Description

Astonishing X-Men: Volume 1                                      Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket
Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: John Cassaday
Inker: John Cassaday
Colorist: Laura Martin
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Editor: Mike Marts
Cover by: John Cassaday

This is the third series that runs by this name, but the first ongoing series. Astonishing X-Men is a volume that was started in 2004 by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday as part of the X-Men: Reload event. It was meant to become the prime X-Men series, and was so for some time. It featured the return of fan-favorite X-Man Collossus and the introduction of S.W.O.R.D. and Breakworld, among others. The series lasted for 68 issues and had one Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men. It was also the only series that did not receive the Marvel Now logo, even though it was published during that time. After issue 68, it was replaced by Amazing X-Men Vol.2 as part of Marvel Now.

Story/Spoilers
In issue #1, Upon returning to the Institute, Kitty Pryde finds old memories and faces waiting for her. She also finds herself named as being a member of the senior staff of the Institute during the ceremony welcoming the new student body. The only member of the senior staff not present is Logan, who appears the next morning picking a fight with Cyclops regarding his new intimate relationship with Emma Frost.

This resumption of old animosities, with members of the student body watching, leads the Beast to call a meeting, during which Cyclops proposes a new direction for their group – returning to their roots as being super heroes, just like the publicly respected Avengers and Fantastic Four. They will gain acceptance from humans through actions they understand, not words they will not hear. Their first mission comes soon, as they leave to respond to a hostage situation caused by an apparent mutant and his gunmen at a benefit of some sort.

Meanwhile, world-renowned geneticist Dr. Kavita Rao makes a startling announcement at a press conference. She states that the mutant gene is not an evolutionary step but a disease; a disease for which she has found a cure.

Next in issue #2, At her press conference, Doctor Kavita Rao shows the footage taken by a cameraman following two police officers to the scene of a disturbance, where a young girl named Tildie Soames has manifested her mutant power and unknowingly killed her parents and one of the officers. She is the example of a life ruined by an unwanted mutation, which can be fixed by Rao’s so-called “cure.”

Meanwhile, the X-Men arrive at the hostage situation and make short work of the gunmen. However, their leader, a possible mutant claiming to be called Ord, of the Breakworld, easily defeats the X-Men in turn. Ord is forced to retreat, however, when Lockheed arrives and uses his flame breath, against which Ord is unprepared.

At the press conference afterward, the team learns of the claims of Doctor Rao of having discovered a cure for mutants. They continue the discussion back at the mansion but table the issue for the next day. After the meeting, Emma tries to bury the animosity between Kitty and herself, only to realize that it is much deeper than she ever thought.

Shortly thereafter, the Beast manages to sneak past security and break into the company sponsoring Doctor Rao’s research, Benetech, only to be discovered by Doctor Rao herself. Their conversation begins to turn into an argument, until the Beast admits that he’s not there to discuss the ethics of the situation but to know if the cure works for his own reasons.

Next in issue #3, The fallout of Benetech’s press release over their purported “mutant cure” continues, as hundreds of mutants apply for the treatment. Even at the Xavier Institute, students are leaving and even mocking their teachers, when they suggest that there will be a choice in its application.

The conflict makes it to the X-Men themselves, after Emma telepathically learns that the Beast is researching the validity of the serum so that he can use it on himself. Learning this, Wolverine orders the Beast to trash their sample, given to McCoy by its inventor, Dr. Kavita Rao, and leading to a fight. The skirmish is ended by Emma’s telepathy, leading to a meeting in the Danger Room, where Cyclops decides that they will continue with the research, so that they know what they are up against.

Cyclops also reports that his meeting with Nick Fury regarding the S.H.I.E.L.D. weapons obtained from Ord of Breakworld’s mercs did not go well. Either Fury has become a mutant-hater in the wake of the recent attack on Manhattan, or he is hiding something, which seems to be true.

Later, after further research, the Beast comes to a horrible discovery, as he realizes that the body Benetech has been running their tests on is someone with whom they were once acquainted. Guessing at who this might be, Cyclops infers that it is Jean.

