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

Hello Kitty and Friends: Hello World #1 (IDW Publishing) – Hello Kitty has its cake (Or in this story, cinnamon roll) and can eat it too with adorable characters and engaging narrative with a genre shifting cliffhanger. Mariko Tamaki has a grasp on what makes every Sanrio character uniquely adorable and uses Hello Kitty’s podcast to introduce us to this world. (This job works for her protagonist vibe.) Cody Lemieux’s layouts have a snapshot vibe like the camera Hello Kitty uses to get pics of her friends, and I especially enjoyed his lush double page spread of the cast’s various homes. The cuteness still works even as the genre shifts from slice of life to true crime, but Tamaki and Lemieux keep things all ages instead of going for deconstruction and cynicism. If you own at least one Sanrio item, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Die Loaded #8 (Image Comics) – Die Loaded goes swashbuckling adventure of a sort in issue 8. Kieron Gillen keeps a firm handle on Sophie mothering and improvising her way through undead children, gods, and various bullshit before latching onto a story that she knows the inner workings of. This is while in the background, the political and epic worldbuilding bit of Die starts to take off again. Stephanie Hans’ art continues to be glorious, especially her and letterer Clayton Cowles’ work with the different gods. The characters of Die still sound ordinary, but she gives them an ethereal sheen. Die Loaded #8 is a pivotal book in the series with a memorable double page spread, but continues its strong characterization. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy