However, Runaways' NICO gets a look-in, in the "MYSTIC ARCANA: SISTER GRIMM" one-shot (although why it's using her disused code-name is beyond me)

daylight | June 19, 22:25 CET

Marvel.com's MySQL is usually problematic when I visit. More on the Mystic Arcana at Comic Book Resources.

Sunfire | June 19, 23:33 CET

While I am loving Astonishing I have to say that all the delays are really killing the momentum of the story for me.

Derf | June 19, 23:40 CET

Heh, Vaughan fans who're used to receiving his books in a timely monthly fashion (I think maybe the odd two or three issues of Y: The Last Man and Runaways have been late in their 50+ and 40+ issue runs) are in for a rude awakening if they aren't already readers of Joss' other comics.

I don't foam at the mouth like a lotta comic fans do when their favorite titles are late, but I agree with Derf that delays can seriously kill the momentum if you bother to read these things monthly anymore (I had almost switched over to trade paperbacks-only, all that needed to end were Y and Runaways, but then within the past year Buffy Season 8 happened and creator Greg Weisman continued Gargoyles in comic form too. Guess I'm in it for several more years).

Kris | June 20, 00:29 CET

Why though ? Joss insists it's not him, just don't get why they keep delaying his stuff. Unless it's that bloody 'Planety' that's pushing Cassaday back a bit ? Bloody Ellis, lucky he's a bit of a literary genius is all i'm sayin'.

It can get a bit annoying but there's always plenty of other stuff out and if i've liked an arc in singles i'll usually re-read the whole thing through at the end anyway, just makes it flow better.

Saje | June 20, 01:25 CET

Yeah, I'll re-read things sometimes too. It took me a while to find the first six issues of Runaways Volume 2, so I re-read those first 18 issues of Volume 1 as a refresher before plowing through the first 20 of Volume 2.

Isn't it sometimes Joss' fault for the lateness though ? I remember during the Fray delay, part of it was script lateness, and then it was further complicated because artist Karl Moline signed on to another comic while he was waiting. The same situation may've been true of the fourth and final issue of the Angel Volume 2 comic, but it's so long ago that I don't remember.

I know it doesn't really matter. The guy's got a movie in the works and currently writes three comics. It's understandable.

Kris | June 20, 02:03 CET

Didn't Joss say ages ago that he'd finished writing Astonishing, and yet here we are and Marvel are still buggering around with the schedule, succeeding in destroying any momentum. I'll keep getting them everymonth but am seriously considering not reading them until they're all out now.

And the same with Runaways, sigh. Hope Dark Horse are better with Buffy other wise god knows when we'll reach the end of the planned 50ish issues.

Ghost Spike | June 20, 02:12 CET

I don't understand the Astonishing delays. My guess is that the editors want Unstoppable to finish right before the big X-Event, Messiah Complex, which starts at the end of October. Unless Cassaday has been pulled off of Astonishing again to work on some "bigger" project.

I agree that the delays have killed Astonishing's momentum. Since it's started things are so vastly different than what's going what's going on in the rest of the X-books that it makes it feel like this arc has been going on for much longer.

The delays are also starting to impact the other X-books. Although the Astonishing team is appearing in other books, Uncanny writer Ed Brubaker posted last week on a forum that since he was uncertain if his book takes place before or after Unstoppable, he is avoiding using Scott, so readers won't see anything about Scott dealing with his father's death in Uncanny until after Unstoppable wraps up.

It's a shame Astonishing can't just go monthly.

FaithFan | June 20, 03:41 CET

*Ed Brubaker posted last week on a forum that since he was uncertain if his book takes place before or after Unstoppable, he is avoiding using Scott, so readers won't see anything about Scott dealing with his father's death in Uncanny until after Unstoppable wraps up.*

WOW. I guess the moral of that story is "if Ed Brubaker doesn't know, good luck to anybody else figuring it out.(Also thanks, that's good to know, as I was getting frustrated with Scott's non-appearance in Uncanny).

And isn't AXM supposed to wrap up in a Giant Sized issue 25 or have they scrapped that? Because if there's an issue 25, at this point, it doesn't look like they can get it out before "Messiah Complex" starts.

Also, I haven't read anything saying that Joss is done writing it -- though that might have been announced? But even so it takes a while for scripts to translate into produced pages, especially when the artists have other projects.

likeadeuce | June 20, 07:35 CET

Astonishing is my favorite X-run since Claremont/Byrne but these constant delays have me really, for the first time, seriously considering dropping the book (and most books, when you factor in Ultimates, All Star Superman, and several other of my favorites.)

I've been moving further from the periodicals anyway and "waiting for the trades" and this helps make the transition easier.

BTW- While I agree completely with Steve Job's famous quote: "real artists ship on time", fault for this lies completely with editorial. Utter lack of respect for the consumers who support their product and pay their bills has become status quo. If they pick a creative team that has deadline problems, or schedule during a period that has "mega event" hard targets, and there is a good chance the book will not be shipping monthly, announce it as a bi-monthly. Heck, announce it as a quarterly (or annual for All Star Batman or Ultimate Hulk vs. Wolvie). But stick to the schedule.

/rant

ReneRitchie | June 20, 16:48 CET

Annually for Ultimate Hulk vs Wolverine ? Optimistic much ? ;-)

Saje | June 20, 17:20 CET

(Also thanks, that's good to know, as I was getting frustrated with Scott's non-appearance in Uncanny).

Scott finding out about his father will be the next big event. He will become Super-Emo and overwhelm the planet.

And while I don't like saying anything bad about Joss (especially, y'know, here), I can't honestly believe the delays have nothing to do with him. He was asked early on about the Runaways schedule, and he said not to worry, it was going to come out monthly. With AXM, I can almost believe the run is supposed to end right before "Messiah Complex" starts, but if it was carefully planned that way, why are issues being rescheduled all the time?

AXM is truly great comics, but I'm also looking forward to when that team of characters can be impacted by major events again, rather than them being in a holding pattern waiting to see how AXM turns out.

Niels | June 21, 16:41 CET