Mini Reviews and Recommendations For The Week Ending 12/5
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. Given the lack of new comics, expect this weekly update to begin featuring comics that we think you’ll enjoy while you can’t get anything new to read – only new to you.
These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.
Logan
Batman/Catwoman #1 (DC/Black Label)– I read a Tom King comic and didn’t hate it. King, Clay Mann, and Tomeu Morey focus on my favorite part of his Batman run, namely, the relationship between Batman and Catwoman and turn it into the engine of a miniseries. There’s also a side dish of Joker and Andrea Beaumont aka Phantasm as King and Mann explore the beginning, middle, and end of their relationship. The transitions between timelines can be jarring at times, but Morey’s colors help as well as King focusing on Selin as the middle ground between good and evil. There’s not a ton of action, but I love how Mann choreographs the team-ups between Batman and Catwoman and also shows the connection between Bruce and Andrea years after they broke up. The comic might be too clever for its own good, but is a good reminder that Tom King can write a compelling heterosexual relationship lol. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read
King in Black #1 (Marvel)– Liking Donny Cates comics is my comics kryptonite, and King in Black #1 is no exception as he, Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, and Frank Martin go crisis mode for 32 pages turning the fairly intimate father/son story of Eddie and Dylan Brock into a blockbuster event. Basically, the moral of this story that despite all the preparations and guest appearances from the Avengers, X-Men, and popular street level heroes, Knull will triumph. Stegman’s style is Siege-meets-abstract art as the symbiote god rips apart the Sentry and takes in the Void like it’s his morning Monster energy drink. Despite forging a deep connection with Eddie Brock throughout their Venom run, Cates and Stegman know this isn’t high art and fill it with cool shit like splash pages, Storm zapping the hell out of some symbiote dragons, and utter hopelessness. It’s December, but this is a summer popcorn read. The plot’s definitely overused, but the years of groundwork that Jason Aaron and Donny Cates have laid smooth it over from feeling like something editorially mandated. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy
Hellions #7 (Marvel)– Zeb Wells and Stephen Segovia’s Hellions continues to arguably be the jewel in the X-line’s crown as the team deals with the results of killing them all in the previous issue. The ensemble dynamic continues to be delightful from Sinister pretending to be sad about his dead teammates to Nanny turning into a straight up wrecking machine after her resurrection imbued her with some Arakkii characteristics. Also, Psylocke gets to act out a little bit even though she’s the most loyal to Sinister because he has a line on bringing her daughter back through his science. These clashing motivations fuel the drama in Hellions #7 with Segovia drawing some hilarious reaction shots for Sinister while hewing to traditional action-driven storytelling. As is on brand for the team, a simple smash and grab because much more complicated as they run into a new/old enemy that really fits the era most of these characters are originally from. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy
Happy Hour #2 (Ahoy)– The rictus grin and laugh that artist Michael Montenat gives the various brain-manipulated or dead puppy therapied denizens of Happy Hour #2 will permanently be stuck in brain. He and Peter Milligan turn in a darkly humorous issue as Kim and Jerry begin their escape from the Readjustment Center, but at first, Jerry wants to visit his grandma before she passes. The sight of old folks in party hats dancing to “Psycho Killer” is pretty fun, but Milligan and Montenat also explore the pretty fucked up nature of not having a healthy relationship with death. This is also touched on by Kim and Jerry’s (Making their getaway in a literal clown car) interactions with some moms who laugh away chemical spills, chronic illnesses, and school shootings. It’s enough to drive anyone over the edge, which is what happens at the end of Happy Hour #2. Getting out of the Readjustment Center gives more satirical real estate for Peter Milligan and Michael Montenat to work with as they turn their attention to childhood trauma, retirement homes, and a healthy take on the Internet that’s really just a quick gag about the return of paper maps. Overall: 7.8 Verdict: Buy
Heavy #3 (Vault)**– Max Bemis, Eryk Donovan, and Cris Peter throw a giant existential wrench into Bill’s quest for redemption in Heavy #3 as his target, Moore, questions his purpose to kill as many evil doers as possible and right wrongs so he can be reunited with his wife Sharon in heaven. Bill doubt’s are proven right as he goes a nearly neverending mission to kill AU versions of his partner Slim and finds out terrible things about his boss. Donovan and Peter’s visuals continue to be over the top with purple vistas for scenes of thinking, whites and smooth linework for Sharon appearances, and over the top violence for everything else, especially their main destination: a virulently hateful and brainwashed White House. (Not so different from the current volume.) Max Bemis continues to question Heavy’s premise and ideas every issue while bringing the sly comedy and ultraviolence with Eryk Donovan and Cris Peter. Bill has really started to come across as a good guy, but is he really, or are the folks around him that much worse. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy.
Brett
Strange Adventures #7 (DC Comics/DC Black Label) – As the battle comes to Earth we learn the truth about Adam Strange and the murder of a detractor. This is an issue that drops a big reveal and weirdly it doesn’t have as much of an impact as expected. Strange is something who still can’t quite be trusted who is needed to protect Earth which is the more interesting aspect of the series and raises some intriguing questions about our own “safety” as a nation. Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read
Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Wonder Woman: War of the Gods (DC Comics) – These one-shots have generally been entertaining but this one was a miss for me. It might have been unfamiliarity with the original material but there’s a lot packed in without a lot of depth to make me really care. It’s a summer blockbuster that’s all action and that’s about it. But, even then, the major bits ring short and aren’t surprising as there’s not a lot of connection with anyone. This is for the Wonder Woman die-hards it’d seem. Overall: 6.0 Recommendation: Pass
DCeased: Dead Planet #6 (DC Comics) – It’s about to go down! Trigon is now on Earth causing destruction. An army of Amazos are killing the infected. Plus the heroes have a cure. Then Constantine is doing his thing and jacking people up to save the planet as well!? So much packed in to the issue as different plot points are all coming together. Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy
Far Sector #9 (DC Comics/DC’s Young Animal) – The crime is revealed as we get a better idea as to what’s going on in this Green Lantern detective series. It’s all becoming clearer and holy crap has this series been amazing. The writing is top notch and the art is fantastic. One of the best series DC is putting out and one of the best on the shelves right now. Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy
Justice League: Endless Winter (DC Comics) – A fun start to the mini-event. This has an “old school” feel as far as the pacing of the comic and the store itself. It’s turn your brain off and enjoy type of disaster comic with a big bad that threatens the planet. It’s not too deep but it’s a lot of fun. Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read
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 (**).
