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

		Notes	Writer	Artist
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #1 Date: 7/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $4.50 37 copies available from $0.95	1st appearance of Kavita Rao; 1st appearance of Ord; Black cover with Wolverine’s claws	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #1 Variation A Date: 7/1/2004 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $26.00 5 copies available from $19.99	“Director’s Cut”; Team rushing forward, partial-sketch treatment	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #1 Variation B Date: 7/1/2004 Cover Price: $3.99 NM Guide: $16.00 6 copies available from $12.00	X-Men team rushing forward	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #1 Variation D Date: 7/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $11.00 8 copies available from $7.00	Wolverine shown on cover with reddish background; Cover art by Gabriel Dell’Otto	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #2 Date: 8/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $13.50 23 copies available from $8.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #3 Date: 9/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $5.50 20 copies available from $2.00	1st appearance of Wing; 1st appearance of Abigail Brand	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #4 Date: 10/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $4.50 29 copies available from $1.50	Beast cover; 1st appearance of Armor; Colossus returns	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #4 Variation A Date: 10/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $7.50 5 copies available from $6.45	Colossus cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #5 Date: 11/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $6.00 28 copies available from $2.00	Colossus Vs. Ord	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #6 Date: 12/1/2004 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $4.75 19 copies available from $2.00	Misprints publish date as Dec. 2005; Wolverine Vs. Ord	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #7 Date: 1/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 27 copies available from $1.00	1st appearance of Blindfold; Death of Wing	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #7 (2nd printing) Date: 5/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $1.25 3 copies available from $1.00	2nd printing; Cover says Limited Edition; Black & white cover except for Cyclops	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #8 Date: 2/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 28 copies available from $1.00	Versus Sentinel	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #8 (2nd printing) Date: 2/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $1.50 3 copies available from $1.00	2nd printing; Cover states Limited Edition; Black & white Wolverine cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #9 Date: 3/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $1.75 24 copies available from $0.99		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #10 Date: 5/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.00 27 copies available from $0.99		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #10 (2nd printing) Date: 5/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $1.50 1 copy available for $1.50	2nd printing	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #10 Variation A Date: 5/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $1.75 5 copies available from $1.00	Prof. Xavier & Dangerous on cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #11 Date: 7/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 23 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #12 Date: 8/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 24 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #12 Variation A Date: 8/1/2005 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 1 copy available for $2.75	Variant edition; Flames in background on cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #13 Date: 4/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 19 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #13 Variation A Date: 4/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $7.00 7 copies available from $2.99	B&w variant cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #13 Variation B Date: 4/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 2 copies available from $3.00	B&w variant cover; Midtown Comics New York Comic-Con 2006 exclusive	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #13 Variation C Date: 4/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $4.00 No copies available	B&w variant cover; MegaCon 2006	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #14 Date: 6/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 21 copies available from $1.00	Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #15 Date: 8/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 19 copies available from $1.00	Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #16 Date: 10/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.00 25 copies available from $1.00	Versus Hellfire Club	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #17 Date: 11/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 23 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #17 Variation A Date: 11/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $9.00 5 copies available from $3.00	B&W variant cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #18 Date: 12/1/2006 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 21 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #19 Date: 2/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 8 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #19 Variation A Date: 2/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $3.25 8 copies available from $2.25	Red Cover with Cyclops	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #20 Date: 2/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 11 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #20 Variation A Date: 2/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 11 copies available from $1.00	Variant Cover of Beast hanging upside down	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #21 Date: 5/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 13 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #21 Variation A Date: 5/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $3.25 7 copies available from $2.00	Variant Cover with White Queen on cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #22 Date: 10/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $3.25 11 copies available from $1.00		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #22 Variation A Date: 10/1/2007 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 8 copies available from $1.75	Variant edition; Blue & yellow cover with Wolverine	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #23 Date: 1/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 5 copies available from $2.75		Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #23 Variation A Date: 1/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 8 copies available from $1.75	Colossus in red on cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #24 Date: 3/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 7 copies available from $1.50	Cyclops on cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #24 Variation A Date: 3/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 10 copies available from $1.75	Variant cover; Kitty Pryde in yellow on purple cover	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #25 Date: 9/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 17 copies available from $1.00	Wraparound cover	Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #25 (2nd printing) Date: 9/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $4.75 1 copy available for $4.99		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #25 Variation A Date: 9/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $9.00 2 copies available from $4.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #25 Variation C Date: 9/1/2008 Cover Price: $0.00 NM Guide: $6.00 3 copies available from $5.99	San Diego Comic-Con 2008 Sketch Variant cover	Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #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
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #26 Date: 10/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 12 copies available from $1.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #27 Date: 11/1/2008 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 13 copies available from $1.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #28 Date: 3/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 10 copies available from $1.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #29 Date: 6/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 7 copies available from $1.00		Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #30 Date: 7/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 8 copies available from $2.50	Death of Forge	Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #31 Date: 12/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.75 9 copies available from $2.00		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #31 Variation A Date: 12/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $19.00 4 copies available from $7.50	Variant Cover by Travis Charest	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #31 Variation B Date: 12/1/2009 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $38.00 1 copy available for $36.00	B&W Sketch Variant by Phil Jimenez	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #32 Date: 1/1/2010 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.25 7 copies available from $1.00	Indicia misprints date as January 2009	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #32 Variation A Date: 1/1/2010 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $9.50 1 copy available for $10.00	Superhero Squad variant	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #33 Date: 2/1/2010 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.50 2 copies available from $2.00		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #34 Date: 8/1/2010 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 3 copies available from $2.99		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #34 Variation A Date: Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 No copies available	Special Var	Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #35 Date: 10/1/2010 Cover Price: $2.99 NM Guide: $2.99 1 copy available for $2.99		Warren Ellis	Phil Jimenez
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Book #1 Date: Cover Price: $14.99 NM Guide: $12.50 5 copies available from $10.00	Collects #1-6; ca. 2004	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Book #2 Date: Cover Price: $14.99 NM Guide: $10.50 4 copies available from $9.00	Collects #7–12; ca. 2005	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Book #3 Date: Cover Price: $14.99 NM Guide: $14.99 1 copy available for $14.99	Collects Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #13–18; ca. 2007	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Book #4 Date: Cover Price: $19.99 NM Guide: $19.99 1 copy available for $19.99	Collects Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #19–24 and Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1; ca. 2008	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Book #5 Date: Cover Price: $24.99 NM Guide: $24.99 1 copy available for $24.99	Collects Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #25-30 and Astonishing X-Men: Ghost Boxes #1-2	Warren Ellis	Simone Bianchi, Alan Davis, Adi Granov, Clayton Crain, Kaare Andrews
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Deluxe Set #1 Variation A Date: 5/1/2006 Cover Price: $29.99 NM Guide: $29.99 1 copy available for $29.99	Collects #1-12; Gold foil lettering on dust jacket	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Deluxe Set #1 Hardcover Date: 5/1/2006 Cover Price: $29.99 NM Guide: $29.99 1 copy available for $29.99	Reprints issue #1/B cover; Collects #1-12	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Deluxe Set #2 Variation A Date: Cover Price: $34.99 NM Guide: $34.99 1 copy available for $34.99	Collects Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #13-24 and GS 1; Variant edtion	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Deluxe Set #2 Hardcover Date: Cover Price: $34.99 NM Guide: $34.99 No copies available	Collects Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) #13-24 and GS 1	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Giant-Size Special #1 Date: 7/1/2008 Cover Price: $4.99 NM Guide: $3.50 14 copies available from $1.00	Includes Cover Gallery	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday
	Astonishing X-Men (3rd Series) Giant-Size Special #1 Variation A Date: 7/1/2008 Cover Price: $4.99 NM Guide: $31.00 3 copies available from $20.00	B&W Variant Cover; Includes Cover Gallery	Joss Whedon	John Cassaday