Category Archives: Mini Reviews

Mini Reviews: TMNT, Something is Killing the Children, Epitaphs from the Abyss, and Hello Darkness

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Hello Darkness #1 (BOOM! Studios) – This really is the week for anthology comics. Hello Darkness leads off with “Contagious” by Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Letizia Candonci, and Alessandro Santoro about kids killing their parents. This story connects with intergenerational tension, and Candonci and Santoro’s go from domestic bliss to chaotic violence in the blink of an eye. The intergenerational tension continues in “Stay in Your Lane” by Dave Cook and David Cousens with aggressive colors from Angel De Santiago. An aging bowler is passed over for a contract by a younger player, and decades of anger cause him to wreak havoc on the lanes. This is an absurd read, but there’s a ring of truth with Baby boomers/silent generations holding onto power and jobs until their hands are cold and dead. This story is followed by the first part of a Something is Killing the Children serial with James Tynion and Werther Dell’Edera setting the scene for Erica Slaughter to investigate some mysterious deaths in a small town. The story’s the equivalent of an establishing shot, but it’s a damn good: an atmospheric dive bar. Cartoonist Sarah Andersen follows this up with a haunting short story called “The Siren” about a mermaid and a lighthouse showing that her horror chops are equal to her comedy ones. Next, Steve Orlando and AL Kaplan do a horror comedy story about a queer man with a hand attached to his stomach that thinks will make him famous and well-liked, but that extra appendage gets all the love. Marissa Louise’s rage-filled palette helps sell his rage at being neglected. Hello Darkness concludes with its headliner: the first part of a multi-part serial from Garth Ennis, Becky Cloonan, and Tamra Bonvillain. The issue is centered around a conversation between friends at someone’s house about the war between Russia and Ukraine and about how nuclear war will never happen. The conversation gets kind of annoying, but Ennis and Cloonan end the serial in a haunting way that definitely hooks me for upcoming installments. Hello Darkness #1 is a wonderful showcase of a variety of artistic talents with not a bad story in the bunch. I also love how relevant many of the stories are to current events. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Epitaphs from the Abyss #1 (Oni Press) -Oni Press revives the EC Comics brands with four twisted potboilers. First up is J. Holtham, Jorge Fornes, and Dan Jackson‘s “Killer Spec” about a blocked, “aspiring” screenwriter. The ending is kind of predictable, but Holtham crafts a delightfully evil protagonist who is definitely okay with using AI for screenplays while Fornes and Jackson bring the gore. It’s a story you read for the ride, not the destination. In the second story “Senator, Senator”, Chris Condon and Peter Krause get political as a journalist tries to figure out why a pro-choice conservative female politician flip flopped. The story gets creepier and creepier, and it’s a good satire of how individuals get consumed by the political machine as they rise through the ranks. “Family Values” is like the philosophical trolley problem, but in a suburban basement as a father has a limited time to choose which one of his family members to kill or men with rifles kill them all. Stephanie Phillips‘ script is full of biting satire and fleshes out each family member in a few short pages while Phil Hester and Travis Hymel nail the flop sweat on the dad’s face on the visual side. But the most unsettling part of the comic is colorist Marissa Louise literally draining the color out of the book as the clock counts down. Sadly, Epitaphs from the Abyss #1 wraps with its weakest story “Us vs Us” from Brian Azzarello and Vlad Legostaev. It’s about anti-vaxxers afraid of vaccines symbolized by creepy monsters. I like Legostaev’s design, but it lacks real bite poking at a soft target. But, overall, Epitaphs of the Abyss #1 is an unsettling and smart collection of short stories with a fun, punning horror host to tie it all together Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Something is Killing the Children #39 (BOOM! Studios) – Erica Slaughter goes to therapy in Something is Killing the Children #39 from James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera, and Miquel Muerto. Although this story is set during Erica’s past, you can feel all the trauma and grief she’s gone through in the past 38 issues of this series released. Of course, there aren’t any quick fixes, but the therapist helps Erica make sense of the deaths of her birth family and her basically adoptive parent Jessica while also crafting a paradigm to see all the murders and monster attacks she encounters throughout the series. Tynion and Dell’Edera use a lot of grids for an even back and forth, but they break it sometimes in color pencil flashbacks as Erica’s memories flood back. Something is Killing in the Children is a very tense horror series so it’s nice to just have a quiet issue unpacking our protagonist’s psyche before the finale of the “Road stories” flashback arc and the upcoming issue zero. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (IDW Publishing) – The new relaunch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 from Jason Aaron, Joelle Jones, and Ronda Pattison is more Oz than Saturday morning cartoons. Aaron’s background doing gritty crime stories works for this story centered around Raphael helping out a prison warden root out corruption from the inside. But, of course, it goes deeper than any one sai wielding ninja turtle can dig or assault fellow inmates. Raph basically being an unpaid cop kind of put a sour taste in my mouth, but Aaron and Jones make his role more complex that as the story progresses. The tone of the story reminded me a lot of the Ed Brubaker arc of Daredevil where he’s in prison so it’s kind of like TMNT is going back to its Frank Miller parody roots. Plus the double page action sequences from Joelle Jones and Pattison are glorious. I’ve never followed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but between this intriguing start and Juni Ba’s work with Nightwatcher, I’m all in. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Phoenix, Witchblade, The Rocketeer Breaks Free, Biker Mice From Mars, and the Powerpuff Girls!

