Category Archives: Mini Reviews

Mini Reviews: The Last Day of HP Lovecraft #1, Gotham Academy: First Year #1, Umbrella Academy: Plan B #3, Bytchcraft #4, and Batman #2

Posted on by
Gotham Academy: First Year #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 Last Day of HP Lovecraft #1 (BOOM!) – A translation of a French graphic novel by Romuald Giulivo and Jakub Rebelka, The Last Day of HP Lovecraft #1 delves into the final day of the racist, anti-Semitic, yet highly influential horror writer. Rebelka visualizes the author’s imagination through strange, feverish dreamscapes narrated by the recurring Mythos character Randolph Carter. The book critiques, pays homage to, and riffs on the works of Lovecraft and attempts to answer what kind of person would invent cosmic horror. The characterization of Carter is enjoyable as a puckish, nigh-omniscient protagonist as he both trolls and fanboys over HP Lovecraft. As an added bonus, there’s a handwritten letter from a dying Lovecraft to a dead Robert E. Howard about death. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy

Gotham Academy: First Year #1 (DC) – After too long of a hiatus, Gotham Academy is back with a prequel focusing on Olive Silverlock’s first year at the boarding school. Writers Brenden Fletcher, Becky Cloonan, and Karl Kerschl zero in Olive’s Batman-induced trauma as well as the general awkwardness of the first day at a preppy boarding school finding humor from the school’s strange aristocratic conditions. On the art side, Marco Ferrari and Eva De La Cruz capture the lush, dark academia before dark academia was a thing tone of the school and add some memorable flourishes like a monstrous portrayal of Batman. Olive Silverlock is a relatable outside character, and the prominent role of Arkham Asylum might bring folks from the superhero world into the Goth YA universe. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy

Umbrella Academy: Plan B #3 (Dark Horse) – Just like My Chemical Romance’s current Long Live the Black Parade tour, Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba engage with the contemporary rise/reign of fascism in a cheeky, theatrical way. But unlike the concerts, which recontextualizes MCR’s 2006 album The Black Parade into a satirical look at an authoritarian regime in a focused way using that album’s song as the spine, let’s just say Umbrella Academy Plan B continues to be all over the place storywise. There are some memorable moments like Klaus having an NA meeting with ghosts, Luther’s hero St. Zero pleading with him to return from the Moon to Earth and save it from the Sparrow Academy, and the Sparrows spreading chaos on national TV. But the various threads never cohere together like the previous issue, which was centered around a fight between the Umbrella and Sparrow Academies. Maybe, the bigger picture will be more clear in the next 3 issues, but for now, Umbrella Academy is a beautiful drawn, colored, and lettered (By DRAAG’s own Nate Pieko) mess. Overall: 6.1 Verdict: Pass

Bytchcraft #4 (Mad Cave) – The penultimate issue of Bytchcraft is rich, dense occult fantasy storytelling from Aaron Reese, Lema Carril, and Bex Glendining. I love how they interweave the theme of found family and matriarchy with a blockbuster, world ending threat. Also, there’s plenty of quips and humor (Especially from my personal favorite character Em.) to balance out the apocalypse of it all like the coven coming up with a game plan in a diner in Queens. Bytchcraft is a gorgeous and immersive comic, and I’m sad to see it end next month, but it continues to be a lasting legacy for the late Reese. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Batman #2 (DC) – Batman and Robin are more ACAB than ever in the 2nd issue of Matt Fraction, Jorge Jimenez, and Tomeu Morey‘s Batman run. This issue focuses on the relationship between Batman and Tim Drake using a flashback framing narrative of the Caped Crusader teaching Robin how to drive stick/the Batmobile. Fraction and Jimenez strike a balance between vulnerability and badassery, cool gadgets and heroes down on their luck. The fight sequences are full of piss and vinegar, and I love how Matt Fraction writes Batman and Tim Drake’s relationship like a parent and an adult child while the heat continues to come down on them in the ongoing plotline. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Comic Book History of Cocktails, Godzilla #2, Powers 25 #1, Red Hood #1, Absolute Batman #12

Posted on by
Absolute Batman #12

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

Comic Book History of Cocktails (Ten Speed Press) – Really interesting concept, but David Wondrich’s newness to the comics medium shows as his rambling text overwhelms Dean Kotz’s images. The sequences where fictional bartenders make historical cocktails are cute, and this could have worked as an illustrated recipe book. As a PBR, bourbon on the rocks, vodka cranberry (Especially at Goth clubs because it looks like you’re drinking blood.) swiller, maybe I wasn’t the target audience for this, but maybe worth a flip through if you’re a fancy cocktail drinker. Overall: 5.0 Verdict: Pass