Next in issue #4, Though Cyclops, Beast and Emma have a suspicion about what body Benetech has been using for its research, Cyclops does not inform Kitty or Wolverine, only that they are on a recon mission to the company’s lab.

Arriving via the X-plane, the team quickly makes their way into the facility, thanks to Kitty’s phasing power. The search eventually leads to the corpse of a mutant, albeit an unknown one. Cyclops and Beast’s reaction, seeming to be expecting something more, arouses Wolverine’s suspicions.

Before he can press them on it, however, the team is attacked by a group of gunmen, using heavy ordinance, who quickly gain the upper hand. Back at the Xavier Institute, Ord of the Breakworld steals into the mansion, only to find the X-Men gone. He does run into two students, Hisako and Wing.

Though they put up a valiant struggle for their age and ability, Ord gains the upper hand and injects some of the mutant-cure serum into Wing, leaving him behind as a message for the X-Men. Meanwhile, Kitty has used her phasing power to reach a deep sub-level, which leads her to a giant, locked door. Her opening of the entrance draws the attention of the guards, though they are no match for the mutant who was held within: Colossus.

Kitty’s shock is deep but short, as she quickly tries to calm down the enraged Piotr, who breaks down into tears at the sight of her, asking if he is finally dead.

Next in issue #5, At the Xavier Institute, the on hand healer, Elixir, is able to repair the injuries Wing received at the hands of Ord of the Breakworld, though Wing quickly comes to a horrific realization: Ord has “cured” him of his mutant powers.

Back at Benetech, Cyclops, Beast, Wolverine and Emma are at the mercy of the heavily armed Benetech guards, until the arrival of the startled Dr. Kavita Rao. Her attempts at helping the injured Cyclops give Wolverine time for his healing factor to repair his gunshot wounds. With Wolverine ready enough for action, Cyclops coordinates the X-Men’s counter-attack via Emma’s telepathy and the team quickly turns the tables on the Benetech guards.

Their victory, however, seems short-lived, as Ord of the Breakworld returns, more than a match for the wounded and weary X-Men. Surprisingly, help arrives in the form of Colossus, much to the uncontrollable astonishment of the X-Men, as he is phased to the ground level of the Benetech facility from his underground prison by Kitty Pryde.

At first, Ord is able to hold his own against Colossus, but the rage-filled blows of the former X-Man make short work of him. Before Colossus can finish the job, however, he and the rest of the X-Men find themselves surrounded by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, led by Nick Fury, who informs the team that they’re not going to win this day.

Next in issue #6, Surrounded by armed SHIELD troops, the X-Men choose to reason with Fury, explaining that they have discovered that Fury’s ally, Ord of the Breakworld, was experimenting on the resurrected Piotr Rasputin in order to create the cure. Questioned by Fury, Special Agent Brand, director of SHIELD’s extra-terrestrial directive-driven counterpart, SWORD, confirms.

Ord is from a planet called the Breakworld, which possesses technology to see glimpses of the future. In one glimpse, they saw that an Earth mutant – possibly an X-Man – destroys their planet in their lifetime. SWORD entered into an agreement with Ord and the Breakworld to create a cure for mutation – in lieu of an alien invasion. SWORD and Ord had enlisted the aid of Dr. Kavita Rao, using DNA from the Breakworld resuscitated Colossus to create it.

As Brand continues her explanation, rioting mutants, incensed by a possibility of a cure, break into Benetech, scattering the SHIELD agents. In the confusion, Ord sneaks away to his spacecraft. As he rockets away, with the cure formula, Colossus manages to launch Wolverine to the ship via a Fastball Special, and Wolverine manages to makes Ord land.

The situation diffused, Fury suggests they walk away and act like the incident never happened. Having no way to object, the X-Men comply. Back at the Institute, the X-Men take stock of their situation. The Beast is still torn by the cure, of which he possesses the last sample, though he will not take it – for now.

Taking a little private time, Kitty and Piotr ponder the meaning of finding each other again. Meanwhile, Emma and an unseen cohort ponder how, if at all, Colossus’ return changes their plan.

