Author Archives: Logan Dalton

Mini Reviews: Fixation #1, Inglorious X-Force #9, Tank Girl: Blue Helmet #1, Of the Earth #5

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Cover art for 'Tank Girl in Blue Helmet' featuring a female character with short black hair dressed in a green jacket and black shorts, standing confidently in front of a large tank-like vehicle, with a stylized, colorful background.

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

Fixation #1 (IDW Publishing) – Amy Chase and Savannah Mayer‘s Fixation is a chilling first chapter of metamodern horror where fandom goes very very wrong. The story centers around two super fans who are invited to the 10th anniversary of Blood Mountain, a book turned film series that seems very similar to the Twilight series with Vail standing in for Forks, Washington. The issue begins with a chilling murder and then introduces the cast of fans, actors, production assistants, and mysterious posters setting the scene for a fiction/reality blurring story. Chase and Mayer don’t just point and laugh at how “cringy” fandom is, but actually give the main characters time to show how Blood Mountain had an impact on their lives. They might take things too far, but they’re a lovable duo and I’m rooting for them. Some of the actors, not so much though. Overall: 7.7 Verdict: Buy

Inglorious X-Force #9 (Marvel) – In the penultimate issue of Inglorious X-Force, Tim Seeley, Michael Santa Maria, and Romulo Fajardo go for maximum action and soapiness with just a dash of humor. Domino has a hunch that Cable will assassinate future President Kamala Khan so she forms her own X-Force team to take it out. Seeley and Santa Maria have a lot of fun with the team dynamic although the main cast is more developed and likable. I do want to go back and read the based, hilarious pooch Pug-Smasher’s early appearances. If you like 90s comics with a smidgen more psychological depth and smoother storytelling techniques, then Inglorious X-Force continues to be a solid pickup especially as it builds to a full circle conclusion. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Tank Girl: Blue Helmet #1 (Titan) – Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett take the piss out of the Beats in the full color, Tank Girl: Blue Helmet. Basically, Tank Girl, Booga, and Barney go (literally) on the road with thinly veiled Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, who end up being repulsed by all the sex, violence, farts, and other shenanigans. This strip is pure anarchy with Martin churning clever, yet sometimes long-winded zingers to match Hewlett’s wild and crazy pictures. My personal favorite bit is when it turns into a Hanna Barbera parody, which kind of, sort of foreshadows Jamie Hewlett’s co-creation of the Gorillaz. Anyways, the moral of the story is that college boys who read books just to get laid are pretty lame. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Of the Earth #5 (Image Comics) – Of the Earth #5 is all blood, guts, and black oil from Andrew Ehrich, Chris Condon, and Charlie Adlard. The wildcatter is at his peak powers, and Tabby must find a way to extricate herself from the situation. Red and black are the colors of the day, and there’s lots of tight corners and suspense. Ehrich, Condon, and Adlard nicely bridge the gap between physical and psychological terror as the issue is really one big third act horror film set piece. This would have made a worthy series finale, but luckily there’s more! Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Tales of Wonder #1, Crowbound #1, Dungeon and Dragons: Total Party Killers #2, Archie #1, Batman/Superman/Weird Al: World’s Weirdest #1, Legion of Superheroes #1

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Batman/Superman/Weird Al World's Weirdest #1

