This is, on one level, an issue in which nothing happens. Thats as it should be; its a re-introduction, and a new starting place. Things are poised to go in exciting directions, and one feels a certain streamlining in effect. The X-Men have lost their dead weight. As usual, it was Charles. Read Full Review

By the way, is it just me or does Cassaday make Wolverine and Sebastian Shaw look identical in the face? Hmm... Read Full Review

In The End: As the first story of a new arc that is garnering such attention, this issue was kind of a let down. The writing was decent enough and the art was nice, but I just didnt get any kind of vibe off of it that would make me want to come back for more. Again, a lot of this has to do with the fact that I am not big on the current era of X-Men, so those readers who are may disagree with me, as is their wont. As someone coming in from the wilderness, I feel the issue didnt sufficiently bring me up to speed other than some confusing text next to a picture of Wolverines claws. I dont need Storm explaining her powers every time she uses them, just a little heads up on what I may have missed. I dont think that it is too much to ask. Read Full Review

Not the series best effort thus far by any means, but still sparks enough interest to ignite future incendiary conflicts between Xaviers mutants and the new Hellfire Club. Read Full Review

The return of Astonishing X-Men is a mixed bag. We get another 12 issues of Cassadays art (if you need a fix when Planetary ends later this year), an X-Men book not mixed up in Decimation, and the return of Cassandra Nova. On the other hand, this book is about as dull as dishwasher soap with familiar old patterns of love and betrayal. I dont think Whedons ever been really original; just skillful and stylish. Read Full Review

Astonishing X-Men has everything going for it; everything except plot. Its obvious Whedon knows these characters, how they think and speak and act; now hes just got to find something interesting to do with them. Read Full Review

Overall, an astonishingly dull story with fantastic art. Read Full Review

This isnt a really bad issue, and Marvel have published and are publishing much worse, but given this creative team, it should be much better; it really fails to make any kind of splash, and thats perhaps the more damaging flaw. A high profile title like this shouldnt be coming back from hiatus with such an average and unexciting issue (not that it was a planned break; its pretty clear that this should have come a month after #12, but still, youd think that when the gap became necessary that theyd reshuffle things a bit to make this a more effective season premiere, although again, that would imply an editorial office with the capacity to make coherent editorial decisions). The problem isnt that the comic is bad, the problem is that its flat, and its dull, and thats just not good enough, given the hype, the creative team, and even the title. But I suppose astonishing neednt necessarily mean astonishingly good. Read Full Review

If I wanted to hear people talk all day, Id spend more time at work. I want action from a comic like Astonishing X-Men. And I expect any comic associate edited by a guy who shares his name with the Jesus of Cool to understand that. Read Full Review

Joss Whedon begins his third arc on his Astonishing X-Men run. The Hellfire club returns after they have secretly been working with Emma Frost. The art continues to work very well and the struggles with Emma Frost and Kitty Pryde continue to develop. Whedon has done a good job of adding more story issue to issue while also continuing a narrative that has existed through the whole series to date.

I can't see where some of the story lines lead now... But I'm interested.