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The Powerpuff Girls #1

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Phoenix #1 (Marvel) – Stephanie Phillips, Alessandro Miracolo, and David Curiel showcase why Jean Grey is one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe in the first ever Phoenix solo series. The story opens and closes with “Thor: Godbutcher” meets Superman vibes as young, basically space ex-vangelical girl named Adani comes into contact with both the life and death sides of the Phoenix. Miracolo and Curiel’s visuals are glorious for the Phoenix’s feats of restarting a sun or collapsing a black hole while they use grid compositions for more human moments like her and Cyclops’ long distance relationship. The hook of the series is so compelling, “What if a good god made one mistake”, and with a lengthy guest appearance from Richard Rider’s Nova, Phoenix #1 feels more like a cosmic book than an X-Book. It’s the first hit of the “From the Ashes” era. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

Witchblade #1 (Image/Top Cow) – Marguerite Bennett, Giuseppe Cafaro, and Arif Prianto reimagine Sara Pezzini for the 21st century in a fragmented Witchblade #1. Most of the comic is standard noir/corrupt fare setting up for the big moment where Sara Pezzini wields the Witchblade. But then Bennett’s steady narrative captions and Cafaro’s powerful art really put me in the shoes of someone perfectly bonded with the Witchblade, which for most of the issue is like a body-snatching parasite hopping from person to person. This interactive experience offsets the steady, well-trod beats of the police procedural make the relaunch worth checking. Plus Marguerite Bennett’s prose is soulful and empowering. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

The Rocketeer Breaks Free #1 (IDW) – Stephen Mooney and Staz Johnson prove that the Rocketeer is one of the enduring “neo-pulp” heroes in this delightful new miniseries. Rocketeer Breaks Free #1 is mostly table setting starting with a thrilling action sequence and then establishing the new status quo with Cliff temporarily going to San Francisco to be with his girlfriend Bettie while she works on a film. Johnson’s art is photorealistic, but not stiff, and colorists Len O’Grady and Marco Lesko add an optimistic touch to Rocketeer’s big rescue scene. I also like Mooney’s approach to the whole secret identity thing ; Bettie knows Cliff is the Rocketeer, but she doesn’t like him doing it except when there’s imminent danger. Add in a couple colorful supporting characters, and Rocketeer Breaks Free #1 is modern retro superheroics at its finest. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Biker Mice from Mars #1 (Oni Press) – Melissa Flores, Francis Portela, and Leonardo Paciarotti revive the 1990s cartoon Biker Mice from Mars in this new miniseries. This launch issue balances toyetic, explosion-filled action with heavier content like a forever war, military conscription, and caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s. Plus the baddies they fight this issue are arms dealers. Like a box full of action figures, the characters are a little interchangeable, but the final scene hits like a “To be continued…” sequence in the 1992 X-Men cartoon so I’ll be back for issue two. Overall: 7.8 Verdict: Buy

Powerpuff Girls #1 (Dynamite) – As someone who grew up with the original cartoon, Powerpuff Girls is a fun and nostalgic read. Bubbles, blossom, and buttercup write down their destinies, feed into a HIM machine (Hmm?), and end up very different from the superheroes of Townsville. Artist Paulina Ganucheau revels in bringing the aesthetic of cute animals, film noir, and wrestling to the Powerpuff Girls art style while writer Kelly Thompson tells a high energy done-in-one tale with a fan-favorite villain. This is like experiencing a new episode of Powerpuff Girls, which is the highest praise for a comic licensing a cartoon. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: The Domain, X-Men, and Kid Cudi Presents: Moon Man

