Category Archives: Mini Reviews

Mini Reviews: DC’s Lex and City, Ripperland #1, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6

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

DC’s Lex and City #1 (DC Comics) – The fittingly named DC’s Lex and City is a mega-size one-shot about the many varieties of love and friendship in DC’s fictitious cities from a murderer’s row of creators. First up is Sina Grace‘s “Lex and the City,” which features the hilarious image of Lex Luthor typing away at his laptop a la Carrie Bradshaw while still having a robust arc for gossip journalist turned investigative reporter, Trish Q. In the next story, getting a Valentine’s Day gift is difficult especially when your girlfriend is a green-skinned eco-terrorist, and you’re a clown who hears voices in your head. Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Snotgirl‘s Leslie Hung turn in a story that is simultaneously sweet and sexy with Hung’s storybook-style visuals its main highlight. Speaking of sweet, Jon Rivera and Michael Avon Oeming weave a tale of economic insecurity and Mr. Freeze trying to steal a rose from a Gotham museum that was the last thing she saw before getting sick. Oeming’s style fits the art deco vibes of Gotham, and I love the parallels he and Rivera draw between the main couple in the story and Victor and Nora. Your interest in Lex and the City’s fourth story might depend on how much nostalgia you have for the 1970s lineup of the Teen Titans, but Serg Acuna draws gorgeous men (Especially Aqualad, or whatever codename Garth is going by these days.) and Charles Skaggs writes some fun banter between old friends. Continuing with the Robin-ish theme, Brendan Hay and Stephen Byrne‘s hilarious story is about Tim Drake preparing Damian Wayne for his first date and also acts as a love letter to Gotham City. Hay nails Damian’s dry, blunt sense of humor, and his plot showcases the unique bond between the Bat-family with guest stars galore. Sabrina Futch and ML Sanapo flip things over to the villainous side of thing with Riddler trying to figure out why he can’t get a date. There is tons of silly humor (Especially when the Joker is involved.) and chaotic sequences, but this story also ends up being a love letter to Gotham City. Sometimes your passion isn’t another person, but the city you live in and also riddles. In Lex and City‘s penultimate story, Raven is trying really hard to understand Valentine’s Day for Beast Boy (Yay Notes App checklist!), but of course, hijinks ensue courtesy of Trigon. I loved how colorful Marissa Louise‘s palette was in this one with love triumphing against demon dads and exes. Unfortunately, Lex and City wraps up with its weakest story: a mired in the past tale of Hawkman trying to recapture his memories with the Golden Age Hawkgirl, Shiera Hall. Howard Porter‘s aggressive art works for the character, but the story feels like more of a Wikipedia entry than a love story. All in all, 7 out of 8 stories isn’t a bad hit rate, and this comic is worth picking up for fans of slice of life superhero stories as well as Gotham City aficionados. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Ripperland #1 (Dark Horse) – A straight-laced American FBI agent teams up with a, let’s say, very retro English detective in Ripperland #1 from the American and English writer duo of Steve Orlando and John Harris Dunning with art by Alessandro Oliveri and Francesca Vivaldi. Orlando and Dunning drop us into this weird, retrofuturistic world leading up to the murder and then explain the backstory of a 22nd century England that is an American protectorate that acts as a kind of a retro Victorian theme park for American tourists. It’s silly, satirical fun with a bit of a gory edge. Oliveri channels D’Israeli’s work in his art, and this is something that wouldn’t be out of place in a prog of 2000 AD. Ripperland is an sex and violence-filled delight for Anglophiles. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 (IDW) – Mikey, Raph, Leo, and Donnie are all back together in NYC, but it’s not a happy family reunion. Jason Aaron and new series artist Juan Ferrerya use ninja turtle ass kicking and martial arts metaphors to weave a tale of a dysfunctional family in a dysfunctional world. As the series has progressed, TMNT (2024)’s nigh-dystopian take on New York City has started to mirror the current United States with public servants (Fire fighters in this comic!) serving the fascist state instead of the common good and persecuting marginalized folks. However, despite this, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles don’t band together and are overcome by their differences and recent experiences shown in the first four issues. Ferreyra brings drama and sense of agility to the fight sequences while also including plenty of close-ups to show how this group has torn apart. TMNT #6 is a culmination to the classic franchise’s return to its dark, gritty roots with a contemporary twist and a visuals-first focus. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: What If?, Toxic Avenger, Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre, Absolute Wonder Woman, and Metamorpho!

