Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series)  AXM3   (Marvel, 2004-Present) ™ 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

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		Notes	Writer	Artist
	#1 Date: 7/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $3.75 38 copies available from $1.00	1st appearance of Kavita Rao; 1st appearance of Ord; Black cover with Wolverine’s claws	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 (2nd printing) Date: 5/1/2011 Cover Price: $1.00 NM Guide: $1.00 1 copy available for $1.00	Marvel’s Greatest Comics reprint	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 Variation A Date: 7/1/2004 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $19.00 8 copies available from $2.50	1st appearance of Kavita Rao; 1st appearance of Ord; “Director’s Cut”; Team Rushing Forward - Partial-Sketch Treatment	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 Variation B Date: 7/1/2004 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $16.00 7 copies available from $10.00	X-Men team rushing forward	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 Variation C Date: 7/1/2004 Cover Price: $89.99 NM Guide: $65.00 No copies available	Gabriel Del Otto Wolverine cover; Signed and numbered variant cover from DFE	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 Variation D Date: 7/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $9.50 8 copies available from $5.99	Wolverine shown on cover with reddish background; Cover art by Gabriel Dell’Otto	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#1 Variation E Date: 7/1/2004 Cover Price: $27.99 NM Guide: $27.99 No copies available	“Director’s Cut” Dynamic Forces Edition Signed by John Cassaday; Includes Certificate of Authenticity	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#2 Date: 8/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $12.00 26 copies available from $2.75		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#3 Date: 9/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $6.00 18 copies available from $2.62	1st appearance of Wing; 1st appearance of Abigail Brand	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#4 Date: 10/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $3.75 29 copies available from $1.88	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: $5.25 No copies available	Marvel Legends Kitty Pryde action figure insert	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#4 Variation A Date: 10/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $7.00 8 copies available from $3.50	Colossus cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#4 Variation C Date: 10/1/2004 Cover Price: $19.99 NM Guide: $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: $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: $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: $5.75 26 copies available from $2.82	Colossus Vs. Ord	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#6 Date: 12/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $4.50 20 copies available from $1.98	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: $2.00 No copies available	Marvel Legends Astonishing X-Men Wolverine action figure insert	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#7 Date: 1/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 24 copies available from $1.23	1st appearance of Blindfold; Death of Wing	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#7 (2nd printing) Date: 5/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $3.50 4 copies available from $2.24	2nd printing; Cover says Limited Edition; Black & white cover except for Cyclops	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#7 Variation B Date: 1/1/2005 Cover Price: $19.99 NM Guide: $19.99 No copies available	Dynamic Forces Limited Edition red logo signed cover; 1st appearance of Blindfold; Death of Wing	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#7 Variation C Date: 1/1/2005 Cover Price: $19.99 NM Guide: $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: $2.50 29 copies available from $1.25	Versus Sentinel	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#8 (2nd printing) Date: 2/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 3 copies available from $2.24	2nd printing; Cover states Limited Edition; Black & white Wolverine cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#9 Date: 3/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.00 24 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#10 Date: 5/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.00 28 copies available from $0.94		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#10 Variation A Date: 5/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $4.00 5 copies available from $1.99	Prof. Xavier & Dangerous on cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#11 Date: 7/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 22 copies available from $0.96		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#12 Date: 8/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 25 copies available from $0.94		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#12 Variation A Date: 8/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $3.50 2 copies available from $2.75	Variant edition; Flames in background on cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#13 Date: 4/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 19 copies available from $1.09		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#13 Variation A Date: 4/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $5.50 6 copies available from $3.00	B&w variant cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#13 Variation B Date: 4/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 2 copies available from $2.99	B&w variant cover; Midtown Comics New York Comic-Con 2006 exclusive	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#13 Variation C Date: 4/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $3.50 1 copy available for $3.00	B&w variant cover; MegaCon 2006	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#14 Date: 6/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 21 copies available from $0.94	Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#15 Date: 8/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 16 copies available from $1.09	Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#16 Date: 10/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.00 26 copies available from $0.79	Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#17 Date: 11/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 24 copies available from $0.94	Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#17 Variation A Date: 11/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $9.50 6 copies available from $3.00	B&W variant cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#18 Date: 12/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.00 26 copies available from $0.59	Versus Danger; Versus Hellfire Club; Versus Ord	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#19 Date: 2/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $1.50 6 copies available from $0.78		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#19 Variation A Date: 2/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 13 copies available from $1.50	Red Cover with Cyclops	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#20 Date: 2/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 9 copies available from $0.75		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#20 Variation A Date: 2/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 11 copies available from $1.09	Variant Cover of Beast hanging upside down	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#21 Date: 5/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 16 copies available from $0.96		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#21 Variation A Date: 5/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $4.00 8 copies available from $2.00	Variant Cover with White Queen on cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#22 Date: 10/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 11 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#22 Variation A Date: 10/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 9 copies available from $0.96	Variant edition; Blue & yellow cover with Wolverine	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#23 Date: 1/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 7 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#23 Variation A Date: 1/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 10 copies available from $1.09	Colossus in red on cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#24 Date: 3/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 6 copies available from $1.00	Cyclops on cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#24 Variation A Date: 3/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 6 copies available from $1.58	Variant cover; Kitty Pryde in yellow on purple cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	#25 Date: 9/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 19 copies available from $1.00	Wraparound cover	Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#25 (2nd printing) Date: 9/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $4.75 3 copies available from $4.