the art of Bianchi, he's one of y favorite artists nowadays. It's stupid that he's copying the "make fans wait four months between issues" route Whedon unintentionally did, i thought the story was so-so but i haven't read the final ish yet. Jimenz is an OK artist imho.

Mnemosis wrote:Also, I'm calling it right now... the Brood got to Brand.

Yeah, you got it. I liked this issue pretty good, and it sets it up nicely with the undead mutants. Mmmm... squishy undead goodness!

The best thing I liked out of the Ghost Boxes storyline was the appearance of the Steampunk X-Men! Forget this Noir stuff, let's get some steampunk Marvel goodness going!

Astonishing X-Men #32

This arc's art is already a huge improvement with Jimenez as apposed to Bianchi's muddy interiors (his covers are still great though), but Ellis's plot is pretty light compared to last arc. So far its been mostly just action, which has been entertaining, but I hope we get into the meat of the story soon. Looks like we will now with Brand revealing what she knows. Besides that, I'm really loving the dialogue, especially Beast and Emma's characterizations. While this book hasn't been the same since Whedon and Cassaday left (an impossible act to follow for anyone), its been solid overall.

Bigtymin504 wrote:Astonishing X-Men #32

This arc's art is already a huge improvement with Jimenez as apposed to Bianchi's muddy interiors (his covers are still great though), but Ellis's plot is pretty light compared to last arc. So far its been mostly just action, which has been entertaining, but I hope we get into the meat of the story soon. Looks like we will now with Brand revealing what she knows. Besides that, I'm really loving the dialogue, especially Beast and Emma's characterizations. While this book hasn't been the same since Whedon and Cassaday left (an impossible act to follow for anyone), its been solid overall.

This has definitely been a massive improvement art-wise over the last arc. I couldn't stand Bianchi's work - it was all wrong for this book. Like I've said at the time I think Bianchi would be awesome on some sci fi series with lots of aliens and space ships but this didn't seem like the right fit. Jiminez however is the right fit.

I'm a massive Ellis fan but I didn't think the last arc was all that great and so far this one has been all build up so I won't judge yet. I really hope this is a good arc as it will probably determine whether I continue to get this book or not.

Mnemosis wrote:I hate that we have ANOTHER new form of Sentinel... The Phalanx, initially, were people that turned into Sentinels, essentially. Bastion had his Prime Sentinels that were people that turned into Sentinels. Then we just had that awful crap during Utopia with people that turned into Sentinels. Now Ellis is using some sort of dead people that turn into Sentinels angle, concurrently with the Necrosha event that is involving dead people being resurrected through the use of Phalanx remnants...

Does this all seem like a lot of recycling????? Shouldn't such a renowned writer be able to come up with SOMETHING new?

I have to agree. It seems like standard fare now.

Astonishing X-Men #32

Meh. I will say Jimenez's art is a hell of a lot better than Bianchi's, other than that I just didn't care for it. I thought the dialogue sounded off. Kinda like Ellis was trying too hard or something. Beast just felt wrong. I don't know how much longer I'm going to stick with this book.

Like Ellis is trying too hard to be Wheden?

blue halo wrote:Like Ellis is trying too hard to be Wheden?

I'm not sure he'd actually do that but I don't know what it is about the X-Men lately. I freaking hate Fraction's writing because of his constant attempts to write cool dialogue which, as far as I'm concerned, sounds like shit. Now it seems to be affecting Ellis.

You know what, it's got to be the editors.

Aussiemandias wrote:

blue halo wrote:Like Ellis is trying too hard to be Wheden?

I'm not sure he'd actually do that but I don't know what it is about the X-Men lately. I freaking hate Fraction's writing because of his constant attempts to write cool dialogue which, as far as I'm concerned, sounds like shit. Now it seems to be affecting Ellis.

You know what, it's got to be the editors.

I don't think he's trying to be Whedon, but rather, like Assiemandias is says about Fraction (which I agree with) he's trying to be cool.

It is like Fraction's attempts to be cool are affecting Ellis now. He just seems like he's trying too hard to have snappy 'hip' dialogue, especially for Beast. It comes off as phony.

