Astonishing X-Men, Vol. 4: Unstoppable
by Joss Whedon
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Book Summary Information
Author: Joss WhedonIllustrator: John Cassaday
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-07-02
ISBN: 0785122540
Number of pages: 200
Publisher: Marvel
Book Reviews of Astonishing X-Men, Vol. 4: Unstoppable
Book Review: An incredibly impressive ending to a great X-Men saga
Summary: 5 Stars
Warning! This review contains SPOILERS! Do NOT read if you want to remain spoiler free! Again, I refer to details of the plot that you should avoid by not reading if you don't want to know what happens in the story.
I have to confess that I underestimated Joss Whedon. I don't often do that. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER is my all time favorite TV series (along with BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) and I've loved ANGEL and FIREFLY along with other projects like DR. HORRIBLE. I have also loved Whedon's work in comics like FRAY, THE RUNAWAYS, SERENITY, and BUFFY Season 8 (not so big on ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL). I have been reading his X-Men cycle as they have come out in collected editions, and put off reading UNSTOPPABLE until it was paired with TORN in the second of the two hardback volumes collecting the entire Whedon/Cassaday run. I had enjoyed GIFTED, DANGEROUS, and TORN, but I had not been absolutely blown away by them. I mean, they were good, as good as Grant Morrison's ULTIMATE issues, but I wasn't amazed by them, as I often was on BUFFY and FIREFLY. The final volume in the story, however, was just shocking.
When I finished UNSTOPPABLE, I was simply stunned. One can debate whether Kitty Pryde was capable of doing what she is depicted as doing, but if one suspends one's disbelief (and why wouldn't we?), her big moment has to go down as one of the most shocking moments in all of comics. In fact, has any of the X-Men had a moment so grand? Joss Whedon is famous for depicting empowered women, but Kitty's moment of sacrifice in saving earth when the united Avengers had failed to do so was striking even for him. Is Kitty Pryde gone for good? Well, in the world of comics, never say never. She certainly seems to be gone, probably dead, or at the very least not herself. If so, I'll miss her enormously. I loved her because of all the X-Men she was the one whose powers were most subtle. She could use are abilities to endanger others, such as threatening to materialize an axe handle in someone's skull, but it wasn't like she was going to knock down walls. Given Whedon's use of women on TV like Buffy, Willow, Fred, Cordelia, and River, it was hardly surprising that he decided to make Kitty Pryde a member of his version of the X-Men. But I had no idea that he would utilize her so brilliantly.
The final installment also did a great job of pulling together all the threads of the previous three volumes. At the end of Whedon's run, the issues all did tell a single great story. And there were several significant developments that will affect future versions of the X-Men. The relationship between Scott and Emma has been further defined. Colossus is back. And there is a new member of the X-Men, the Xavier student Hisako having been promoted to main team status by Wolverine with the new name Armor.
The past few years I've often regretted that Joss Whedon was using his considerable talent in writing comics rather than in producing TV shows. Well, I am glad that he is doing DOLLHOUSE this winter and would take that over a new comic assignment, but I definitely do not feel that his time spent writing comics has been a waste of time. His work on THE ASTONISHING X-MEN (not to mention BUFFY Season 8) has been outstanding. Clearly at this point he has established that he is not a one-hit wonder. I just hope that the next fifteen years of his professional career are as fruitful as the past fifteen.
Although clearly the greatest attraction for me was Joss Whedon's involvement on this project, any reviewer failing to acknowledge the outstanding work that John Cassaday did. Well before his teaming up with Whedon on THE ASTONISHING X-MEN I was a huge fan of Cassaday from his work on CAPTAIN AMERICA and PLANETARY. He is one of the few artists working in comics whose name on a project will get me to buy it. When you get a writer as good as Whedon with an artist as gifted as Cassaday, you truly do get a result that almost instantly classifies the project as an instant classic.
Just a quick word of clarification for those who haven't read any of this and are unclear where to start. The Whedon/Cassaday ASTONISHING X-MEN series is comprised of four volumes, with the titles GIFTED, DANGEROUS, TORN, and UNSTOPPABLE. I recommend getting them in the two hardback editions. Volume One of the hardback collects GIFTED and DANGEROUS while Volume Two collects TORN and UNSTOPPABLE. But whether you get all four paperback volumes or the two hardback volumes, this is a set that anyone either loving comics or the work of Joss Whedon will want to own.
Summary of Astonishing X-Men, Vol. 4: Unstoppable
Strap yourselves in, folks! It's Joss Whedon and John Cassaday's final arc on Astonishing X-Men! After the shocking and brain-smashing events of recent issues, the X-Men are off to protect the Earth from its destruction at the hands of the Breakworld. And when it's all over, nothing will ever be the same! No, really, we mean it! Whedon and Cassaday prove they are more than Astonishing: They are unstoppable! Collects Astonishing X-Men #19-24 and Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1.Superheroes Books
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