Category Archives: Mini Reviews

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Mini Reviews: Godzilla: Heist #5, Godzilla vs Thor #1, and Captain America #1

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Captain America #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

Captain America #1 (Marvel) – Chip Zdarsky, Valerio Schiti, and Frank Martin go for the high concept, no holds barred take on their new volume of Captain America. The series is set in the past in the shadow of both 9/11 and the emergence of superheroes with Cap being one week out of the ice. There’s a feeling of skepticism around superpowered beings with the exception of ones that answer to the U.S. military like Captain America in this case. Captain America #1 sets up Dr. Doom as the antagonist for the Man Out of Time’s first mission and also fleshes out a new partner for him with a similar hatred for bullies and desire to service his country. However, 2001 isn’t 1941 by a long shot. I love how Zdarsky writes Cap coming to grips with the complexities of 21st century, and he and Schiti aren’t afraid to depict him as a larger than life figure. The past setting is honestly freeing for this arc to potentially be an evergreen tale. Also, the early 2000s being the beginning of the age of marvels gives the comic an Ultimate Universe type of vibe, but Chip Zdarsky is a much better writer than Mark Millar so I’m excited to see how he explores the hopes and fears of that time period with more maturity and the benefit of hindsight. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Godzilla vs Thor #1 (Marvel) – This series is back to its epic ways as Jason Aaron, Aaron Kuder, and Jesus Aburtov spin a yarn of an epic duel between the God of Thunder and the King of Monsters. There’s a little bit of a connection to Aaron’s Punisher run, but most of the book is a callback to his iconic Thor run with Godzilla taking up the mantle of God Butcher and setting up an eternal battle between god and demon, life and death. Kuder and Aburtov are game with wide screen layouts and gorgeous colors showing the back and forth and destruction of both divine beings. This is a mythic read as well as being a fun coda to Jason Aaron’s Thor run. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Godzilla: Heist #5 (IDW Publishing) – Enough sneaking around, Godzilla: Heist #5 is all about the battle royale between Godzilla and Mechagodzilla as Jai is willing to sacrifice his own life to kill the King of Monsters. I love Van Jensen‘s captions for Jai as he calculates ways to get Godzilla away from civilians while also realizing there will always be collateral damage. Kelsey Ramsay draws a bunch of big spreads to show the scale and physicality of the fight scene with destruction raining across the page. The ending is a slight cop-out, but I wouldn’t mind a sequel to this series, or even better having Jai be incorporated in the Kai-Sei era. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Aliens vs. Avengers #4, You Never Heard of Me #5, Godzilla vs. Avengers #1, Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1, Exquisite Corpses #2, Emma Frost: The White Queen #1

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You Never Heard of Me #5

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

Aliens vs. Avengers #4 (Marvel) – Jonathan Hickman, Esad Ribic, and Ive Svorcina‘s Aliens vs. Avengers miniseries concludes in bleak, operatic fashion with a pitched battle between the remaining superheroes and Wakandan empire soldiers and the Sinister/xenomorphs. With the universe dying/concluded, the fighting is truly no holds barred, and there’s plenty of creative kills and heroic sacrifices. Ribic is known for his widescreen, epic work, but he showcases his gift for motion in a sequence where Wolverine, Armor, and Emma Frost try to take out Emma Frost. But Aliens vs. Avengers #4 isn’t just fisticuffs, and it features some classic Hickman philosophical underpinnings about life in a universe whose creators hate it. (Seriously, best use of the Engineers from Prometheus ever.) Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

You Never Heard of Me #5 (Dark Horse) – Oh boy, this was a tear jerker. Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli conclude the saga of Will, the boy with powers of foresight that he didn’t want, with a beautiful, earned happy ending as he grows closer to both his family and new friends. Zanfardino is so good at writing intimate, poignant conversations with Romboli’s expressive visuals making them that more expressive like Charlie connecting with her dad, who gives her the courage to ask the girl she likes out. The comic made me cry, but it also gave me a lot of good feelings as well especially in some of the visions of the future which get their own gold-tinged color palette. Overall: 9.4 Verdict: Buy

Emma Frost: The White Queen #1 (Marvel) – In Emma Frost: The White Queen #1, Amy Chu, Andrea DiVito, and Antonio Fabela turn the clock to the bad old days when Frost was a villain and not an X-Man. Until a Chris Claremont/John Byrne X-Men lineup teleport in to rescue an Argentine anti-fascist mutant, this comic is a delicious look at how Frost manipulates so-called powerful men with her right hand woman Noor. After that, it turns into a standard issue throwback X-Men comic, but Di Vito makes the nostalgia look good with fastball specials plus a Wolverine/Hellfire Club rematch with a twist. This series isn’t essential, but could potentially be a solid intermediate step between Emma Frost the White Queen and Emma Frost the superhero. Overall: 7.0 Verdict: Read

Godzilla vs. Avengers #1 (Marvel) – Godzilla vs. Avengers #1 is definitely the weakest of the Godzilla vs Marvel one-shots as David Walker, George Jeanty, Karl Story, and Frank D’Armata overindulge in 2000s nostalgia in a talky, yet substance-less issue. Yeah, most of this comic is the New Avengers bantering to an exasperated Maria Hill about a battle versus Godzilla in Astoria, Oregon guest starring Fin Fang Foom and Jet Jaguar. (I do love the ongoing joke about how Jet Jaguar neither resembles a Jet nor a Jaguar.) A little Bendis talk is fun, but this is just overload especially when we get a 24 panel page speculating on Fin Fang Foom’s gender identity. Probably Godzilla vs. Avengers‘ biggest weakness is there no real throughline or connection between the kaiju and Marvel material. It’s just a generic superhero battle with quips on quips, and every character sounds the same except Captain America. Overall: 5.7 Verdict: Pass

