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 short reviews from the staff of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full review for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews.

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Mr. H

Batman #44 (DC Comics) Argh Tom King you done it again! After last few deplorable issues, he presents us with a touching retconned tale of Bruce and Selina’s romance. I particularly enjoyed the time stamps of Selena making her way across town and her activities. I have to say that despite sometimes having to cope with wretched storytelling, artist Mikel Janin gifts us some page turning treasures. It’s quite astounding at times. We are of course gearing up for the big wedding event and this was a nice little rehearsal for what we are in store for. Was it ground breaking? No. Was it Everyone loves Ivy? Oh my God no. It was right in the middle where it needed to be. Score: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Amazing Spider-man #797 (Marvel Comics)* Dan Slott wastes no time getting right to the good stuff. We open with the Green Goblin attacking the Daily Bugle demanding surprise surprise, Spider-Man! Now this isn’t a scene we haven’t seen many times before but it still doesn’t lose its punch. Norman Osborn is just a bastard here, which is how he always should be. We get him decked out in classic Goblin gear with no special upgrades. Nope just his menacing self. Since it is public knowledge that Peter knows Spider-Man he runs off to get him and there is when things get GOOD. I won’t spoil it here but we also get the first battle between Spidey and the Red Goblin and it is awesome. The rest of the issue leaves Peter with an impossible choice. Aren’t those the best kind?? I cannot wait for the next issue and Stuart Immonens art just keeps getting better. Score: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Ryan C

Batman #44 (DC Comics)** – Well, whaddya know. Once again Tom King shows he’s more than capable of a perfectly good one-off issue after yet another absolutely lackluster multi-parter. Mikel Janin and Joelle Jones both do superb work with their respective segments of the story, and the flashback sequences are endearing while the present-day Catwoman yarn feels very true to form. I swear, just when you’re ready to drop this book, along comes a reason to stick it out just a little bit longer. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Ringside #15 (Image)** – Joe Keatinge and Nick Barber provide a thoroughly satisfying and emotionally resonant epilogue-style finish to their decidedly up-and-down wrestling series that should more than satisfy those few of us stuck it out to the end. Barber’s art looks better here than at any time since the first few issues, while Keatinge’s script is simple, straightforward, and undoubtedly effective. This book never found a consistent voice, but it’s nice to see it go out on a high note. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Black Bolt #12 (Marvel)** – On the subject of great finales, Saladin Ahmed and Christian Ward absolutely nail this one. All loose ends are tied up, there’s plenty of action, and emotional reunions rule the day. One can argue that Ahmed doesn’t really surprise us with anything on offer in this comic, but that’s okay with me if it works context with all that has come before, which this certainly does — and Ward gives us some spectacular pages to gawk over endlessly, truly finishing with a flourish. I’m definitely going to miss this series. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #4 (DC)** – Mark Russell and Mike Feehan just keep getting better as this six-parter goes along, with a creepy-ass story focused on nuclear testing taking center stage (left?) this time out and Huckleberry Hound splitting time with our protagonist as both their respective “arcs” propel toward potentially-catastrophic (but let’s hope not) turning points. Feehan’s art this time out reminds me more than a bit of Jacen Burrows’ superb work on “Providence” — and come to think of it, Russell’s script has a touch of Alan Moore to it, as well. The only drawback? Once again, Brandee Stilwell’s “Sasquatch Detective” back-up strip is a complete and utter waste. Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Jon

Batman #44 (DC) While I’m not ready to join the legions of readers who have anointed Tom King as DC’s best writer, I think I finally saw a bit of what people are talking about with this issue. King does a really nice job of using the medium to full effect as he cuts between flashbacks to Batman and Cat Woman’s past antagonism with Selina taking in a little…unorthodox wedding dress shopping. It shows a great grasp of both characters. The extensive use of time code is inspired as it tells the read exactly how much time has elapsed between each panel. It’s also a good standalone issue that anyone who is familiar with the characters (and who doesn’t know Batman & Cat Woman at this point?) should be able to read and enjoy. Michael Janin’s art is amazing as always. Score: 7. Recommendation: Buy.