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Metamorpho: The Element Man #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

What If..? Galactus Transformed Rogue (Marvel) – When it’s not failing at using Southern dialect and referring to the singular entity Galactus as “y’all”, What If…? Galactus Transformed Rogue is a sci-fi parable with a touch of humor. Ann Nocenti and Stephen Byrne also do a good job of showing the strain of selecting planets for Galactus to devour on Rogue while also counterbalancing it with why he’s necessary for the balance of the universe. Flickering cameos from the X-Men, Gambit, Mystique, and Destiny show how lonely Rogue’s life is in this one-shot although her costume is stylin’. Overall: 6.8 Verdict: Read

Toxic Avenger #4 (Ahoy) – In Toxic Avenger #4, Melvin faces off against his old bully Bonehead, who sold out to became a puppet for pro-nuclear waste corporate propaganda. But Toxie has a secret weapon, his crush Yvonne. Mat Bors and Fred Harper clear out some time for awkward teen romance between the laugh out loud satire and bugging out visual gags. The scrutiny on the battle between mutated teens has brought eyeballs to the cover up company’s videos, but they want to pull out the like US did in Vietnam. This issue sets up a gloves are off, humans vs aliens finale with a side of mutation and deadpan humor. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre #3 (IDW) – Tom Scioli wraps up this fever dream of a miniseries with a battle royale in Transylvania between Godzilla, the Universal Monsters, and a few surprise late entrants. There’s something so satisfying about Godzilla backhanding Dracula, or pages of Jay Gatsby and the G-Men riding motorcycles to evade the King of Monsters. Scioli’s art channels high energy toy advertisements while his scripting is very midnight movie although he gets a little literary and poignant towards the end using the final fight as a metaphor for misguided optimism about the rest of the 20th century. One conveniently introduced plot element ends up wrapping up the series, but all in all, I had a lot of fun with this mini. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Absolute Wonder Woman #4 (DC) – Absolute Wonder Woman #4 is at its best when it lets Hayden Sherman‘s epic layouts and art do the talking instead of walls of text from Kelly Thompson. Thompson and Sherman continue to add elements from classic Wonder Woman comics to the series and remix them, and I love their occult-meets-P.I. take on Etta and Gia Candy, who play a key role in helping Diana save the day. Colorist Jordie Bellaire‘s reds and blacks are working overtime this issue as a dark, yet glowing magic-infused Wonder Woman squares up against the Tetracide. Absolute Wonder Woman #4 has boss fight energy, but Hayden Sherman’s art is glorious and the banter between Diana, Steve Trevor, and the Candys are charming. Overall: 7.7 Verdict: Buy

Metamorpho: The Element Man #2 (DC) – Al Ewing, Steve Lieber, and Lee Loughridge‘s Metamorpho: The Element Man #2 takes aim at nostalgia culture, AI art, and pop star standom in another groovy issue of a comic that transcends the Silver Age pastiche genre. Even more so than the launch issue, Metamorpho #2 masterfully mixes old and new with villains straight out of the 1960s (Or Austin Powers.) and social commentary about art and capitalism that is relevant today. Ewing’s plot is chock-full of science and chemistry which is also what Metamorpho and Element Woman have with Lieber and Loughridge turning the visuals up to eleven when they change into various chemicals. I also enjoy this book’s mature approach to relationships with some gaslighting and jealousy making appearances between pop star superhero antics. Throw in an epilogue sequence that widens this quirky, little books scopes, and Metamorpho #2 is on its way to the top of the best current comic charts. Overall: 10.0 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Howl, Exceptional X-Men, Ultimate Wolverine, and New Gods!