Godzilla #2 (IDW Publishing) – Tim Seeley and Nicola Cizmesija‘s Godzilla series continues to have tons of moving parts and a large ensemble cast, but the heart of the series is the “chosen one” type figure Jacen, who seems destined to throw down with Godzilla. I love his interactions with his telepathic teammate Rumi, and how they symbolize Japanese and American attitudes about Godzilla as well as the world as a whole. However, Godzilla #2 isn’t all talking heads, and Cizemsija and colorist Francesco Segala serve up a freakish monster to give G-Force some grief and test Jacen’s abilities. The comic is a dark, slow burn, but still has some time for levity aka every Jet Jaguar shows up. Overall: 7.8 Verdict: Buy

Powers 25 #1 (Dark Horse) – Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming‘s Powers is back and still has the juice! There’s still the rapid fire dialogue and Alex Toth-meets-The Wire visuals, but this new series interrogates what it’s like for a universe filled with superheroes and also live streaming and ever changing laws . And it’s all told the POV of a rookie cop that has a history with Powers although some familiar faces from the previous series pop up and play key roles in Powers 25. I also enjoyed the series’ underlying them of why after all the technology and changes in the world, it still hasn’t gotten any better. It really resonates, and Bendis and Oeming set up one hell of a (grotesque) mystery. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Red Hood #1 (DC) – Due to the cowardice of DC Comics in their firing of its writer Gretchen Felker-Martin, Red Hood #1 is the first thread in a violent mystery saga that sadly won’t be fully unraveled. There’s a muscularity to Jeff Spokes‘ line work and crimson red palette, and his New Angelique has real character to it that matches Felker-Martin’s lyrical narration. I love how much inner turmoil she gives Jason Todd, and how she lets Spokes cook on the fight sequences as the bullets fly and bodies fall. Jason Todd is a cool, complex character ripe for this kind of genre story, and it’s sad that we’ll never see the end of this. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Absolute Batman #12 (DC) – There’s an idea floating around that Batman created his villains, and Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and Frank Martin take this idea literally in Absolute Batman #12. In the big picture of the series, this will probably be seen as a pivotal issue as Snyder and Dragotta channel Dante’s Inferno and give each member of Bruce Wayne’s friend group a contrapasso of their own. Although told mainly in flashback, the scenes of transformation of Oswald Cobblepot, Edward Nygma, and Harvey Dent are like infusions of psychic torture straight to the brain as Bruce almost reaches a breaking point. (Emphasis on almost.) Nick Dragotta’s art is powerful and extreme as ever from the opening subway chase with Batman and Killer Croc to a certain character packing heat in a way Rob Liefeld only dreamed of. This reckless, riverboat gambler Batman continues to be the car crash I keep returning to, and Absolute Batman #12 is no exception and takes the concept to eleven. Overall: 9.2 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Closer, Monster High: House Haunters #1, Adventures of Lumen N #1, Spider-Man ’94 #1, Bytchcraft #3

Posted on by
Closer #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

Closer (Image) – Closer #1 is the equivalent of a haunting pop single from one of your favorite artists, in this case, Kieron Gillen, Steve Lieber, and Tamra Bonvillain. They construct a universe that has gone to shit because a man’s relationship with a woman didn’t live up to the poetry of a Burt Bacharach song. There’s big Phonogram curse song energy to this issue as strange happenings dot its pages, and its sensible protagonist Marigold tries to make sense of what going on. I enjoyed the increasing frustration of the facial expressions Lieber gives in contrast to the idealized version of her from her ex. Sometimes, we don’t share the same connection with another person, and that’s not the end of the world, but it makes for an interesting comic. Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy

Monster High: House Haunters #1 (IDW Publishing) – A ScareBnB trip goes horribly awry in Ben Kahn, Sonia Liao, and Rebecca Nalty‘s Monster High: House Haunters #1. I love how this issue balances adorable art, witty jokes, and a genuinely terrifying situation. Seriously, this comic is laugh out loud funny, especially at a bit where this universe’s equivalent of a YouTube essayist makes some amazing puns on horror director’s names. The monstrous nature of the characters makes for some hilarious situations too, but especially as the comic reaches its final pages, Kahn and Liao inject some real suspense into the story. All in all, Monster High: House Haunters #1 is an enjoyable horror comedy comic for fierce fiends of all ages. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Adventures of Lumen N #1 (Dark Horse) – James Robinson, Phil Hester, Marc Deering, and Jim Campbell‘s new series Adventures of Lumen N #1 starts out on its front foot with a little mystery and a lot of action. Its titular character, a young girl living in India at the turn of the 20th century, suddenly begins to figure out why she’s been trained in languages, ship navigation, and combat unlike her peers. This first issue establishes the premise of the series and is filled with the always lovely shapes of Hester with Robinson’s script oozing retro charm. I can’t wait to see more of Lumen and her mysterious grandfather’s relationship, which seems to be at the heart of the series. I’ve definitely seen comics similar to this one, but James Robinson and Phil Hester definitely have a special synergy, and I’m excited to see more angular, retrofuturism. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy

Spider-Man ’94 #1 (Marvel) – J.M. DeMatteis, Jim Towe, and Jim Campbell‘s Spider-Man ’94 #1 is truly a bittersweet. There’s the sweetness of the bright colors and vibrant, yet cheesy in a 90s cartoon way banter between Spider-Man and Molten Man as well as the authentic emotionality of his interactions with Mary Jane, especially with how the animated series ended. But then there’s the bitterness of DeMatteis and Towe’s wholesale transposition of the spider totem part of JMS’ Amazing Spider-Man run, Morlun, and all. Morlun worked in the Spider-Verse so he might work here too, but he’s a personality-free villain, who just is evil for evil’s sake. I understand wanting to use a bad guy that didn’t exist during the original cartoon’s run, but Morlun and company ain’t it, chief. However, it’s nice to see Mary Jane and Peter in a mature, if not healthy relationship, and J.M. DeMatteis nails the voice of Christopher David Barnes’ Spidey so I’ll give the next issue or two a shot. Overall: 7.0 Verdict: Read

Bytchcraft #3 (Mad Cave Studios) – Aaron Reese, Lema Carril, and Bex Glendining take Em, Adri, and Michele out of the city and into the Sacred Green where they deal with beings beyond our comprehension. I love the blend of cosmological world-building and character interactions as Reese does an intriguing riff on Judeo-Christian concepts to set up the backbone of their universe. The tension between the coven is relatable for anyone with a longterm friend group that’s started to drift apart, but more apocalyptic. However, Bytchcraft #3 isn’t just yapping and has epic god vs god, magickal battle royales that Glendining’s majestic color palette elevates to epic levels. It’s Biblical literally and figuratively, but also bittersweet because magic always has a cost. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Catacomb of Torment #2, Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #2, Black Cat #1, Umbrella Academy: Plan B #2, Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #3

Posted on by
Black Cat #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

Catacomb of Torment #2 (Oni Press) – Catacomb of Torment #2 takes the actual horror of our current late capitalist reality and turns it up to 11 transforming it to the horror genre. In “Red Blend”, Evan Dorkin and Lukas Ketner go straight for the jugular taking shots at rich white men who have inherited all their wealth and exploit their workers while selling it for spare parts to private equity investor. Ketner is kind of the master of the reaction shot showing the protagonist Jud’s kind younger sister Grace get more and more horrified at his action until his comeuppance. Let’s just say you’ll never look at wine in the same way after reading this short story. Featuring a fashion illustration visual style from Fabiana Mascolo, her and Jeremy Lambert‘s “The Dressmaker” continues the anthology’s eat the rich vibe with an up and coming fashionista (over)matching wits with a boring rich guy. The fits are immaculate in this comic, and I love how they match the protagonist’s personality as Lambert and Mascolo dig into how women are treated differently depending on how they dress. The anthology wraps up with Matt Bors and Kano‘s “Hostile Architecture” where urban designer Desmond takes spikes on ledges, bars on benches, and sharp bits on subway turnstiles to a sadistic, high tech extreme. A series of panels where a grinding skateboarder goes flying made me gasp big-time, and the scenarios get even more and more extreme. I love the horror franchise that this story ends up being a riff on, and Kano’s art is a tortuous delight. If you like classic horror, hate capitalism, and maybe are just a little sick and twisted, then you’ll enjoy Catacomb of Torment #2. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #2 (Marvel) – Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe continues to be too much fun thanks to Gerry Duggan, Javier Garron, Juann Cabal, and Paco Medina, whose art style blend seamlessly for some giant monster versus superheroes action. After a framing flash forward to 2099, his issue focuses on various scientific and magical ways to take out Godzilla, including Pym particles, the crimson bands of Cytorrak, and Thor riding Fin Fang Foom. Of course, these all fail, and the fight against the King of Monsters turns into a delay of the inevitable. I love that Duggan’s signature humor doesn’t go away during this mammoth-sized story with some of C-list supervillains reacting pricelessly to Godzilla destroying their favorite bar. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy

