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.

Ryan C

Shipwreck #5 (Aftershock)** – The fifth issue of Warren Ellis and Phil Hester’s dimension-hopping odyssey is a similarly breezy read to the first four, but it certainly looks bleakly gorgeous and both the plot and characterization are beyond intriguing. The one big problem? This title comes out so infrequently, and reads so quickly, that I can’t justify picking it up in singles from a financial perspective. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Pass — but only for now; you’ll definitely want to buy this when it comes out in trade.

The Hard Place #1 (Image/12-Gauge)** – I’m a sucker for “ex-cons trying to stick to the straight and narrow” stories, and the first issue of Doug Wagner and Nic Rummel’s new mini-series promises to be a terrific addition to that genre. Rummel’s art is a bit rough around the edges but works nicely for this sort of material, and Wagner’s script has a nicely authentic “street-level” feel. Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Buy

Plastic #5 (Image/12-Gauge)** – Speaking of Doug Wagner-scripted crime books, this one that he’s had going with Daniel Hillyard wraps up nicely, if a bit predictably, since our deranged protagonist and his sex-doll “girlfriend” were obviously doomed from the start. Still, it’s a good, if bizarre, read, gorgeously illustrated. Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read 

Underwinter #6 (Image)** – Ray Fawkes wraps up the first arc of this harrowing horror series with a gut-wrenching conclusion that seems to leave little to no path forward — so I’ll be curious to see where and how he picks things back up, because it could end here and feel like a fairly complete story. Frankly this is fairly devastating stuff, and while I admit that Fawkes’ art is an acquired taste, I think it fits his subject matter to a proverbial “T.” Good and grim, just how I like it. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Shean

Generations: The Unworthy Thor and Mighty Thor #1 (Marvel) Two Thors walk into a room, Yada Yada Yada, what could be a joke of a story provides new revelations into the character we know own and the character we are still getting to know. In a convergence of time and space, Thor(Unworthy) and Thor(Mighty) are called to Egypt in a battle with Apocalypse who has amassed an army to fight our heroes.What Mighty Thor soon finds out that the Princeton Of Lies is behind this recent skirmish. By story’s end, the reader gets into the minds of both characters which reveals a secret of Odin.
Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again #4 (Marvel) We find Wade Wilson still being mind controlled by the Cabal Of villains but this time inhabiting the armor of Ultron.He ends up taking out just about all the Avengers and what us hilariously depicted, thr kid heroes of the Marvel Universe. Gwenpool ends up intervening realizing that the Tinkerer is the mastermind behind his current condition. By the end of the issue, Deadpool kills a few more heroes but finally breaks free of their control and his purpose has turned back on his oppressors. Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

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 (**).