Category Archives: Mini Reviews

Mini Reviews: X-Men ‘97 Season 2 #1, Justice League: Dream Girls #1, The Deadman #1

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Justice League: Dream Girls A DC Pride Event #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

X-Men ‘97 Season 2 #1 (Marvel) – Steve Foxe and Salva Espin’s tie-in comic is tasty snack to hold you over until X-Men ‘97 returns. With the X-Men scattered to different time periods, there’s a void in the mutant world, and X-Factor, Akkaba cultists, the Brotherhood, and young mutants like Jubilee and Sunspot are trying to fill it. This feels like reading a random X-issue from the mid-90s in the best way. The best parts are definitely Jubilee and Sunspot making pop culture quips and dealing with discrimination while trying to help fellow mutants. Most of the main cast isn’t in this because they’re “dead”, but Season 2 #1 has a big villain on deck especially for a tie-in book. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

Justice League: Dream Girls #1 (DC) – Dreamer and Galaxy fight their way through some visually interesting dream worlds in this Pride Month treated scripted by their co-creators, Nicole Maines and Jadzia Axelrod. The art team is spectacular too with Nicola Scott drawing a vision of Dreamer as Wonder Woman, J. bone channeling Batman: The Animated Series for a Gotham library caper, and the expressive Brandt & Stein handling the real world. (I love how they draw Star Sapphire’s eye roll.) JL Dream Girls #1 is a buffet of queerness, strong characterization, and superhero/sci-fi lore. And for dessert, there’s a Greg Rucka and Claire Roe backup story where Batwoman falls for an anti-data center activist. Poor Kate is always unlucky in love, but at least there’s Claire Roe’s muscular visuals. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

The Deadman #1 (DC) – In The Deadman #1, W. Maxwell Prince, Martin Morazzo, and Chris O’Halloran both streamline and make Boston Brand an infinitely more interesting character with plenty of gallows humor and and a warm hug of humanity. This comic captures folks at their most vulnerable moments: right before their passing, and Deadman acts as a kind of wisecracking midwife to make sure their souls’ get to the other side. But souls can be used to gain power as well, which sets up the series’ central conflict. Deadman’s foe is Bryan Johnson, but if he had an unquenchable appetite for old Hellblazer comics and didn’t get the point of the first issue of Sandman. The Deadman #1 is a refreshingly original spin on a great B-list character, and the Prince and Morazzo ouevre continues to be an insta-buy for me. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Escape #7, Exploit #3, Did You Hear About Mimi Green #1, Swamp Thing 1989 #2

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Exploit #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

Escape #7 (Image) – Shaw makes his attack on the enemy Titan weapon in the fireworks-filled Escape #7. Daniel Acuna visually captures the horrors of a fire fight while Rick Remender‘s captions expose all of Shaw’s fears and doubts as he undertakes what is essentially a suicide mission. This could easily be the final issue of the series, but Escape isn’t just interested in the dog faction winning the war, but also how they treat the folks that have been oppressed by the bats. The use of anthropomorphic animals allows Remender and Acuna to go under the surface of the “last good war” and look at the real pain and trauma that it caused as this series continues. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Exploit #3 (Mad Cave) – Exploit #3 is quite the twisty techno-thriller ride from Tim Leong, Laura Hudson, and Emiliana Pinna. Leong and Hudson uncover some cards about the assassination of Saxon and the identities of Dade and Mr. Ipsum while still keeping the story grounded in the romantic relationship between Kirby and Lenox that reaches a rough spot as they’re both fugitives from both the government and tech bros. There’s one chase sequence from Pinna and colorist Rebecca Good that is particularly exciting using a map-like double page spread and inset panels. Exploit #3 plunges right into the morally grey area, and I’ve never been more excited to read the next issue. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Did You Hear About Mimi Green #1 (Dark Horse) – Connor Goldsmith and Josh Cornillon take aim at cancel culture, wellness culture, and vitality with a heavy helping of body horror in Did You Hear About Mimi Green #1. Seriously, this comic is like if David Cronenberg directed Hacks. Cornillon’s visuals are capital “d” disgusting, but there’s a dreamy quality to his work as well, especially when Mimi thinks about her old lover. All in all, this is a unique and engaging debut from Goldsmith and Josh Cornillon that knows likable characters are overrated. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Swamp Thing 1989 #2 (DC) – It’s such a blessing to get the proper conclusion to Rick Veitch’s Swamp Thing run, and this installment is even timier and wimeyer than the previous issue’s Biblical beauty. Swamp Thing continues to be flung back in the depths of time, and it’s looking more and more hopeless that he’ll be reunited with Abby. Veitch and artist Tom Mandrake continue the Jesus parallels by having Abby giving birth to their daughter in a stable in Houma while Swamp Thing’s journey gets more cosmic and trippy. This issue also has guest stars galore like John Constantine, Jim Corrigan, Anthro, and the heroic Shining Knight as well as a more nefarious figure to fill the void in the Green. Swamp Thing 1989 #2 lacks the tragic beauty of the Camelot and crucifixion issues, but does capture the bonkers creative of the late 1980s era while not abandoning the all-important Swamp Thing/Abby relationship. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Reborn: Ultimate Impact #1, Of the Earth #1, Odin #1, Sirens Love Hurts #4, Umbrella Academy Plan B #4, Absolute Green Arrow #1

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Absolute Green Arrow #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

Reborn: Ultimate Impact #1 (Marvel) – Chris Condon and Stefano Caselli try their darndest (The Spot always looks cool visually), but Reborn: Ultimate Impact #1 can’t beat the clunkiness of a cash-in on the new Ultimate Universe’s success. Honestly, the pieced together name of the title is the perfect metaphor for the first issue itself which throws together Earth-6160 death cultists, Miles Morales and the origin boxes, and a new crop of heroes. It’s lots of plates spinning of a first issue, and most of the characters except for Jersey City’s new “Wonder Man” seem pretty generic, but maybe they’ll grow on us. There just isn’t throughline between the Annihilus stuff and the new heroes except for they have to have someone to punch eventually. Sadly, the once promising Ultimate U ended pretty abruptly (Deniz Camp and company continue to do good work on Ultimates though.), and this is more of the same. Overall: 6.1 Verdict: Pass

Of the Earth #1 (Image) – Of the Earth #1 is pure, pitch black Texas crude atmospheric horror noir from Chris Condon, newcomer Andrew Ehrich, Charlie Adlard, and Pip Martin. Condon and Ehrich use in-universe books and oil company memos to give the comic a true crime vibe while Adlard and Martin lay on the creepy visuals while giving this first chapter a slow burn. Protagonist Tabby is beyond a fish out of water in the aptly named Solitude, Texas where she’s trying to reconnect with family after some time. An extended scene with a dead dog, rental car, and a Duel-esque pickup truck shows that she’s a little too nice and compassionate for this neck of the woods and hints at the horrors to come while being a study of suspense in miniature. I’m here for fossil fuel cryptids, and this unique genre hybrid of a comic centered around a resource that starts wars. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Odin #1 (Image) – Marguerite Bennett, James Tynion, Letizia Cadonici, and Jordie Bellaire draw on the real life evil of white supremacy to create a horrifying, psychedelic comic. What starts as undercover journalist Adela infiltrating a Gen Z Nazi/Odinist group goes so wrong as the severe nine panel grids and analytic captions become something more primal and darkly poetic. Let’s just say that crazy stuff happens in the back half of this comic. I love how Cadonici and Bellaire depict the bleak barren nature of the camp site before upending with big red swatches and a loose drawing style. Adela has literally bitten off more than she can chew, and I’m invested in this twisted rabbit hole although the subject matter hits very close to home. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Sirens Love Hurts #4 (DC/Black Label) – Tini Howard, Babs Tarr, and Miquel Muerto stick the landing in this feminomenon of a series. It’s so cool to see how Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Black Canary, and Catwoman’s relationship has progressed through the four issues of Sirens Love Hurts culminating in one hell of a beat ’em up against the freaky Big Bad, Horoscope. Howard and Tarr tie up the romantic subplots nicely too with some real talk between Batman and Catwoman and Harley and Ivy. (I love how she writes Batman!) And, of course, the fits are fierce, and the colors from Muerto are immaculate. I could read so many more adventures with this group of friends and creative team lineup. Overall: 9.8 Verdict: Buy

Umbrella Academy Plan B #4 (Dark Horse) – After a bit of a hiatus, Umbrella Academy Plan B is starting to round into zany shape. Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba introduce some mysterious new characters like Jennifer while also fleshing out some old trieds and trues like Klaus, Allison, and Five. The book works when it’s about a dysfunctional family or resisting fascism not so much when it’s about parallel timelines and random one-off supporting characters. There’s even a plot point stripped straight from volume 2. However, Ba and Dave Stewart continue to make this book like gorgeously bonkers, and Way has his moments too like Allison reflecting on her life in the supervillain prison Hotel Oblivion. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

