Bibliographic Information

Whedon, J. (2004). Astonishing x-men. New York, NY: Marvel Comics.

ISBN: 0785115315

 

Plot Summary

Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1 by Joss Whedon follows Frost, Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, and Shadowcat. Professor Xavier is on sabbatical, making Frost and Cyclops the heads of the X-Men school. The story starts off at the beginning of the school year with Frost introducing the students to the school’s administrators. Shortly after the team is called to action when a hostage situation occurs. At the same time a company called BeneTech Laboratories announces that they have found a cure for the mutant gene. The X-Men save the hostages, but Ord, the alien leader of the attack, escapes. The X-Men also confront Fury from SHIELD to learn more about Ord. While the X-Men are out of the house, Ord breaks in and forcibly injects a student with the cure. There are now so many questions and mysteries for the X-men to answer and solve. Such as why would Ord inject a student with the cure? Why is Ord working with BenTech and how is he connected to SHIELD?

 

Critical Evaluation

This version of X-Men provides readers with a different side to the normally stoic superheroes. They aren’t perfect and have a human element to them as they struggle to work together. In one scene Frost and Cyclops argue over how to run the school and in another Wolverine and Beast argue over the use of the mutant cure. These arguments provide a backdrop for real conflicts. We see that the X-Men have internal personal struggles just as much as they have outward struggles to protect mankind. The story explores what it means to be a mutant and what the X-Men stand for. I also liked how Whedon used different colors and panel sizes to differentiate between each character’s storyline. For example panels with Frost had cooler colors, while panels with Shadowcat had brighter colors. Overall the story had much darker color tones compared to most superhero comics. It made the story feel ominous like everything was leading to something sinister and dark.

 

Reader’s Annotation

The X-Men aren’t the well put together team we all know and love anymore. Can they come together in time to stop the release of a supposed mutant cure or will they be too late?

 

Author Information

The following information was taken from the author’s biography,

http://www.biography.com/people/joss-whedon-17181746

 

“Writer, director and producer Joseph Hill Whedon was born on June 23, 1964, in New York City. Joss Whedon grew up well versed in the world of television. He has been called the world's first third-generation TV writer, as his father Tom Whedon was a screenwriter for The Electric Company, The Golden Girls and Benson, while his grandfather John Whedon wrote for The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Donna Reed Show.

 

Despite this lineage, Joss Whedon credits his mother Lee Stearns for being the deepest influence on his writing. She was an extraordinary inspiration, he said. A radical feminist, a history teacher and just one hell of a woman. What she did was provide a role model of someone who is completely in control of her life. It was only when I got to college that I realized that the rest of the world didn't run the way my world was run and that there was a need for feminism. I'd thought it was all solved. There are people like my mom, clearly everyone is equal and it's all fine.”

 

Genre

Fictional Graphic Novel, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction

 

Curriculum Ties

Could be used for lessons on graphic novels and responsibility.

 

Booktalking Ideas

• Do you agree or disagree with Hank about the mutant cure? Why or Why not?

• Do you think Frost is being honest and do you agree with how she runs the school?

• How would you feel if you were put in the same situation as Shadowcat?

 

Reading Level/ Interest Age

Grades 6-12

 

Challenge Issues

Violence

 

Challenge Issue Resources (for usage in a challenge situation)

• Active Listening

• Explanation of why it was chosen for the collection (Rational)

• Awards

• Reader Advisory Reviews (Students, Parents, Educators)

• Positive and Negative Reviews

• National Council of Teachers “Right to Read”

• ALA Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials

• ALA Bill of Rights on Intellectual Freedom

• Library Selection Policy & Library District Reconsideration Form

 

Why I choose it

I choose to read this book because one of my teen students recommended it. They said it was a good comic to start with if you want to learn more about the X-Men outside of the movies.