Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series)

    (Marvel, 2004-2013)
™ and © 2004 Marvel Characters, Inc.

More new X–titles, more new directions. Are they expanding again? Didn’t they just trim back? One couldn’t blame readers, if they were a little skeptical by this point, but the proof is in the reading. The roster of this team is Emma Frost and Cyclops (acting heads of Xavier Institute) and faculty members Beast, Wolverine, and Kitty Pryde. Even though they’re in what satiric song-writer Tom Lehrer would call “the ed biz,” circumstances provoke this team of X-Men to re-enter the game of super-heroing proper, despite Logan’s aversion to spandex.

The characters are introduced in a fashion that clues in newcomers without serving as needless exposition for regulars. Each cast member’s personality and role is quickly and clearly defined. Even Kitty, who has foresworn adventuring, has a logical role. There’s not much real action, per se. There’s a holographic fake-out and an intra-team brawl, but no real super-hero action. But that’s OK, since this issue exists primarily to set the stage for what’s to come. An X-book could have a weaker inauguration. In fact, many have.

— Jack Abramowitz

1 2
			Notes	Writer	Artist
	#1 Date:  7/1/2004 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.75 21 copies available from $2.75	Black cover with Wolverine’s claws	1st appearance of Kavita Rao; 1st appearance of Ord	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 - 2nd printing Date:  5/1/2011 Cover Price:  $1.00 NM Guide Price:  $1.00 No copies available		Marvel’s Greatest Comics reprint	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 - 3rd printing Date:  6/1/2017 Cover Price:  $1.00 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 2 copies available from $2.50		True Believers Dollar Reprint	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 Variation A Date:  7/1/2004 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $15.00 6 copies available from $3.99	Director's Cut Edition	1st appearance of Kavita Rao; 1st appearance of Ord; Team Rushing Forward - Partial-Sketch Treatment	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 Variation B Date:  7/1/2004 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $12.50 3 copies available from $7.99	Teaming Rushing Foward Cover		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 Variation C Date:  7/1/2004 Cover Price:  $89.99 NM Guide Price:  $89.00 No copies available	Signed and numbered Variant Cover from DFE		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 Variation D Date:  7/1/2004 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $8.00 4 copies available from $7.00	Wolverine shown on cover with reddish background; Cover by Gabriel Dell’Otto		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 Variation E Date:  7/1/2004 Cover Price:  $27.99 NM Guide Price:  $27.99 No copies available	Signed Edition	Includes Certificate of Authenticity	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#2 Date:  8/1/2004 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $10.00 13 copies available from $2.48			Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#3 Date:  9/1/2004 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $9.50 1 copy available for $29.99		1st appearance of Wing; 1st appearance of Abigail Brand	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#4 Date:  10/1/2004 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.75 2 copies available from $3.75	Beast cover	1st appearance of Armor; Colossus returns	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#4 - 2nd printing Date:  5/1/2006 Cover Price:  $0.00 NM Guide Price:  $21.00 1 copy available for $19.95		Marvel Legends Kitty Pryde action figure insert	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#4 Variation A Date:  10/1/2004 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $10.00 3 copies available from $10.00	Colossus cover		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#4 Variation C Date:  10/1/2004 Cover Price:  $19.99 NM Guide Price:  $19.99 No copies available	Beast cover signed by John Cassaday	Dynamic Forces exclusive; Includes Certificate of Authenticity	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#4 Variation D Date:  10/1/2004 Cover Price:  $249.99 NM Guide Price:  $249.99 No copies available	Beast cover signed by Stan Lee	Dynamic Forces exclusive; Includes Certificate of Authenticity	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#4 Variation E Date:  10/1/2004 Cover Price:  $29.99 NM Guide Price:  $29.99 No copies available	Colossus cover signed by John Cassaday	Dynamic Forces exclusive; Includes Certificate of Authenticity	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#5 Date:  11/1/2004 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $5.25 11 copies available from $2.99		Colossus Vs. Ord	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#6 Date:  12/1/2004 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $8.50 1 copy available for $39.99		Misprints publish date as Dec. 2005; Wolverine Vs. Ord	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#6 - 2nd printing Date:  5/1/2006 Cover Price:  $0.00 NM Guide Price:  $10.00 1 copy available for $29.99		Marvel Legends Astonishing X-Men Wolverine action figure insert	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#7 Date:  1/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $4.25 11 copies available from $2.00		1st appearance of Blindfold; Death of Wing	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#7 - 2nd printing Date:  5/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $4.50 3 copies available from $2.25	Black & white cover except for Cyclops	1st appearance of Blindfold; Death of Wing	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#7 Variation B Date:  1/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $19.99 No copies available	Dynamic Forces Limited Edition red logo signed cover	1st appearance of Blindfold; Death of Wing; Limited to 99	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#7 Variation C Date:  1/1/2005 Cover Price:  $19.99 NM Guide Price:  $19.99 No copies available	Dynamic Forces Limited Edition blue logo signed cover	1st appearance of Blindfold; Death of Wing	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#8 Date:  2/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.00 13 copies available from $1.40		Versus Sentinel	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#8 - 2nd printing Date:  2/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $1.75 1 copy available for $1.23	Black & white Wolverine cover		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#8 