Absolute Green Arrow #1 (DC) – Luigi Mangione meets Jason Voorhees in Pornsak Pichetshote, Rafael Albuquerque, and Marcelo Maiolo’s riveting, all-too-timely take on Green Arrow. Absolute Green Arrow #1 picks up after the events of Absolute Evil with Hector Hammond hiring Dinah Lance and Malcolm Merlyn to investigate the murders of former business partners Oliver Queen and Jubal Slade. Slade is a rapist and pedophile too, and Queen was trying to do the right thing so it complicates Dinah’s relationship to her job. Pichetshote makes her very sympathetic: someone who hates the rich, but takes gigs from them to help cover her father’s healthcare. She’s the perfect entry point to this dark world that’s enhanced by the grit and power of Albuquerque and Maiolo’s visuals. This is the kind of superhero comic I need in 2026 and yet another strong launch for the Absolute line. Overall: 10 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Tales of the Green Lantern Corps: Guy Gardner #1, Civil War Unmasked #1, DC x Sonic: The Metal Legion #1, If Destruction Be Our Lot #1

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Tales of the Green Lantern Corps: Guy Gardner #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 the Green Lantern Corps: Guy Gardner #1 (DC) – This is a really fun one-shot about the GL Corps’ best/worst member from Gerry Duggan, Matteo Lolli, Laura Braga, and Vasco Georgiev. It’s also a bit of a Fight Club riff and a call to action for men to check on each other’s mental health. In addition to this, it’s just a damn fine space mystery featuring the buddy cop team of Gardner and John Stewart with jabs at AI and the surveillance state. I feel like this template might be better for the HBO Lanterns than whatever “grounded” take they’re doing. Duggan definitely portrays Guy Gardner in a three dimensional, but this comic is fun too. So many gorillas! Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

Civil War Unmasked #1 (Marvel) – Christos Gage and Edgar Salazar add depth to Tony Stark’s decision to support the Superhuman Registration Act in Civil War Unmasked #1. The action centers around Stark trying to recruit the X-Men to the pro-reg side and then going on a time travel adventure with Bishop. It’s an utter fascist hellscape and legitimately on the table if the SHRA fails. The action is just okay even though Salazar draws some slick battle suits, but the moral and philosophical underpinnings make this one worth checking out. Also, it made me sympathize with Tony Stark more. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

DC x Sonic: The Metal Legion #1 (DC) – Ian Flynn and Adam Bryce Thomas run it back in the very fun DC x Sonic sequel The Metal Legion. I love how they build on the relationships from the previous crossover with Silver jawing with Guy Gardner, Shadow picking up detective skills from Batman and Robin, and Amy slaying with the Amazons to name a few. Also, Thomas’ anime influences make this comic even more adorable especially when Supergirl visits Sonic’s world. It looks like this is gonna be a classic good vs evil, Saturday morning cartoon throwdown with no less emphasis on multiversal mumbo jumbo. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

If Destruction Be Our Lot #1 (Image) – AI Abraham Lincoln is the character find of 2026 in Matthew Rosenberg, Mark Elijah Rosenberg, and Andy MacDonald’s If Destruction Be Our Lot #1. IDBOL #1 offers up a slightly understated and at times humorous vision of a world without humanity where if you screw up, you get eaten by a bigger robot. There’s lots of musings about one’s purpose in life, but also exciting chase scenes featuring visual flourishes from MacDonald and Francesco Segala. Let’s just driving a futuristic bus is very difficult for someone who last drew breath in 1865. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Exploit #2, Street Sharks Annual 2026 #1, Justice League Intergalactic Special #1

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Street Sharks Annual 2026

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

Exploit #2 (Mad Cave) – The stakes get even higher, and the boundaries between the real and online world blur even more in Exploit #2. Tim Leong, Laura Hudson, and Emilia Pinna center the issue’s story on the publication of Riot’s last article: an exposè of billionaire Saxon selling state secrets. The publication of the article and the fallout has big consequences for its author Kirby and her partner Lenox. This is a tension-building thriller territory complete with cathartic moments and an air of mystery where I literally don’t trust anyone except Kirby and Lenox’s grandma. With the recent events at the WHCD, this comic feels even timelier, and visually, Pinna nails the overwhelming nature of social media as well as the more traditional suspense elements. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