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

Tales of Wonder #1 (Image) – Cartoonist Steve Skroce simultaneously takes the piss out of the superhero industrial complex and (literally) flexes his artistic muscles in drawing those kind of characters in Tales of Wonder #1. The story centers around Stu and Jake who are basically Stan Lee and Jack Kirby if they were still alive. Paraplegic Jake keeps it close to his chest with grumpy humor while Stu won’t shut up. (The scene where he praises his collaborators while Skroce covers up his art with giant word balloons is priceless.) However, Tales of Wonder is far from a grounded story, and it shines brightest when it indulges its genre elements. Ugly American is kind of an amazing name for a 90s edgy jarhead superhero, especially since he’s created by a Canadian. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Crowbound #1 (Image) – Crowbound is another beautiful collaboration from Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen. It’s centered around the relationship between a mother and daughter in a stark post-apocalyptic hellscape. Boldly opening with the mother Rose’s death, Lemire and Nguyen take us back in time to show key moments in her and her daughter Ava’s lives. Dustin Nguyen’s use of negative space unpacks the sadness of the comic with pops of color acting as reminiscences of happy times. Crowbound is definitely a downer of a read, but fits our hard times and has some glimmers of hope too. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Dungeon and Dragons: Total Party Killers #2 (Dark Horse) – To use a bad pun, I think this issue killed my interest in this series. Christopher Hastings and Denis Medri focus more on expanding DnD Total Party Killers’ cast of characters and locations instead of giving us an interesting story to follow or characters to root for. (I do love the slime and baby eye.) The art is colorful, and there are some cool moments, but no real coherence. Overall: 5.8 Verdict: Pass

Archie #1 (Oni Press) – Ben Winters, Fabio Moon, and Jason Wordie take the World’s Most Popular Teenager back to his slice of life roots in Archie #1. Moon definitely elevates the material with his energetic art, and his flair for the dramatic comes in handy in the second of the three short stories in this comic about a film festival. Winters also knows Archie is supposed to be a funny comic and litters his script with zingers and character-based comedy. Jughead was definitely my favorite in this first issue, and he gets a solo story to wrap up the book where he comes to grips with the ghost of character development. But, yeah, this is classic, supermarket checkout Archie with slicker visuals and a touch of self-awareness. For now, there’s no deconstruction going on. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Batman/Superman/Weird Al: World’s Weirdest #1 (DC) – I think the superhero comics genre may have peaked when Weird Al fought Mr. Nobody with a fifth dimensional accordion. Co-writer Mark Waid’s Yankovic-esque parody of the John Williams Superman theme was brave and bold, but I’m curious what Grant Morrison could have done with the material. But, seriously, Weird Al and fifth dimensional imps are match made in Heaven, and Dan Schoening and Fico Ossio’s art capture the wackiest of vibes. This comic book is life changing, and it’s AI art’s personal kryptonite. Now it’s time to “Eat It”. Overall: 10 Verdict: Buy

Legion of Superheroes #1 (DC) – In Legion of Superheroes #1, Joshua Williamson, Hayden Sherman, and Tamra Bonvillain try to find hope in a dystopian future through its youth. A fragment narrative structure offers glimpses at familiar faces like Brainiac 5, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, and the always hilarious and quite badass Matter Eating Lad. However, they’re separated by laws, different planets, and their own demons. Sherman’s visual vision of future superheroics is intriguing: nostalgia meets something new. Their trademark spiral layouts works for this kind of hop along story. I think I’m invested in the fate of the Legion like I am with the college kids I work with. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Early Review: Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: The Kaiju of Oz is a laugh-out-loud funny comic

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Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: The Kaiju of Oz

Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents really saved the best for last in Kaiju of Oz, a twisted retelling of The Wizard of Oz with Godzilla wreaking havoc on Munchkinland and the Emerald City while the Wicked Witch of the West tries to pick up the pieces with the help of some familiar faces. Mike Costa and Ryan Browne don’t just retell the classic L. Frank Baum’s novel story and insert the King of Monsters into key moments, but have the appearance of Godzilla simultaneously with Dorothy completely put this world out of whack. Also, instead of Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion play a key role in the narrative and get full character arcs that are also quite hilarious.

Because, above all else, Kaiju of Oz is a laugh-out-loud funny comic. Costa and Browne revel in the absurdity of this hyperpop fairy tale world with its Skittles “taste the rainbow” color palette, silly sound effects, and heightened takes on these classic literary figures. Baum’s original novel was a satire of late 19th century American society, and this comic actually pays homage to those roots by poking fun at authority figures and the foibles of its characters. However, Kaiju of Oz is far from highbrow, and Browne’s art is full of silly and gory visual gags and so many fart jokes. The sound effects lettering is a real visual highlight of the book, especially when Godzilla goes into action. It works nicely with Mike Costa’s sarcastic dialogue that maybe has a hint of a heart, brain, and courage beneath its piss takes.