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Howl #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

Howl #1 (Ahoy!) – Alisa Kwitney and Mauricet‘s Howl is a fusion dish of Golden Age science fiction, beatnik navel gazing, and social realism with a mushroom on top as a treat. It’s an alien invasion story, but also the story of the breakdown of the marriage between writers Bert and Ziva in Greenwich Village at the dawn of the counterculture when the first issues of the Voice were on the stands and Jack Kerouac was about to hit the road. On the visual side, Mauricet easily transitions from kitchen sink reality to far out space stuff and gets high marks for his use of color and fashion design. Howl #1 is a multi-layered, non-linear delight for literature and pop culture heads. Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy

Exceptional X-Men #5 (Marvel) – Exceptional X-Men #5 focuses on Kitty Pryde’s past and Melee’s relationship with her family and the team while also setting up a TikTok meets 23 and Me app for mutants that definitely is the Big Bad going forward. In flashback sequences, Eve Ewing and Carmen Carnero excel at hitting the highlights of Kitty’s ninja training as well as why she killed Orchis soldiers during Fall of X. Basically, it sets up the X-Men not being perfect people and the importance of making your own choices that flows into the Melee story where she tries to stand up for her cousin who is being bullied for being a mutant. It’s cool to see Melee apply the lessons she’s learned from Kitty and Emma Frost to the situation, but in the words of Master Yoda, more training does she require. Exceptional X-Men continues to not be a superhero beat ’em book, but digs into the lived experience of being a marginalized person with a side of superpowers. I love Thao’s phasing and invisibility abilities match her ability, and Carnero draws them in a clear way. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy

Ultimate Wolverine #1 (Marvel) – Chris Condon, Alessandro Cappuccio, and Bryan Valenza turn up the edge in Ultimate Wolverine #1. Logan aka the Winter Soldier is back to being a mindless assassin serving the mutant overlords of Eurasia and is on a mission to take out folks who were very close to him. This new take on Wolverine is sufficiently brutal with Valenza’s red and blacks emphasizing each claw strike and kill in Capuccio’s fluid line work. Condon’s script references X2 and The Ultimates (Vol 1), but in a sick, twisted way. This is a take no prisoners first issue that fits into the Maker’s demented Earth-6160, but isn’t weighed down by continuity. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

New Gods #2 (DC) – Ram V, Jesse Lonergan, Evan Cagle, and Francesco Segala‘s New Gods continues to be one of the most epic and personal comics on the racks. This issue looks at the power strugles on a Darkseid-less Apokolips while Maxwell Lord, Mister Miracle, Mister Miracle/Barda, and other players start to look for the newest New God, Mira. New Gods #2 is filled with epic shots of powerful beings in action courtesy of Cagle and especially Lonergan in the prelude, but the real hook of the series is the parallels they and V draw between Mira and her family and the Frees. It’s so charming to have Big Barda make cracks about Scott being on diaper duty for the rest of Liv’s early childhood and then see Mira’s family figuring out their place in the world after she manifests divine powers. Nothing beats regular people in extraordinary situations. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Cruel Kingdom, Altered States: Purgatori Grindhouse, Batman: Dark Patterns, Those Not Afraid, Christmas 365, Absolute Batman

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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

Cruel Kingdom #1 (Oni Press) – The new anthology Cruel Kingdom defectively puts an EC Comics spin to the sword and sorcery genre. The lead story “Blood of the Robo King” by Greg Pak and Leomacs has a medieval Robocop energy as the inhabitants of a small village get sucked into the cycle of violence and expansionism. The story has a good message, but gets a little repetitive towards the end. Lord of the Rings meets Star Trek with a sinister twist in Al Ewing and Kano‘s “Friendly Visitors”. Ewing’s writing is wonderfully anachronistic while Kano has fun with the genre mash-up elements like forcefields and spaceships showing up in a copyright friendly version of The Shire. However, the story isn’t just a mere genre pastiche, but has a lot to say about colonization and imperialism. I could honestly read a whole series set in this world. “Death and Pickaxes” is a dark and twisted take on the Snow White story from the POV of the last survivor of the Seven Dwarves. Chris Condon and Charlie Adlard make their protagonist a greedy, lustful being that is struck by conscience all too late. Adlard’s visuals are fairy tale storybook meets horror novel illustrations and epitomize the dark fantasy genre of this anthology. Ben H. Winters and Andrea Mutti execute a simple, yet powerful deconstruction of the Chosen One archetype in “The Demon’s Face”. Mutti’s art is traditional fantasy until he channels some spectral in the final pages. Along the way, it’s kind of a critique of girlboss feminism aka “What if Eowyn became the Witch King instead of killing him?” If you like fantasy stories that are less heroic and more a dark mirror of current society with halflings, dwarves, swords, dragons, and smoky taverns, then Cruel Kingdom #1 is the comic for you. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Altered States: Purgatori Grindhouse (Dynamite) – Ray Fawkes, Alvaro Sarraseca, and Salvatore Aiala throw the 90s Bad Girl icon Purgatori into a 70s teen beach/slasher movie in Altered States: Purgatori Grindhouse. The story plays with the Final Girl trope as the most moral girl, track athlete goodie two shoes ends up being the red hued demon and messing up the cultists’ day. There’s a real sense of athleticism and motion to Sarraseca fight scenes punctuated by Aiala’s red and black. However, for all the titillating variant covers, Purgatori Grindhouse feels like a PG-13 horror cutting back on the gore and freaky elements and feeling like a film you’d legitimately buy a ticket to instead of sneaking into. Overall: 7.3 Verdict: Read

