Category Archives: Reviews

When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee #1 sets up a religious thriller

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When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee #1

Father Barrera is a disgraced priest, haunted by his part in the tragic death of a child. As penance, he is exiled to the remote South American town of Puerto Cristina to apprentice under the enigmatic Father Stygian, controversial exorcist. Exorcists are normally trained in the Vatican, but Stygian has his own way of handling demons… methods that predate even the Church. And unfortunately for Barrera, Stygian’s last apprentice committed suicide not long ago. As Barrera seeks to unlock the mysteries of Stygian’s strange practices, he uncovers an island rife with evil and supernatural phenomena. What do these possessions mean, and how are they connected to a mysterious hospital patient, one who’s been in a coma for nearly half a century without aging a single day… When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee #1 lays out the groundwork for a mysterious religious thriller that has its feet firmly planted in some classics.

Written by Gus Moreno, When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee #1 is an interesting start that delivers just enough to want to come back for more. Moreno, along with artist Jakub Rebelka and letterer Becca Carey, do an excellent job of creating an atmosphere and mood that feels like it’s influence by religious horror classics like The Exorcist.

The story is familiar beats we’ve seen before. There’s the disgraced Priest who needs to find a new calling. There’s the mysterious exorcist that no one really knows what he does or how he does it. They don’t really trust each other. There’s teases of tragedy in both of their lives. It’s all been done before in different ways. But, it’s all done well here and brought together with such a mood that it feels ominous and creepy.

Rebelka’s art is gritty and “dirty” in a way with a slight style that’s off-kilter at times keeping readers unable to get settled with the design. It feels dreamlike, almost nightmarish in a way, befitting the concept of the series. The two main Priests feel worn and battle-hardened in their own ways. It all feels rough in a good way.

When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee #1 is a good start. It should be a nice build to whatever comes next and is a solid start that sows enough distrust between the characters and the reader to keep things interesting. Overall, a concept we’ve seen before in various ways but done more than well enough to take warrant a look.

Story: Gus Moreno Art: Jakub Rebelka Letterer: Becca Carey
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 is an interesting concept but rough execution

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Sam Wilson: Captain America #1

When Captain America attends a birthday party for Isaiah Bradley, he catches wind of a new tech venture that sounds too good to be true: magnificent floating platforms in the sky, where the disenfranchised can apply for land grants and establish their own farms. But after Sam discovers the organization’s dark underbelly, he’ll have to tangle with its head of security: Red Hulk! Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 raises some interesting topics and pokes at real world issues but the overall execution is a bumpy ride.

There’s a lot I like about Sam Wilson: Captain America #1. At its core is the discussion of broken promises, racism within the system, and generational trauma. Its themes are solid. But, the execution of the discussion either comes across like a hammer to the head or just generally misses the mark in its details.

Written by Greg Pak and Evan Narcisse, Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 kicks off with Sam and his cousin heading to a cookout and celebration for Isaiah Bradley. It’s a who’s who of African American superheroes. Even when they’re relaxing they apparently have to wear their uniforms. And this highlights the storytelling bumps. It’s clearly a celebration and acknowledgement of Black Marvel superheroes but it all feels surface level. Blade is included, though in his own series he’s been a hermit and admitted to removing himself due to his recent actions. It could have been an amazing opportunity to talk about the good and bad of the depictions of the characters and there’s a little of that but there’s a lack of depth. And, we needed jokes about Steve Rogers being at the picnic. His inclusion is completely unnecessary as presented.

From there, Sam is whisked away to a floating city by his cousin, a project that promises equity and to make up for the sins of the past, all run by the clearly corrupt corporation Eaglestar. This is where some of that hammer to the head comes in. There’s a literal mention of “40 acres and a mule” which has interesting historical context and has since become a bit of a rallying cry, but here it feels like its bluntly shoehorned in. Some subtlety with winks and nods of a reference might have gone much further. But, the idea of a floating city that is built on a sort of reparations is an interesting concept. It also is clearly too good to be true and that becomes obvious far too quickly. Narcisse and Pak could have made it more interesting by stretching things out a bit until the second issue teasing what’s to come.

The art by Eder Messias and Valentine De Landro is just as rough as the storytelling. The opening scene involves a vampire attack and Sam Wilson’s introduction just does not look good. Lense flair is used in odd spots and overall the character design is just not good. You recognize everyone but faces look distorted at times. There’s also odd choices in character designs on the floating city, especially with average citizens. Overalls and large hats apparently are musts for anyone depicted farming.

Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 is an interesting concept and there’s something there but this first issue is a rough one. There’s too much to groan about to overlook the flaws and appreciate what it’s trying to do. Too much bad distracts from the underlying good.

Story: Greg Pak, Evan Narcisse Art: Eder Messias, Valentine De Landro
Color: Fer Sifuentes-Sujo Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 6.75 Art: 7.0 Overall: 6.75 Recommendation: Pass

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

The Ultimates #8 Shows You Can’t Change the Past But You Can Change the Future

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“This goes on (and on)
And on (and on)
And on (and on)
And on (and on)
And on (and on)
And on (and on)
And on (and on)
And on” Nine Inch Nails- “Beside You in Time”

The Ultimates #8

The Ultimates have been figuring out their next move after the Hulk critically injuring Iron Lad. Picking up a strange signal in time, Doom sends the team out to the middle of nowhere to see if it could be from the Council and, even worse, the Maker returning. However, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the protectors of a lost future, have traveled to the past to recruit a lost member. America Chavez, the cosmic powerhouse of the Ultimates, must make a choice that will define the present and what might come after that. Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri reveal what happened to America Chavez and a potential future unaffected by the Maker in The Ultimates #8.

Expanding the cosmic history of Earth 6160, Camp further demonstrates the notion of a world unfairly forced to take a different path and ripped away from not only our clutches but from its descendants by introducing the Guardians of the Galaxy from the 61st century and America’s connection to them. Taking a page from the original Guardians, this team interaction presents the more significant impact of the Maker’s tinkering by having their future erased and perverted. Especially with the future achieving peace and moving to a utopia, the cruel grasp of the Maker makes this change even worse. The crisis of the Ultimate universe does not strictly bind itself to the present on Earth but beyond space and time throughout the galaxy. 

The theme of saving the future, even if it seems impossible, comes up again when it reveals how America lost her memories of her past life in the future. Stranded in the present, she chooses to stay and fight with the Ultimates since that life is no longer hers. She has found a new purpose and camaraderie with the Ultimates and aims to continue the goal of saving everything with them. Even if that was her future and her life with the Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel, she has made peace with her past and found a new purpose. The feeling that your life, especially a better one, is ripped away from you can cause many reactions, such as fear, despair, or hopelessness. Yet that emotion can be softened or more manageable when you are not alone. 

The idea of fate and destiny reappears when Star-Lord confronts Doom about how different he is from the Doom he knew. Doom constantly stands on the razor’s edge, believing he is the monster Maker created compared to who he wants to be. Are we doomed to follow the cycle that everyone expects to be in and be damned, or can we ever be free? While it would be easy for us to accept our lives and believe that we cannot do anything necessary to make a change, it would be better to take action instead of nothing. 

Frigeri’s art, paired with colorist Frederico Blee and letterer VC’s Travis Lanham, creates a visually engaging issue. I love the designs of the new Guardians of the Galaxy members and the sci-fi future we get glimpses of. They all make the world feel engaging and lived in. Also, their depiction of the future contrasts with the idealized world compared to their current timeline.

As I write this year, 2025 has arrived, and another year has passed. Often, you can feel overwhelmed by the future and how impossible it appears to change it, but once you stop fighting, that is when you lose. You cannot change the past but you can do the work to alter the future. 2024 has ended, and we have a whole new year to work towards.

Story: Deniz Camp: Art: Juan Frigeri
Color: Frederico Blee Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Story: 9.8 Art: 9.8 Overall: 9.8 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Justice League: The Atom Project #1 shows the grey in being a superhero

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Justice League: The Atom Project #1

In the wake of Absolute Power, the superpowers of planet Earth are in chaos…and it’s up to the newly reformed Justice League to restore order to that chaos. Enter Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi, together as the heroes called Atom. These brilliant minds get to work crafting the world’s first superpower reallocation and backup system, code named the Atom Project. But not everyone wants their powers back, and Captain Atom is hell-bent on preventing his missing Atomic abilities from ever being found. Justice League: The Atom Project #1 stands out as can’t miss reading and delivers a moral quandary in fixing the world.