Honestly, this whole review could just be my reaction to the totally apeshit events of this comic, but I don’t want to spoil for the folks who weren’t lucky enough to get an early copy. Let’s just say that Kaiju of Oz might have my favorite characterization of the Wicked Witch of the West, with apologies to Ms. Elphaba as played by Cynthia Erivo. Her interactions with other key figures in the story are so petty and funny, and she embodies evil throughout the story in her monologues and facial expressions. It’s fun watching her string along various Ozians, and the flying monkeys are introduced almost as an afterthought. She was born for this chaos, but unfortunately, there’s only room for one green monster in this universe.

If you like your deconstructed fairy tales more Shrek than Wicked, then Kaiju of Oz will be quite the treat for you next month. Mike Costa and Ryan Browne think about what would actually happen if a giant lizard with stinky nuclear breath arrived in a faction-filled fairy tale land and execute it with a diabolical sense of humor. This is the most fun I’ve had reading a fantasy comic since I Hate Fairyland, and if I were a high school English teacher, I would spend my last week before retirement assigning this book.

Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: The Kaiju of Oz is set to be released on October 7, 2026.

Story: Mike Costa Art: Ryan Browne
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.3 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Pre-Order: Third Eye Comics – Kindle

The Doom Patrol #1 feeds readers juicy morsels before focusing on a done-in-one adventure

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The Doom Patrol #1

To quote Yelena Belova in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Doom Patrol #1 finds the World’s Strangest Heroes in a decidedly “small potatoes” situation of rescuing a cat. However, Darcy Van Poelgeest and Niko Henrichon make everything wackier and wilder with Niles Caulder up to his usual machinations at the beginning and end of the comic. This first issue puts the focus squarely on the classic Doom Patrol trio of Robotman, Larry Trainor, and Rita Farr trying to find purpose as superheroes again. The plot isn’t groundbreaking, but Van Poelgeest creates a great deal of empathy for these characters, especially Trainor, who has a majestic moment of self-actualization and embracing the Negative Spirit. Henrichon’s visuals are stunning and continue the recent tradition of DC hiring star artists like Nick Derington and Chris Burnham to draw Doom Patrol.

The Doom Patrol #1 has a slice of life, yet slightly askew approach to its story and art. Recognizable things like kitty cats, houses, and vans become a bit surreal under Niko Henrichon’s thick brush strokes. He handles the book’s colors too, and I love his take on the Negative Spirit, especially during the issue-concluding action sequence. The Doom Patrol #1 does have memorable action, and without a word, Henrichon shows how Rita still struggles with stretching and elasticity abilities. There’s a panel where her arm is various length, and, of course, there are cats flying everywhere. The line works and colors combined give The Doom Patrol a worn-in feel, which is fitting for a book starring the team’s oldest members and also fits the mood of superheroes trying to climb back from the bottom rung. (And they still can’t pull off a “save the cat” mission.)

Darcy Van Poelgeest uses a cyclical story structure for The Doom Patrol #1. It’s not a full time loop, but there are recurring images of cats, a mysterious woman, and glimpses at the team’s origins. There’s a feeling of something blocking Robotman, Rita, and Larry and keeping them from embracing their true potential and finding freedom a la the ending of Grant Morrison’s Doom Patrol run. Van Poelgeest and Henrichon spend valuable time looking back at the past trauma of this golden trio, which makes the book both new reader friendly and easily establishes an emotional core for the book. Driving a tacky van down the street while being roasted by Gen Z’ers transform into Robotman’s accident with thick lines and jarring colors acting as a visual representation of his pain. Seriously, Niko Henrichon’s take on these flashbacks plus his absolutely shifty Niles Caulder makes me want to see him draw a Doom Patrol Year One book.

