Ellis and Bianchi on Astonishing X-Men
Posted by dailypop on March 15, 2008
Perhaps the most popular X-Men title in recent years has been Astonishing X-Men by Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly creator Joss Whedon. The stunning art by John Cassaday (Planetary) was also a major draw to the title which served to make many a weary Marvel Zombie feel at home with reading a monthly comic featuring their favorite mutants that didn’t require a scorecard or a handy laptop set to wikipedia for obscure references (who is Exodus again??). Whedon’s oft-known love for the classic Claremont run on the title is reflected in the series that is more or less a nostalgic time bubble for X-fans.
This year marks the departure of the initial team on the title as Giant Size Astonishing X-Men closes the book on the stories that have made record sales for Marvel… despite several scheduling problems. The finale is expected to a major jaw-dropper and with the recent reveal in Uncanny X-Men 496 everyone wants to know the fate of Kitty Pryde, a character referred to as ‘lost’ by Nightcrawler, Wolverine and Colossus over a few cold ones in a Russian towney bar.
But enough of the past, what about the future?
Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan, Thunderbolts) and Simon Bianchi (Wolverine, Seven Soldiers of Victory) have been announced as the new creative team starting with issue #25. As many of my mates know, I have a history with Warren’s writing. At the tender age of 26 I devoured everything he could deliver to the rack. Yet it was not until his stunning work with Thunderbolts that I was reminded why I loved his work in the first place. He surprises me. Despite his frequent claims to despise them, the man writes a mean super hero comic and are we ever lucky as comic fans that he’s taking over the X-Men.
Ellis is a member of what I refer to as the ‘Vertigo School’ of writers that includes Peter Milligan, Ed Brubaker, Grant Morrison, and Mike Carey. These writers all wrote brilliant and sensitive stories (such as The Invisibles, Girl, Transmetropolitan, Scene of the Crime, Deadenders and Lucifer) at a time when monthly comics were on their way out the door. It was a dark time, to be sure. But it turned around and now every writer in my Vertigo School list has written a blockbuster title for Marvel and as it happens… they have all written X-Men comics.
In a recent comicbookresources.com article, some details were hinted at while others were held secret.
[X-Men editor Alex]Alonso could reveal that Cyclops’s post-”Messiah Complex” calculating, determined and often ruthless perspective on mutant affairs would be part of Ellis and Bianchi’s run on “Astonishing X-Men.” “Cyclops is the undisputed team leader — the one who has to make the tough calls,” Alonso said. “His number one priority will always be the survival of his species. He will do anything to fulfill his responsibility.”
Cyclops is the only cast member of Ellis and Bianchi’s run on “Astonishing” whose identity Alonso could reveal. “There is a core team — all of whom are heavy hitters,” Alonso said.
Kitty Pryde AKA Shadowcat was a key player in Whedon and Cassaday’s run on “Astonishing X-Men.” The duo’s run on “Astonishing” comes to a conclusion in April’s “Giant Size Astonishing X-Men” #1, but given their last issue left Shadowcat in dire peril and the recent “Uncanny X-Men” #496 alluded that she was “lost,” some readers are assuming she won’t be part of the new line-up. “Assume nothing,” Alonso cautioned. “‘Uncanny’ #496 wasn’t a mistake.”
While their identities have to be kept under wraps, but Alonso could reveal that interactions between the cast members of Ellis and Bianchi’s “Astonishing X-Men” won’t always go smoothly. “The members assembled for this group like each other — Well, most of them,” Alonso said. “There’s a bit of friction between two of them, but noting that can’t be defused. Bottom line, they’re a team operating under the direction of one leader.”
Personally, I cannot wait to see what’s to come.
The preview image above does seem to reveal a few members of the ‘mystery team’ a bit early, doesn’t it?
Astonishing X-Men, Hardcover Vol. 1 (oversized slipcase hardcover collects tpb 1 &2 with notes by Whedon and sketches by Cassaday)
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1: Gifted
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 2: Dangerous
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3: Torn
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 4: Unstoppable
