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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Alex

All-New Wolverine #2* wasn’t as captivating for me as the first issue. It did advance the story a fair bit, perhaps more so than the first issue, and there was some nice glimpses into Laura’s life away from the X-Men and her skill set. But it just felt… lacking to me. Perhaps a victim of my own high expectations? If you read this comic, I genuinely hope you enjoy it more than I did. Overall Rating: 7 Recommendation: Read

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1* – Yeah, this series is going to be amazing. The set up this issue is fantastic. Overall Rating: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy now so you don’t have to play catch up later

Tempered Steele #1 looks like it came straight out of the 90’s. It probably could have stayed there. Overall Rating: 6 Recommendation: Pass

 

Brett

Angela: Queen of Hel #2 * The comic has fantastic art, which is generally better than the story which feels a little plodding. It has some of the narrative issues that I found irritating in The Mighty Thor in its last run. Still, the concept is interesting and I want to see what a Hel is like with Angela in charge. I’m just not sure I’ll stick around to actually see that. Overall Rating: 7.4 Recommendation: Read

All-New Wolverine #2* – I wasn’t blown away by the first issue and the second doesn’t quite do it for me either. Again, the comic feels like its cribbed a bit from Orphan Black, but missing what makes that show fun. Overall Rating: 6.5 Recommendation: Pass

Batman: Endgame #1 Director’s Cut – The comic initially was a solid read, so to be able to check it out again, this time with notes from the creators and a look at the pencils is really cool. I’d love to see more of these types of releases especially in trades and graphic novels. The pencils especially are amazing to look at. Overall Rating: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 * – The second issue feels a lot like Ghostbusters in many ways. In fact dump Egon, Ray, Peter, and Winston and it’d totally be exactly that. It’s not a bad thing, and that type of comic is missing from the Marvel line-up. The comic is decent fun, didn’t quite blow me away, but the concept is interesting. I’d maybe prefer a more hardcore horror vibe and look, but I’m interested in still seeing where the series goes. Overall Rating: 7 Recommendation: Read

 

Superman #46* – I can see what writer Gene Luen Yang is going for in the current arc. There’s an attempt to talk about the mythology of the superhero through a fight club. It’s an interesting concept, but the execution doesn’t quite work for me. Also Superman’s return is being choreographed a bit too much. Just not clicking. Overall Rating: 6.5 Recommendation: Pass

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #2 * – The comic continues to be very cute and fun. It continues to find humor in the small things, and the writing is top notch when it comes to that. Just a solid fun comic that pulls of its goal of entertaining through humor. Overall Rating: 7.8 Recommendation: Read

 

 

Elana

The Fadeout #11 – The best noir comic. One point that needs to be repeated is that frequently when watching film noir or reading crime fiction there is a certain sense of alienation that the reader experiences from the subject matter. Here that’s not the case. I really care about the characters, the screenwriter protagonist, his friend the blacklisted screenwriter. But especially the women– both living and dead. It makes the cliffhanger at the end of this issue really hard! Stunning period perfect art too. Overall Rating: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Kaptara #5 – Super fun He-Man on acid with a queer sensibility. The art reveals more and more the longer you look at it. Seriously, go back and look over former issues to see funny and inventive details you missed. The final two page spread presents a cast of villain characters that’s quite something to behold! Overall Rating: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1 – Funny and emotional too. I’m sure many kids in comic reading demographics will identify with Lunella’s problems at school (“too smart for her own good”). I’m glad to see key aspects of Kirby’s original designs and worldbuilding are still there. And boy do we need more protagonists like Lunella. I’d give it an 8.5 for kids.

 

Mr H

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1* – Wow. All I could think while reading this is, why couldn’t this be what the Dark Knight Strikes Again have been? The art by Kuburt fantastically channels Miller in many shots (especially the long ones) I enjoyed seeing Diana and Lara again too. I liked the use of texting and social media in a stylized manner to tell the story’s introduction. I won’t spoil the ending but the cliffhanger was epic. The back up story drawn by Miller featuring The Atom was great too. This book was worth the wait. Only problem is I have another wait until the next one! Overall Rating: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

 

Shean

Andre The Giant: Closer to Heaven TPB – I was a huge fan of wrestling when I was a child so definitely was hyped about this trade. Read the TPB by First Second, which was great , so was not sure how good this was going to be, in my opinion it surpassed it. Excellent overview of Andre’s life by Brandon Easton. Remarkable illustrations by Denis Medri.
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Definitely Buy

 

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

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 (**).