Black Cat #1 (Marvel) – Felicia Hardy is trying to live a more heroic life in the new Black Cat series from G. Willow Wilson, Gleb Melnikov, and Brian Reber. Having a female writer on Black Cat does wonders for her characterization, and I love the insights into what makes her tick while she runs from the cops and supervillains, who have become more bold and dangerous since Spider-Man is dealing with something over in his book. On the visual side, Melnikov’s art is sexy and stylized, and he continues to have a real knack for fight choreography as Black Cat and the Lizard throw down in this one. His comedy chops are too as I got a laugh out of just seeing all the random heroes and villains in Night Nurse’s waiting room. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Umbrella Academy: Plan B #2 (Dark Horse) – The conflict between our titular heroes and the Sparrow Academy in Umbrella Academy: Plan B #2 has some Justice League vs The Authority, but with that signature Gerard Way/Gabriel Ba/Dave Stewart quirkiness. Way and Ba’s gift for pitch black humor is still intact as demonstrated in a flashback of a Sparrow Academy training exercise (I definitely watched this past weekend’s English Premier League matches differently.), Klaus’ new status quo, and a raygun obsessed US president. The anti-fascist satire is on fire this issue as Way and Ba begin to expand the plot of the series while still having time to check in with the individual members of the Umbrella Academy. To be honest, I couldn’t pick anyone from the Sparrow Academy in a lineup except for their version of Space Boy. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #3 (DC Comics) – Krypto #3 is a touching, standalone story of heroism from Ryan North and Mike Norton. I love how Norton and colorist Ian Herring show the windswept winter landscapes that turn from idyllic to dangerous and progress the story through body language and context clues. Nothing is stronger than a bond between and kid and their pet, and Krypto #3 reinforces that while building up Krypto’s legacy as a hero in his own right. I love how this book is basically Superman: For All Seasons, but with Krypto. Overall: 9.5 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Cul-De-Sac #1, Captain America #2, and Ancestral Recall #1

Posted on by
Captain America #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

Cul-De-Sac #1 (Bad Idea) – Mike Carey and Jonathan Wayshak team up on an interesting riff on the vampire genre that humanizes both the hunters and the monsters that they’re after. The stories focuses around a powerful vampire clan called the Necratil that can have children, live basically normal lives, and super scarily, drain the life out of their prey instead of sucking their blood. I love the normalcy with which the vampire kids are portrayed compared to the vampire hunters without taking away the air of menace. And on the art side, Wayshak has a little bit of that Richard Corben flair for any time someone is doing something monstrous and does a little classic newspaper cartoon style for the more mundane moments. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Captain America #2 (Marvel) – This issue of Captain America is all about exploring the nuances and tough choices facing and being Cap in the early 20th century. Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti craft a parallel narrative with sand-swept flashbacks of Colton’s experiences in the War on Terror and his current mission with Steve Rogers in Latveria. The stories look at the pros and cons of American interventionism and also highlight Rogers’ naive idealism as well as his status as a living symbol and legend. It’s not a simple smash and grab mission for sure. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

Ancestral Recall #1 (AHOY Comics) – Jordan Clark and Atagun Ilhan‘s Ancestral Recall lives up to the hype of its concept, which is an elderly painter named Melvin uses the power of Black history to help find his missing wife. I love how much of a curmudgeon Melvin is and his interactions with his neighbor-turned-sidekick Myran, who is the epitome of hospitality. On the visual side, Ihan uses the different historical figures that Melvin embodies to play with different styles like noir and swashbuckling adventure. (Also, did you know that Philip Marlowe was originally based on a Black man?) This comic is a robust argument against algorithm/AI culture and for re-connecting with one’s roots and neighbors. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Bytchcraft #2, Bring on the Bad Guys: Loki #1, and Godzilla vs Boston

Posted on by
Bring on the Bad Guys: Loki #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

