A former Sixties radical, Ethan Reckless is a fixer, part detective, part wrecking ball. When a friend from his Weather Underground days returns, he’ll have to face his own past.
Reckless is the first in a new line of graphic novels from Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Jacob Phillips.
It’s a brand new take on the classic pulp style stories.
Story: Ed Brubaker Art: Sean Phillips Color: Jacob Phillips
Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
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The world of the hit phenomenon Critical Role is expanding in a new mini-series from Dark Horse Comics. Written by Eisner Award-winner Darcy Van Poelgeest and illustrated by Critical Role fan artist CoupleofKooks, and covers by Helen Mask with creative consultation by Critical Role cast member Matthew Mercer, Critical Role and Dark Horse Comics present Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria.
Focused on side characters and stories, the first series in this line of bimonthly comics focuses on Leylas Kryn, the Bright Queen of the Kryn Dynasty. Leylas has spent multiple lives in her pursuit to assemble the Luxon. With her eternal lover Quana at her side, she will stop at nothing to use its power to bring a Golden Age to the people under her rule. When what seems to be the final piece of the Luxon appears nearby, Leylas sends Quana to collect it…with consequences that may threaten the entire Kryn Dynasty!
Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria#1 (of four) is the next addition in an ever-growing line of Critical Role comics, graphic novels, and art books from the ongoing collaboration between Critical Role and Dark Horse Comics! It will be in comic shops on March 17, 2021.
Marvel will honor the 50th anniversary of Man-Thing with a new series this March. The horror comics icon will star in Avengers: Curse of the Man-Thing, the start of a three-part Marvel Universe-spanning saga that will redefine one of Marvel’s most unique characters for a new age. Critically acclaimed writer Steve Orlando makes his Marvel Comics debut with the series, joined by rising star artist Francesco Mobili. Each issue will focus on a different corner of the Marvel Universe, starting with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
For decades, the Man-Thing has haunted the Florida Everglades. Now a new enemy has hijacked his body on a quest to take his incendiary abilities global! The Marvel Universe wakes to fear as gargantuan monoliths menace cities worldwide, with only the AVENGERS standing between the population of Earth and a planetwide inferno. Can they save Man-Thing in time to douse the fires? And does the man inside the thing, Ted Sallis, even want to be saved? All this plus a sensational new villain designed by Marvel’s Stormbreaker Carmen Carnero await readers in the exciting opening tale that will kick off an unforgettable journey for Man-Thing and your favorite Marvel heroes including the X-Men, Spider-Man, and more!
Avengers: Curse of the Man-Thing #1 features a cover by Daniel Acuña.
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
Catwoman #28 (DC)– Ram V and Fernando Blanco’s excellent Catwoman run continues as Selina Kyle takes out not one, but two of the rival gangs in Alleytown using cunning and subterfuge. She might not have the firepower of the Khadym Mob or Pit Rollins, but she grew up in Alleytown and uses her knowledge of the Nest, her homebase, to set traps that make highly trained mercs look like the Sticky Bandits. Blanco and colorist FCO Plascencia also turn in a fantastic action sequence using colors to guide the eye as Selina shows one of Rollins’ prospective clients that she can’t protect their product. However, Selina isn’t omnipresent and ends up in a no holds barred battle with the mysterious and very religious Father Valley, who wants to help establish her as a kingpin so he can take her down. He goes beyond the one-note gimmick hitman I initially thought he was and combined with developments on the GCPD side of things, V and Blanco set up obstacles in the path of Selina’s reign. All in all, this is an action-packed chapter in this crime saga set in the streets of Gotham that just happens to star Selina Kyle. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy
Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #1 (Ahoy!)– What if Kal-El and Lara-El spent their last day on Krypton hosting a dinner party for a timeshare agent and his status obsessed wife? Mark Russell, Richard Pace, Leonard Kirk, and Andy Troy answer this question in Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #1, which is a funny and surprisingly sweet look at Sunstar’s parents and origin. Pace draws some outrageous faces that drive Russell’s witty dialogue home like when Sunstar’s mom destroys her “friend’s” crystal crown and tells her to bill her for it tomorrow when Zirconia will be destroyed. However, much of this issue, both the flashback and current scene with Jesus, Sunstar and his wife, is about how important it is to spend time with the ones you love, especially in the face of the end of the world. But there’s also silly jokes too like Sunstar’s parents choosing to send him to Earth because they like soup. Second Coming: Only Begotten Son is an enjoyable return for this series and puts a human face on an enduring modern myth. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy
New Mutants #14 (Marvel)– Vita Ayala and Rod Reis go for a different tack on New Mutants and have the characters Magik, Wolfsbane, Mirage, Karma, Warlock, and Warpath mentoring younger mutants on how to use their powers and how to work as a team. It’s very “classic” X-Men, but Reis’ abstract, Ralph Steadman-esque approach to art gives it a surreal, nightmarish quality, which is fitting because Karma is struggling with hers. Also, the Shadow King is the Big Bad of this arc. The real hidden gem of this issue is Gabby aka Scout, a clone of Wolverine, who wonders why certain mutants, like Genesis or Madelyne Pryor, haven’t been brought back because she’s afraid she won’t be resurrected. There’s really a big cast of young mutants in this book, and I hope Ayala and Reis get adequate time to develop them. Overall: 7.6 Verdict: Read
X-Force #15 (Marvel)– X-Force #15 is a real in-betweener of an issue as Benjamin Percy and Joshua Cassara continue to have Beast do unethical things (Aka screw around with the resurrection protocols so he can use Omega Red as a spy against vampires) and also try to find forgiveness from Colossus, who he detained and let Jean Grey interrogate, because he thought he had intel on his brother Mikhail Rasputin and vampires. That X of Swords really made me not care about these plot elements as much any more, but X-Force’s ethical tension is still compelling with Professor X basically giving Beast carte blanche to do whatever feels right. Kudos to Colossus’ aquakinetic girlfriend, Kayla, for starting to drain the water from his body for how he has basically mindfucked her partner. Cassara’s art hits a nice balance between grotesque and photorealistic especially when this issue’s villains hit the shores of Krakoa, but honestly, this series has started to level off in quality. Overall: 6.7 Verdict: 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 (**).
