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 reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Toxic Avenger #2 (Ahoy) – Matt Bors and Fred Harper continue to satirize the brain rot of 2024 United States in the second installment of their Toxic Avenger reboot. Toxie has an opportunity to liaison with the company doing the cover up of the toxic waste train accident, but he picks integrity over money and, of course, it backfires. Along the way, Bors and Harper flesh out the bully characters of Pluto and Bryce who are struggling with body dysmorphia as they’ve gone from the “ideal male body” to mutants. It all culminates in a big kaiju type fight (Toxie is an Ultraman fan!) with hilarious visual background jokes from Fred Harper. If you like B-movies and are afraid of what’s going on the world right now, the Toxic Avenger comic is worth a read. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

NYX #5 (Marvel) – Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Francesco Mortarino, Elisabetta D’Amico, and Raul Angulo wrap up the first arc of NYX with a glimpse at a better world where redemption is possible and marginalized folks can win victories at the ballot box. I guess, having a powerful psychic like Sophie Cuckoo helps. But, in all seriousness, Lanzing and Kelly use Sophie’s POV to show how found families can be more supportive than blood ones. (The Stepford Cuckoos in this case.) In this issue, Sophie breaks away from the five-in-one and helps her new BFF Ms. Marvel rally for mutant rights in a literally political plotline, and I love seeing her thought process through the captions as well as the emotional journey she goes on. The first arc of NYX is a melting pot of street-level and mutant Marvel comics with a diverse cast of characters dealing with real life issues through stylized metaphors. Finally, I love the flair of Mortarino and D’Amico’s visuals, it’s 90 Generation X comics filtered through 2010s manga, especially in the little humorous moments like Wolverine sniffing Sophie to make sure she’s telling the truth. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

The Domain #5 (Image) – The Domain #5 is a big, splashy action-packed finale to this miniseries. I love the opening flashback from Chip Zdarsky and Rachel Stott that re-establishes the wielders of The Domain as friends and underdogs as they battle Domain Prime, space pirates, and the US army. Stott’s skill with facial expression comes in handy when she and Zdarsky cut away from the battle to show how freaked out Dez and Liz are in the face of creatures that have killed in cold blood. However, this is an optimistic end to The Domain that still leaves the door for future adventures as they transition from the superhero to the science fiction genre. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Black Lightning #1 (DC) – I love the dynamic between Jefferson Pierce and his daughters Anissa and Jennifer, who are the superheroes Thunder and Lightning in Black Lightning #1 as well as him taking a teaching role and working with new metahumans. Also, Fico Ossio and Ulisses Areola bring a Bronze Age semi-realist art style with modern digital color visual that’s kind of pleasing. However, Ossio and writer Brandon Thomas don’t provide Black Lightning #1 with a threat or real hook, which is an issue for a first issue. A lot of the issue is recapping things which happened in the Absolute Power crossover albeit from the Pierces’ POV as well as Lightning struggling with her abilities. But, sadly, there’s nothing compelling me to pick up issue 2 except for the characters which I already have a positive relationship with from other comics and the Black Lightning TV show. Overall: 6.1 Verdict: Pass