Doom Patrol is a comic book known for its feelings not fisticuffs and also being bat shit crazy, and both Darcy Van Poelgeest and Henrichon deliver with their feline take on the typical alien invasion plot line. There’s definitely a long term mystery arc being teased out with Niles Caulder, but The Doom Patrol #1 merely feeds readers a few juicy morsels before focusing on a done-in-one adventure that re-establishes the team as a lovable bunch of screw-ups that get caught up in situations that would only happen to the JLA if the Joker laced the Watchtower’s water supply with LSD. It feels like a book gearing up for a 30-50 issue run, which is actually feasible in the current DC editorial climate.

Story: Darcy Van Poelgeest Art: Niko Henrichon Letters: Lucas Gattoni
Story: 7.8 Art: 9.3 Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Mini Reviews: Concrete: Stars Over Sand #3, Badrock #2, Witchblade/Vampirella #1, Black Tower: Raven Conspiracy #1

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Concrete: Stars Over Sand #3

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

Concrete: Stars Over Sand #3 (Dark Horse) – Concrete: Stars Over Sand starts to ramp up as pieces of memories start to form in its amnesiac protagonist’s head. Paul Chadwick’s visuals depict the pure beauty and savagery of nature, and I love the details he spotlights for the different flora and fauna. This issue explores the monstrousness and humanity at the heart of Concrete and sets up a doozy of a penultimate issue. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Badrock #2 (Image) – Badrock continues to punch above its weight as the titular character comes to grips with losing his power. Rob Liefeld’s captions capture the sadness Thomas feels when he’s powerless and then the triumph when he regains them temporarily. Artist Seth Damoose also gets to channel the Extreme Studios 90s with a massive double page pinup. However, the real emotional crux of this story is the relationship between Badrock and his mom. This is what made Badrock #2 sink its hooks into me along with big, explosive turn your brain off action. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy

Witchblade/Vampirella #1 (Image) – Two 90s “Bad Girl” icons collide and wrestle with their cravings for revenge, violence, and of course, blood in Witchblade/Vampirella #1. Marguerite Bennett and Laura Braga focus on friendship and visceral ass kicking in this one-shot with several double page spreads full of kicking, biting, and the power of the Witchblade. I love how Vampirella acts as a kind of devilish guardian angel for Sara Pezzini while female friendship triumphs over the male gaze. Braga’s design for the vampiric Witchblade is very cool though. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy

Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy #1 (DC/Vertigo) – The occult, spycraft, and supernatural creatures all collide in the multi-layered first issue of Ram V and Mike Perkins’ Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy #1. An American going to England to find magic is relatable to me, but not the chases and conspiracies. There’s quite a bit of exposition in Black Tower #1, but it’s tempered by the aforementioned chases and one bloody fight scene. V stays out of Perkins’ way and keeps the set pieces quiet before bringing his snarky, yet thoughtful dialogue to bear. I’m definitely lost in a maze after reading this first issue, but definitely want to see where the rabbit hole leads. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Talespin #1, Spider-Man/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone #1, American Caper #10, Shellshock #1, Inglorious X-Force #8

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Talespin #1

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

Talespin #1 (Dynamite) – Amanda Deibert and Carlo Lauro revive the 90s classic in suitably high-flying fashion in Talespin #1. Most of the comic’s page count is dedicated to the aptly named Sky Ryder’s acrobatics as she dazzles Baloo and Kit with her derring do in taking down the villainous Karny. Lauro makes the exciting clean and easy to follow while Deibert adds notes of wistfulness, adventure, and economic anxiety in her script. Re-engaging with this world as an adult, Talespin is definitely Baloo from the Jungle Book getting caught up in Casablanca or The Maltese Falcon. This is a solid first chapter with plenty of Disney Afternoon action. Overall: 7.7 Verdict: Buy

