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

Ultimate Universe: One Year In (Marvel) – The Ultimate Universe One Year In comic from Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf, and Mattia Iacono shows just how messed up Earth-6160 is. Since Ultimate Invasion, we’ve seen this universe from a heroic perspective, but One Year In focuses on the baddies and fleshes them out in various and sundry ways. Nick Fury is the narrator, and there’s a little Steranko, a pinch of Garth Ennis, and a mega dose of the United States military industrial complex. Basically, whatever he does, he’ll lose and never find redemption. Iacono uses a nostalgic color palette for flashbacks and a dark, faded out one for the present day until the big reveal. Finally, as a cherry on top, there’s a short Ultimate Wolverine story from Chris Condon and Alessandro Capucchio building on the main story that establishes the Rasputins as true players in Earth-6160. The bit of story reminded of those early Ed Brubaker/Steve Epting Captain America issues, but with more of a visceral, destructive flair. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy

Toxic Avenger #3 (Ahoy) – Toxic Avenger #3 is my least favorite issue of the series so far, but Matt Bors and Fred Harper still bring the irradiated, insectoid action and sharp political satire. This issue digs into Toxie’s pre-radioactive waste backstory revealing he was the victim of a cruel Internet prank, but he ends up owning that humiliation and attempting to rally Tromaville against their alien invaders. (Emphasis on attempt.) I see a lot of parallels between the cover-up attempts in Tromaville and real life things like the ban of TikTok as the free flow of information isn’t something the powers that be like. However, there’s more gross-out humor and less dancing in Toxic Avenger. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

Batman: Dark Patterns #1 (DC) – A young Batman going after a serial killer: it doesn’t get more primal than that in the fittingly named Batman: Dark Patterns #1 from Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman, and Triona Farrell. With a Se7en-meets-Impressionism aesthetic, this first issue sets the trail that Batman must follow as he discovers a corpse with needles jutting out of major arteries and vitals. Watters’ plot is engaging, but he sprinkles in character moments highlighting Batman’s inexperience and more outlaw character like ignoring the Bat-signal and trying to tend to his own wounds. Also, Sherman’s approach to layout mirrors the way Batman works through his case, and I love their and Farrell’s take on the Batmobile. Batman: Dark Patterns is the Bat-title for true crime junkies who may have had a Goth phase or really liked Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of the Caped Crusader. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Dazzler #4 (Marvel) – For better or worse, the Dazzler miniseries regressed to a modern version of the 80s Jem and the Holograms cartoon, and Dazzler #4 is an all-action/not great plot twist finale from Jason Loo, Rafael Loureiro, and Alan Robinson. As seen in NYX #6, Dazzler is playing her final show at the copyright friendly version of Madison Square Garden and deals with the guy who’s been sabotaging her tour all along. Relationships that maybe should have been seeded earlier in the series are dropped in this final issue, and what follows is a rocky read that’s the polar opposite of the glowing pop potential of Dazzler #1. It’s just another mutant fight comic, but with musical accompaniment. Overall: 5.8 Verdict: Pass