The much awaited Virgin Comics, a collaboration between, among others, Richard Branson & Gotham Chopra is finally here. The first issue, Sadhu, proved to be an entertaining read. The amalgamation of western art and eastern mythology has produced a storyline layered in the enigmatic eastern philosophy of karma and the cult of Shakti (the female manifestation of God).

The graphic novel does not immediately jump into action but begins with a little lesson in Hinduism - stuff about personal evolution, one's contributions due to family and society and finally working towards enlightenment and then goes on to talk about the Goddess Shakti being the female manifestation of God, it would have you wondering whether it was a comic that you are reading or a Hindu Catechism.

But this backdrop is important for those who have little or no knowledge about Hinduism and it's far flung philosphical tentacles. The Karma theory binds the protagonists of the story together though they lead different lives. The dacoits during the British Raj struggle for freedom (most history books till date would have us believe that these dacoits were rogues and now to see them in the light of being sons of India is a little unnerving yet refreshing). They, and their legendary leader, Mohanbhai, await in 1856 the arrival of a momentous person in their lives. At the same time, a young dock worker, James, joins the British army hoping for a better life for his family. He feels a force driving him on towards India.

The catalyst for the dacoit and the young soldier to intertwine their lives is an old wise sadhu; a believer in fighting a righteous fight based on the philosophy of Karmic Retribution since he instructed the dacoits to fight with lathis and not with the white man's guns. The sadhu's holiness or enlightened spirit is futher impressed upon us when he receives a manifestation of the goddess Shakti.

The intersection of Mohanbhai and James, though it does not occur in this issue, is inevitable. There is a sense that this will be imminent, but whether they would end up as foes or friends remains to be seen as the young soldier, William, feels a strong connection with the goddess Kali. This issue sets the stage for the story to unfold in all its glory and though the ending seemed a little abrupt yet the rich visuals by Jeevan Kang and the use of Hindu mythology in a historical context seemed to be intriguing enough to make me want to buy the next issue as soon as it hits the stands.

The various ads of upcoming characters in the burgeoning Virgin Comics multi-verse are visually rich and extraordinarily creative - for example, Ramayana Reborn by Deepak Chopra and Shekhar Kapur seems to have taken the dynamic mind blowing evolutionary step that would forever change the comic scene in India and will probably pose as stiff competition for Amar Chitra Katha and Diamond Comics.

The journey through the colonial jungles of India while the East India Company was trying to establish it's hegemony over its few territories, the grim realities of the life of a British soldier during that period, the pagan mysticism of the newly discovered Hindu religion by the Britishers, the zeal of the freedom fighters and the influence of the goddesses via an old Sadhu, besides the birth of a new comic multi-verse makes this a must have graphic novel.