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1 (DC) – Ryan North and Mike Norton turn in a story of Krypto’s younger days and journey to Earth filled with heart and humanity. I love how they center the narrative around Krypto with Kal-El only playing an ancillary role although Jor-El and Lara-Zor-El’s anxiety about Krypton kickstart the plot, especially its first half. Norton’s background drawing Battleplug comes in handy as his take on Krypto is expressive and shows a wide range of emotions, especially during the comic’s several silent sequences. The back half of Krypto #1 is relatable to anyone who has felt lost and alone in a strange land. This series could end up being the *definitive* Krypto story and look forward to seeing how the protagonist interacts with his unexpected ally introduced on the final page cliffhanger. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy

Exquisite Corpses #2 (Image) – Exquisite Corpses #1 was so epic in concept and execution that it’s normal that Exquisite Corpses #2 has a little bit of a sophomore slump. However, James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, Mariana Ignazzi, and Jordie Bellaire have fun with a little sexy killer versus creepy killer as well as showing hopeless it is for the townsfolk of Oak Valley. There’s plenty of gore and creative kills as Pretty Boy and the Congregation team up. There’s big Texas Chainsaw Massacre vs Interview with a Vampire vibes (Even though Pretty Boy is of the living.) with a charming, good looking killer matching skills with a disgusting, cultish one. However, Exquisite Corpses continues to make the ordinary folks of Oak Valley the most sympathetic figures even as they’re led as lambs for the slaughter. Maybe, at least, some of them will survive. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Marvel United: A Pride Special, Lost Fantasy #2, and Absolute Batman #9

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Marvel United: Pride

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

Marvel United: A Pride Special (Marvel) – The good ol’ 616 Universe gets into the Pride spirit with four wonderful, action-packed short stories featuring both LGBTQ+ characters and creators, including a few personal faves. Marvel United starts with a cosmic deep dive bang with Al Ewing and Kei Zama spinning a yarn of Aaron Fischer’s Captain America, Escapade (ice to see her back.), and Charlene McGowan battling Hate Monger with the power of love, inclusivity, trippy art, and old school Marvel lore. Up next, Wyatt Kennedy and Baileigh Underwood turn on the waterworks in a wholesome story about Mystique’s love for Nightcrawler centered a dream she had about raising him as a boy. It’s bittersweet seeing Kurt grow up in a loving home with Mystique and Destiny, but Kennedy and Underwood make up for it by showing Mystique being proud of the blue fuzzy elf in the present day. I love how this story shows the softer side of Raven Darkholme. Be gay, do crime, and have heart to heart’s about exes is at the core of “Bolter”, a Sera/Black Cat team-up from Zoe Tunnell and Federica Mancin. Even though they’ve never ran into each other in comics before, Sera and Felicia Hardy are instant frenemies, and I love how this story also leaves the door open for a Sera and Angela reunion with Mancin’s visuals underlining the deep feelings they have for each other. Marvel United concludes with a story set in the 1940s featuring Captain America and Marvel’s 1st LGBTQ+ character Arnie Roth from Anthony Oliveira and Pablo Collar. This story reveals how much of the DNA of Steve Rogers’ heroism was in his gay neighbor who was denied benefits by the VA because of his sexuality, but was finally memorialized towards the end of this story. Their friendship complements the action nicely, and an interview with Roth co-creator J.M. DeMatteis provides insight into his work and career as well as how far LGBTQ+ representation has come in comics. I love how Marvel United gets to the humanity of characters like Escapade, Mystique, Sera, and Arnie Roth underneath the shiny costumes and hopefully sets them up for more appearances down the road in Marvel comics. Overall: 9.0 Verdict: Buy

Lost Fantasy #2 (Image) – Lost Fantasy continues to be an engaging blend of fantasy and noir from Curt Pires and Luca Casalanguida. This issue features bullet magic and a hidden occult world layered over our own. The small town setting offsets the giant swords, lightsabers, and monsters nicely, and I love how the protagonist’s conflict is as much psychological as physical. As a bonus, we get another chapter of Pires’, Rockwell White, and Alex Diotto‘s “Indigo Children”, which is a high octane saga rooted in space opera and the technological parts of old school superhero comics. Overall: 7.7 Verdict: Buy

Absolute Batman #9 (DC) – He only appears in his full glory towards the end of the issue, but Absolute Batman #9 debuts its bigger scarier, take on Bane courtesy of Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and Frank Martin. Batman’s new mission is rescuing his friend Waylon Jones from Ark M, and he acts with increased desperation and separation from his mom and deeper connection to Pennyworth and his future rogues gallery. There are all kinds of supporting characters, backstories, and subplots filling the margin, but Snyder and Dragotta ignore this noise and masterfully meld the martial arts and slasher genres as all of Batman’s training is no match for Bane. I got chills when the narration dropped out, and colorist Martin accentuates the shadows. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy

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