Variation A Date:  2/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $20.00 No copies available	Dynamic Forces Joe Quesada Signed Edition	Limited to 99; Includes Certificate of Authenticity	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#9 Date:  3/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $1.50 11 copies available from $0.90			Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#10 Date:  5/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $1.25 8 copies available from $0.99			Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#10 Variation A Date:  5/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $10.00 4 copies available from $4.75	Prof. Xavier & Dangerous on cover		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#11 Date:  7/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 18 copies available from $1.58			Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#12 Date:  8/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 20 copies available from $1.08			Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#12 Variation A Date:  8/1/2005 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.75 4 copies available from $1.92	Flames in background on cover		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#13 Date:  4/1/2006 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.00 16 copies available from $1.00	Regular Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#13 Variation A Date:  4/1/2006 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $6.00 9 copies available from $5.75	B&W Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#13 Variation B Date:  4/1/2006 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.99 1 copy available for $3.50	Midtown Comics New York Comic-Con B&W Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#13 Variation C Date:  4/1/2006 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $5.00 2 copies available from $5.00	Coliseum of Comics MegaCon B&W Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#14 Date:  6/1/2006 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $1.75 17 copies available from $1.00		Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#15 Date:  8/1/2006 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $1.75 13 copies available from $1.00		Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#16 Date:  10/1/2006 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $1.75 17 copies available from $1.20		Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#17 Date:  11/1/2006 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 15 copies available from $1.58		Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#17 Variation A Date:  11/1/2006 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $6.00 11 copies available from $5.95	B&W Variant Cover		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#18 Date:  12/1/2006 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $1.75 9 copies available from $1.25		Versus Danger; Versus Hellfire Club; Versus Ord	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#19 Date:  2/1/2007 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $1.25 9 copies available from $0.96	Regular Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#19 Variation A Date:  2/1/2007 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.75 19 copies available from $1.30	Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#20 Date:  2/1/2007 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.75 5 copies available from $2.65	Regular Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#20 Variation A Date:  2/1/2007 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.50 9 copies available from $1.31	Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#21 Date:  5/1/2007 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.75 12 copies available from $1.25	Regular Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#21 Variation A Date:  5/1/2007 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.50 10 copies available from $1.68	Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#22 Date:  10/1/2007 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.99 10 copies available from $1.50	Regular Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#22 Variation A Date:  10/1/2007 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.50 12 copies available from $1.20	Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#23 Date:  1/1/2008 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.75 7 copies available from $1.86	Regular Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#23 Variation A Date:  1/1/2008 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 13 copies available from $1.20	Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#24 Date:  3/1/2008 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.75 14 copies available from $1.00	Regular Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#24 Variation A Date:  3/1/2008 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.50 9 copies available from $1.75	Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#25 Date:  9/1/2008 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $1.50 26 copies available from $0.75	Regular Wraparound Cover by Simone Bianchi		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#25 - 2nd printing Date:  9/1/2008 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $4.25 No copies available			Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#25 Variation A Date:  9/1/2008 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $5.50 6 copies available from $3.99			Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#25 Variation B Date:  9/1/2008 Cover Price:  $14.99 NM Guide Price:  $9.50 1 copy available for $9.40	Dynamic Forces Exclusive Sketch Variant Cover by Alex Ross		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#25 Variation C Date:  9/1/2008 Cover Price:  $0.00 NM Guide Price:  $6.00 2 copies available from $5.90	San Diego Comic-Con 2008 Sketch Variant Cover by Simone Bianchi		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#25 Variation D Date:  9/1/2008 Cover Price:  $29.99 NM Guide Price:  $29.99 No copies available	Dynamic Forces Exclusive Sketch Variant signed by Alex Ross		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#26 Date:  10/1/2008 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 20 copies available from $1.69			Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#27 Date:  11/1/2008 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 15 copies available from $1.13			Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#28 Date:  3/1/2009 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 