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The Domain #1

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

The Domain #1 (Image) – So this is the actual in-universe comic being put out by Syd Dallas in Chip Zdarsky’s Public Domain, and it’s a pretty good one. More sci-fi than superhero, Zdarsky and artist Rachel Stott chronicle the story of three space nerd friends who find alien tech and gain great abilities. Most of the issue focuses on them as people and their life’s struggles before the spaceship crashes, the action starts, and powerful forces are arrayed against them. I love that Stott goes away from the superhero ideal and gives the leads a diverse range of body types. This is a fun pickup for any fan of extraterrestrials. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

X-Men #1 (Marvel) – I literally just read the 2023 Hellfire Gala last weekend so maybe I’m not the best qualified to judge issue, or maybe I am because I haven’t been in the loop. Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, and Marte Gracia relaunch the X-Books with Cyclops leading a team holed up in a decommissioned Sentinel factory in Alaska. The Scott Summers-led strikeforce fights an Orchis/AI/U-Men hybrids while trying to rescue Wolverine and six new mutants who aren’t what they seemed while a very non-war criminal Beast tries to smooth things over with the police chief. I think the U-Men is a great metaphor for this issue ; it’s a launch comic grafted from the parts of better eras in X-Men history, including Grant Morrison’s New X-Men (The Xorn/Glob Herman/U-Men of it all), Jason Aaron’s Wolverine and the X-Men (Quentin Quire and Idie’s relationship), and even the most recent Krakoa era with references to Orchis and a heroic Juggernaut. MacKay writes fun banter between unlikely pairings like Juggernaut and Magik, but the first enemy is boring. Also, when they’re introduced, it’s hard to follow Stegman and Mayer’s visuals although they excel at the big action splashes, or the issue’s few quieter moments like the police chief interacting with Beast, Xorn, and Glob Herman. X-Men #1 is a perfectly serviceable mutant comic and feels like a beat ’em up cartoon instead of exploring any deeper themes. Like a punning Magneto, seriously? Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

Kid Cudi Presents: Moon Man #3 (Image) – Scott Mescudi, Kyle Higgins, and Marco Locati slow down the pace for an issue to show protagonist Ramon’s feelings about the loss of his friend Glenn and also come to terms with basically everyone knowing about his abilities. In the age of social media and surveillance states/corporations, the secret ID is dead, and Mescudi and Higgins use this to raise the stake as Janus Corporation wants to harness Ramon’s abilities and are already working with his colleagues. My favorite part of Moon Man #3 is Ramon and an old NASA colleague Janelle (Maybe their relationship was deeper than that.) reminiscing about old times and the vastness of the universe like a philosophical Kid Cudi lyric. Igor Monti’s colors continue to be the best thing this comic has going for it from complex, rich night skies to a flat, loud palette for uses of superpowers. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy (I purchased a copy.)

Mini Reviews: The Bear! Episodes 6 to 9

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The Bear Season 3

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

The Bear S3E6 “Napkins” – Leave it to Ayo Edebiri to direct the best episode of The Bear Season 3. She, writer Catherine Schetina, and actress Liza Colon-Zayas tell Tina’s origin in such a beautiful way and touch on how infuriating it can be to find a job in this day and age. The quiet glory of Kate Bush’s “Morning Fog” is contrasted with the dead faces of the young employees that Tina interacts with at different jobs as not even replying to an open interview hour on LinkedIn gets her a position. She breaks and gives a “Fuck you”, but is saved by dropping into The Beef, getting a comped sandwich and coffee from Richie, and having a real heart to heart with a then-stranger Mikey (Jon Bernthal). Edebiri, Schetina, Colon-Zayas, and Bernthal cut the bullshit and just have two people venting about their days and also finding inspiration in the next generation with Mikey showing a picture of one of Carmy’s dishes that was teased in the season premiere. One benefit of TV as a medium is the ability to go deep into people’s lives and motivations for a half hour, and “Napkins” pulls that off with grace and rhythm. Overall: 9.1

The Bear S3E7 “Legacy” – This episode was okay. The restaurant review cliffhanger goes some resolved, and there’s lots of great lines and sequences, but they don’t really fit together. This is definitely a companion piece to episode 5 with the intro featuring Carmy and Claire at dinner, and an extended Fak banter bit about the “haunting”. It’s growing a little stale, but obscure character actor Paul Reilly embodies a Fak much better than John Cena. Also, Shapiro attempts to poach Sydney for his new restaurant where she would have more pay, good benefits, and get to do her own thing, which leads to a lot of frustration and hand wringing across the episode. One true bright spot of the episode is the energy Paulie James and Christopher Zucchero bring as previous employees of The Beef straightening up the sandwich with a killer Beastie Boys needle drop to boot. Overall Verdict: 7.3