Batman: Dark Patterns #2 (DC) -This isn’t definitely a week for serial killer comics as a young Dark Knight continues to hunt down the Wound Man in Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman‘s Batman: Dark Patterns #2. The mystery expands in this comic going from Batman hunting down a serial killer to police corruption, random arsons, and of course, the creepy formaldehyde addicted doctor. Watters’ captions put us in Batman’s deductive mind while Sherman indulges in some freaky imagery with their art. They have a real gift for making storytelling interesting on the page and panel to panel level like a scene where Batman talks to a reporter through the act of eating a donut. There’s a rawer, more dangerous feel to Gotham in this story with Batman and Gordon being in a much more precarious position that makes it exciting. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

Those Not Afraid #1 (Dark Horse) – Kyle Starks and Patrick Piazzalunga tap into American society’s endless thirst for serial killers in Those Not Afraid. It’s about two serial killers who cross paths and decide to basically have a murder-off to break the record for most straight murders. Colorist Marco Brakko brings the reds and blacks while Piazzalunga’s art style goes from straight up crime to something darkly humorous to match Starks’ script. This first establishes the killers and the non-murderer supporting cast with just enough of a twist to go beyond just setting up the premise. Those Not Afraid #1 is both a self-indulgent and self-aware take on the true crime genre. Overall: 7.8 Verdict: Buy

Christmas 365 #2 (Dark Horse) – The holiday season might be done, but Mikey Way, Jon Rivera, and Piotr Kowalski hit their stride in the second issue of Christmas 365, a series about the Rockwell family celebrating the titular holiday all year long. Christmas 365 #2 leans into the humor of the concept with parodies of “extreme” YouTube videos and wild moments like protagonist/patriarch Peter Rockwell overdosing on radioactive, cryptocurrency-bought egg nog or a silent tribute to fallen soldiers during a Memorial Day gathering. However, Way and Rivera give the series a little bit of heart, especially when Peter bonds with his daughter Tina over a story about he and his dad built a tree house from scratch. Christmas 365 #2 continues to be an over-the-top, silly read with just enough of a satirical bite. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Absolute Batman #4 (DC) – Co-writers Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, guest artist Gabriel Walta, and colorist Frank Martin dig into the early days of Absolute Batman in this stand-alone “year one” story. The story follows the thread of how bats inspire Bruce Wayne, and there’s many Golden Age flourishes like when Batman uses a gun or wears vampire fangs to break up a protection racket around Crime Alley. However, this is just small potatoes, and the narrative thrust of Absolute Batman #4 is about Bruce Wayne going bigger and more systemic with his war on crime. However, it’s still rooted in a young boy’s prize-winning science project. Snyder and Dragotta turn the Batman mythos on its head by making bats something that Bruce loves and doesn’t fear. And the art doesn’t miss a beat with fluid action scenes, the aforementioned homages, and a really cool ghostly effect from Martin when we get to a flashback with Thomas Wayne and his father. (Bruce’s grandfather died before he was born the same way mine did so I had a personal connection to this comic too.) Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Metamorpho, Timeslide, Exceptional X-Men, Black Canary, Absolute Wonder Woman