Cyborg #21 (DC): I get why DC has been trying to raise Cyborg’s profile ever since the start of the New 52. Representation in comics is important and Cyborg is probably DC’s most iconic character of color who isn’t part of a legacy (though Static certainly comes close). Unfortunately this issue does Vic Stone no favors. It’s not like this issue is bad…but its not memorable at all. Even now less than a week after I read I’m struggling to remember what happened. There are mechanical suits and an evil samurai guy but I don’t give a good god damn about any of it, the title character least of all. Marv Wolfman and Tom Derenick are two of the best creators around. They should be doing more with their talent than producing a book that reads like the reheated leftovers of Big Hero 6. Rating: 5. Recommendation: Pass.

Isola #1 (Image): I’ve been anticipating this book since I first found out about it shortly before I started to review comics for Graphic Policy and I’m glad to say it doesn’t disappoint. This first issue sets up a mystery in a fantasy world. Who is the young warrior who serves as our focal point and her constant companion, a green tiger named Olwyn?

Writer Brenden Fletcher does a fine job of interweaving the visual elements of the story with the verbal. The dialog is tightly written and serves to explain just enough that we want to know more but are never confused. Karl Kerschl’s art is great, with a style that is reminiscent of traditional manga but layouts that will be more comfortable for readers of western comics. I was also struck by Aditya Bidikar’s lettering which does a nice job of capturing the character of a tiger’s voice. Isola is a helluva ride and I’m in it for the duration. Rating: 9. Recommendation: Buy.

Logan

Justice League #42 (DC)– Priest’s run on JL has all the action of a superhero comic and the smarts of a political thriller plus sleek and occasionally gory visuals from Pete Woods. In issue 42, the JL intervene in a battle between the African dictator Red Lion and rebels against his regime to save some refugees. But Wonder Woman ends up getting injured, and the League is played for patsies. Priest introduces Deathstroke as a take no prisoners wild card in this issue , and it’ll be interesting to see if the JL keeps twiddling their thumbs while he’s out head shotting villains. This series is really a fantastic mix of real world issues and fantastic abilities plus Priest shows why Cyborg makes a great JL leader Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Runaways #8 (Marvel)– Rainbow Rowell sidelines the Molly Hayes’ creepy BFF plot for Karolina’s girlfriend Julie Power coming to town, and Dr Doom randomly showing up. I love the conversations between Julie and Molly as she is a little wistful for a time when good and evil was a little less complex. The fight is a little random, but guest colorist Triona Farrell gets to show off her Lite Brite skills with Karolina and Julie’s powers. Plus Kris Anka digs into Nico’s painful relationship with the Staff of One as she isolates herself from the group in the middle of battle. He also draws cute crop tops and nails the Power Pack’s original design in Molly’s poster. Overall: 7.6 Verdict: Read

Shean

Rise of the Black Panther #4(Marvel)- In this issue, we find a weary warrior, as T’Challa and Sheridan find a long lost Wakandan, Njakada. Meanwhile, Doctor Doom looks to take over the Throne of Wakanda, but summons T’Challa to Latveria for a mysterious conference. Here the royal siblings attempt to uncover the real reason Doom brought them there. By issue’s end, they find out betrayal is knocking at their front door, in the shape of either the White Wolf or Njakada, as the next issue gets us closer to the answer.
Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Patrick

 I Hate Fairyland #18 (Image)** – If I have to have a Gert-less story, then I will definitely take one where Duncan Dragon and Larry team up on a quest to get her back. It’s still a bit placeholder-y for me, I like my Fairyland stories fast and furious with lots of skewering, but this one isn’t too bad. I do think that Skottie Young is ill-served by plot and hope that once he gets himself out of the box he’s put himself in he’ll get back to delivering sheer mayhem. Overall: 7 Recommendation: Buy.

