Astonishing X-Men #18: This issue though having a lot going on in it did not work out well for me. One, because with the delays between two releases and two, because with the way the story is being told, it has slowed down to such a pace that it might as well be standing still. This will work for a great TPB read but as a monthly, the X-Men’s flagship title is slower than a snail trying to climb a near vertical wall. Anyways, let’s see…Wolverine is back, so is Beast as also Colossus, Kitty as also Cyclops. Though not de-powered, Scott is unable to use his powers; all thanks to Emma Frost doing a number in his head. Speaking of Frost, she also gets pulled up (courtesy of Kitty). The issue ends with the whole team being pulled (teleported?) away by the S.W.O.R.D. people and with Cassandra Nova making her move to take over a fresh body.

Conclusion: Whenever this arc ends, so will (most probably) my time with this title. I am ready to wait, but when the wait is stretched out unnecessarily and the payoff is mediocre, it just isn’t worth it.

RATING: 7/10

Rokkin #4: Second issue since the ‘mini’ conversion, and even though the story is as good as ever, it does seem a bit rushed. Starting by taking a nighttime rest in what they think is a cave (and what turns out to be the skull of a giant), the duo of Arness and Evy spent the first half of this issue in having a run in and helping out the family of the aforementioned giant. As for the second half, it is a mixture of the duo’s setting out yet another ‘sword finding’ endeavor, and the bad guys (sent by Lord Vulmax and led by Evy’s ‘turned to stone and turned back again’ echo-twin, the one that she lost in the previous issue fight against Medusa), set out after them. Lastly, the artwork, well, that’s as impressive as it was in the first issue.

Conclusion: A nice build to what could have been a great (and told in detail) story…only if hadn’t been slated to be wrapped up so soon.

RATING: 8/10