Astonishing X-Men #12

Genre action Author Joss Whedon Publisher Marvel Comics External Links Marvel Comics

The X-Men reunite with Professor Xaviar to battle the sentient Danger Room. By the time the battle is over, there will be scars both physical and emotional as revelation tears a rift between the Xers and their long-missing mentor.

I need to start with a disclaimer. I have no idea what happens in the X corner of the Marvel Universe. There, I've said it.

The team's backstory always seemed too complicated, like I needed to read the previous two hundred issues of all twenty X-titles to figure out what the hell was going on while Wolverine and Cyclops ate breakfast.

And I'm no ardent big follower of Joss Whedon's work, either. I never paid much attention to Buffy and I don't know what all the hubbub is about with his upcoming movie, Firefly.

That said, I've been totally sucked into this title. He writes great dialog, so even if you're new to the team, you understand pretty quickly how the characters relate to each other. I can only speak for an X-newbie, but it makes for a hell of a compelling read.

The man can pen a team book, combining high points of action with strong character interaction. The way he's handled the tension and emotional impact of Colossus' return on Kitty has been really well done. (I hadn't even known he died. Shows you what I know.) Granted, with comic characters dying and coming back to life as easily as slipping on a pair of pants, the bar has not been set very high for a sensitive, "realistic" portrayal. Whedon is giving the situation room to play out and it works extremely well. The sudden reappearance of a loved one needs more than three panels in an issue to return the relationship anywhere back to normal. By the end of this story, they're getting there, but there's still a level of unresolved tension.

There's an ebb and flow to various storylines and situations. Just as the threat from Danger dies down, new complications arise from both the Professor and Emma's mysterious alliances with another group. (I hate spoilers, so won't give any here.)

Cassaday is one of those artists, and I really don't think there are many of them, who can handle a lot of characters. They move and fight in their own way. The action is fluid and dynamic. Even his tweaked costume designs are cool, like a modernized take on Kirby's initial costumes.

This is the last issue of the book for a while, but if Whedon returns for the next storyline, I'm in.