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

Savage Tales Winter Special 2025 (Dynamite) – Dynamite revives the 1970s Marvel pulp anthology to middling results. The first story from David Avallone and Hamish Cook is about Gullivar Jones (A less popular version of John Carter) returning to Mars, fighting monsters, and yearning for his lost lover. It’s billed as a chapter 3, but comes off as a chapter 1 with a weak cliffhanger ending. Next up is action-packed John Carter and Dejah Thoris story from Avallone and Eman Casallos about a mutiny on one of their ships. It’s a pretty standard action comic with art that’s sometimes too stiff and overly posed, but has dynamic layouts especially when Carter is dodging gunfire and tossing out one-liners. The third story in the anthology is a Vampirella one from Avallone and Mariano Benitez Chapo. It’s cheeky fun as Vampi is working for a paranormal TV show named Draculette, who only pretends to believe in vampires for rating. Of course, she runs into a nest of Nosferatu’s spawn, and hijinks ensue. This story pokes fun at reality TV, and Vampirella gets to kick ass, crack jokes, and look good while doing it. Savage Tales Winter Special 2025 saves the best for last with a reprint of a Kurt Busiek and Benjamin Dewey (Autumnlands reunion!) Red Sonja story from her Black, White, and Red anthology. It’s a thrilling, well-rendered yarn where the warrior woman dodges traps, fights monsters, and shows the pitfalls of greed. The red spot color also plays a crucial role in the plot beyond its heroine’s flowing tresses. It definitely made me want to seek out the Red Sonja: Black, White, and Red series and Vampirella continues to be a queen, but the Martian pulp heroes haven’t aged very well in 2025. Overall: 7.3 Verdict: Read

Bronze Faces #1 (BOOM!) – Brother writers Shobo & Shof and artists Alexandre Tefenkgi and Lee Loughridge cook up a daring tale of three childhood friends from Nigerian daring to steal the work of protagonist’s Timi’s father as well as other works from the Kingdom of Benin in the British Museum. Flat colors, inset panels, and rapid fire dialogue give Bronze Faces #1 a solid flow with the entire comic fueled by righteous anger against colonialism and exploitation of artists from the Global South. The juxtaposition of flashbacks in Benin City and present day sequences in London and Abidjan flesh out the relationships between the trio of main characters and set the stage for the heist. However, there’s plenty of action too, and it’s cool to see a major American comics publisher put out exciting work by creators from Nigeria. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

Star Wars: Legacy of Darth Vader #1 (Marvel) – Star Wars: Legacy of Darth Vader #1 is a serviceable Kylo Ren solo comic from Charles Soule and Luke Ross that is equal parts sequel trilogy greatest hits, nostalgia fest, and soul searing look at the relationship between Vader and his grandson. At times, Ross’ art is stiff and photorealistic, and then sometimes, he litters the page with inset panels that make the flow of a fight scene and its dialogue difficult to follow. He and colorist Nolan Woodard are better at the slow, establishing moments like Kylo Ren’s ship flying into Mustafar. I can’t 100% recommend this book, but Kylo Ren hitting his grandpa’s old haunts is a fun conceit for a book and hope the quality of the story improves. Overall: 6.1 Verdict: Pass