11 copies available from $1.69			Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#29 Date:  6/1/2009 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.50 6 copies available from $1.20			Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#30 Date:  7/1/2009 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.50 11 copies available from $1.75		Death of Forge	Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#31 Date:  12/1/2009 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 10 copies available from $1.75	Wraparound Cover		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#31 Variation A Date:  12/1/2009 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $9.00 2 copies available from $9.00	Variant Cover by Travis Charest		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#31 Variation B Date:  12/1/2009 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $27.00 No copies available	B&W Sketch Variant Cover by Phil Jimenez		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#32 Date:  1/1/2010 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 11 copies available from $1.00		Indicia misprints date as January 2009	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#32 Variation A Date:  1/1/2010 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $5.25 1 copy available for $3.12	Superhero Squad variant		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#33 Date:  2/1/2010 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.50 7 copies available from $1.92			Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#34 Date:  8/1/2010 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 14 copies available from $1.75			Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#34 Variation A Date:  8/1/2010 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $8.00 3 copies available from $8.00	Deadpool Variant Cover		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#35 Date:  10/1/2010 Cover Price:  $2.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.50 11 copies available from $2.25		1st Appearance of Kaga	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#36 Date:  4/1/2011 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.75 11 copies available from $1.99			Daniel Way	Jason Pearson
	#36 Variation A Date:  4/1/2011 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $10.00 4 copies available from $5.28	Variant Cover by Michael Kaluta		Daniel Way	Jason Pearson
	#37 Date:  7/1/2011 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.75 10 copies available from $1.99			Daniel Way	Jason Pearson, Sara Pichelli
	#38 Date:  7/1/2011 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.00 6 copies available from $3.00			Christos Gage	Juan Bobillo
	#39 Date:  8/1/2011 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $4.25 9 copies available from $2.75			Daniel Way	Nick Bradshaw
	#40 Date:  9/1/2011 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.99 4 copies available from $3.99		Versus The Brood	Christos Gage	Juan Bobillo
	#40 Variation A Date:  9/1/2011 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $14.00 3 copies available from $10.00	I Am Captain America Variant Cover by Ed McGuinness		Christos Gage	Juan Bobillo
	#41 Date:  10/1/2011 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.75 6 copies available from $2.00			Christos Gage	Nick Bradshaw
	#42 Date:  11/1/2011 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.25 8 copies available from $2.99		Versus The Brood	Christos Gage	Juan Bobillo
	#43 Date:  12/1/2011 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $23.00 3 copies available from $11.99		Versus Machinesmith	James Asmus	Nick Bradshaw
	#44 Date:  1/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $7.50 6 copies available from $4.00		1st Appearance of Emmeline Frost-Summers (Earth-TRN192); 1st Appearance of General James Howlett (Earth-TRN192); 1st Appearance of Ororo Munroe (Earth-TRN192); 1st Appearance of Savior (Earth-TRN192); 1st Appearance of Shadowcat (Earth-TRN192); 1st Appearance of Kurt Wagner (Earth-TRN192)	Greg Pak	Mike McKone
	#45 Date:  2/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $1.75 5 copies available from $1.75		Regenesis tie-in	Greg Pak	Mike McKone
	#46 Date:  3/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.75 5 copies available from $2.99		Death of Magneto (Earth-TRN192)	Greg Pak	Mike McKone
	#47 Date:  4/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $4.75 6 copies available from $4.75		Death of Savior (Earth-TRN192)	Greg Pak	Mike McKone
	#48 Date:  5/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.25 3 copies available from $2.25	Regular Cover by Dustin Weaver		Marjorie M. Liu	Michael Perkins
	#48 Variation A Date:  5/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $9.00 1 copy available for $9.00	50th Anniversary Variant		Marjorie M. Liu	Michael Perkins
	#48 Variation B Date:  5/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $20.00 No copies available	Dynamic Foces Variant Signed by Mike Perkins	Signed by Mike Perkins; Dynamic Forces exclusive; Includes Certificate of Authenticity; Limited to 40	Marjorie M. Liu	Michael Perkins
	#49 Date:  6/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.50 No copies available			Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#49 - 2nd printing Date:  6/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $4.75 1 copy available for $5.00			Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#50 Date:  7/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.50 16 copies available from $1.99			Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#50 - 2nd printing Date:  7/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $3.50 3 copies available from $3.50			Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#50 Variation A Date:  7/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $30.00 No copies available	Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#50 Variation B Date:  7/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $56.00 1 copy available for $56.00	B&W Variant Cover by John Cassaday		Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#51 Date:  8/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $4.25 15 copies available from $2.46			Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#51 - 2nd printing Date:  8/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $2.50 3 copies available from $2.50	2nd Printing Cover		Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#51 Variation A Date:  8/1/2012 Cover Price:  $3.99 NM Guide Price:  $7.50 No copies available	Variant Cover by Marko Djurdjevic		Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
1 2