Sex Criminals #23 (Image)** – Fraction and Zdarsky are not helping themselves when they get all clever and jokey-jokey. At this point, Sexcrims is far more interesting as a meditation on sex and human relationships than as a heist or revenge story. As someone who is also prone to covering up real emotion with sharp wit, I recognize everything they’re doing with a heavy sigh. And then there’s just Suzie in the art gallery in the last panel of page 26 and it’s so simple it breaks my heart. Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Buy 

Koshchei the Deathless #4 (Dark Horse)** – Pride is indeed a terrible thing, and in this installment of Koshchei’s dark tale we get a taste of the price he pays. Mike Mignola and Ben Stenbeck keep chugging along in a solid and satisfying Russian style, like vodka and black bread: nothing surprising, but in the right company a fine way to pass the time. Kudos to Stenbeck for not making K’s sorceress love stereotypically hot & sexy. Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Buy

X-Men: Grand Design Marvel Treasury Edition #1 (Marvel)** – In which Ed Piskor attempts to construct a unified theory of the X-Men. I am a sucker for exactly this type of thing (back in the day, I loved the idea of Marvel Saga), and I love the Treasury size (one of my earliest comics purchases was the Famous First Edition version of Bat Man #1) and I loved the first run of What If? So I was pretty much sold as soon as this thing popped into existence and I saw the Watcher on page 1. What surprised me was how effectively and charmingly Piskor incorporated all the bonkers 90’s stuff right from the beginning, and using the Phoenix Force as the cosmic thread binding this stuff together in the background is pure genius. As a kid collecting comics, I was never quite sure what to make of the Roy Thomas/Neal Adams run, but these days I kind of love its go-for-broke-ness, and Piskor does a great job bringing that to the table. I will be a bit of a contrarian and say that I don’t think the artificial newsprint-yellowing does for this what it did for Hip-Hop Family Tree: X-Men Grand Design is plenty, plenty comicbooky already. A super fun love letter. Overall: 9 Recommendation: don’t ask, just buy!

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Well, there you have it, folks. The reviews we didn’t quite get a chance to write. See you next week!

Please note that with some of the above comics, Graphic Policy was provided FREE copies for review. Where we purchased the comics, you’ll see an asterisk (*). If you don’t see that, you can infer the comic was a review copy. In cases where we were provided a review copy and we also purchased the comic you’ll see two asterisks (**).

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 short reviews from the staff of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full review for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews.

---

Jon

Cyber Force #1 (Image/Top Cow) This is the most approachable entry into the Top Cow universe I’ve ever seen. It assumes no familiarity with the characters or continuity and instead builds up an intriguing if not particularly original story that suffers a bit from falling over a couple tropes that could do with a permanent retirement. It’s nice to see Top Cow finally move away from its house style which was honestly starting to feel a bit long in the tooth. Atlio Rojo’s pencils are refreshingly clean and free of cheesecake. I don’t know how the Top Cow faithful will respond to this revision, but I plan on coming back next month. Rating: 7 Recommendation: Read

Alex

Dark Nights Metal #6 (DC) I can’t help but shake the feeling that this could have been great. It could have been an amazing story, but it wasn’t. Instead we got a disjointed six issue miniseries with some amazing moments set between average – at best – stretches where you risk falling deeper into indifference. For a series with such promise, the conclusion is largely forgettable. Overall: 6 Recommendation: Pass

Doomsday Clock #4 (DC) A much better read than I expected going into it, we get a bit more insight into the new Rorschach, and a comic that elevates the overall quality of the series so far. That said, this isn’t going to make much sense if you haven’t read the other three issues, but if you have you’ll be happy with this Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Logan

