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

Huck #4 (Image) There’s a sense of something here that you don’t often see in Mark Millar’s work: hope. Now whether that’ll get ripped from under my feet as the series progresses and we head into some darker territory is something I’ve been acutely aware could happen. That Huck that has echoes of Superman is undeniable, but it never feels derivative to me, either. If you haven’t been reading the singles then at this point I’d wait for the trade, because this is definitely worth checking out. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Amazing Forest #3 (IDW) The first two issues in this anthology series were really enjoyable, but this one wasn’t up to the standards of those earlier issues. It’s not bad, and the final story is actually quite good, but the other three didn’t really do it for me. Overall: 5 Recommendation: Pass

Will Eisner’s The Spirit #9 (Dynamite) This has been one of my favourite monthly series for some time. It has just the right amount of fun, some great writing and art work. A really enjoyable comic each and every month. Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Read

 

Ryan C

Injection #8 (Image)**: So — now we finally get to see how Warren Ellis’ pair of once-apparently-disparate principal plot elements do, in fact, tie together. And it’s been so deceptively straightforward the whole time that I’m punching myself for not seeing it sooner. Plus, there’s lots of fucking. Of any and all varieties imaginable and a few you probably can’t. Typically fascinating issue with razor-sharp Declan Shalvey art, this series should still be right near the top of everyone’s “must-read” list. Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Hip Hop Family Tree #8 (Fantagraphics)*: Ed Piskor’s meticulously-researched and lavishly-illustrated cultural history reaches a new plateau of significance with the emergence on the scene of — Run DMC! The charge coming off this book is electric right now, as the “new” musical, fashion, artistic, and social sensibilities attendant with the rise of Hip Hop make their way from the streets and clubs of New York to the top of the pop music charts. The most obvious labor of love on comic shop racks right now by a wide margin. Overall: 9.5. Recommendation: Buy

Power Man And Iron Fist #2 (Marvel)*: David Walker’s “caper”-themed script seems ready-made for the Netflix treatment, with one major exception : unlike the “Daredevil” and “Jessica Jones” TV series, this is “street-level” story-telling that doesn’t take itself soooooo goddamn overly-seriously (anyone else find it more than a touch ironic that the same fans criticizing DC for the “grim” and “somber” tone of their movies praise those same “qualities” in the Marvel shows? But I digress). Sanford Greene’s art continues to impress and two scant issues in it’s safe to say these characters have never been more enjoyable to follow. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy.

Superman: The Coming Of The Supermen #2 (DC)*: I told you it was only a matter of time until the veil of rationality was pierced (hell, shredded) on this book, and with the departure of co-writer Tony Bedard leaving Neal Adams as a solo act on both story and art, the gloves are off and the insanity is, as Adams himself might put it, “on — full— display. On full! Display! Here! It is! Here! It is — it is here! Can’t you see it? You need to see it! Really it must — really — not be missed.” And don’t worry — the art doesn’t make much more sense than the story. Overall: 2.5. Recommendation: Buy. As long as you don’t expect — or even want — it to be good