Spider-Man/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone #1 (Marvel) – Spirituality and truly groan worthy puns collide in Spider-Man/Hulk: Fire and Brimstone by Kevin Smith, Andrew McElfresh, RB Silva, and Federico Blee. Seriously, the first third of this comic is an overstimulating flurry of puns and hard to follow crowd scene. However, it locates its heart when Hulk finds peace through a happy childhood memory and then wraps up with a big, high concept swing. The idea of a man of science finding faith is quite compelling, and I’ve always enjoyed Smith’s explorations of religions. However, the inconsistent scripting and poorly blocked action make this first issue not quite a home run, but it does finish better than it starts. Overall: 7.0 Verdict: Read

American Caper #10 (Dark Horse) – Dan Houser, Lazlow, David Lapham, and Chris Anderson has gone from a bonkers guilty pleasure satire comic to just bonkers. Houser and Lazlow continue to pile subplot on subplot including a digression featuring a Kanye parody without tying them together until the very end with some quick violence. Lapham and Anderson’s visuals are pure gleeful absurdity, but I think I have to tap out of this story. (Or lack of one.) Overall: 4.5 Verdict: Pass

Shellshock #1 (Oni Press) – The one-shot Shellshock is a modernization of EC Comics’ Shocking SuspenStories focusing on the horrors of war with emotion and a pinch of dark humor. The first story in Shellshock is from John Arcudi and Shawn Martinbrough and is a harrowing look at the effects of airborne toxins on US veterans during the war in Afghanistan. Martinbrough’s art is hellish, and Arcudi scripts his protagonist Rita with empathy and compassion. The next story “Christmas” from Michael Conrad and Albert Monteys tries to find the shared humanity during World War I as the Germans and English celebrate a Christmas truce. Monteys contrasts the starving Germans and well-fed Englishmen to show how bad the war has gone for them and make the story’s twist hurt that much more while Conrad’s captions are pure anti-war brilliance. Julio Anta and David Lapham’s “Blowback” goes for dark humor over sobering reality as a CIA covert assassination expert tries to weather the family BBQ. The jingoism is turned up to 10, and the absurdity up to 11 in this wild and crazy parable about the perils of trying to outdrink beat cops. Shellshock new stories wrap up with the verbose sci-fi story “World of Wars” by Benito Cereno and Tom Fowler. I’m impressed with the sheer amount of alien races Cereno and Fowler were able to create to illustrate how war and conflict will sadly be never ending even going into the future. Shellshock concludes with its best story yet, “Yellow” from the EC all star team of Bill Gaines, Al Feldstein, and Jack Davis. Their portrayal of a strained father/son relationship is heartbreaking, but there’s still room for that pitch black EC humor. Colonel Henderson remorselessly smoking a cigarette will stick with me for quite some time. As the US fights a senseless conflict in Iran, Shellshock hits home with how war has more of an effect on ordinary folks than the people who declare it, but hey, a crockpot CIA wonk having his head explode can be funny sometimes. Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy

Inglorious X-Force #8 (Marvel) – With the exception of a confusing timey wimey final scene, Inglorious X-Force #8 is a solid clash of old school and new school storytelling. Tim Seeley and Luca Maresca have a ripped from the headlines bad guy who uses online video platforms and AI algorithms to make mutant youth hopeless and poison humans against them, but we’ve also got Cable, Boom Boom, and X-Force blowing shit up. This series is more interesting as a black ops team trying to stop mutant threats in extralegal ways and brushing up against even more extreme groups, but the Cable/time travel of it all kind of screws it up. However, the series has enough goodwill and flashy visuals that I’ll give this rabbit hole a shot and maybe re-read Cable’s Wikipedia entry this weekend. Overall: 7.8 Verdict: Buy

What if…? Runaways scratches that nostalgic itch

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What If...? Runaways

Marvel’s What If? turns 50 this year, and the publisher has been exploring paths less trodden from fan favorite characters and teams. This week we’ve got the Runaways, who breathed new life into the teen superhero genre when they were created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona back in 2003 and even had a three season television show of uneven quality on Hulu. In What If…? Runaways, the Runaways’ most recent scribe Rainbow Rowell, artist Zulema Scotto Lavina, colorist Frank William, and letterer Travis Lanham (Who nails the series’ iconic and at the time groundbreaking upper/lowercase style except when he doesn’t capitalize proper names.) cook up a world where the Runaways become the Young Pride. However, the pull of heroism is never far away, which is kind of a cop out for the “what if” concept, but also true to the heart of the characters and ends up being a metaphor for deconstructing your parents’ beliefs. (I hope no one’s parents believed in universal genocide with the exception of you and their five closest couple friends’ kids.)