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Metamorpho: The Element Man #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

Metamorpho: The Element Man #1 (DC) – Oh my god, this comic was so fun! Al Ewing DC Comics series debut, Metamorpho #1, is a Silver Age throwback complete with an omnipresent Stan Lee type approach to narration, thought bubbles, wacky comic book science, and of course, plenty of action and love triangles. On the art side, Steve Lieber and Lee Loughridge bring a bright, jaunty approach except when the mysterious Agent 3 is involved. This comics feels like discovering a long lost Lee/Ditko Metamorpho comic that they wrote to piss off Martin Goodman with its jabs at Rex Mason’s employer Silas Stagg and the flower power-meets-disco vibe of Jump City. Also, it’s super engaging that Metamorpho has more actual chemistry with Element Woman instead of the default love interest, Sapphire Stagg. It honestly feels like an Amazing Spider-Man letters page debate in the late 1960s/early 1970s between fans of Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy, but Element Woman is a kick-ass character in her own right and connected to the series’ overall mystery. If you want to end your 2024 with a guaranteed groovy good time, then Metamorpho #1 is the comic book for you. Overall: 9.7 Verdict: Buy

Timeslide #1 (Marvel) – Cable and Bishop fight one of the Children of the Vault throughout time in a skippable one-shot from Steve Foxe and Ivan Fiorelli. Foxe writes some fun banter between the two men from the future, but it’s just mindless shooting through trailers for other, probably not good comics until time-stopper Tempus comes to save the day. Cable and Bishop’s adventure is self-contained in the end and a backdoor pilot for a Cable and Bishop miniseries, but supposedly there are ramifications for the whole Marvel Universe. In the end, the comic has okay action and some Easter Eggs for the hardcore fans, but is a lightweight, forgettable read. Overall: 5.7 Verdict: Pass

Exceptional X-Men #4 (Marvel) – We find out what Iceman’s really doing in Chicago, and Bronze must balance high school play auditions with being a mutant in the final issue of Exceptional X-Men for 2024. After the previous issue focused on Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost’s students as an ensemble, Eve Ewing and Carmen Carnero focus on Bronze individually as she struggles with her abilities and regular high school things like getting out of her comfort zone to be closer to her crush. Bronze gets an action-packed mini arc in this issue while Kitty gets to further her story and set some boundaries between her and the two other X-Men teams. I love that Ewing takes this seriously and has Kitty call out Iceman in a powerful sequence that demonstrates how deadly she is. But this is still the fun, more slice of life X-Men title with memorable moments like the kids trying to figure out a musical theatre actress to compare Bronze to, or Iceman awkwardly talking about his past dating life with Kitty. Overall: 7.7 Verdict: Buy

Black Canary: Best of the Best #2 (DC) – Dinah Lance takes a physical and psychological beating in the second installment of Tom King, Ryan Sook, and Dave Stewart‘s Black Canary: Best of the Best. The narrative cuts from her fight against Lady Shiva to training with her mother Dinah Drake and finally her childhood focusing on an especially dark night for Dinah’s mother, the original Black Canary. Sook doesn’t flinch from showing the punishment Dinah Lance takes in the ring as well as the physical strain of her training regimen. He and King draw parallels between both Black Canaries and their tenacity in the face of great odds that might lead to their deaths or being physically incapacitated. I love when Tom King tells these small, intimate family stories, and there’s also the tension between Dinah wanting to win for her mother and also lose to treat her mother’s cancer. One thing that does take me out of the flow of the story is the generic sports commentator narration of the fight announcers that adds noise to the quiet emotion of the flashbacks and training sequences. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy

Absolute Wonder Woman #3 (DC) – Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, and Jordie Bellaire weave together past and present and show the sacrifices it takes to become a hero. Bellaire’s reds are powerful and permeate the story from Diana’s battle with the fear-inducing, nigh-unbeatable Tetracide to the way she’s able to save Steve Trevor from Hell in the flashback. Absolute Wonder Woman continues to meld the mythical and modern with Sherman using ancient Greek black figure type pottery to elucidate the Tetracide’s backstory and then cutting to a news report later in the story. The only knock on Absolute Wonder Woman #3 is its world feels lessed lived in and fleshed out than its Absolute Universe compatriots, but Thompson and Hayden Sherman start to remedy that with the introduction of Barbara Minerva, who provides a human perspective on the gods and monsters. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Godzilla: Monsterpiece Theatre #2, Paranoid Gardens #6, The Question: All Along the Watchtower #2, Absolute Batman #3, Ultimate Spider-Man #12

