Category Archives: Reviews

Review: Uncanny Avengers #22

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5786953-22The Unity Squad has been playing a cat-and-mouse game with Red Skull – but it all ends here! Not everyone will finish on their feet…The final fate of Charles Xavier’s telepathic brain is revealed! Rogue does some soul searching in an unlikely place, and the craziest final splash page ever.

The chase has finally ended in Uncanny Avengers #22 and the Unity Squad has captured the Red Skull. The last few issues have been crazy fun, with the Skull using the powers of Charles Xavier to manipulate the Avengers, with the exception of Deadpool, who had done everything he could to free his teammates and took one hell of a beating from Rogue. But now Rogue and her teammates can finally have Xavier’s powers removed from Skull and put Charles Xavier to rest.

Gerry Dugan presents a very well written ending to a moment that has been long coming. You really feel the relief of the capture of Red Skull, especially through Rogue, who for so long has wanted to stop him from perverting Xavier’s dream and using his powers to wreak havoc. This feels like an ending issue, with the team finally able to take a moment and reflect back on everything and look towards their future. But if the last few pages, which had my eyes widen and ask “what the !*#%?” are any indication, this team is not planning on calling it quits anytime soon.  And the reveal at the end! I know I’m excited to see what’s going to happen next.

Along with the writing in this issue, I have to say I loved Pepe Larraz‘ art and David Curiel‘s colors. From the depiction of the characters to the action scenes to the fantastic splash pages, the art and writing really joined hand in hand for this issue and this is a team that really works well together. Larraz gives us a beautiful scene with Rogue; no words, just a beautifully drawn and colored moment that I paused on for a few moments to take it all in, to feel what Rogue was feeling in that moment. It was really great.

Overall, I really enjoyed this issue. This title as a whole has been very up and down with me. But I really feel it found it’s groove when it was dealing more with the Red Skull, instead of him just being pushed off for other smaller stories. The ending of this major story arc really brought me around to this title and reminded me why I hadn’t given up on it. And again, that ending! I can’t wait to see what that reveal brings to the team and where these characters go next.

Story: Gerry Dugan Art: Pepe Larraz Colours: David Curiel
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Read

Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE issue for review

Review: Faith #10

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FAITH_010_COVER-B_ST-ONGEThe villains are coming! Faith’s most fearsome foes and ruthless rogues—including Chris Chriswell, Murder Mouse, Dark Star, and Sydney—have finally united, creating an unstoppable coalition of evil with one goal in mind: Destroy Faith Herbert! Together, they are The Faithless…and if Los Angeles’ greatest hero doesn’t think fast and fly even faster, they’re going to ground the sky-soaring psiot for good!

I’ve got to say that when a talking cat actually uses the line “the mouse told me this was a serious operation,” I not only laughed out loud at the absurdity of the sequence, but I realized this was also writer Jody Houser‘s way of letting you know exactly what you were in for with this issue; a level of absurdity previously unseen in this series.

I read Faith #10  assuming that Houser had her tongue placed firmly within her cheek as I turned the pages because the cheese level was far higher than normal – and while at times it worked very well, at others, it felt like a pancake from the ceiling. Although there are some great moments that fall on both sides of the fence at the same time, such as when the Faithless decide on a name for themselves, there are also some standout moments within the comic – the ever brilliant Marguerite Sauvage delivers once again in this issue, while Joe Eisma‘s art seems almost too similar in style to stand out from the fantasy sequences in some places which is not, honestly a bad thing if you’re a fan of the art, but I prefer a distinction between the fantasy and real moments as we’ve had in previous issues.

Unfortunately, this issue just didn’t click for me this month, but seeing as how this is the first time that Jody Houser has faltered in fourteen issues with Faith across both the miniseries and the ongoing, I’ll be back with bells on for the next issue.

Story: Jody Houser Art: Joe Eisma Fantasy Sequences: Marguerite Sauvage
Story: 7.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Graphic Policy was provided with a FREE copy for review

Review: Champions #7

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untitledTHROWDOWN WITH THE FREELANCERS!

Well, we finally get the showdown that was promised in issue #6, but the Champions aren’t ready for what they’re about to find out and I think it hurts them a lot more than any punch could.

The Champions have to deal with the events from the last issue, and Mark Waid brings us a story that really deals a bad blow to the team and really shakes them up. This is especially felt through Ms. Marvel and Waid does a fantastic job of showing the gravity of the situation through this character. From the get go of this title, she was easily the strongest, most positive voice of the team. Her optimism and determination has definitely been a huge influence to her teammates, and it’s really hard to watch as all of that slowly starts to crumble after the events of this issue. I also enjoyed how this issue showed her naivety after discovering what the Freelancers had been a party to. It’s great to want to go out there and give people something positive to believe in, but this issue shows how easily it can be distorted to work against you. And through Ms. Marvel we see how devastating this can be; how the fear of losing it can really take a hold of you, and I think these events are going to stay with her for some time.