Rowell and Lavina begin the twist almost immediately with Alex Wilder being his scheming self, and the group instantly being welcomed by their parents with open arms after they stumble upon a Pride meeting. Because she is much younger than the other team members, Molly Hayes is a special case, and What If: Runaways treats her delicately as her teammates and parents gaslight her into thinking that she’s the colorful superhero Princess Powerful. Her innocence makes Molly the heart and conscience of the team, who genuinely need her because of her powerhouse mutant powers that are demonstrated in the Young Pride’s one and only mission.

This mission is easily the best part of What If: Runaways and features its biggest twist, which is because Victor Mancha never found friendship with the Runaways, he became the powerful robot assassin Victorious, who killed Captain America, and now is being used as an asset by the Pride to keep the Avengers off their tails while they kill even more people to satisfy the Gibborim. His wholesome, Doombot-befriending nature is light years away, and Zulema Scotto Levina and William draw a memorable page of Victorious wordlessly murdering his guards without remorse or conscience. Seeing his malevolence is also a turning point for the Young Pride, who realize that despite the promises of fame, power, and money, ruling a world bereft of humanity isn’t going to be a good time.

Rainbow Rowell plays it both ways with the nature versus nurture debate in What If: Runaways with the Nico, Karolina, Gert, Chase, and especially Molly always being moral, heroic rebels deep down inside (Alex is a different story.) while Victor can’t go against his Ultron-born programming. This approach makes for a better story and more nuance, especially with Alex not adopting a heroic role and being more pragmatic evil than nihilistic evil. Framing the Victorious prison break as a test is also kind of cop out too because Alex is the most amoral of the bunch giving the team a morality test. However, it’s in line with him playing the leader role, which extends to the team’s outfits aka the finest business chic/evil. Nico especially rocks the three piece suit, and it gives her a corporate heavy metal vibe when she uses the Staff of One in the story. The two years of training with their parents definitely made the once and future Runaways more confident of themselves than in the original comic, and it would be interesting to see how it would work out fighting against them and interactions with others heroes and villains. (Seriously, Chase Stein is stealthy, subtle, and still a creep, but he has more moves that blowing up things with his tech fists.) Or if that wouldn’t move the needle, bringing Alex Wilder as a pragmatic antagonist instead of a reluctant hero would be interesting too, especially in our age of moral compromises and profits above people.

What If…? Runaways scratches the nostalgia itch for one of the first Marvel series I read (Shout out to the public library for having them in digest format!) even if Rowell and Levina don’t provide any real answers on the nature vs nurture debate. Evil Victor Mancha is a scary antagonist, and even if the comic doesn’t plunge its protagonists into too much real evil, it captures the persistence and universality of all children eventually opposing their parents and then trying to figure out what they’re actually fighting for.

Story: Rainbow Rowell Art: Zulema Scotto Lavina
Colors: Frank William Letters: Travis Lanham
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Mini Reviews: Hello Kitty: Hello World #1, Die Loaded #8

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Hello Kitty and Friends: Hello World #1

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

Mini Reviews: Chachu #1, Mary Jane, Face It Tiger #1, Tank Girl Summer Love Sensation