Next in issue #7, The X-Men race to the scene of a gigantic subterranean monster having emerged in Manhattan and begun a wave of destruction. Using their skills as best suits the situation, the X-Men save innocents, or telepathically compel them to move to safety, or use their powers to force the creature back into its hole. The team is soon joined by the Fantastic Four, who combine their powers with the X-Men, forcing the monster into the hole from which it emerged. Returning back to the mansion, the team is dismayed that their heroics played for less than thirty seconds on the news, while a star’s scandal garnered more than three minutes. As the group discusses whether they can ever get a fair shake with the media, one of the students, Hisako, arrives, worried about another missing student, Wing. She is joined by the Stepford Cuckoos and the telepathic Blindfold, who is only able to speak a cryptic warning. Elsewhere, in the Danger Room, Wing lies dead on the floor. Having been in a simulation of the ravine outside the school grounds, he tried to fly – despite having received “the Cure.” With his death, the simulation ends. Elsewhere, Special Agent Brand faces an inquiry into her recent action before a S.W.O.R.D. committee. Rather than apologetic, she states that she regrets nothing and would go to any means to safeguard the planet. She awaits their judgment.

Next in issue #8, Just moments after Blindfold’s enigmatic warning, all of the telepaths and psychics in the Institute suffer a simultaneous attack, which knocks them out leaving them unable to reawaken. While the team moves them to the infirmary, miles away, a Sentinel which had been found by a local comes online, bursting forth from the barn where it had been kept. Lacking all limbs but its left arm, the Sentinel begins to drags itself toward the Institute… and its “Lord.” At the Institute, the X-Men are taking stock of their situation – the psychic attack and the still-missing student, Wing, and the inexplicable total communications blackout – when Lockheed arrives, warning them of an intrusion. When the X-Men go to investigate, they find the arriving Sentinel, who attacks both them and the school. Cyclops is able to eliminate its threat with a powerful optic blast and then order Wolverine to finish it off, while he and Colossus check on the students, whom he told Kitty to take to the Danger Room for safety. Wolverine makes short work but, before delivering the final blow, hears the unusually talkative Sentinel speak of its “Lord” and that the “children will pay for the father’s sins.” Racing back to the school, Wolverine finds that the other X-Men cannot gain entrance to the Danger Room and the children inside. As they theorize that their enemy is inside, Emma arrives with the Beast, explaining that the Danger Room itself is their enemy and that it is angry. Inside, the Danger Room has reanimated the corpse of Wing, shocking the rest of the students. Elsewhere, Special Agent Brand is awaiting the decision of the S.W.O.R.D. committee when she is visited by another agent, who informs here of the complete loss of all monitoring devices in the school.

Next in issue #9, Though the X-Men can hardly believe it, Emma informs them that the Danger Room has mutated – becoming a sentient being… and is angry. Immediately, they take steps remove its computer functions by having Colossus tear through it’s “brain,” but the Danger Room defends itself by activating the X-wing jet, using it to crash through the mansion and then fire upon the team with its ordinance. Inside the Danger Room, the room continues to communicate through the animated corpse of Wing. First, it creates a hellish world to frighten the students, then changing it to a desert, which is then filled with skulls instead of sand. All the while, the Danger Room entity speaks with Kitty, explaining its actions through cryptic riddles as to its origin, purpose and transcendence. Kitty realizes too late that her teammates actions outside to destroy the entity is actually freeing it, which was its plan all along. Moments after Wolverine succeeds in destroying the sphere housing its command core, the Danger Room entity uses the wreckage of the Institute to create a robotic body – and then asks the X-Men if they “shall begin.”

Next in issue #10, The X-Men and the Danger Room entity briefly converse, but it is only allowed by the entity to let them know its only desire: to beat them to death. The battle is ferocious, however the entity is able to use its memory banks from the Danger Room to counter every strategy, as it has seem them all in battle countless times. Eventually, the X-Men fall. Some fall victim to their compassion for their own teammates’ well being, and others to just brute force. As this transpires, Special Agent Brand and her allies at SWORD, notice the destruction at the Institute. An extraterrestrial advisor is able to sense that the events are from a non-human presence, which Brand hopes will deal with their problem for them. After the battle, the entity uses the X-wing to travel to Genosha to complete its self-assigned mission, which is to kill Xavier. Xavier, however, having been in communication with the entity for a short while, tells it that it has miscalculated. While it had already fought the X-Men an untold number of times in both the Danger Room and its mind… it has never fought him!