Another thing, does Brand need to be part of this? Is the Astonishing title just X-men in space or vs. space baddies? It seems like the character is being shoe-horned into alot of these stories where her presence is not needed. I understand why she was there for Whedon's run but it seems that what was "The X-men playing superheroes" under Whedon's run has become more " The adventures of Brand and the X-men". It seems like the writers are creating plots just to include her or they are limiting themselves by making this X-men vs. Aliens. Overall, the whole series seems to be operating under some sort of tunnel vison. I'm not sure if I'm making sense but in other words, the plots since Whedon don't show that much variety. Ghost Boxes was alright (bad art though) but still standard fare.

Dr. Wade Fucking McNasty wrote:Another thing, does Brand need to be part of this? Is the Astonishing title just X-men in space or vs. space baddies? It seems like the character is being shoe-horned into alot of these stories where her presence is not needed. I understand why she was there for Whedon's run but it seems that what was "The X-men playing superheroes" under Whedon's run has become more " The adventures of Brand and the X-men". It seems like the writers are creating plots just to include her or they are limiting themselves by making this X-men vs. Aliens. Overall, the whole series seems to be operating under some sort of tunnel vison. I'm not sure if I'm making sense but in other words, the plots since Whedon don't show that much variety. Ghost Boxes was alright (bad art though) but still standard fare.

Well Brand was introduced in this title, seems kinda fitting that she stays relevant in the book. I like it actually cuz I like the character, plus it kinda makes sense since her and Beast are doing the nasty now...and I mean that about as literally as possible.

Bigtymin504 wrote:

Dr. Wade Fucking McNasty wrote:Another thing, does Brand need to be part of this? Is the Astonishing title just X-men in space or vs. space baddies? It seems like the character is being shoe-horned into alot of these stories where her presence is not needed. I understand why she was there for Whedon's run but it seems that what was "The X-men playing superheroes" under Whedon's run has become more " The adventures of Brand and the X-men". It seems like the writers are creating plots just to include her or they are limiting themselves by making this X-men vs. Aliens. Overall, the whole series seems to be operating under some sort of tunnel vison. I'm not sure if I'm making sense but in other words, the plots since Whedon don't show that much variety. Ghost Boxes was alright (bad art though) but still standard fare.

Well Brand was introduced in this title, seems kinda fitting that she stays relevant in the book. I like it actually cuz I like the character, plus it kinda makes sense since her and Beast are doing the nasty now...and I mean that about as literally as possible.

More like the Mcnasty, amirite, amirite?

Dr. Wade Fucking McNasty wrote:

Bigtymin504 wrote:

Dr. Wade Fucking McNasty wrote:Another thing, does Brand need to be part of this? Is the Astonishing title just X-men in space or vs. space baddies? It seems like the character is being shoe-horned into alot of these stories where her presence is not needed. I understand why she was there for Whedon's run but it seems that what was "The X-men playing superheroes" under Whedon's run has become more " The adventures of Brand and the X-men". It seems like the writers are creating plots just to include her or they are limiting themselves by making this X-men vs. Aliens. Overall, the whole series seems to be operating under some sort of tunnel vison. I'm not sure if I'm making sense but in other words, the plots since Whedon don't show that much variety. Ghost Boxes was alright (bad art though) but still standard fare.

Well Brand was introduced in this title, seems kinda fitting that she stays relevant in the book. I like it actually cuz I like the character, plus it kinda makes sense since her and Beast are doing the nasty now...and I mean that about as literally as possible.

More like the Mcnasty, amirite, amirite?

Oh yeah.

Astonishing X-Men #33

I'm definitely dropping this when the arc is over. The art is okay (though Emma's face looks awful), but the story and dialogue are horrible. Like I said before, Ellis writes this like he's trying to make the characters sound cool. Maybe Tomer's right and the X editorial is influencing the writing because Ellis' run on Thunderbolts was awesome. He just sounds too much like he's trying to channel Fraction and Fraction's work on Uncanny sucks.