Bytchcraft #2 (Mad Cave Studios) – New York plunges deeper into darkness and chaos, and the wytches are public enemy number one in the second installment of Aaron Reese and Lena Carrillo‘s Bytchcraft. The banter, fashions, and Bex Glendining‘s color palettes complement the danger that the main coven of characters has been experiencing. I love the bond between the three main characters and the explosion of world building as this issue continues. It’s truly a rich urban fantasy world, and WitchTok cracked me up. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Bring on the Bad Guys: Loki #1 (Marvel) – Anthony Oliveira and Jethro Morales elevate a middling summer Mephisto/supervillain-centric event with a touch of literary flair. They basically adapt Robert W. Chambers’ King in Yellow with an Asgardian trickster god and elements from Phantom of the Opera and all of its successors. Morales’ art is gorgeous and helps capture the story’s operatic nature, and Oliveira executes a fun, modern twist on the deal with the devil while also indulging his and Loki’s flair for the literary. The Marc Guggenheim/Michael Santa Maria backup story with the Sister of Sorrow setting up the Soul Forge after a fight scene in K’un L’un is just okay like a Big Mac after a filet mignon. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Godzilla vs Boston (IDW Publishing) – Some of Boston’s finest comics creators shout out their city through the lens of the King of Monsters in Godzilla vs. Boston. The comics kicks off with “The Great Gorilla Whale”, an old-fashioned fish story from Steve Orlando and Matt Emmons. Set in 1888, this story describes a Godzilla attack on Boston in the late 1800s, and Orlando nails the dialect and speech patterns of old school Boston fisherman and sailors. The visuals are equally as rough and tumble: a late Victorian illustration style meets blockbuster kaiju destruction. The ending is a little abrupt, but Godzilla is a force nature no matter the era or setting. In the next story, cartoonist Jesse Lonergan uses a battle between Godzilla and a giant blue lobster during the Boston Marathon to educate readers about Boston history and culture. You can follow the story from his clear visuals, but the footnotes add a lot of humor and context. This story is beaming with civic pride, and I love the parallels between the runners striving to finish and Godzilla fending off the giant blue meanie, who was making me crave lobster rolls in landlocked Tennessee. Hanna Cha‘s “Make Way for Mothra” is an homage to the great children’s authors who have called New England home like Eric Carle and Robert McCloskey. Cha uses big, bright full page illustrations showing Godzilla and a larval Mothra wreaking havoc on the gridlocked Boston freeway and other landmarks. I love this story’s playful tone and the bright colors have me screaming out for a full length picture book. Godzilla vs Boston concludes with an eponymous love letter to the MBTA’s Green Line from writer/artist Hayden Sherman. Telling the story from the POV of transit workers frantically trying to find a way to stop Godzilla, the story blossoms into an appreciation of community, connection, and the magic of film. Also, Sherman’s take on underrated kaiju, Minilla is adorable. Although it’s filled with the usual big monster mayhem and destruction, Godzilla vs Boston successfully argues the case for how awesome the city is through its history, culture, people, and especially its comics creators. (The Celtics will always suck though.) Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Fantastic Four Fanfare #3 and Exquisite Corpses #3

Posted on by

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

Fantastic Four Fanfare #3 (Marvel) – Fantastic Four Fanfare #3 centers around the friendship/frenemyships of Ben Grimm with art from some of comics’ most interesting storytellers. The anthology’s first story “Flight or Flight” from Dan Slott, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente reminds readers that Ben Grimm has both brains and brawn. Complementing Martin’s retro stylings nicely, Slott weaves together vignettes from Grimm’s past showing his struggles academically and physically when he transforms and can’t maneuver flight controls like he used to. I love the focus on the friendship between him and Reed Richards, and overall how this story focuses on a side of the blue eyed Thing that doesn’t get as much love in most stories. The theme of friendship continues in Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Brett Breeding, and Rachelle Rosenberg‘s “Another Round” where Sandman and Ben Grimm bro out and rescue some out-of-work Latino miners, who are scavenging for materials they can sell. Artwise, Frenz still packs one hell of a wallop beginning on page one where Sandman hits Grimm with Thor’s hammer made out of sand. However, the story is all heart as the Thing and Sandman work together and find out how doing good feels. Also, there’s lots of fun banter about beer, sandwiches, and roasts of Sandman’s former teammates, the Frightful Four. The final story from “Universal Appeal” is pure Chip Zdarsky and Allreds wackiness as Johnny Storm accepts a “Sexiest Being in the Universe” award, and Ben Grimm tags along. There’s a fun fluidity to the visuals, and Zdarsky mines a lot of comedy out of the Thing/Torch repartee, but a little stranger. Fantastic Four Fanfare #3 is another fun installment in a great series that lets readers dip into evergreen adventures of Marvel’s First Family while you’re catching up on Ryan North’s Fantastic Four run like this writer. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy

Exquisite Corpses #3 (Image) – Pornsak Pichetshote, James Tynion IV, Valentine De Landro, and Michael Walsh wisely hone in on one of the serial killers, Virginia’s Nurse Pete as he causes havoc in the town’s hospital. I’m still getting to know this book’s sprawling cast of characters, but the creators do a good job of squeezing in human moments like 2 EMTS having a heart to heart or two young people trying to make a connection on the dance floor between the behind the scenes maneuvering and carnage. Colorist Jordie Bellaire and letterer Becca Carey are the two underrated MVPs of this issue providing blood and sound while the inhabitants of Oak Valley run around like chickens with their heads cut off. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #2, Toxie Team-Up #2, Absolute Batman #10, Post Malone’s Big Rig #1, Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #1

Posted on by
Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #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

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #2 (DC) – The sentiment that you can see someone’s character by how they treat animals rings true is at the core of Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #2 from Ryan North, Mike Norton, and Ian Herring. This is a painful read, and I’m glad North or the editors included a content warning at the beginning because Lex Luthor abuses Krypto throughout the issue while monologuing about how he’s going to run Metropolis beginning by getting his relatives’ life insurance. Norton’s visuals show the lack of a bond between Lex and Krypto building up to a tragic climax, but thankfully it’s not all depressing, and there are moments of escape and relief. Because animals can’t speak and are the best listener, the Krypto series continues to provide insight into key figures from Superman’s life, including his parents in the previous issue and Luthor in this one. I love the seasonal motif to match the tone of the series and the passing of time. While not a “fun read”, Krypto #2 is a powerful chapter in this soon to be evergreen series. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Toxie Team-Up #2 (Ahoy!) – The Toxic Avenger, the Jersey Devil, and a shitty diner are a brilliant match in Toxie Team-Up #2 from Stuart Moore and Ryan Kelly. The story pulls at the heart strings with a greytone flashback showing Toxie in his pre-acid days trying to make connections with his quiz bowl teams before being bullied yet again. What follows is chaos, slop flying, and lots of New Jersey references. Toxie fighting crime and talking trash with the help of some hopped up sodas that are probably the hot new thing on BYU’s campus makes for solid reading, and it’s always a treat to have some new Kelly interior art. Overall: 7.6 Verdict: Read

Absolute Batman #10 (DC) – Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and Frank Martin take Batman to his utter breaking point before kind of, sort of building him up in Absolute Batman #10. Batman is probably where he belongs in the private prison of Ark M, and Snyder’s gift for dry, dark humor comes out in the narrative captions describing what he brought to the jail. However, this isn’t a funny comic, but a physically draining one that ends a half-moment of triumph. Flashbacks break up the ordeals that Bruce goes through and sharpen his relationship with his future villains, especially Waylon Jones, who is also a prisoner at Ark M. The camaraderie they had running scams and watching boxing matches together as young men definitely comes in handy in this issue. Also, I can’t continue to heap enough praise on Dragotta’s art and page design. His splash pages are climaxes, and it’s insane how much detail and character he can cram into these multi-panel grid pages. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Post Malone’s Big Rig #1 (Vault) – I didn’t know what to expect from recording artist Post Malone‘s venture into comics other than some kind of vehicle, and surprisingly, this was a gonzo good time if you can suspend your disbelief a little bit. Co-written by Malone and Adrian Wassel with gorgeous black and white art from Nate Gooden, Big Rig #1 is about face-tatted priest named John who must save a medieval village from demons with the help of a 18-wheeler that fell from the sky. It has big Devilman energy while keeping things PG-13, and I love how Post Malone and Wassel use the extended page count to flesh out John’s supporting cast. Some of the worldbuilding seems willy-nilly, and the villains are one note, but Big Rig #1 is a ride worth going on, especially if you consider your lucky trucker hat to be Excalibur. The whole vibe of Post Malone’s self-insert character was like someone from GTA popping up in Elden Ring or Dark Souls. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #1 (Marvel) – Just an absolute fun time of a comic! Gerry Duggan and Javier Garron revel in Godzilla’s insane powers and set the tone by having him solo a Celestial in the first few pages. Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #1 is an all-fight comic, but there is some visual cleverness to it like a fun, cutaway style layout of Quicksilver evacuating a building or the result of Captain America’s shield blocking Godzilla’s nuclear breath. This issue features all the scientists and heavy hitters so looking forward to next issue’s street level-centric battle even more. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: The Toxic Avenger Comics #1, The Unchosen #1, Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes, and Rivals, and Planet Death #1