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Absolute Batman #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

Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre #2 (IDW) – Jules Verne, Sherlock Holmes, a mysterious time traveller, Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and a jealous Tom Buchanan assemble to fight Godzilla in a submarine in Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre #2. Cartoonist Tom Scioli revels in showing Godzilla foil Gatsby and Verne’s tech and the resources of American capitalism and destroy various monuments in big splash pages with crayon colors. Something that would potentially be a story-ender in a lesser book ends up just prolonging the characters’ agony. And speaking of agony, between the monsters and missiles and Transylvanian vampires, Gatsby just wants to be with Daisy, who won’t even give him the time of day. Scioli breaks out the florid prose for their interactions while the rest of book is just literature syllabus action figures going to war. The appearance of red-tinged Dracula does put a wrench in things as it looks like the book will go from sci-fi to horror in 2025. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy

Paranoid Gardens #6 (Dark Horse) – Gerard Way, Shaun Simon, Chris Weston, and Dave Stewart‘s weird extraterrestrial retirement home ends on a suitably hopeful and anti-corporate note. This issue reveals the origins of the Gardens and connects it to their current crisis as well as Loo’s personal struggles. There’s a lot of commentary about how art has become flattened and turned into product, including some spot-on jabs at Disney so it’s fitting that this book was published by one of the longest lasting independent comics publishers. Also, Stewart goes full psychedelia with his colors to match the unsettling realism of Weston’s art. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

The Question: All Along the Watchtower #2 (DC) – The second issue of Alex Segura and Cian Tormey‘s The Question: All Along the Watchtower is a little less mystery and more action with the Eradicator wreaking havoc in the JL’s new headquarters. The series has a real knack for making C or D-list characters with Nightshade and the Bulleteer handling themselves well in the chaos. However, the Renee Montoya/Kate Kane relationship is the emotional core of the series, and Segura connects it to the main mystery making it even more compelling. Overall, The Question: All Along the Watchtower continues to show the richness of the DC Universe. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Absolute Batman #3 (DC) – Absolute Batman #3 has more chase scenes, epic moments, heartbreaking flashbacks, and just a smidge of moral compromise courtesy of Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and Frank Martin. There’s a pun that doesn’t quite land, but Black Mask starts to get fleshed out more in this issue with a heightened take on cryptocurrency and private prisons. But he’s also just a physically imposing baddie with Dragotta channeling David Mazzucchelli’s Kingpin as he puts a professional boxer in a chokehold while doing the same to the city. Absolute Batman #3 makes the odds against Batman saving his tumultuous city a little higher while continuing to build up his supporting cast and backstory. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Ultimate Spider-Man #12 (Marvel) – Ultimate Spider-Man wraps up an incredible first year with a family holiday soiree. Before a delivering a jaw dropper of a cliffhanger, Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto explore the dynamic between Mary Jane and the Watson family. There are all kinds of little conflicts like between Mary Jane and her sister Gayle, who bristles at her because she chose a “normal life” with Peter and her kids as well as her mother Madeline, who keeps hitting on Uncle Ben. I’m glad Checchetto was the artist on this issue because he’s great at drawing body language and reaction shots, which is a super helpful for a dialogue-driven comic. Ultimate Spider-Man #12 has heartwarming, holiday film energy and lets this book’s supporting civilian cast shine while also having dark undertones around the edges leading into year two. Overall: 9.0 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Ultimate Universe: One Year In, Toxic Avenger #3, Batman: Dark Patterns #1, Dazzler #4

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Batman: Dark Patterns #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