A combination of fan-favorite storytellers and trailblazing new writers and artists are coming together to celebrate Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary with an all-new DC Digital First series,Sensational Wonder Woman. Published weekly, this reader-friendly, high action series is poised to deliver dynamic, standalone stories that are free of continuity, giving hardcore fans even more Wonder Woman action to love and new fans a fun starting point to enjoy stories and provide a gateway to discovering more about Princess Diana.
For the first digital arc, newly announced Harley Quinn writer Stephanie Phillips, Wonder Woman: Agent of Peace artist Meghan Hetrick and colorist Marissa Louise pit Diana against the evil Doctor Psycho. During a battle with the villain, Wonder Woman sacrifices herself to stop him, the impact from his psychic blast trapping her in an alternate reality. With the help of guest-star Hawkgirl, Diana must remember who she is before it’s too late.
Future digital/print arcs will spotlight Diana teaming up with other allies from the Wonder Woman mythos, such as Cheetah, Steve Trevor, Hippolyta, Wonder Girl and others. The stories come from a host of talented creators, including writer/artist Colleen Doran, Alyssa Wong and Eleonora Carlini, Mirka Andolfo, Corinna Bechko, with more to come.
Sensational Wonder Woman #1 by Stephanie Phillips and Meghan Hetrick arrives on all participating digital platforms on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, with a main cover by Yasmine Putri. The print version arrives in comic book stores on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 and will also include a variant cover by EJIKURE.
This is a massive sale and huge savings on Marvel Masterworks. Some collections are currently 94% off and can be bought for just $0.99 on comixology.
You can get comics featuring Iron Man, Ka-Zar, Captain America, Thor, Dr. Strange, The Hulk, Avengers, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, X-Men, Black Panther, and so much more!
First volumes are just $0.99 with others just $1.99!
This site contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from these sites. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.
(W) Christopher Cantwell (A/CA) Salvador Larroca Rated T+ In Shops: Dec 23, 2020 SRP: $3.99
“THE CRACK OF DOOM” CONCLUDES… Following a painful self-inflicted disaster on the Moon, Doctor Doom suddenly finds himself back on Earth…but an Earth he recognizes only from dreams and visions, where a very different Victor Von Doom is the benevolent savior and leader of humanity. As our embittered and embattled Doom finally comes face to face with his peaceful alter ego, he’ll be forced to decide: Should he take the lessons of this better world in order to save his own?
(W) Matthew Rosenberg, Nick Spencer (A) Federico Vicentini, Takeshi Miyagawa (CA) Marcelo Ferreira Rated T In Shops: Dec 23, 2020 SRP: $3.99
LAST REMAINS TIE-IN! • The Order of the Web faces Sin-Eater. And if you saw what Sin-Eater did to Spider-Man in ASM #49, you know just how much trouble the other Spiders are in! • Also, what is Mary Jane Watson’s part in “Last Remains”? Don’t miss this chapter that raises her stakes by about a million times!
(W) Richard Thomas, Kurt Busiek, Chris Claremont, Kevin Eastman, Steven S. DeKnight (A) Steve McNiven, Pete Woods, Roberto de la Torre, Kevin Eastman, Jesus Saiz (CA) Andrew Robinson Parental Advisory In Shops: Dec 23, 2020 SRP: $6.99
BY CROM, YOU’VE NEVER SEEN A CELEBRATION LIKE THIS – MARKING 50 YEARS OF CONAN THE BARBARIAN IN COMICS!
Revelations, surprises and savage action prevail in the all-new KING-SIZE CONAN! In 1970, Roy Thomas brought CONAN THE BARBARIAN, a creation of author Robert E. Howard, to Marvel Comics. With art by the incomparable Barry Windsor-Smith, CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1 introduced the Hyborian Age to a whole new audience, paving the way for decades of comics and Conan’s conquest of pop culture.
Now get ready to celebrate 50 years of CONAN with an oversize special spanning the breadth of Conan’s life and times by the most dazzling array of creative talent ever assembled in one book to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth! Experience Roy Thomas and Steve McNiven’s all-new prelude to that original story from 1970!
Thrill to a tale of revenge by Kevin Eastman (co-creator, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), writing and drawing his FIRST Marvel story!
Chris Claremont and Roberto de la Torre team up to unveil a turning point in Conan’s career as a mercenary! Kurt Busiek and Pete Woods recount an early brush with sorcerous forces that will shape Conan’s destiny! Conan and Bêlit sail together again for the first time since the 2019 relaunch, with Jes s Saiz illustrating the Marvel Comics maiden voyage of Steven S. DeKnight (Netflix’s DAREDEVIL writer/director/showrunner)!
The perfect introduction for new fans, and an essential adventure for die-hards, this is the can’t-miss CONAN comic of the decade!
