ATOMIC ROBO #6 (Red 5 Comics): In this last issue of the first volume of this amazing (hot-hit) series, Robo goes up against his nemesis and wins. Those who have been reading this series will know that the said nemesis, Helsingard, is a brain floating in a super-sized super-strong robotic body. Also, even though Robo trounces the ending shows that the story of these two guys isn’t over just yet. Atomic Robo has been thoroughly enjoyable, if at sometimes ‘emotional’ (NOT ‘emo’ mind you) read.

Conclusion: Looking forward to seeing more of the same when it returns with a second volume later this year.

RATING: 4.5/5

BLUE BEETLE #24 (DC Comics): I know this came out quite a while back but I just had to at least touch on it. Blue Beetle currently scores among my Top-3 favorite DC titles, and I applaud the creative team behind it. A special nod to my favorite DC editor Joan Hilty, she is easily the best of all DC editors miles ahead of quite a few of her famous (read: notorious) colleagues. ‘nyways, even though this issue’s ‘(Subliminal) Homage to Ted Kord’ bit didn’t quite do it for me, I did enjoy…well, just about everything else. And even though I was initially rooting for a Jaime-Brenda pairing I am going to like Tracy-13’s part her. Still, don’t pair up Brenda with Paco. Paco worked/works great with Pinata. And speaking of Brenda, I am looking more towards her ‘secret’ than I am to next issue’s guest stars, the JLE-chumps, especially Booster Gold (I just can’t stand that character).

Conclusion: It will be a dark day for Blue Beetle when John Rogers leaves the title and, ugh, Will ‘Amazons Attack’ Pfeiffer takes the writing reins.

RATING: 4/5

DARK 48 #1 (Digital Webbing): It didn’t take me even finish reading the intro to this series to think about and run comparisons to the recently entered, awesome Y, The Last Man series from Vertigo. The thought remained with me all through the read. Well, I enjoyed YtlM and I enjoyed Dark 48 #1. Too bad this is just a short series for although not particularly sure about an ongoing I would sure like to see it for a bit longer. I especially loved the action-blockbuster pacing even if the characters were a bit difficult to tell apart (the flags and codename on the helmets helped).

Conclusion: Looking forward to #2. This one gets two thumbs up, both in the writing and in the art.

RATING: 3.5/5 (Almost 4)

LOADED BIBLE III: COMMUNION (Image Comics): The third of the Loaded Bible series ‘Communion’ is definitely the slowest. Not in terms of what happens in it but in how much it contributes to the main character/plot, namely Jesus. Still, between the semi-romance between the J-man and Ms. Vampire, the break-out, the usurping and finally the ending, there is much to see here. Still, not quite as reaching as the previous two Loaded Bible(s).

Conclusion: Slow but works in the overall story.

RATING: 3/5

SHARK-MAN #2 (Image Comics): This title has a lot going on it, and this issue is no different. Yet for some reason I can’t for the life of me get into it. Both the writing and the art seem a bit too ‘intense’ for the series’ own good. Maybe once the first arc is over I’ll sit down and give this Bruce Wayne-meets-Aquaman story another go. Until then…eh.

Conclusion: Close but not quite there.

RATING: 3/5

THE TALL TALES OF VISHNU SHARMA - PANCHATANTRA #1 (Virgin Comics): Yet another Virgin title joins my pull-list. As someone who has read quite a few of the ‘original’ Panchatantra comics/stories and who is a fan of Zenescope Entertainment’s Grimm Fairy Tales, TTToVSP is a welcome return (in a manner) to younger days, albeit with a more mature twist. Apart from a little confusion in the beginning this issue is a pretty straightforward setup in the way that along with introducing the basic premise of the series it also introduces the main characters. Ashish Padlekar’s art is good too.

Conclusion: Issue #2, here I come.

RATING: 3.5/5 (Almost 4)