Street Sharks Annual 2026 #1 (IDW) – I really enjoyed Stephanie Williams and Ariel Medel‘s Street Sharks miniseries, and they return for more mutated shark DNA fun in this annual. The comic actually focuses on 2 of the Street Sharks’ allies, the traveling orca conservationist Moby Lick and their tech guy Bends, who goes on a first date in the backup story from Jordan Morris and Margeaux Pepoy. Both stories include a Street Sharks/Seaviates throwdown complete with sick wrestling moves and one-liners, but Williams adds a cool anti-corporate, pro-conservation angle as the Street Sharks and Moby Lick team up to protect a rare prehistoric creature called a Tanystropheus. It was cool learning about this extinct reptile and watching my favorite shark bros kick butt and throw back some burgers. The Bends story from Morris and Pepoy is pure romcom fun. Bends has great chemistry with his date, Dex, and it’s fun to see him in the field fighting the Seaviates instead of just being the guy in the chair. Plus any guy who uses Pleistocene era ingredients in his ramen is a keeper. Pepoy’s art style is cute too with an Archie meets Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic that flows well with Medel’s visuals. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy

Justice League Intergalactic Special #1 (DC) – First off, I applaud Jadzia Axelrod, Nicole Maines, Travis Moore, Tamra Bonvillain, and DC editorial for telling a story centered around trans characters that isn’t a coming out, but a badass, emotional space adventure. (It’s fucked up what happened to Gretchen Felker-Martin though.) Galaxy is an up and coming member of Justice League Unlimited while Dreamer runs with the more morally questionable Secret Six. However, they end up on an epic mission with Star Sapphire, Green Arrow for some reason, Adam Strange, and the adorable Argus to investigate some missing Green Lanterns and the manipulative Witch King, who is taking over a planet of clairvoyants. There is plenty of colorful action and creative uses of Galaxy and Dreamer’s abilities, but Axelrod and Maines use the setting to explore the rift in these women’s friendship as well as the darkness and trauma of their pasts that they deal with in completely opposite ways. Superpowers as a metaphor for big feelings gets me every time, and I live for the GL Corps being called “space pigs”. JL Intergalactic Special works as a double-fisted standalone adventure as well as a foretaste of the upcoming JL: Dream Girls event. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Barbarian Behind Bars #3 and Florida Hippo Cocaine Massacre #3

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Florida Hippo Cocaine Massacre #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

Barbarian Behind Bars #3 (Mad Cave) – Elliott Kalan and Andrea Mutti’s Barbarian Behind Bars is a dark and gritty fish out of water story. You can feel the protagonist’s powers shrink and blows rain down with fury through the visuals. However, it’s just another chosen one story and there aren’t any characters to latch onto. Just empty archetype and big, bad action. Overall:6.0 Verdict: Pass

Florida Hippo Cocaine Massacre #3 (Mad Cave) – Florida Hippo Cocaine Massacre (FHCM) #3 has the most hippos and most cocaine of any issue in this series so far courtesy of Fred Kennedy and James Clark. Clark and flatter Becca Kenzie go full disco inferno with the art as a team of government agents get closer and closer to stopping one of the biggest drug shipments in American history. The anti-capitalist and billionaire satire continues to be spot-on, but doesn’t detract from FHCM #3’s clever silliness. There’s a Bill Watterson homage here that made laugh out loud. It’s a shame this series concludes next issue, but will definitely revisiting for all the visual gags and funny dialogue I missed the first time around. Overall: 9.0 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Inglorious X-Force #4, Super Creepshow #2, Batwoman #2, Lobo #2

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Lobo #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

Inglorious X-Force #4 (Marvel) – Inglorious X-Force is a fun, kick-ass 90s throwback of a comic, especially with Philip Tan taking over art duties. He and writer Tim Seeley throw in a million concepts and lore references, but still have time for genuine bonding and emotions between the team of Cable, Boom Boom, Archangel, Akihiro, and Ms Marvel. I live for the Warren/Tabby/Akihiro love triangle. Inglorious X-Force #4 isn’t essential reading and is more Simonson/Liefeld New Mutants than Ellis/Immonen Nextwave, but finds its footing by the time the final page rolls around. This team is a good hang for sure, but lacking in the bad guy department until that cliffhanger. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

Super Creepshow #2 (Image) – Super Creepshow is another solid installment of this superhero/horror anthology featuring a story that will make you lose your lunch, and the return of the legendary Marv Wolfman to writing vampire hunters. Gerry Duggan, Scott Buoncristiano, and Mike Spicer lead off the comic with the disgusting “The Creepshow Two-In-One”. A standard issue Midwest superhero parody (I’m here for the Keg ; I wonder if he likes PBR.) turns into body horror comedy, and Buoncristiano pulls the limits of a “Mature” rating while Duggan pokes at fragile masculinity. This one definitely isn’t for the squeamish. Up next is Wolfman, Michele Rubini, and Miquel Muerto spinning a tale of violent vampires and fraught friendships in “Be Careful What You Wish For”. Wolfman hasn’t lost a step in this kind of story giving it personal (Pun intended) stakes and letting Rubini draw some savage, very unsexy bloodsuckers. This team could write one hell of a Blade series, but an action-packed story of kill or be killed is the next best thing. If you like your superheroes a little sick and twisted, then Super Creepshow is the comic for you. Overall 8.1 Verdict Buy

Batwoman #2 (DC) – The second issue of Batwoman is another case of strong visuals from Dani and Matt Hollingsworth, but below average writing from Greg Rucka. Seriously, this feels like reheated nachos from Elegy with a splash of tzatziki sauce. Rucka and Dani do attempt to raise the stakes with the appearance of Jake Kane, but his fate and Batwoman’s subsequent crash out feels rushed and unearned. It’s a reveal or a sake of a reveal not something honest and true to the character. Overall: 5.8 Verdict: Pass

Lobo #2 (DC) – The fun and a a network minimum amount of “frags” keep flying in Lobo #2 from Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, and Jean-Francois Beaulieu. This issue shows the day-to-day of Lobo as reality TV star, and it’s about as pretty as the truly terrible costume the network makes the Main Man wear. Lobo vs AI network suit is the battle royale we need in the age of layoffs, focus groups, and algorithms. Lobo #2 even pulls off a crossover/guest star moment with a delightful caricature of a famous, but not too famous DC hero. I can’t wait to see what comes out of Lobo’s mouth next or his latest fit. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: The Fury of Firestorm #1, Sirens: Love Hurts #3, Die Loaded #6

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Sirens: Love Hurts #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

The Fury of Firestorm #1 (DC) – I don’t really know a lot about Firestorm beyond his/their appearances in the CW superhero shows, but Jeff Lemire is a solid writer and DC is kind of on a roll right now so I gave Fury of Firestorm #1 a shot. And I’m glad I did! Lemire, Rafael De LaTorre, and Marcelo Maiolo tap into Firestorm’s almost godlike power set to show the horrific nature of what would happen if he ever broke bad. Structured like the Hebrew Bible’s Genesis 1, the opening scene shows Firestorm devastating a small town in Colorado, and the rest of the comic picks up the pieces and establishes the herculean task that Ronnie Raymond’s girlfriend Firehawk face in stopping him. Fury of Firestorm also has two distinct visual styles: an almost brush and ink chilling rural horror style and a nostalgic early Bronze Age superhero style with Maiolo’s palette carrying the tone shift. I’m here for this almost True Detective take on superheroes that isn’t ashamed of the bright and shiny part of superheroes, which is par for the course for Jeff Lemire, who’s written both Gideon Falls and JSA. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Sirens: Love Hurts #3 (DC/Black Label) – Tini Howard, Babs Tarr, and Miquel Muerto chronicle a key turning point in the Gotham City Sirens’ relationship as Dinah Lance truly becomes friends with Selina, Harley, and Poison Ivy. There’s still zodiac-themed femicide galore, but they seem like actual friends (Sometimes with benefits) and not just unlikely teammates. Howard and Tarr showcase this growth during a gorgeously messy New Year’s Eve/bachelorette party scene with some fierce fits and even bigger pitfalls. This comic really has it all: a dark mystery, fun friendship/romance vibes, and Babs Tarr continuing to fire on all cylinders visual. Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy

Die Loaded #6 (Image) – Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans wrap up Die Loaded’s first arc by assembling the full party and then blowing shit up. There’s a Tolkien riff, but it’s pure plot. Instead the emotional crux of the issue is a couple heart-to-hearts between Chuck and Angela’s kids and especially Sophie and Matt’s dead. Die Loaded loses the fantasy trappings and goes full exploration of family dynamics and grief in some of Gillen’s most vulnerable writing. It’s beautiful, but the series needs to continue. I love Die Loaded’s diverse and chaotic cast and look forward to seeing how they react as the “game” actually begins. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Eternals 50th Anniversary Special, Deadpool: April Pool’s Day #1, Touched by a Demon #3

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Touched By a Demon #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