Ultimate Universe: One Year In (Marvel) – The Ultimate Universe One Year In comic from Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf, and Mattia Iacono shows just how messed up Earth-6160 is. Since Ultimate Invasion, we’ve seen this universe from a heroic perspective, but One Year In focuses on the baddies and fleshes them out in various and sundry ways. Nick Fury is the narrator, and there’s a little Steranko, a pinch of Garth Ennis, and a mega dose of the United States military industrial complex. Basically, whatever he does, he’ll lose and never find redemption. Iacono uses a nostalgic color palette for flashbacks and a dark, faded out one for the present day until the big reveal. Finally, as a cherry on top, there’s a short Ultimate Wolverine story from Chris Condon and Alessandro Capucchio building on the main story that establishes the Rasputins as true players in Earth-6160. The bit of story reminded of those early Ed Brubaker/Steve Epting Captain America issues, but with more of a visceral, destructive flair. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy

Toxic Avenger #3 (Ahoy) – Toxic Avenger #3 is my least favorite issue of the series so far, but Matt Bors and Fred Harper still bring the irradiated, insectoid action and sharp political satire. This issue digs into Toxie’s pre-radioactive waste backstory revealing he was the victim of a cruel Internet prank, but he ends up owning that humiliation and attempting to rally Tromaville against their alien invaders. (Emphasis on attempt.) I see a lot of parallels between the cover-up attempts in Tromaville and real life things like the ban of TikTok as the free flow of information isn’t something the powers that be like. However, there’s more gross-out humor and less dancing in Toxic Avenger. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

Batman: Dark Patterns #1 (DC) – A young Batman going after a serial killer: it doesn’t get more primal than that in the fittingly named Batman: Dark Patterns #1 from Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman, and Triona Farrell. With a Se7en-meets-Impressionism aesthetic, this first issue sets the trail that Batman must follow as he discovers a corpse with needles jutting out of major arteries and vitals. Watters’ plot is engaging, but he sprinkles in character moments highlighting Batman’s inexperience and more outlaw character like ignoring the Bat-signal and trying to tend to his own wounds. Also, Sherman’s approach to layout mirrors the way Batman works through his case, and I love their and Farrell’s take on the Batmobile. Batman: Dark Patterns is the Bat-title for true crime junkies who may have had a Goth phase or really liked Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of the Caped Crusader. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Dazzler #4 (Marvel) – For better or worse, the Dazzler miniseries regressed to a modern version of the 80s Jem and the Holograms cartoon, and Dazzler #4 is an all-action/not great plot twist finale from Jason Loo, Rafael Loureiro, and Alan Robinson. As seen in NYX #6, Dazzler is playing her final show at the copyright friendly version of Madison Square Garden and deals with the guy who’s been sabotaging her tour all along. Relationships that maybe should have been seeded earlier in the series are dropped in this final issue, and what follows is a rocky read that’s the polar opposite of the glowing pop potential of Dazzler #1. It’s just another mutant fight comic, but with musical accompaniment. Overall: 5.8 Verdict: Pass

Mini Reviews: Absolute Superman #2, Christmas 365 #1, and NYX #6

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Absolute Superman #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

Christmas 365 #1 (Dark Horse) – In the vein of Christmas Vacation (Plus supernatural elements), Mikey Way, Jon Rivera, and Piotr Kowalski‘s is all about a dad who takes celebrating Christmas way overboard. But beneath the dream sequences, combusting Christmas trees, and possessed Nutcrackers, it’s a tale about a dad who can’t be there for his family because his job has taken such a toll on him aka it’s super relatable for many readers. There are few little storytelling hiccups in Christmas 365 #1 like similar hairstyles and misplaced word balloons making it hard to keep up with the flow of dialogue and speakers, but for the most part, Christmas 365 is a mischievous, over-the-top holiday comedy that’s going to last for 364 days after Christmas. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

NYX #6 (Marvel) – The main cast of NYX go to a Dazzler show, and of course, it turns out terribly. Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly throw out so many dashed out subplots, returns of characters from NYX Volume 1, and a kind of, sort of mind control plotline and make the whole issue feel very fragmented. However, Michael Shelfer and Elisabetta D’Amico‘s art is gorgeous ; kind of like a mix of Grand Theft Auto loading screens and manga with a dash of the usual Marvel house style. Raul Angulo’s colors also do a great job of showcasing both Kiden Nixon and Local’s powers plus the small slice of Dazzler show we get. NYX #6 isn’t the best issue of the series, but not giving up on one of the better X-titles just yet. Overall: 6.7 Verdict: Pass

