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

Secret Empire #10 (Marvel) – So Nick Spencer and his bosses at Marvel editorial decided we needed one more issue of this nonsense than the originally-solicited nine, I guess, and aside from the fact that the army of artists (specifically Steve McNiven, Rod Reis, David Marquez, Paco Medina, and Ron Lim) at least turn in competent work for the most part, the best you can say for this thoroughly uninspired, predictably-resolved mess is — hey, at least it’s over with. Overall: 2 Recommendation: Pass. I purchased my copy, dumb-ass that I am.

Ringside #11 (Image)** – I’m honestly surprised that Joe Keatinge and Nick Barber are continuing this series with a new arc given that a) it almost never comes out, and b) doesn’t sell worth a damn when it does, but at least all the various characters in this wrestling-themed book have interesting, if apparently quite disparate,”arcs” — unfortunately, the farther Barber’s art devolves into pure abstraction (and not the interesting sort of abstraction, just the lazy one), the more difficult it gets to justify shelling out $3.99 a pop for this stuff. Overall: 4 Recommendation: Pass

Rebels: These Free And Independent States #6 (Dark Horse)** – Apparently Brian Wood and Andrea Mutti are wrapping up the second iteration of their Revolutionary War-era historical with a smattering of short stories just as they did last time, and this one, entitled “The Virginian,” is an especially good one, focusing on what a self-serving, reckless, back-stabbing, and arrogant asshole a young George Washington was. Not sure how accurate all the details are, but it’s gotta be more truthful than the old “I can’t tell a lie, I did chop down the cherry tree” yarn. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Generations: The Archers #1 (Marvel)** – Kelly Thompson and Stefano Raffaele give us the first one of these vaguely-connected oversized one-shots that’s actually worth a damn, and while it’s still a thowaway story quickly put to wraps, at least the characterization and dialogue are equal parts charming and effective, and the art is smooth-flowing and nicely expressive. Not worth five bucks by any stretch, but not worthless, as the rest of them have essentially been. Overall: 6 Recommendation: Read

Shean

Black Panther #17 (Marvel)– Wakanda has been in disarray for some time and T’Challa’s problems keep piling up. We find out the gods of Wakanda have gone missing, and the portals they have protected has been left unguarded, allowing rogues from T’Challa’s past to come through as well as other supernatural creatures.Lucky for him and Wakanda, Storm has come back into his life as his companion but also as queen and goddess for a people looking for a deity to believe. By books end, a fight with spider like creatures has affirmed T’Challa’s and Ororo’s belief in their path as heroes. Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Black Panther and the Crew #6 (Marvel) this series is probably one for the best to come from Marvel in a while and as this is the last issue, it ends on its strengths. We get a history lesson as we find out that the Crew Frank was part of, became broken and some, even corrupt.We also return to modern day, as the all new all different crew, with Black Panther, Luke Cage, Misty Knight, Manifold,and Storm fight Americops. One of Ezra’s nephews were behind the chaos in Harlem and for now, Hydraulic plans are foiled. Overall: 10 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 (**).