Name: Astonishing X-Men, Volume 4
ISBN: 9780785122548

Joss Whedon

Astonishing X-Men, Volume 4

Ahmed Bakr

Emma Frost's erratic behavior has the X-Men in a downward spiral. An unlikely union may be the final straw. And, the new Hellfire Club finally makes its move. Plus, the X-Man destined to destroy the Breakworld is revealed.

Astonishing X-Men.

My God, this volume was so Whedon it hurts. In a good way, of course.

Astonishing X-Men, Vol. 1: Gifted

Wren Hardwick

So, I think I mistook this volume. I thought I was reading the first ever issue of X-Men, when really this is just another whole set of X-Men. I knew that there were multiple sets and stories and characters and such, because you hear people talking about how "in one alternate universe this happened which is different from this other universe" and such and so forth.

BUT, it wasn't that confusing. Because I knew the characters and I knew about the girl who is already dead in the beginning (it's Jean. It isn't a spoiler. Stop freaking out. Just stop). 

And again, BUT the two X-Men movies that we have are kind of mixed into one in this. The whole "cure for the mutants" didn't happen while Jean through her fit and went kind of crazy. Emma Frost (that girl from the other X-Men movie that has diamond skin and can read minds) is in this and is actually playing for the good guys now, even though I sense she had a past.

Oh and don't forget to throw a little Avengers in there with a Agent Fury.

We start off with Kitty (girl who can walk through walls). She is joining the remaining X-Men (Logan/Wolverine, Hank/Beast, Summers/Cyclops and Emma Frost) to help young mutant kids come to turns with their powers and who they are. 

Well, there's this weird alien that wants to kill all mutants and there's also a doctor lady who claims to have found a cure. 

So sure, let's put together a bunch of people who don't like each other and then throw actual problems at them. 



The artistry is wonderful and brilliant, even though some costumes are so unrealistic I just roll my eyes *cough* Frost *cough*. The story had a lot of snarky comics and funny pieces, like the image above was suppose to be.. well, without giving anything away, it was suppose to be Hawaii but it was forgotten that they were a lot bigger. 

I could tell who people were just by what they looked like (since I have watched the movies religiously since I was in high school). The characters have a lot of edges and angles to them, and you know that you are just about to see another level to them. They all have history together which is kind of fun to dig into it.



Also, Wolverine is forever my forever.

I am obviously going to annoy the crap out of all my followers and friends here and continue on with this set of "Astonishing X-Men," but I will try to space them out some so you don't end up hating me too much.

Side note: I am looking for other awesome graphic novels / comics. So if you have any you love and you want someone else to love, comment below or message me! I would love to check them out!

MY GOODNESS, my head hurts.

So the X-Men are comfy. They have fought of the two evils from the last book and they are finally bunking down and getting back to what they have been trying to do since they got together: teach the next generation.

Well, little do they know that the real danger is among them and someone is about to betray and hurt every last one of them. Again, little do they know that pushing off the last two evils may bite them in the tush with a big, giant BANG.

Basically, they are fighting them and themselves.

Wolverine acts like a scared little boy, The Beast goes very beast-like, Kitty can't stop going through.. well the core of the earth, Cyclops can't see anymore, and Frost... Frost has a whole other game going. Colossus is in some major ish himself.



We get to know some of the kids as well, and they may in fact save the school.

What I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS VOLUME is Joss Whedon's writing. He puts everyone in this major danger and weaves in humor that will make you laugh while catching your breath. 

Each X-Men is faced with their fears. Kitty's, I will say, is the saddest and the one that will make you wish you never read this volume (but you'll be glad you did). That's what Whedon does: he rips your heart out and pats you on the back for comfort.



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John Cassaday

A death at Xavier Institute reveals an enemy within the Institute and the X-Men must depend on each other more than ever as their world goes crazy around them. Meanwhile, an alien race watches and waits to see if they will have to move in and finish annhilating the X-Men themselves.

This was me...


When the Fantastic Four...


Made a cross-over appearance in this comic. I was beside myself. Like for goodness sakes, all I needed was for Logan/Wolverine to make a move (or was I the only one that felt that connection with Miss Invisible?).

Really, this comic was amazing.

I love the idea of something that trains you to be your best while protecting you from yourself turning against you. Like how are you suppose to fight something that has watch, studied, and contacted against all your moves? Something that has trained you to be how you are? Something that knows your instincts and how you move? 

It's insane. Of course Whedon wrote this. King of my heart.

Hannah Swithinbank

Kyle Curry

Lisa

"Contains material originally published in magazine form as Astonishing X-Men #1-12"--Indicia.