The Bear S3E8 “Ice Chips” – The Bear Season 3 excels at these hyper-focused, bottle-type episodes featuring a character or two, and “Ice Chips” is no exception. Writer Joanna Calo, and actors Abby Elliott and Jamie Lee Curtis create a little magic as Natalie goes into labor, and her mother Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis) is the only person to pick up the phone. Calo and director Christopher Storer turn in one of the most tense scenes in the show as Natalie attempts to navigate Chicagoland traffic after her water breaks and also find anyone to pick up the phone using voice to text. Donna and Natalie begin by arguing about epidurals with Curtis giving a loud, over the top performance before mellowing out and sharing stories of Natalie, Mikey, and Carmy’s birth. By the end of the episode when Pete (Chris Witaske) shows up, she’s silent and tears after sharing these beautiful moments with her daughter. Sure, the restaurant review plotline is on the deep freeze, but Calo, Storer, Curtis, and Elliott give us a window into a complex mother/daughter relationship told in an emotionally honest way. Overall: 9.2

The Bear S3E9 “Apologies” – Another semi-frustrating, fragmented episode of the bear. Writer Alex Russell continues the back half of Season 3’s formula of single character-centric episode and then ensemble one, and he’s stuck with the ensemble one. There are some strong visual moments in this episode from director Christopher Storer like a dual color/split screen showing how the front of house and back of house have never been on the same page at The Bear. Between some silly moments with the Faks, Sydney and Pete finding common ground, and an overlong Cicero monologue about Carbon-14 dating, the Claire/Carmy relationship arc has barely progressed plus Oliver Platt speaks for me in his anticipation for the review of The Bear. This season’s best arc has been the dissolution of the Sydney/Carmy working relationship, and the number on her offer sheet matches the bad vibes of their interactions. There’s an interesting early scene in this episode where they lock eyes for a minute showing their distance. However, Marcus and Tina make a new dish of their own while the restaurant is closed continuing the show’s theme of little flowers of hope in the midst of despair. Overall Verdict: 6.5

Mini Reviews: Dungeons and Dimwits, Something is Killing the Children, and Grommets!

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SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN #38

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Dungeons and Dimwits #1 (Dren Productions) – This is a comic by James Mascia and Kodaris about a group of kids who get sucked into the world of Dungeons and Dragons. There are some silly jokes about the player characters fighting enemies way above their level, but the visuals are amateurish with kind of chibi style characters with one single, intense facial expression. Also, not all the jokes land in 2024, especially ones about a cast member always wanting to play a female character, ending up as one, and that being “Ew gross”. I love a good fantasy comedy series, but this doesn’t get the job done despite an insane cliffhanger. Overall: 5.0 Verdict: Pass

Something is Killing the Children #38 (BOOM! Studios) – This arc of Something is Killing the Children, “Road Stories”, has featured standalone stories from Erica Slaughter’s past, and issue 38 is no exception. Erica is passed out in a kid’s treehouse for most of the issue, and James Tynion and Werther Dell’Edera create suspense by keeping you in the dark if the monster is still around. SiKtC #38 provides an outsider’s view on Erica and her work with a few creepy moments from the plush she carries around. The last third of the issue start to show that she’s beginning to care about the people who she saves from monsters instead of getting the job done like when she helps even out the kids’ older sister’s hair after they made a mess of it with scissors. “Road Stories” has definitely been a “breather arc” after the intense New Mexico storyline, but SiKtC continues to be a solid, character driven horror book. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Grommets #2 (Image) – From the first page of a bedroom plastered with punk rock and Marvel Comics posters, Rick Remender, Brian Posehn, and Brett Parson continue to bathe in (occasionally gory) nostalgia in Grommets #2. Rick and Brian skate or die throughout Sacramento, actually meet some girls, and savor some Imperial phase Taco Bell. (Pre-Chihuahua/Enchirito era.) in the latest installment of this slice of life series. The scripting and dialogue feels like two buddies hanging out and trying to bust each other’s chops with Rick and Brian not being at a stage in their friendship where they can bare their souls about the deeper things in life. (Plus they’re teenage boys living in Reagan’s America.) The Jens (Badass female skaters) are a great addition to the supporting cast, especially Jen 2, who is ACAB personified. Grommets #2 is funny, scary, and even triumphant once Rick gets more confident at skating and continues to nail how epic every day as a kid used to feel. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Bear Pirate Viking Queen’s and Space Ghosts