Next in issue #11, Left behind in the Institute, the X-Men are brought back from the brink of death through the healing powers of several of their students, not the least of which is Elixir. Upon recovery, Kitty recalls the scene of the devastated nation of Genosha “she” showed her and theorizes that that is where the Danger Room entity – which Kitty dubs Danger for expediency – has gone. She theorizes that she has gone there in search of the Professor. Knowing that their former teacher will need help, Cyclops grants the team ten minutes to prepare and rushes to contact Reed Richards for a ride. As they prepare, Kitty and Piotr take a moment to speak about their unease with each other, which leads Piotr to let Kitty know that she’s not bothering him… nearly enough. In Genosha, Danger arrives via the stolen X-jet and leaps from the still-moving craft, to impact in front of Xavier’s all-terrain chair. However, she finds the person in the chair is not Xavier, but a corpse – which was a trap. Xavier quickly makes his presence known driving a truck through an adjacent building, hitting Danger and driving her into an electrical station, which wreaks havoc with her robot body. By the time she recovers, however, Xavier has used a hatchet to decapitate her. When the X-Men arrive, it seems to them that the Professor was never in need of their help. However, Xavier’s request of Magneto to incapacitate all electronic devices which Danger could manipulate was not thorough enough. Danger’s still-functioning brain discovers the second of the two Mega-Sentinels, which ravaged the island, forgotten beneath the waves of the sea. As the reprogrammed Wild Sentinel looms over the team, the Beast asks the group if they have any ideas.

Finally in issue #12, The Mega-Sentinel attempts to cut the fight short with a single, massive energy blast. However, the X-Men emerge unscathed, thanks to the phasing ability of Shadowcat. Seeing that its first method of extermination was unsuccessful, the Mega-Sentinel unleashes a swarm of mechanical insects to do the job. Following the orders of Cyclops, the Beast attempts to get the Professor to safety, but is intercepted by a new airborne avatar of Danger. The Beast, however, manages to use instinct against Danger’s record of his fighting style, attacking with the ferocity of his nom de guerre, and emerging victorious. Back in the city, Emma Frost suddenly and without explanation departs the battle and enters an underground chamber, where she converses with someone who informs her that the need for her charade is almost up. Emma replies that she’s happy about that, and then rejoins the battle. Finally, as the team is not making much headway, Kitty has a new idea. She instructs Colossus give her a Fastball Special, throwing her into the Mega-Sentinel’s skull, where she begins to disrupt some of its circuits. Eventually, she finds a manual override terminal and discovers a blocked memory pathway, which he surmises Danger locked away. She convinces the Sentinel to access the memory, causing it to remember its role in the destruction of Genosha and the massacre of its 16 million inhabitants. Overcome with sorrow, sorrow which Danger had attempted to lock away, it allows Kitty to return to the X-Men, and then takes off for parts unknown. Xavier is ecstatic that his team has triumphed again, until he learns that Danger, before uploading into the Mega-Sentinel, had informed Colossus of her true history. Colossus informs the rest of the team that Danger had become self-aware the moment Xavier had used Shi’ar technology to upgrade the Danger Room. The Professor had been aware from the beginning but had kept the new lifeform imprisoned in order to use it as a training facility. Xavier tries to defend his actions but even Cyclops is uninterested in excuses. As the team departs, they and Xavier are watched by Emma’s cohorts. They are a cloaked figure, a formerly-deceased citizen of Genosha, Sebastian Shaw… and Cassandra Nova Xavier.

Hardcover reprints/collects: Astonishing X-Men (2004) #1-12. Marvel Comics

Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket is bagged and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printing
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publication Date: April 2006
Format: FC, 320 pages, HC, 11″ x 7.5″
ISBN-10: 0785117334
ISBN-13: 9780785117339

Collectible Entertainment note: Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket are in Very Fine condition.  (Very small tear on front bottom center of dust jacket) Overall… Beautiful!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious X-Men collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Recommended.

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