By Jim Beard

The industry's top creators join forces with the world's most popular super heroes to launch the all-new Astonishing line of comics!

Pioneered to be the books for both the casual and hardcore fans, this new imprint kicks off with two can't miss series: ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN/WOLVERINE by superstars Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert, and the series that started it all back for a bold new era, ASTONISHING X-MEN #1 by the duo of Warren Ellis and Kaare Andrews.

Here's how Astonishing works: set firmly in the Marvel Universe and providing the perfect starting point for all readers, new or old, these books will tell the most epic stories of heroic action set against the back drop of the real world. New readers will be able to jump right into these epic adventures, while die-hard Marvel fans will also find exciting insights and dramatic changes for Marvel's most prestigious characters.

We checked in with Senior Vice-President of Sales & Circulation David Gabriel to ask him what about Astonishing excited him most.

ASTONISHING X-MEN by Kaare Andrews

"The Astonishing line is exciting for us and the entire industry because it provides the top creators the chance to take on our top characters in stories that you won't find anywhere else," he says. "They are firmly set in Marvel continuity but also accessible to new readers. If you're looking for big changes and character developments or a place to start reading if you are new to comics, this is where you come. Thanks to Joss Whedon and John Cassaday, the name Astonishing is synonymous with excellence. That's what this line is all about, from the creators to the characters."

Inaugurating the line with the X-Men, Spider-Man and Wolverine certainly qualifies as astonishing, but who else might we expect to see grace Astonishing in the future?

"This is something that will encompass all of the Marvel Universe at some point in time, but you'll be hearing more about those in the coming months as we announce the creative teams and characters involved," Gabriel promises. "This is a line that's here to stay and will make its mark across the board!"

The relationship between Spider-Man and Wolverine and their individual approaches to heroism strike an astonishingly strong chord among Marvel readers, making it no surprise the two feature prominently in Astonishing's launch.

ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN/WOLVERINE by Adam Kubert

"It's a duo that fans have long been asking for [in] another team-up," Gabriel says. "They are two of the most popular and recognizable characters in the Marvel Universe. Their attitudes and way the approach problems and enemies-even fellow heroes-are so different that it gives way to great stories, as you'll see Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert deliver!"

Dynamic stand-alone stories that spring from the real Marvel Universe will set Astonishing apart from other titles. Gabriel believes that any linking elements or crossovers in the line will present themselves in the style of storytelling and not actual story elements-for the time being.

"That said, at this point, the idea of crossing over is a bit counter-productive to the way the line is conceived," he notes. "That may change, but for now it will consist of stories that will truly astonish you in their own titles."

Look for more on the Astonishing line this week on Marvel.com!

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