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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Patrick

Bitch Planet Triple Feature #4 (Image)** – This is how you do a spinoff series. First: “Life of a Sportsman” by Marc Deschamps and Mindy Lee goes into the toxic patriarchy of Megaton, with a story (and commentators) that are depressingly familiar to any pro sports fan (I’m thinking especially of Hockey Night in Canada’s Ron & Don). Sara Woolley hits us with “Bodymods,” which takes an extreme situation and renders it even more gross via the banality of the dialogue, Finally, Vita Ayala & Rossi Gifford present “To Be Free…” where a master thief breaks into the Archive of Corruptive Materials. Good stuff all around. Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Big Trouble in Little China: Old Man Jack #1 (Boom!)** – I’m always happy to see a new Jack Burton series, and this one is super fun. Basically: ten years ago Jack accidentally helped bring about the apocalypse. As a reward, he was given his very own retirement spot in Florida behind a wall of fire, where he continues to monologue into his CB – which is no longer attached to anything. A call for help comes from a self-described Very Attractive Woman, and he springs back into action. Things don’t go quite as hoped for (for Jack) but pretty much as expected (by me). John Carpenter & Anthony Burch deliver a fun script that doesn’t mess around, and Jorge Corona’s art is energetic and just cartoony enough without scrimping on detail. Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Ryan C

 

Black Panther #18 (Marvel)** – I think it’s time I just admitted it to myself : this thing isn’t going to get any better. My respect for Ta-Nehisi Coates has kept me reading this book long after most folks have apparently left the building (sales started huge, followed by a standard attrition period, but lately they’ve been absolutely nose-diving), but as flawed as “A Nation Under Our Feet” was, at least there were some interesting, if overwrought, ideas at its core —the second major storyline, though, “Avengers Of The New World,” is just completely uninspired drivel. Coates seems to have made the quantum leap from struggling to find his footing in a new medium to bored veteran going through the motions without ever passing through the “solid pro storyteller” phase, and the once-reliable Chris Sprouse is turning out the worst work of his career on pencils here, as well (with Karl Story’s lackluster inks not helping matters), while back-half-of-the-book artist Wilfredo Torres’ stuff is just straight-up embarrassing. In theory, an issue that functions as a lead-in to the long-awaited resuming of hostilities between T’Challa and Klaw should at least be interesting, but in practice this issue is just a frigging drag. It took a year and a half for me to finally get it through my thick skull that this series isn’t ever going improve, but finally got the message. I’m out. Overall: 1 Recommendation: Pass

Action Comics #988 (DC)** – The second part of “The Oz Effect” is as listless as the first, with a rote and workmanlike recap of how Jor-El survived Krypton’s destruction taking up pretty much the entire issue and a big sign reading “Pure Set-Up For ‘Doomsday Clock’ And Nothing More” hanging over the proceedings. Ryan Sook’s art is okay, although nowhere near his usual standard, and Dan Jurgens’ script is a competent enough execution of editorial dictates, but that’s about it. Overall: 3.5 Recommendation: Pass

Detective Comics #965 (DC)** – While we’re on the subject of Mr. Oz/Jor-El and “Doomsday Clock” lead-ins, that’s really all that’s happening in part one of “A Lonely Place Of Living,” as well. James Tynion IV hashes out a re-telling of Tim Drake’s life, and the art team of Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira, who did such stellar work on “Martian Manhunter,” cranks out one mediocre page after another here. Really uninspired stuff all around. Overall: 3 Recommendation: Pass

Kamandi Challenge #9 (DC)** – Yeah, Tom King’s script for this issue is over-stylized and literally begging to be noticed, but it’s still an effective and harrowing portrayal of captivity and uncertainty, and the glorious black-and-white art from Kevin Eastman (!) and Freddie Williams II is the most visually interesting stuff you’re likely to see in a “Big Two” comic this year. I was having (yet another) “Why do I even bother with Marvel and DC anymore?,” and this comic reminded of why I do. Borderline-magical stuff, this is. Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Shean

Generations: Hawkeye and Hawkeye #1 (Marvel)** – In what is probably the most “Back to the Future” installment of the Generations series, Kate gets sent back in time to when Clint wore the old school pink and blue suit. In what plays out much like the classic movie, Battle Royale, but with superheroes and supeevillains,Kate and Clinton face of a rogues gallery including his former mentor, Swordsman. The best part of the book is Kate’s thoughts of certain people and events, knowing what she knows, which is always hilarious. By book’s end, Clint finds out who’s been pulling the strings in this game, but to everyone’s surprise, Clint nor Kate are the ones who serve the perpetrator justice.
Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Logan

Detective Comics #965 (DC) Tim Drake begins his escape from the prison of Mr. Oz, who is keeping him in prison because he’s intelligent (?). Oz’s motivation isn’t the clearest, but James Tynion and Eddy Barrows successfully make an argument for the importance of Tim Drake to the DCU and by extension, Robin to Batman. It’s another example of how Rebirth is restoring the relationships of the DCU, and I love the snapshot style layouts that Barrows uses. Plus two of the smartest characters in the DCU pulling a prison break should be fun. Overall: 7.7 Recommendation: Read

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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 (**).