John Cassaday

The Planetary Omnibus collects the complete Warren Ellis and John Cassaday series — one of the most acclaimed comics of its era. Planetary is a secret organization of "archaeologists of the impossible": Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner and the Drummer, uncovering the buried superhuman history of the 20th century. Every issue is a self-contained mystery and a homage to a piece of pulp or genre fiction — Doc Savage, the Shadow, kaiju, the Fantastic Four reimagined as villains — building into a single grand tapestry. Cassaday's widescreen art (with Laura Martin) is among the finest of the period. The whole saga plus all crossovers in one volume.

Rick Remender's Uncanny Avengers launched immediately after Avengers vs. X-Men as the flagship title of Marvel NOW! — a Unity Squad of Avengers and X-Men working together to fulfill Charles Xavier's dream of human/mutant coexistence, led by Captain America and Havok. Remender used the format to address the damage Cyclops's actions had done to the mutant cause, positioned Havok as a controversial spokesperson for a post-AvX mutant identity, and built toward the Apocalypse Twins storyline — a massive alternate future/time-travel epic where the villains literally won.

Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon & John Cassaday Omnibus — the X-Men return to classic superhero action. Cyclops, Emma Frost, Kitty Pryde and Colossus reborn. The Danger Room revealed. The Breakworld arc. Cassaday's art at its peak. Astonishing X-Men #1-24 plus Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1 — Joss Whedon and John Cassaday's 25-issue run took four years to complete and was worth every month. Cyclops reactivates the X-Men as public heroes. Kitty Pryde returns to the team. Colossus is brought back from the dead. The Danger Room becomes sentient. The Breakworld arc ends with one of the most iconic single issues in X-Men history. Cassaday's painted-style linework is some of the finest art ever on an X-Men title. A timeless run.