I do not know wherein the breakdown lies. Cassaday has implied that Ellis takes forever with his scripts; Ellis is a very busy guy and is no doubt being very careful with what is de facto his principal book, but this explanation doesn't sit well. Taking into account the lengthy delays of Astonishing X-Men, and the curious shipping schedule for the second "year," Cassaday's claim of having a quick pencil is suspect. I suppose we could blame it all on the letterer(s)... However you slice it, the delays and dragged-out endgame play a significant role in rating the book. At some point, the entire run will be collected in a lovely, hardbound edition and be fully deserving of every accolade. In the meantime, I'll continue to crunch antacids and whine to my less and less sympathetic comic dealer. Read Full Review