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BEAR PIRATE VIKING QUEEN #2

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Space Ghost #2 (Dynamite) – David Pepose and Jonathan Lau start to probe into Space Ghost’s psyche with memories and glimpses of a past with kids and family while also unleashing some action-packed space adventures and creating a real bond between the titular character, Jan, Jace, and Blip. It’s whimsical to see Jace in Space Ghost’s ship bopping around like Anakin Skywalker in Phantom Menace, but there’s a real sense of peril once he hits the vacuum of space. Pepose and Lau make Space Ghost feel like playing with action figures as an adult with responsibilities, but end this issue on a light note that feels like classic Batman and Robin comics with a cosmic bent. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Bear Pirate Viking Queen #2 (Image) – Sean Lewis and Jonathan Marks Barravecchia continue their masterful exploration of generational violence and imperialism in the middle chapter of Bear Pirate Viking Queen (BPVQ) Sure, you can learn about colonization in a classroom or from a textbook, but something about a godlike Viking and his bear companion ripping apart a unwitting family’s (Generically named Smith) home drives the point home more effectively language. Lewis’ poetic, yet straightforward captions brought to life by Barravecchia’s hand lettering continue to meld with the artist’s images that often bleed from page to page in ways that evoke Bill Sienkewicz or even Ralph Steadman in his portrayal of the Queen. BPVQ #2’s big ideas, striking imagery, and literal medieval ultraviolence definitely whetted my appetite for the series’ upcoming conclusion while being an intellectually satisfying chapter in its own right. Overall: 9.0 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Ultimate and Punk Spider-Man and Grommets

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Grommets #1

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Spider-Punk: Arms Race #4 (Marvel) – Arms Race #4 is a loud, flashy end to Spider-Punk’s second miniseries from Cody Ziglar, Justin Mason, and Morry Hollowell. The mini could have maybe used another issue to flesh out the villain, Earth-138’s Dr. Octavius, who is just a run of the mill baddie with cool tech, or the new Wakanda supporting characters, but makes up for it with pure action fun. Mason and Hollowell draw and color one hell of a mech battle, and Ziglar’s one-liners are straight out of an edgy Saturday morning cartoon. Compared to the badass action and political commentary of the original Spider-Punk, Arms Race is a little bit of a disappointment, but overall, I had fun with the series and this group of characters. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

Ultimate Spider-Man #5 (Marvel) – Jonathan Hickman and David Messina go into what makes Harry Osborn tick in Ultimate Spider-Man, which is the series’ weakest issue, but connects the comic to the larger Ultimate Universe. The writing is especially Hickman-y and goes into great detail about how the Green Goblin armor works, but is offset by some menacing interactions with Kingpin and some more soul-searching with Peter Parker. Harry and Peter are truly brother heroes even if Mary Jane not knowing Peter’s secret, and Gwen Stacy knowing both of theirs will lead to trouble. After last issue, the interactions between Harry and Peter feel out of sequence, but Hickman and Messina make young Mr Osborn as complex as he’s been in years. Overall: 7.7 Verdict: Read

Grommets #1 (Image) – Grommets is a chill, laidback book about 2 up and coming skaters named Rick and Brian in 1984 Sacramento from Rick Remender, Brian Posehn, and Brett Parson. (Seriously, it’s the most chill Remender book ever.) It does a great job of capturing what it’s like to be an utter loser and suck at everything, including the one thing you’re really passionate about. Like his work on Tank Girl, Parson brings a kind of MAD magazine attention to detail with his artwork, and the skating scenes are fluid and effortless with one notable exception. All in all, Grommets #1 is a humorous examination of the terrors of adolescence (The line from Rick’s dad “Find something you like to do other than comic books” really hit home.) and the euphoria of finally finding a close friend. Definitely a breezy, summer read. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Two Debuts. Faith Returns and Ain’t No Grave!