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#25 Variation A Date: 9/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $6.50 2 copies available from $4.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#25 Variation B Date: 9/1/2008 Cover Price: $14.99 NM Guide: $14.99 1 copy available for $40.00	Dynamic Forces Exclusive Sketch Variant by Alex Ross	Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#25 Variation C Date: 9/1/2008 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $5.75 2 copies available from $3.99	San Diego Comic-Con 2008 Sketch Variant cover	Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#25 Variation D Date: 9/1/2008 Cover Price: $29.99 NM Guide: $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: $2.75 21 copies available from $1.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#27 Date: 11/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 18 copies available from $1.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#28 Date: 3/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 11 copies available from $1.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#29 Date: 6/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 6 copies available from $1.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#30 Date: 7/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 9 copies available from $1.00	Death of Forge	Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	#31 Date: 12/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 12 copies available from $1.00		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#31 Variation A Date: 12/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $15.00 3 copies available from $10.00	Variant Cover by Travis Charest	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#31 Variation B Date: 12/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $27.00 No copies available	B&W Sketch Variant by Phil Jimenez	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#32 Date: 1/1/2010 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 6 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: $9.50 1 copy available for $9.50	Superhero Squad variant	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#33 Date: 2/1/2010 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 5 copies available from $1.00		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#34 Date: 8/1/2010 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 8 copies available from $1.50		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#34 Variation A Date: 8/1/2010 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 1 copy available for $2.99	Deadpool Variant Cover	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#35 Date: 10/1/2010 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $3.25 5 copies available from $1.00	1st Appearance of Kaga	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	#36 Date: 4/1/2011 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $4.50 3 copies available from $3.40		Daniel Way	Jason Pearson
	#36 Variation A Date: 4/1/2011 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $11.00 2 copies available from $8.00	Variant Cover by Michael Kaluta	Daniel Way	Jason Pearson
	#37 Date: 7/1/2011 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $4.25 4 copies available from $3.20		Daniel Way	Jason Pearson, Sara Pichelli
	#38 Date: 7/1/2011 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $4.25 3 copies available from $3.20		Christos Gage	Juan Bobillo
	#39 Date: 8/1/2011 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $4.25 4 copies available from $3.20		Daniel Way	Nick Bradshaw
	#40 Date: 9/1/2011 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $4.50 5 copies available from $2.25	Versus The Brood	Christos Gage	Juan Bobillo
	#40 Variation A Date: 9/1/2011 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $13.50 2 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: $4.25 4 copies available from $3.20		Christos Gage	Nick Bradshaw
	#42 Date: 11/1/2011 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $4.25 3 copies available from $3.20	Versus The Brood	Christos Gage	Juan Bobillo
	#43 Date: 12/1/2011 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $3.99 4 copies available from $3.00	Versus Machinesmith	James Asmus	Nick Bradshaw
	#44 Date: 1/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $3.50 4 copies available from $2.60	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: $3.75 4 copies available from $2.80	Regenesis tie-in	Greg Pak	Mike McKone
	#46 Date: 3/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $3.75 4 copies available from $1.88	Death of Magneto (Earth-TRN192)	Greg Pak	Mike McKone
	#47 Date: 4/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $3.50 4 copies available from $1.88	Death of Savior (Earth-TRN192)	Greg Pak	Mike McKone
	#48 Date: 5/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $3.75 3 copies available from $2.80		Marjorie M. Liu	Michael Perkins
	#48 Variation A Date: 5/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $3.99 No copies available	50th Anniversary Variant	Marjorie M. Liu	Michael Perkins
	#49 Date: 6/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $4.25 2 copies available from $3.20		Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#49 (2nd printing) Date: 6/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $4.75 1 copy available for $5.00	2nd printing	Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#50 Date: 7/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $4.50 6 copies available from $2.25		Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#50 Variation A Date: 7/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $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: $60.00 No copies available	B&W Variant Cover by John Cassaday	Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#51 Date: 8/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $3.99 10 copies available from $2.00		Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#51 (2nd printing) Date: 8/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $3.99 1 copy available for $3.99	2nd Printing	Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#51 Variation A Date: 8/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $15.00 No copies available	Variant Cover by Marko Djurdjevic	Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#51 Variation B Date: 8/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $6.50 3 copies available from $5.00	Create Your Own Wedding Variant	Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#51 Variation C Date: 7/1/2012 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $10.00 No copies available	San Diego Comic Con Exclusive	Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#52 Date: 9/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $3.99 3 copies available from $3.00		Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
	#53 Date: 10/1/2012 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $4.25 5 copies available from $3.20		Marjorie Liu	Michael Perkins
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