Marvel has announced that Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi will take over the creation of Astonishing X-Men beginning in 2008. The series will be referred to as Astonishing X-Men: Second Stage to clearly delineate the beginning of Ellis' storyline.
Ellis has carved out a stellar career in the comics world, but this is the first chance he has had to write for X-Men. Bianchi has illustrated Wolverine before, so Astonishing X-Men should be a good fit. According to X-Men editor Axel Alonso, 'Ellis and Bianchi's run will take place in the aftermath of 'Messiah CompleX.' Like all the X-Men titles, it will have to reconcile the power shifts, deaths and seismic changes that occurred in the event.'