Eternals 50th Anniversary Special (Marvel) – A group of creators pay homage to the Eternals’ past, present, and future in The Eternals 50th Anniversary Special with mostly positive results. The comic leads off with a Captain America and Ikaris tale from Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Phil Noto, and Dale Eaglesham where they have a hot dog together and go down memory lane. Noto handles the present day, slice of life visuals, and his adeptness for body language captures the camaraderie between the two men out of time/Jack Kirby creations. In the flashback story, Eaglesham channels the King in a mad science, Nazi punching, and eye beam blasting punch-up. And what ties each period together is the humor from Parker and Sheridan’s script with Ikaris even getting in some dry one-liners. (I love that Cap calls him Ike!) The next story from former Marvel editor Ralph Macchio and one of my favorite current comic book artist Michael Cho puts the spotlight on Ransak, a Deviant, who is conventionally attractive and shunned by his peers. Cho’s powerful line art and Lee Loughridge’s dazzling colors make the angst that Ransak feels inside manifest physically through his gladiator fights, including one against an abusive figure from his fast and even his sparring against Eternal, Thena. Macchio’s writing has an old school lilt, but the violence and emotions keep the story moving, and Ransak is very to empathize with. Unfortunately, the last story from Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump and artist Domenico Carbone is the weakest. The concept of a lost Eternal who can move items from anywhere in the universe is super imaginative, but it’s an idea that needs more room to breathe instead of a short story at the end of a special. Also, Stump peppering the script with captions, dialogues, and extended metaphors in the middle of high powered fight scenes hinders the flow of the story. Carbone’s art is serviceable, but some of the page transitions are awkward. This story definitely needed another editorial, but hey, Patrick Stump’s involvement in the Eternals 50th Anniversary Special got me to read the book. Two strong stories and one stinker with potential is a decent batting average for an anthology, and I’m not even that big of an Eternals fan beyond the Kieron Gillen/Esad Ribic run. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Deadpool: April Pool’s Day #1 (Marvel) – In Deadpool: April Pool’s Day, Gail Simone, CF Villa, Robert Gill, and Ig Guara have crafted a comic that is both a laugh a minute and a Valentine to the old forgotten genre comics Marvel used to publish. Star Comics stans rejoice! Simone also gives Deadpool a solid heroic arc through the different “genre verse” shenanigans, and the one-shot ending team-up is super wholesome. I enjoy when Wade is written this way. Finally, I wonder if there are any Starr the Slayer comics on Marvel Unlimited. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

Touched by a Demon #3 (Dark Horse) – Touched by a Demon #3 is easily the best issue of the Kristen Gudsnuk penned and drawn series. The case of the week is a riff on the old monkey’s paw, but the wishes aren’t cursed. However, it exposes their client as a toxic piece of shit and not the mild and meek office scapegoat Zuzu thought he was. The back half of the issue returns to theology, and Bifrons and Father Angelo continue to have searing chemistry while discussing Church Fathers and Antichrist. This comic is really a beautiful discussion of good, evil, and moral philosophy while being hilarious and having super cute art. It’s the full package and has one (literal) hell of a cliffhanger too. Overall: 9.5 Verdict: Buy

Mini Reviews: Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre #2, Godzilla Infinity Roar #2

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Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre #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

Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre #2 (Mad Cave) – Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre (FHCM) #2 is more unfettered Cold War era violence, satire, and hilarity from writer Fred Kennedy and artist James Edward Clark. We get Agent Nebraska’s origin story and way more hippos and a little less Communist dictators than the first issue, but it’s amazing to watch Kennedy and Clark take down Amerikkkan copaganda down a ton of pegs. The B-movie vibe of FHCM keeps it from coming across as preachy, and characters like Bea, the commonsensical amusement park employee, balance out the wackier figures. This comic has lot of ideas and plot elements that make me smile and guffaw (Peanuts as socialist propaganda), and I’m definitely planning on returning to this drug and hippo infested amusement park on a monthly basis. P.S. The Nancy Reagan stand-in, after school special framing narrative continues to be ingenious. Overall: 9.0 Verdict: Buy

Godzilla Infinity Roar #2 (Marvel) – Gerry Duggan, Ig Guara, and Javier Garron serve up bigger and more epic Kaiju brawls in Godzilla: Infinity Roar #2. The King of Monsters fights Ghidorah for the hell of it, but the real battle royale is Godzilla vs Galactus. Duggan handles the “logic” side of things while Garron and Guara serve up some memorable moments and reaction shots. I’m curious to see what gimmick the heroes cook up to get out of this one, or this battle might be endless. (Or until sales drop.) Overall: 7.4 Verdict: Read

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