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
Absolute Wonder Woman #15 (DC Comics) – The first Absolute Universe crossover is an intricately drawn, smartly plotted, Gothic masterpiece from Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, and Jordie Bellaire. Thompson’s dialogue shows the contrast between Diana’s desire for community despite her dark origins and Batman’s taciturnity, and Sherman and Bellaire’s visuals marry dark magic with dark detective work. Despite having “Wonder Woman” on the cover, this feels like a Batman comic with a story centered around detective work while mysterious forces gather in the background. The bond between Bruce and Diana also feels organic, and I love how the Absolute book are slowly building connectivity between the books instead of just lumping them into one Crisis-level slugfest. I look forward to Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s take on this dark, dynamic duo as well as the upcoming year of more gorgeous art from Hayden Sherman, heavy metal color palettes from Jordie Bellaire, and supernaturally-tinged character arcs from Kelly Thompson. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy
Brett
Event Horizon: Dark Descent #4 (IDW Publishing) – Writer Christian Ward, artist Tristan Jones, colorist Pip Martin, and Letterer Alex Ray deliver more terror in this fourth issue. The series reveals what happened to the Event Horizon and we finally find out what led to the infamous message left in the film, “Libera Te Tutemet Ex Inferis.” The series has explored the torture and hell of the various crew, and this fourth issue focuses on John Kilpack, the captain of the ship. The King of Hell has tortured all of the other crew and here John is not just forced to watch his failure to protect his crew in the present but also the torture he experienced in the past. We see an abusive father and the ridicule and bullying of John because he’s gay. It’s an interesting issue that shifts things a bit in that John is an innocent compared to other members of the crew who have done terrible things, instead he was teased and abused growing up, which the King of Hell uses. The visuals continue the aesthetic of the series provided gore and terror as John has to decide what he needs to do to escape what he sees before him. It’s an interesting issue and key for fans of the film revealing the answer to a mystery of the series. Overall Rating: 7.95 Verdict: Buy
American Caper #2 (Dark Horse Comics) – Dan Houser, Lazlow, David Lapham, Chris Anderson, Lee Loughridge, and Nate Piekos continue to present a comic that skewers everything and there’s few to cheer on. The series has so far hit hot topic issues and exaggerated today’s politics and both left and right are in the crosshairs. American Caper #2 gives us more of bad people doing bad things as we learn a little more about motivations behind actions. It’s satire. It’s lampooning the world. Nothing is sacred. Everything is on the table. This is a comic where it’s ok to hate everyone and just sit back and enjoy the disaster unfolding for readers. Overall Rating: 7.5 Verdict: Read
