Like a round peg in a square hole, this doesn’t fit, but it’ll do in an emergency.

Xenogenesis occurs within the current iteration of the X-Men, but completely outside the Second Coming arc currently populating or polluting the franchise, depending on your point of view.  The tale speaks of a chance occurrence in deepest Africa, so you know Storm is going to be involved and some her love life get’s a thorough going through as well.  Quest in hand.. Ahem.  Mission received, Cyclops and the gang thunder into the continent amid discussions of country vs landmass, topic: Africa.

We’re not reading this one for the dialogue.

Shenanigans have taken place leaving many mutant-like babies.  Yes, wipe your coffee off the monitor, hardened X-Fan, mutant babies.  Those less enamored with all things X should know the following: Mutant powers manifest at puberty, ergo a mutant baby is a weird thing indeed.  Worry not though, all these points are made blatantly, painfully clear several times over within the space of a few pages.

We’re not reading this for the writing either.

Big bad presents itself right on the end of the second issue, a long run up indeed.  Is the delivery worth it?  No.  The only thing keeping any interest in this 5 parter is the morbid curiosity about body count.

We’re not reading this for the art either.  It’s bad.  Disproportionate and wrong, especially with anything to do with Emma Frost.  So why are we reading this?  It’s less depressing than Second Coming.

That’s it. -Bretzke

McCoy is a smooth talker, did you know that?  He resonates sweet nothings to his beloved as he opens up a can of whoop-ass on the new big bad.  There is a lot to enjoy here, just ignore the inconsistencies – apparently missiles don’t count as weapons, who knew?! – Bretzke

Astonishing X-Men #32

One hell of a rescue, simultaneously blessed and cursed by the awkward pairing that is Warren Ellis and the X-Men. With artwork that serves as a reminder of how far comics have come, and a storyline that delivers enough intrigue to keep reading even though I no longer have any emotional connection to these characters. -Scott

Astonishing X-Men #31

3 words.  This.  Is.  Epic.  While many follow the spinnings of Bendis, call me a patron of the greater church of Ellis.  Story telling at it’s best!  Pages fly without dialogue, why?  Because the visuals explain it all.  This all builds to an end which I can only think to describe as mammoth. -Bretzke

Still disappointed that this is the end. A violent and fitting conclusion that drives home the whole “no hero” theme with clarity. And the door’s been left plenty wide open for a sequel, so here’s hopin’. -Scott

No Hero #7

Huh. Didn’t see that coming. Well, not exactly anyway. Payback’s a bitch huh. So now I guess the real question is…will Josh actually turn out to be Bin Laden!? The plot pushes through awkwardly but I guess the issue acomplished what it needed to in the end. A shame this has to wrap in just one more issue.

No Hero #6

I absolutely love those moments when Hank shows us all what a deadly character he can be when pushed. A thrilling conclusion to an arc that had me scratching my head and rolling my eyes from time to time. Glad I stuck with it!

Astonishing X-Men #30

It really says something that this is a Warren Ellis book yet it’s all I can do to pry my eyes away from the artwork. Really enjoying this series!

No Hero #5

An invasion in process, with the real threat of an all-out war…and you’re going to “conclude” in one more issue!? WTF!? For the sake of the X-Men (and our children), can we please have a little bit of violence to go with all this chatting and mystery?

Astonishing X-Men #29

I bet this book would have me feeling a little better if it hadn’t been ages between issues, but I really couldn’t say. The delays have left me wishing I’d waited for the trade (something I normally don’t like doing), and have also prevented me from picking up the other Ellis titles (no matter how sweet Gravel looks). Bummer for me, I guess.

Doktor Sleepless #12 wrap cover