It has been awhile since I’ve checked in with Astonishing X-Men. With Regenesis I’ve been checking out different X-titles to see how they fare. Greg Pak is one of those writers that I’ve liked on certain projects. Coming into this issue I knew little of what his plans for Astonishing X-Men were. I walk in completely blind, my only guide being the cover showing me Cyclops and Storm kissing. The artist on Greg Pak’s run is Mike McKone who I’ve followed on many of his projects and overall have liked his artwork from Vext, Exiles, Teen Titans, and so forth. I am walking into Astonishing X-Men #44 with eyes open and wanting to see where this takes me.
Astonishing X-Men has been a title in search of an identity ever since Joss Whedon left, it’s mainly been a series of random adventures courtesy of the X-Men. Greg Pak ties it in with the aftermath of Schism showing the current mental state of Cyclops. Which considering everything is between functional and the man could go off at any given time. The exploration into Cyclops and his state of mind is my favorite part of this issue. Which leads to the appearance of Storm sporting a mohawk, a reference to her time as leader of the X-Men back in the 80′s. The fight between them is one of my favorite pieces that Mike McKone does in this issue. It’s energetic and ridiculously fun to read. Greg Pak had fun with this one and Cyclops actually smiling for the first time in ages.
The latter part of the issue is Cyclops and Storm having an adventure, she’s trying to bring happiness back in his life. Leading to a manic adventure through fighting Sentinels, which leads us to what the cover shows us. As Cyclops starts to wonder what’s going on that’s when you see the crux for our plot kick in. You’ll start to notice certain familiar X-Men show up locked in tubes and differing ages. With a last page showing that whatever is going on, this definitely has me intrigued.
In the midst of Astonishing X-Men I feel the issue is off to a solid start. Greg Pak has a story that intrigues me and practically begs to read more. Mike McKone’s art is different, I liked it overall outside of a few weak points here and there. Rachelle Rosenberg’s coloring is what caught my eye with her soft colors fitting well with that this situation eventually becomes. Another X-Men book has managed to win me over. If Greg Pak’s next issue matches up I’ll be reading another X-Men book. Give Pak’s first issue of Astonishing X-Men a chance, I’m glad I did.
i love Storm’s mohawk through Cyclops’ eyes. haven’t read this yet, but since she is my fav x-men, i think i’ll give it a shot
cyclops has always been a punk to me…the weakest of all the x-men, so drama-central, yet he gets the chicks? this would have been better if it were gambit