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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Ryan C

Batman: Damned #3 (DC/Black Label)** – Remember this thing? Well, it’s back, just in time to finally end. Brian Azzarello puts forth minimal “effort” on the script, Lee Bermejo busts his ass on the art, and the end result is some seriously middling stuff. They probably should have just released it as a wordless art portfolio, as the dialogue and captions just clutter up the grim-but-beautiful pictures. Overall: 5 Recommendation: Give it a look, but not a read. 

Detective Comics #1006 (DC)** – Another one that would have been better served released sans script, as Peter Tomasi’s Batman/Spectre team-up is an absolutely unreadable mess, but Kyle Hotz just plain kills it on the art. What’s with the Bat-books this week, anyway? Same story as far as the scoring goes for this one. Overall: 4 Recommendation: Give it a look, but not a read

Major X #6 (Marvel) **– The big draw for this final issue is Rob Liefeld returning to handle the art as well as the scripting duties. And, of course, that’s the big problem, as well. A comic that’s exactly what you think it is. Overall: 2 Recommendation: Pass

X-Men Grand Design: X-Tinction #2 (Marvel) **– This, too, is exactly what you think it is — only in this case that means it’s absolutely great. Sorry to see Ed Piskor’s “X-history” come to an end, but what a breathtakingly refreshing take on it all this series has been. Marvel needs to give this guy another grand-scale project ASAP. Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Shean

X Men Grand Design: Xtinction #2 ( Marvel) – Ed Piskor is at it again with the second issue of this monumental book, giving readers snapshots from the X-men’s vast history. As I am fan of his, and what he is doing in this book, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Star Wars Age of Rebellion: Darth Vader #1 (Marvel) – In probably the most interesting story from this series, we finally get a solo Darth Vader story. As Vader finds his way, a power hungry Governor tries to show him up in front of the Emperor. As he gets sent on a few missions where if it was not the villain we know, he would have been killed by now. By issue’s end, he gets rid of a threat and the Governor and ultimately gaining favor with The Emperor once again. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Logan

Marilyn Manor #1 (IDW/Black Crown)– Marilyn Manor #1 is a high concept comic about the First Daughter throwing a New Wave rager in the White House while her parents are gone. Magdalene Visaggio writes the protagonist Marilyn as a little bit insufferable and a little bit of a rebel hero while Marley Zarcone nails the period fashions and nooks and crannies of the White House. Irma Kniivila’s flat colors fit the tone of story too, and there’s a really expensive 1980s music video vibe to some of the ways the panels are staged like when Marilyn is laying in JFK and her namesake Marilyn Monroe’s old love nest. Marilyn Manor has a lot of energy and a fun tone, but the first issue lacks a real hook for the rest of the series beyond the party and some supernatural stuff. Overall: 7.7 Verdict: Read

Wolverine Exit Wounds #1 (Marvel) Three legendary Wolverine creators, Larry Hama, Chris Claremont, and Sam Kieth, return to tell stories about him with the help of artists Scot Eaton and Salvador Larroca. Hama and Eaton’s story, which is set in the Weapon X days, is the most long winded and least memorable as Dr. Cornelius triggers Wolverine’s past memories to make him kill a bear without remorse. The story is an okay dark Wolverine yarn, but Eaton is unfortunately no Barry Windsor-Smith. In the second story, Claremont and Larroca, who is sporting a looser and less stiff art style, check in with Wolverine and Kitty Pryde in Japan as he protects the secrets of ramen recipe from some gangsters. The story is fun because you get to see Wolverine make ramen even if the “twist” at the end is a bit of head scratcher. It’s nice to see Wolverine settle back into his classic role as ronin even if Kitty Pryde is annoying as hell. The final story is the best one as Kieth writes and draws a simple one on one battle between Wolverine and Venom. There’s violence, wacky proportions, and the fight is choreographed like a dance. Kieth even gets to use his painted style in one of the best depictions of Wolverine’s berserker rage. Overall: 7.3 Verdict: 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 (**).