Reception
Josh Whedon's run on Astonishing X-Men was subjected to criticism regarding the delays between the issues. Whedon's initial contract with Marvel Comics was for twelve issues for one year but the final issues were four months late. After a break of several months, the title resumed in February 2006 with the new story arc "Torn." With issue 13, the comic temporarily went from monthly to bimonthly to allow more time for Whedon and Cassaday to finish each issue and avoid further late releases. The book resumed a monthly schedule in September 2006 with issues 16 and 17, but was delayed once again for issue 18. Delays persisted for a variety of reasons, including Cassaday's last minute assignment to pencil the fifth issue of Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America. The delays also got the title out of sync with the other X-Men titles. X-editor Nick Lowe says that where the story fits will become clearer after its end.
Whedon has said that while he knows "many people have done cure scenarios before me," he was not familiar with any of those earlier stories at the time he started working on "Gifted."
In Wizard #173, Whedon admitted to making mistakes in the second story arc, saying he was so fascinated with the idea of the "new intelligence" that he neglected the action and thus prevented the story from flowing well.
The third volume of the Astonishing X-Men comic book series has generally been well received with comic sales normally being very high. Whedon's run was nominated for several Eisner Awards. In 2006, the series won the best continuing series award and in 2005 and 2006, John Cassaday won Best Artist/Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team (tied with Frank Quitely for 2005). Also, in 2004, Astonishing X-Men, vol. 3's first storyline, "Gifted," was given the accolade of Wizard's book of the year.
Read more about this topic: Astonishing X-Men
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