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Ain't No Grave #1

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Faith Returns #1 (Valiant/Alien Books) – I haven’t read Valiant in a minute, but this was a fun comic from Jody Houser and Aleta Vidal as fangirl/pop culture journalist (In this economy!)/force field wielding superhero Faith must clear her name after her worst enemies framed her as a villain in a previous series. Faith Returns #1 brings in Archer and Armstrong as guest stars, and there’s a jaunty, road movie feel to the comic as they try to track down the baddies and end up in Sin City. Vidal brings the bright colors and action, and there’s some humor in the comic too like a magic-themed villain performing at a crusty motel instead of the Vegas Strip or how no one uses Faith’s actual superhero name, Zephyr. Houser does a good job of showing how Faith’s superhero/science fiction fandom help her process the world around her even though the sci-fi cursing can be a little much at times. Just say “fuck”, girl. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Ain’t No Grave #1 (Image) – Ain’t No Grave is a Western with a literally killer premise and even more beautiful art from Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, and Jean-Francois Beaulieu. The book follows a female gunslinger-turned-family woman named Ryder who is diagnosed with a terminal condition and must go on an arduous journey to cure it somehow. Like a fever dream, the book flashes between past and present with Beaulieu’s palette ranging from John Ford-esque vistas to ghostly pale. The extended length allows for a lot of establishing shots for Corona and also lays the emotional bedrock of the series which Ryder’s relationship with her partner Darius and daughter. I love the subtle changes in body language when Ryder is being a mom, and when she’s back in badass mode. Ain’t No Grave reminds me a lot of one of my favorite, Westerns, but with more of a supernatural bent and is an engaging slow burn of a read. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Two Debuts. Bear Pirate Viking Queen and Space Ghost!

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Space Ghost #1

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Bear Pirate Viking Queen #1 (Image) – History and myth blur in Sean Lewis and Jonathan Marks Barravecchia‘s Bear Pirate Viking Queen #1. I wasn’t aware of Barravecchia’s work before this book, but in the future, his stuff will be an instant buy for me as his watercolors convey violence, nightmares, and eventually despair as a British sailor becomes a pirate baron and runs into a nemesis from another era. BPVQ oozes primality, and its cast members die in inventive ways as its protagonist channels a bear spirit until it bites him in the ass. On a more elevator pitch level, this book is basically Master and Commander meets The Northman with idiosyncratic visuals channeling Bill Sienkiewicz and even Ralph Steadman during the more darkly humorous scenes. (In a pirate raid, one of the crew member tries to board the ship by saying he needs to take a shit.) It’s utterly engaging and has a bit of a twist of the end and shift in perspectives that definitely makes me want to follow the rest of the series. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Space Ghost #1 (Dynamite) – David Pepose and Jonathan Lau take Space Ghost back to his action adventure roots in this rollicking new series for Dynamite. Space Ghost himself is a mysterious, powerful force in the background while most of the comic is centered around Jan and Jace dealing with the loss of their father while fighting evil. There is tension from page one with explosions galore as Jan and Jace hide from space pirates and eventually fight back with the help of a costumed hero with the perfect Toth silhouette. On a visual level, I love the contrast between the realistic designs for the other characters and the ships and the simple linework for Space Ghost. It makes him look more otherworldly and definitely a little bit scary initially to some kids on their own. However, by the end of the first issue, he’s a true figure of hope against impossible odds as Pepose and Lau marry superheroes and space opera. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Helen of Wyndhorn #2 and Moon Man #2

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Helen of Wyndhorn #2

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Helen of Wyndhorn #2 (Dark Horse) – After last issue’s monstrous reveal, Tom King and Bilquis Evely back pedal and take stock of the insular world of Barnabas, Helen, and Lilith. I’m really enjoying the complex characterization of Helen who is still annoying, drunk, and unruly all the time, but was the only person who believed in her father, CK Cole. King resists speeding up the plot to get to more of the quest/fantasy elements to delve into the shared trauma of Barnabas and Helen that reveals itself through rage, isolation, and alcoholism. The present day stuff isn’t as intriguing, but hints at something really messed up happening to Helen and Barnabas and also continues to show the importance of folks that are in the “footnotes” of history. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy

Moon Man #2 (Image) – In Moon Man #2, Ramon gets called back to LA to do PR for the failed space mission and make his evil employer Janus look good. (Two-faced indeed.) The conflict that Scott Mescudi and Kyle Higgins craft between wanting to be a good worker and say nothing and say the world is truly compelling, especially when Marco Locati’s visuals amp up. There’s a sleepy surreality to Ramon’s conversation with his colleagues at the bar that continues into the superhero sequences. The mask and abilities give him a chance to literally tell his employer to “fuck off”, a power fantasy for many readers. However, there’s a dark side to everything even if Moon Man’s color palette is bright and trippy. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

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