And as I have mentioned in my other reviews for Champions, I absolutely love Humberto Ramos‘ art on this book.  His style really gives this book the fresh, youthful feel it deserves for these characters, and his action scenes are big and bold, which is also due to the great coloring provided by Edgar Delgado. I will never get tired of seeing their work and I really hope they never leave this title. I really think this title would lose something important if the art was to change.

Overall, I really enjoyed this issue and if it wasn’t too obvious, I am a huge fan of this team. This entry really dealt them a blow, and I am very interested in seeing how or if they can overcome and rise above it. The writing is solid, the art is fantastic and this book continues to deal with subjects and issues that are relevant and have an impact on us today. If you aren’t reading this book, what the heck are you waiting for? And if you are, I really hope you are enjoying it as much as I am.

Story: Mark Waid Art: Humberto Ramos Colors: Edgar Delgado
Story: 8.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE issue for review

TV Review: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S4E16 What If…

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Daisy and Simmons are the only hope is to save everyone in a world controlled by Hydra.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is back after a brief break with a new episode that dives deep into the world Ada has created that has Hydra taking over into the role of SHIELD.

This is an alternate world episode and storyline that we’ve seen done before so many times and like so many of those previous times, this is really good and entertaining.

By twisting the characters we’ve known it feels like the show has really looked into this world and has gotten ahold of who they are and what makes them tick. The result is a mirror world and one that’s solid storytelling.

But, what really impresses me about this episode is the small details that it throws out there. There’s an entire debate about Hydra and their roots in Nazism as if a wink and nod to the real world debate going on about changes of Hydra presented by Marvel comics (yes they’re Nazis).

Jemma is the center of the episode and everything about her and this episode are the small details. From the dark circles under her eyes to the bruises to the fact her voice is messed up for much of the episode, it all comes together. Then add in the choices with the visuals as a whole with a slight filter to the color to let us know this isn’t the real world. It all adds up to the best episode of the season and one of the best of the series. This episode shows off what could have been with such a focus on the small details and how it rights it gets everything.

A lot of the episode is the fun of finding out what’s different and how it all shakes up so I don’t want to spoil too much of that, but the episode is solid with a great emphasis on what makes each character interesting. There’s intrigue, action, and some surprise twists.

As the title says, what if? And that’s the worst thing about the episode, is that it makes me ask “what if” the entire series had this much attention given to it. It shows off the flaws of what’s come before but at least we’re getting this and hopefully, what’s to come continues whatever new energy and vision the series seems to have.

Overall Score: 9.25

Review: Penny Dreadful: The Awakening #1

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Penny Dreadful “The Awakening” picks up where the television series left off. We follow both Ethan and Mr. Lyle in a world without their beloved Vanessa. An ancient Egyptian legend dooming all of mankind arrives in London, that poor old Lyle has attempted to prevent numerous times, but nevertheless, the curse is unveiled.

Writer Chris King borrows details from the existing storyline from the show, as well as creates his own, developing a fascinating new plot line that puts all of our favorite characters lives at risk. We meet again, familiar faces such as Dr. Seward. Through King, Seward’s subtle and dry humor is brought to light, leaving the scenes a moment to take a breath from the drama. I personally wouldn’t mind a touch more of this, but overall I didn’t feel as though there was anything else to pick at in terms of storytelling.

Artist Jesús Hervás brings to Penny Dreadful everything I would hope for from a horror-based comic. It’s dark, menacing, delightfully detailed and unique. I don’t often feel the need to shout out the colorist, but even Jason Wordie seemed to create an entirely new palette with the color alone, and I imagine that’s not easy to do. The scenes in Egypt felt antiquated, like Wordie found the perfect shade of a million-year-old parchment, and saved it just for this. There are frames where it seems as though he has played with water colors, others where he has made use of markers, which is something I personally haven’t seen before―and it worked. It’s difficult to say who of the two gets credit for what, but at the end of the day, they seem to make a fine pair.

Fans will be grateful to live in this well-crafted world again thanks to these three artists and their unique hand in this piece. It’s set to be a four-part miniseries but I’m hoping that this won’t be the end of this trio.

Story: Chris King Art: Jesús Hervás Color: Jason Wordie
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Titan Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: X-Men Gold #1

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fXavier’s dream comes full circle as Kitty Pryde takes the reins and assembles a squad of the most iconic X-Men to fight at her side. Storm. Colossus. Nightcrawler. Old Man Logan. Prestige. They are X-Men Gold! And they’re on a mission to be Earth’s finest heroes, even when that means defending those who hate and fear them.

It’s a new beginning for the classic heroes as Marvel returns to the 90s  with two teams one Gold and one Blue. The Gold team is more of the classic team now lead by Kitty Pryde and after reading the first issue, this feels so much like the fun classic X-Men from decades ago. In a return to the 90s labeling, writer Marc Guggenheim captures some of that more positive time (I remember the 90s X-Men as big colorful adventure).

While X-Men Prime helped catch up new readers, X-Men Gold #1 does a solid job of reintroducing the team with comments here and there to remind readers as to what’s going on and for those who are all caught up there’s tons a small details and humor to entertain long-time readers. And it’s those small details that got me really intrigued.