Absolute Superman #2 (DC) – Absolute Superman #2 has a refreshing anti-AI/pro-humanity bent from his opening scene where young Kal-El gets called out for not using the Kryptonian equivalent of Open AI on his paper for his Zoom class, but make it sci-fi. Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval extend this to present day by making Lois Lane the POV character as she relates her dealings with Superman using her own handwriting and not Brainiac. It’s a new take on Superman and Lois’ first meeting grounded in the military-industrial complex and with splashy action and high energy colors from Sandoval and Ulisses Arreola. This second issue continues to establish Superman as the champion of the downtrodden and colonized while also adding depth to Lane and building up the evil Lazarus Corporation. There are fewer flashbacks, but they add important context to Superman’s personality like Lara and Jor-El working together to build the ship and making it an ark and not just a single baby carrier. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Absolute Wonder Woman #2, Justice League Unlimited #1, Black Canary: Best of the Best #1

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Absolute Wonder Woman #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

Absolute Wonder Woman #2 (DC) – After the conclusion of the opening battle that began in a previous issue, Absolute Wonder Woman #2 feels more like a traditional comic, especially since Steve Trevor is a key figure in the story. Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, and Jordie Bellaire still deal in hellish imagery, but there’s a gentle humor to Thompson’s script especially when Diana and Steve interact. His reaction to Pegasus being *that* Pegasus is priceless. Sherman’s layouts continue to be exquisite, and I love how they draw Diana’s interactions with American military members as she expressly refuses to be a part of the war machine. Bellaire’s flat reds and blacks tie everything together as Wonder Woman is a damn good hero, but one born from hellfire. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Justice League Unlimited #1 (DC) – With Dan Mora drawing big crowd shots and action sequences, Mark Waid getting to the emotional heart of heroes you already love or maybe haven’t met yet, and Tamra Bonvillain giving each hero or ambiguous bad guy their own hue and palette, Justice League Unlimited #1 lives up to its name. In the plotting department, Waid is definitely a traditionalist, but I love how he gets creative with certain characters’ abilities like Star Sapphire. Plus the split a mega team into small groups to solve problems approach to superhero storytelling always works for me. This felt like a Saturday morning cartoon in the best way and even managed to slide in a little social commentary between the fisticuffs. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Black Canary: Best of the Best #1 (DC) – America loves an underdog, and Black Canary is a big one in the new series Black Canary: Best of the Best from Tom King, Ryan Sook, and Dave Stewart. For some reason, Black Canary and Lady Shiva are in a one-on-one, no superpowers, no holds barred PPV brawl to crown the best fighter in the DC Universe. Best of the Best #1 feels like a good sports/combat film with its balance between gloriously choreographed fisticuffs and a look into Dinah Lance’s reason for taking the fight. The emotional center is the relationship between Black Canary and her mother, the original Black Canary, and the scenes with them in small-town Washington State are touching and bittersweet. There’s also a running, verbose commentary on the upcoming boxing match that satirizes 24/7, gambling-centric sports coverage, and I love the contrast between King’s intentionally overblown narration with the tender visuals of Sook and Stewart. Black Canary: Best of the Best is sneaky good launch to a series I’ll definitely be glued to in 2025. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Gladiator II

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Gladiator II

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

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Gladiator II – Although obviously not an instant classic like its predecessor, Gladiator II is a solid piece of spectacle that remixes elements of the original while adding fantasy/escapism elements. It’s like restarting a video game after loosing to the final boss and winning in the end.

Playing the arms dealer/gladiator owner Macrinus, Denzel Washington steals every scene he’s in as a man of opportunity in a decadent time. (The sequence where he plays peek a boo with a monkey/consul is priceless.) Gladiator II doesn’t have has a tight narrative arc as its predecessor, and its fight scenes don’t build Hanno’s arc like it does with Maximus.

At times, it just feels like Ridley Scott is crossing items off his action sequence bucket list, but he and Paul Mescal’s weary facial expressions capture the vibe of a world that has been exploited by wealthy, powerful warmongers far too long.

Overall Verdict 7.1

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