Posted on by
Toxic Avenger Comics #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 Toxic Avenger Comics #1 (Ahoy) – Following up on the original Ahoy Toxic Avenger miniseries, Matt Bors and a rotating team of artists showcase life in Tromaville after the toxic waste spill through different genres in The Toxic Avenger Comics. First up is horror, and Fred Harper and Lee Loughridge handle the art duties and bring the creepy atmosphere as Toxie investigates some missing girls kind of, sort of alongside the mother of his bully from the previous series. There’s some gross body horror as well as atmospheric chills, but the book really shines when Bors’ narration captures what it likes to live in a world that has passed you by and abandoned you. The whole wanting to run away, yet staying to fight back is super relatable. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

The Unchosen #1 (Image) – Writer/artist David Marquez creator-owned debut is an action packed portal fantasy/magical school comic with JRPG elements. Aida is a young girl with unimaginable powers that she must learn to honest with other children like her. This definitely isn’t an original premise, but Marquez and colorist Marissa Louise‘s visuals definitely spice things up. I love the almost painted style they use for the mysterious figures trying to nab Aida. In future issues, I can hopefully fall in love with the character, but for now, I’m mainly digging on David Marquez’s art. Overall: 7.1 Verdict: Read

Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes, and Rivals (Marvel) – Marvel brings its iconic Swimsuit Special back with a frame story from Tim Seeley, Tony Fleecs, and Nick Bradshaw and lots of sexy/cheeky/artistic pinups of superheroes enjoy the summertime. I appreciate the anti-corporate/AI art bent of the frame story, and it lands some great gags like the return of the infamous Punisher skull speedo. Also, let’s say there’s definitely equal opportunity objectification. This isn’t the most “substantial” read, but it updates the Marvel Swimsuit for the era of Marvel Rivals and Chat GPT. Overall: 7.4 Verdict: Read/Ogle

Planet Death #1 (Bad Idea) – The first full length issue of Planet Death suffers from similar problems as the zero issue. It has jaw dropping art from Tomas Giorello and Sunny Gho, but the story from Derek Kolstad and Robert Venditti is a little thin. They do capture a feeling of hopelessness as soldiers get mowed down by aliens as they drop on a planet to destroy a weapon throughout the entire issue. I like that we’re immersed in the carnage from page 1, but would like to actually care about the characters. Overall: 6.9 Verdict: Read

Mini Review: Superman takes the sports film formula and throws in a dash of Silver, Bronze, and Copper Age of Comics kookiness

Posted on by
Superman

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics, sees more movies, and watch more tv 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

Superman (2025) – Boring, annoying people say Superman isn’t a good superhero because he’s “overpowered”. In Superman, writer/director James Gunn swats that notion away like the Man of Steel does to Lex Luthor’s Silicon Valley rent-a-goons. He begins the story with Superman’s first defeat, and he and a game David Corenswet break down the iconic superhero putting him through the wringer before building up stronger and braver than ever.

Superman takes the sports film formula and throws in a dash of Silver, Bronze, and Copper Age of Comics kookiness while finishing off with a timely helping of contemporary politics. Superman uses otherworldly and crazy sci-fi tech as metaphors to create cathartic hope in a world run by billionaire criminals that sadly aren’t chilling in Belle Reve prison. The film has its preachy moments, but I’m in the choir so I didn’t mind although let’s definitely say that James Gunn has read his Larry Niven.

However, for the most part, Superman is pop rock fun that showcases Gunn’s skill with making it easy to connect with quirky characters in ensemble casts. I came out of the theater clamoring for Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo has the freak factor.), Metamorpho, and a Bwahahaha-type Justice League film while still savoring the triumph of nurture over nature, truth over deception, justice over venality, and populism over plutocracy that I had just witnessed. Also, wow, Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan have incredible chemistry as Clark Kent and Lois Lane.

Overall Verdict: 8.0

« Older Entries Recent Entries »