A too-long nonsensical reaction post to Astonishing X-Men

Damnit. I'm out of things to post about and can't really spend time hunting for more until my next final is over. Feh.

On the plus side, before finals situation went to hell, I did finally sit down and read Whedon and Cassaday's run on Astonishing X-Men. Surprisingly I really enjoyed it. Whedon still has some of those writing quirks that I get kind of weary of, but heck, he showcased pretty much all the awesome qualities of my favorite character so I'm willing to cut him slack for that. Besides, I love anything where the master plan is "1) die, 2) get resurrected, 3) get tortured for a while, 4) be badass."

I wasn't even annoyed by the Kitty/Colossus stuff, and I was never a fan of that pairing the first go-round. Too bad about the getting shot into space thing, but it's a sufficient comic booky "death" in that she'll be back whenever they feel like yanking her back.

I expected to have problems with Whedon's dialogue, but well, the cast is mostly made up of twenty-somethings and teens who have a tendency to snark. I always figured Emma to be older (like mid- or even late-thirties) but then she's amusingly bitchy so it still works. There was one or two instances that it didn't work for me, both Wolverine, probably because Wolverine isn't really the sort for dry sarcasm. But in general, I didn't mind it.

And Whedon actually made me like the whole James Howlett thing. It was the moose thing. Shut up. I'll like almost anything if you can prove to me how it can be funny.

I'm kind of unnerved that Cyclops refers to the loss/inhibition of powers brought about by being FAIRLY HORRIFICALLY MINDRAPED as a "beautiful gift of clarity." That's not a criticism of Whedon though, because I do think that kind of thing is totally in character. (After all, it took him what? Forty years of comics to finally get really really pissed off at Xavier?) It's probably sign #456,789,234.67 that Xavier needed to get that boy real therapy a LONG time ago though.

I enjoy mocking Xavier's horrible horrible parenting skill and query what kind of probate judge in their right mind would give guardianship of a kid to him. I suspect there was mind-whammying involved.

I like Scott/Emma as a couple too. I definitely see it as more temporary than Scott/Jean, because really, it's only a matter of time before she comes back and reclaims her wayward husband (if they're still married. Does death generally cancel out contracts in the Marvel universe?) It's entertainingly unhealthy. (So, for that matter is Scott/Jean.)

I like Cassaday's art in general in the issue, though I kind of think his Scott looked too young. Especially just post mind-zappage. While catatonic, he totally looked like he was all of twelve albeit a slightly hormonally advanced one in need of a shave.



Possibly it's just that drool has a youthening effect on people.

He gets to look slightly older while actually awake, but has some sort of strung-out heroin-addict-in-withdrawal thing going on through most of the rest of the story. You know, like he MIGHT be a handsome guy once he had a year of sleep and ate a goddamn sandwich or six. But honestly, that's kind of how I always figured he'd look without the glasses.

Also...well, those are not the eyes of a sane man. He's got crazy eyes man. Craaazy. Up until I finally got ahold of Giant-Sized Astonishing X-Men, I honest to goodness figured that they just finally made him put the visor back on just to pretend that their leader is actually a sane man.



See, craazy.



Craaazy. (I'm amused that he's not even LOOKING, if Kitty were to wake up and actually sit up in that moment...oops?)



Neither Kitty nor I are reassured by your claims of "clarity", Scott.



Still crazy.



...okay, no one can tell me that's not awesome.

I'm not sure how this post became a celebration of Scott Summers looking batshit insane, but I'm amused. Since he pretty much has been since around 1975 or so. But without the glasses, he actually LOOKS it. And the X-Men STILL follow this man into battle. That will never not amaze me.

The rest of the art's okay. I like his Beast. Hisako's unbearably cute. Even Pete is. Emma and Kitty kind of have the same face in different colors, I think.

I enjoyed it. I'm kind of glad I got to read it almost all at once though. (All due thanks to my LCS's lovely trade and back-issue selection.) I'd imagine the delays would have annoyed the hell out of me in real time.

I'm also enjoying the Ellis run too. The banter works for me. (His Wolverine sounds more natural I think, than Whedon's did.) I also like Storm lots, so it's good seeing her again. :-) I'm getting used to Bianchi's art. Initially I didn't like it much, and I'm still not a huge fan of the way he does Storm and Emma's hair. It never quite seems hair-like.



See? That's not hair. That's like...an amoeba growing out of someone's head. Slight difference.

His Scott also looks kind of girly to me. Not BAD necessarily, and looking a little older than Cassaday's to me but:



Scott, sweetie, I realize Emma's kinky, but maybe you should wash OFF the lipstick before missions?

But I'm getting used to it. :-) I also enjoyed the Ghost Box issues. (Especially since only Cyclops would actually put down a tarp before blowing his own head off. He's such a considerate boy. :-))

And this entire post is just a really complicated effort to avoid studying right at this moment. But I should probably actually get back to it. Bye!