Dark Nights Metal #6 (DC)– Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo absolutely gonzo event comic culminates in a Plastic Man stretching, Joker dragon riding heavy metal thunder. Sure, most of the book is a giant beat ’em up, but it’s nice to have some light and hope and even humor after treading some grimdark waters. Capullo channels some of his best Batman work in an intimate Mano a mano between the Dark Knight and his Dark multiverse counterpart. And the conclusion of this story leaves the DC multiverse open for more fun adventures and heroic team-ups. Bravo, Snyder, Capullo, and letterer Clem Robins , who adds to Barbatos’ menace, for understanding that the DC multiverse is place of wonder, adventure, and above all, friendship between heroes. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Daredevil #600 (Marvel)- Charles Soule’s plot has plenty of twists and turns, and Ron Garney turns in all kinds of compelling setpieces from a group brawl between the Defenders and NYC’s crime lords to dark, intimate one on one battles between Muse and Blindspot and Kingpin and Daredevil. Soule writes Wilson Fisk as the ultimate chess master, who takes out both his vigilante and villain rivals in one fell swoop before he’s taken surprise in a sequence from Garney that is straight out of a Kurosawa film. This issue connects the plot where Daredevil made a deal with the Hand to get his sidekick, Blindspot’s sight back to Wilson Fisk running NYC in a perfectly legal way and upends the status quo once again. As an actual lawyer, Soule’s run on Daredevil has been all about the vigilante/lawyer’s connection to the legal system, and that also includes blood oaths to death cults. And if this comic couldn’t get any better, Christos Gage and Mike Perkins craft a heartwarming backup showing Matt Murdock and Daredevil’s life from the POV of his best friend/bullshit detector, Foggy Nelson Overall: 9.8 Verdict: Buy

Mother Panic Gotham AD #1 (DC/Young Animal) Trade out the cyberpunk for Victorian decay and an aging Bruce for a homeless, broken Joker, and you’ve got Jody Houser and Ibrahim Moustafa’s Mother Panic Gotham AD. After the events of Milk Wars, Violet and her new hyperviolent sidekick Rosie are in a new Gotham controlled by the Collective (The organization that tortured and ran tests on her.) and looking for a purpose. Moustafa’s art is sharp and unrelenting like Mother Panic herself, but the book lacks a mystery/revenge hook like the previous volume. In fact, the backup story by Houser and a fantastic Pauline Ganucheau does a much better job establishing the series’ villain as a “New Gotham” advertising meeting goes from an Americana-tinged ode to gentrification to geysers of blood. But Houser and Moustafa’s compelling take on the Joker and stripped down no money or toys version of Violet’s crime war make this worth a look Overall: 7.6 Verdict: Read

Ryan C

Black Panther #171 (Marvel)** – It’s too bad Marvel isn’t capitalizing on the success of the “Black Panther” film with an accessible — not to mention good — storyline in the comic of the same name, but as is, we’re approaching the conclusion of the 13-part, and decidedly mediocre, “Avengers Of The New World.” This penultimate segment tries its best to be jaw-dropping, but as is, the revelation that the “big bad” is actually a little-used, and decidedly third-tier, villain makes the whole thing barely seem consequential, let alone explosive — and Leonard Kirk’s art matches Ta-Nehisi Coates’ script blow-for-blow in the mediocrity department. Overall: 2.5 Recommendation: Pass

Moon Knight # 193 (Marvel)** – Max Bemis and Jacen Burrows put the wraps on their opening “Crazy Runs In The Family” story arc with a conclusion that seems rushed and anti-climactic, and the idea that Marc Spector has special powers in his DID “craziness” was done earlier, and far better, by Grant Morrison and Richard Case with the far-more-sympathetic character of Crazy Jane in their groundbreaking “Doom Patrol” run. Burrows elevates the proceedings with his crisp and fluid art that really shines during the extended fight scene that eats up most of this issue, but Bemis story is just completely flat, uninvolving, and too conveniently-resolved for its own good. Overall: 4.5 Recommendation: Pass

The Demon: Hell Is Earth #5 (DC)** – Andrew Constant and Brad Walker have one issue to go in their Etrigan mini-series, and for the life of me I can’t figure out how this comic went off the rails so quickly. The first chapter was intriguing, inventive, and offered a fresh take on Jason Blood and his demon “brother,” but it devolved into a rather standard-issue magical dust-up in no time flat, and this installment continues the downward trend. The fate of the entire world is at stake, but somehow this story feels like it’s limping toward the finish line. The art’s brash and dynamic and fun, but that’s really all this book has going for it. Overall: 4. Recommendation: Pass