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Chachu #1

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

Chachu #1 (Image) – Chachu #1 is a hell of a creator-owned comic debut from writer Iman Vellani. She, Marianna Ignazzi, and Jordie Bellaire turn into a gorgeous Hollywood neo noir starring a Pakistani-Canadian college student whose trip to find her missing, mysterious uncle opens a big ol’ can of worms. Vellani’s captions demonstrate her protagonist’s yearning for connection and a life bigger than the one she’s currently have while Ignazzi and Bellaire’s visuals reveal a world full of glory and double dealing. Chachu’s missing wife might be the most interesting character of all as the creative team easily subverts damsel in distress/dead wife cliches to give her the beginnings of an arc and one hell of personality. This is a comic that will fit nicely on the shelf with such Image noirs as The Good Asian and the Brubaker/Phillips collaborations. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

Mary Jane, Face It Tiger #1 (Marvel) – Mary Jane, Face It Tiger #1 is an eras spanning celebration of one of the most badass female characters in comic books and her evolution from love interest to superhero on her own right. The comic leads off with a story set in the aftermath of Chameleon impersonating Peter Parker and then getting his ass beat by Mary Jane. JM DeMatteis and Andrea Broccardo use the superhero metaphor to explore living in the aftermath of trauma and also remind us how great Peter and MJ were together. Also, yay, therapy! In the second story, Ann Nocenti and Alina Yerofieieva offer a glimpse at Mary Jane’s superhero future while she fights off the villainous Haze on a movie set. Nocenti’s MJ is whip smart and easily bests an evil mist and a sleazy director with ease. Yerofieieva’s nigh-90s artwork, but with better storytelling chops fits the tone of the story too. Up next, JMS and Luigi Zacaria go for full bittersweet as an aged Mary Jane reflects on her life with Peter and Spider-Man. It’s a reminder that JMS was a damn good Spidey writer when he wasn’t focusing on the totems or One More Daying. MJ Face It Tiger #1 wraps up with a present day story showing MJ standing up for herself and her fellow actor with the help of the Venom symbiote. Sadly, this story is a bit of a rerun of the Nocenti/Yerofieieva one, but Phil Noto’s art is always solid and I need MJ’s Venom bag. Overall: 7.8 Verdict: Buy

Tank Girl Summer Love Sensation (Titan) – Tank Girl Summer Love Sensation is a reprint of a 1990 full color Tank Girl serial by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett in the mighty Deadline Magazine. Nominally, the comic follows Tank Girl and Booga visiting her grandparents in rural England, but it transforms into a mayhem, nudity, dirty joke, and obscure UK pop culture reference-filled quest for the Fountain of Youth. This comic is dense is a good way ; there’s always some new reference or background gag to laugh at. Also, Hewlett’s different visual approaches keeps the book interesting, especially his use of mixed media and collage. This is a book that can go from glorious Romantic art homages to jokes about rival cartoonist’s pubic hair. It’s the perfect beach read for the cheeky ones out there. Overall: 9.9 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1 and Concrete: Stars over Sand #2

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Concrete: Stars over Sand #2

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

The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1 (Mad Cave) – In The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1, the family and business associates of a dead outlaw must hear his will, but first they must do a long ride from Kansas City to Wichita. Writer Dan Panosian tells the story from the POV of the outlaw’s Cornell-educated daughter June, which introduces fish out of water elements to go with the dark Western vibes. The other “heirs” are either the worst people period or quiet and mysterious making for good tension. On the art side, David Ferraci and Lee Loughridge provide gorgeous Western vistas with a side of jump scares featuring a horse, who may have a key role in this series. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Concrete: Stars over Sand #2 (Dark Horse) – Concrete continues to wander aimlessly and amnesiacally as Maureen rounds up a search party to look for him so he can be there for his kid. Paul Chadwick continues to beautifully alchemize art and writing in Stars Over Sand #2, and his captions are especially poetic when Concrete sees the stars and the moon for the first time. The recurring element of the plot is “missed connections”, and we’re a wrong turn or a bit of stone in the corner of a dune surfer’s eye from finding the protagonist. But maybe he doesn’t want to be found. Stars Over Sand #2 has a true sense of total loneliness in a barren landscape. I hope everything ends up being okay. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

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