One thing I enjoy about John Ridley‘s projects is that they often involve a lot of grey. While it’s usually clear what the moral issues are, or even who’s in the right and who’s in the wrong, Ridley makes sure to give motivation and details with every character that can make you understand their perspective. It often makes it possible to connect with even the worse and feel sorry for them, even when it’s clear they’re in the wrong. Ridley is joined by Ryan Parrot and in Justice League: The Atom Project #1 they deliver a lot of grey while trying to solve a meta problem in the DC Universe.

At the end of Absolute Power, and with the following death of Darkseid, things are a bit screwy in the DC Universe. Power didn’t return to the original “owners” and some heroes and villains have been changed up but also some average people have found themselves with new powers. Enter the Atoms who have been tasked with trying to find a solution. Justice League: The Atom Project #1 is broken up into some distinct parts that shows a noble cause but it feels like a noble cause that will be achieved no matter the consequences and hurt it causes.

The story focuses really on two aspects. There’s young boy who has shown metahuman powers and is scared and causing damage to no fault of his own. Then, there’s Captain Atom who has apparently lost his power and is the test subject that is being tortured to find a solution. Ridley and Parrot set up the child we would want to help and do what we can to achieve that but then present the dirty aspect of how that’s being achieved and the “superhero” who seems to be willing to inflict that pain to solve the problem. It’s a noble cause with a questionable path.

The art by Mike Perkins is solid. With color by Adriano Lucas and lettering by Wes Abbott, Justice League: The Atom Project #1 pops like a lot of the “All In” line. It’s bright and cheery in a way with bombastic action. But, the comic has an underlying darker tone in its subject too and that’s present in the art. Visuals present Ray Palmer in a god-like position at times delivering a slightly ominous tone visually to what should be a noble scientific endevour.

Justice League: The Atom Project #1 is the solid debut I was hoping for considering the quality of the creative team. It delivers a comic that is the bright action adventure that so much of DC’s “All In” has been but also delivers the moral debate that John Ridley excels at. It’s a comic that stands out in so many ways, entertaining while also making you think.

Story: Ryan Parrot, John Ridley Art: Mike Perkins
Color: Adriano Lucas Letterer: Wes Abbott
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Cable: Love and Chrome #1 has Cable facing his terminal condition and find out he’s not alone

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Cable: Love and Chrome #1

He’s been a soldier. An X-Man. A protector of the timestream. But even from his earliest days, the mutant known as Cable has been living on borrowed time, waging a lonely war against the ravages of the Techno-Organic Virus. Yet when a high-stakes mission in the future goes catastrophically awry, Cable is left stranded in the dystopian city of Salvation Bay – and will find himself caught in the midst of a civil war that will change his life forever. Cable: Love and Chrome #1 is a bit of a throwback in some ways and has the character facing his biggest struggle, the virus within.

I grew up in the 80s and in the 90s I was all in when it came to comics. Every event, chromium cover, debut, it was purchased. 40+ comics a week came home with me to devour. Looking back, most were exactly that, events and flash to get people to purchase them. The depth wasn’t quite there but the ideas were wild, packed with action, and utterly confusing. Cable was a prime example of that. A time traveler, his role in the Marvel Universe has changed over the decades and his path is at this point impossible to follow. That’s partially why I went into Cable: Love and Chrome #1 with the mental expectation that’ll be big explosions and cinematic moments, much like the 90s solo comics I remember. But, written by David Pepose, I should know to expect more and I was pleasantly surprised and please with what was within and the direction of the series.

Pepose mines the character in an interesting way focusing on the character’s struggle with the Techno-Organic Virus he was infected with as a child. The concept of the virus at this point is a bit convoluted as a whole but with Cable, it’s simplified. If he doesn’t use his mutant power, his willpower, the virus will overtake his body and kill him. He has a disability that makes every day a struggle. Cable is the extreme of what those with a disability go through every day, their internal fight and struggle to just function up against a world that “wages a war against them.” And, at times, Cable has slipped in that fight and it has become more difficult for him. It’s something I can relate to personally as my own disability gets the better of me and makes every day a fight of willpower. Pepose has opened up my eyes that Cable can be an allegory and not just over the top weapons that defy physics.