The Ruff And Reddy Show #6 (DC)** – Howard Chaykin and Mac Rey continue DC’s trend of doing some really fun and interesting things with their licensed Hanna-Barbera line, and now that this brutal take-down of Hollywood’s shallowness and stupidity is over, I’m actually going to miss it. Chaykin’s satirical script is about as far from subtle as you can imagine, but it’s spot-on and smart, and Rey’s animation cel-style art is pure eye candy. Everything ends on a more-than-satisfactory-note, with the door left open for a future mini-series, not that I expect that to happen. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Shean

Old Man Hawkeye #3 (Marvel) We catch up with Clint as he settles old scores, and often finds broken old friends. We also find Bullseye with a razor sharp focus on Hawkeye, as he foregoes his responsibilities as Marshall to take out Clint. Before long, Clint finds a shell of a hero in Atlas, as a belittled sideshow freak. By issue’s end, he shows his old friend a mercy but one that will cost him. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Damnation Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider #1 (Marvel) Right when Johnny Blaze makes the ultimate sacrifice, fans find him to have survived the fall and separated from his Spirit Of Vengeance side. As him and his Spirit side fight their way through Hell, they both understand the stakes as they’re recruit a bunch of wayward criminals to finish off Mephisto. As they closer, many obstacles lay along the fault lines of redemption and retribution for Johnny and Ghost Rider. By book’s end, Ghost Rider sits on the Throne Of Hell and the world is not the same. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Patrick

Black Magick #11 (Image)** – It’s one thing to write a series where police officer Rowan Black is a witch with more or less real-world Wiccan practices. But it’s another thing when actual magickal powers (or should that be, Powers) start to show up. i can’t lie: I’m a bit disappointed to see Rowan being revealed as a magical Chosen One with Great Power If She Ever Lets Herself Use It. It reduces what had been, for me, an interesting and original mix of police procedural and fantasy to a very well-worn trope. I’ll stick around for the third arc to see where it goes, because Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott have been doing great work. But this conclusion of the second arc kind of let me down. Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

 Infinity 8 #1 (Lion Forge) – I’ve been reading this series in the original French, so I was curious to see it (and share!) in English. Lewis Trondheim is always good for an interesting take on genre. Here, the deal is this: a spaceliner runs across a giant mausoleum. The captain of the liner has the ability to open a new timeline 8 hours long to sandbox the investigation. Then they can either stay in that timeline or reboot. The captain can do this 8 times. So off we go! Agent Yoko Karen just wants to get herself knocked up by a worth donor so she can retire early. But the discovery of the mysterious mausoleum puts a damper on those plans. Meanwhile, to the scavenger Kornalien species, all those dead bodies means a feast for the ages. Infinity 8 is light and fun, and it’s interesting to see in actual American comic book form (where the French album is divided into three issues). Trondheim & Zep’s script is fast and loose, Jeremy Melloul’s translation is spot on, and Dominique Bertail’s art would not be out of place in an early 80’s issue of Heavy Metal. Nothing earth-shattering, but definitely a good time. Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Buy

 Come Into Me #1 (Black Mask) – As The Dregs was one of my favourite comics last year, I was looking forward to something new from writers Zac Thompson & Lonnie Nadler. If, like me, you’re a fan of David Cronenberg, you’ll need to get on this. It has the scientist with a God complex, the Toronto setting, and the horror of a new kind of flesh – in this case, the social flesh. Dr. Sebastian Quinn is working on a method to transfer consciousness from one body to another. Becky wants to experience this just to see how far she can go in terms of sharing the flesh, and she’ll pay good money to do it. I’ll be damned if the script doesn’t feel exactly like 80’s Cronenberg, in all the best possible ways. Piotr Kowalski’s art is pretty standard, but there’s something vaguely unsettling about the sketchiness of his inks, like the human beings in the forefront aren’t quite real yet. I’ll be following this. Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Buy

 

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Well, there you have it, folks. The reviews we didn’t quite get a chance to write. See you next week!

Please note that with some of the above comics, Graphic Policy was provided FREE copies for review. Where we purchased the comics, you’ll see an asterisk (*). If you don’t see that, you can infer the comic was a review copy. In cases where we were provided a review copy and we also purchased the comic you’ll see two asterisks (**).