Pepose gives us over the top action too. The comic opens with a scene that is very much Mad Max with details that pop and ground it in a dystopian Marvel future. A new villain is introduced and overall, it’s just a lot of fun. It’s the opening sequence before the credits of the film roles where you just go along for the ride and don’t question the lead up. But, it’s the latter focus on the struggles of Cable and finding a possible community that struggles along with him that stands out and makes this comic more than just big guns, big explosions, and lots of pouches.

Part of the fun of Cable: Love and Chrome #1 is the art of Mike Henderson. As I said, the opening sequence is a prime example of that as there’s small details that ground it all and connects it to Marvel’s past. The designs of the characters are interesting and detailed telling a story and all of it is presented in a way that feels like it could be on the big screen with moments that hit. The color by Arif Prianto is solid giving it all a dirty palette but at the same time keeping the overall coming feeling bright and not depressing. Joe Sabino‘s lettering adds a bit of a punch in scenes as well.

Cable: Love and Chrome #1 has a feel like some of the Cable series I grew up with when the character got solo series with chromium embossed lenticular covers regularly. But, it’s far more getting at an aspect of the character that often takes a backseat and presenting it in a way so many can relate to. It’s a fresh take on the character, something Pepose excels at and a prime reason to check out this debut.

Story: David Pepose Art: Mike Henderson
Color: Arif Prianto Letterer: Joe Sabino
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.95 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Kaiju No. 8 Vol. 11 might be the best entry yet with a balance of character focus and action

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The five identified-class kaiju created by No. 9 gather in the eastern division’s area. Specifically designed to eliminate the Defense Force’s main players, these kaiju have drawn every division into a struggle. Meanwhile, Kafka makes a promise to Kikoru before the battle. What could it be?!

Story: Naoya Matsumoto
Art: Naoya Matsumoto
Background Art: Osamu Koiwai
Finishing Work: Jiro Sakura
Weapon Design: Mantohihi Binta
Translation: David Evelyn
Touch-up Art and Lettering: Brandon Bovia
Design: Jimmy Presler
Editor: Karla Clark

Get your copy in comic shops! 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.

Bookshop
Amazon
Kindle

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Through the Boughs: A Yuletide Offering has its moments but like many anthologies, is uneven

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Venture deep through endless drifts of snow, through evergreen treelines tinkling with hoarfrost and rime. And then? Venture many miles more. And then maybe, possibly, improbably you will see lights. And dancing. And mirth. You may be asked to join. Or maybe who (or what!) you’ve found wants something far more mischievous than to sing and revel.

Story: Patrick McHale, J.K., Sweeney Boo, James Tynion IV, Molly Mendoza, Ryan Andrews, K. Wroten, Grim Wilkins
Art: Jim Campbell, Sweeney Boo, Jensine Eckwall, Molly Mendoza, Ryan Andrews, K. Wroten, Grim Wilkins
Letterer: Jim Campbell, Aditya Bidikar, Clayton Cowles, Ryan Andrews, K. Wroten, Grim Wilkins

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.

TFAW

This post 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 this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Ultimate X-Men #10 has some interesting moments but it feels like it’s dragging far too much

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Ultimate X-Men #10 feels like a jumble of concepts that kind of blend together at points, aren’t fleshed out, and generally drag things along.

Story/Art Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson
Letterer: Travis Lanham

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.

Kindle

This post 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 this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Death Comes for the Toymaker gets you into the holiday spirit… sort of

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Death comes for us all. But for Gil the Toymaker, the visit is an eternal tragedy!

Every year the holiday gift giver visits children all over the world on a special night, but Gil’s immortality comes at a cost. Forced to do the work of Death, carrying a list of ready-to-harvest souls alongside his naughty and nice lists, Gil gives toys AND takes souls all in one night! But as the Toymaker reflects on the relationship he’s had with Death for several millennia, an associate reveals a scheme that may just put an end to Death’s contract (and, perhaps, Death himself!)

Story: Dakota Brown
Art: Ryan Cody
Letterer: Micah Myers

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.

Bookshop
Amazon

Magma Comix provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post 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 this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

The Ultimates #7 has the team reflecting on recent events and marks one year since the attack on NYC

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Perfect jumping-on point for the uninitiated! The aftermath of the explosive last issue – including the loss of a major member! Join the Ultimates in their secret HQ as they regroup and launch their bold new plan to change the world!

Story: Deniz Camp
Art: Juan Frigeri
Color: Frederico Blee
Letterer: Travis Lanham

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.

Zeus Comics
Kindle

This post 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 this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

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