The issue kicks off with the usual hate towards mutants and that again is brought up so the social consciousness of the series is front and center. The comic starts with it! The mutant population is now hated for being mutants and starting a war with the Inhumans and Guggenheim lays that out. That hate is a fundamental of the line of comics and to see it so squarely presented early on is a reminder of this and also shows a commitment for that to still be a focus of the X-Men. The other small details of the comic is references to things we’ve been missing. Kitty and Logan sitting outside watching the X-Men play baseball for instance. A simple scene that harkens back and Kitty and Logan in their discussion feels like an acknowledgment that the X-Men have strayed to the reader.

The one negative I have is though there’s some action, the first issue feels as much as a prelude as X-Men Prime dragging on a little bit too much in getting to that ending, which again is a solid wink to old-school X-Men comics. But that action is cool and feels original as the X-Men takes on Terrax, a character I don’t think I’ve ever read them fight, so bonus on the originality, especially how Kitty saves the day. There’s something “woah” about it all.

Ardian Syaf‘s art is fantastic reinforcing the brighter direction of everything. The characters look great and there’s some cool layouts and what action exists looks great. The opening fight with Terrax too looks amazing with some panels that hand me linger. Syaf nails Guggenheim’s action, it’s a fantastic combo of writer and artist. Syaf is helped by Jay Leisten on inks and Frank Martin on colors. Both help make the art pop off of the page.

This first issue feels like a return to the classic X-Men I grew up reading decades ago with a mix of action and humor but most importantly reminding us that these though these characters have extraordinary powers, they’re very much human. Welcome back my X-Men!

Story: Marc Guggenheim Art: Ardian Syaf Ink: Jay Leisten Color: Frank Martin
Story: 8.45 Art: 8.65 Overall: 8.50 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Aldous Spark: Meddler In History And Other Unsavory Affairs #1

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cover1_optionGThe year is 1899. A secret war is being fought for the control of the 20th Century. At the center of the conflict is Aldous Spark, covert operative of the Black Moth Society, an underground collective of anarchists, saboteurs, and other deadly eccentrics. Together with his apprentice, Isaiah, Aldous wages a silent battle against the forces of power in an attempt to reshape the industrial age for the good of all.

When an email arrives in my inbox entitled Anarchist Magician, then it’ll get my attention.  Published by Grenade Fight, Inc, Aldous Spark: Meddler In History And Other Unsavory Affairs #1 has just under fifty pages of story content in it’s first volume (judging by the pdf version I read, at any rate), which makes this debut issue a very ambitious project especially since  the physical copies come in an oversized hardcover printing.

It’s a good thing, then, that Aldous Spark is a bloody good read.

The advantage to the extended format is that you get a really good sampling of what this series will offer, and the first issue is also a very complete story in and of itself that could very easily serve as a standalone story were it not for the very natural build toward the next chapter in the story.

Once I finished the book, I asked myself how best to describe the comic is to step slightly outside the world of comics in that it feels reminiscent of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes movie with a liberal dash of Dan Brown’s The Davinci Code all mixed up in a cauldron and finished with a striking art job.

Aldous Spark is a well written and wonderfully illustrated comic graphic novel that takes you on a breakneck story across the rooftops and through the back alleys of England and France at the turn of the last century. It’s a time period that’s always interested me, although I don’t tend to enjoy many comics set during this time – thankfully, this graphic novel is more than able to be the exception to that. This is a fantastic read from cover to cover, bonus features included, and I enjoyed every page. Although not strictly a comedy, there are moments that had me laughing during the frenetic pace of the action sequences.

If you’re interested in purchasing the book then you can head over to the Facebook page an drop the team a message – the physical books should be arriving sometime in April and will set you back $20. If digital is more your thing then the book will be $3.99 on comiXology, and should be released the first Thursday in May. If $20 for a print copy is to steep for you, then there’s no reason for you not to look into the digital version. $4 is an incredibly good price the book, and  honestly, I highly recommend you look into Aldous Spark: Meddler In History And Other Unsavory Affairs #1.  The result of a successful Kickstarter campaign, this graphic novel is exactly the kind of thing you should be backing on that platform.

Story: Andrew Maxwell and Peter Mirani
Art: Maurico Alvarez Colours: Derek Dow Letters: Bernardo Brice
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Graphic Policy was provided with a FREE copy for review

Review: Doctor Who: Ghost Stories #1

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Doctor Who: Ghost Stories, a new four-part miniseries, follows the Twelfth Doctor, Grant and Lucy, from the television episode The Return of Doctor Mysterio (Season 10). If you are anything like me, you saw the episode based off of this comic spin-off, and became captivated by the charming love story between Grant and Lucy. I wanted to live more in this world and never thought I’d be granted it―until now.

We jump eight years in time to see Lucy, Grant and a grown baby Jennifer, now living as a family. It’s announced on the television an armed robbery is taking place, Grant having a second life as a local superhero, The Ghost, rushes off to save the day and the action begins.

Writer George Mann incorporates the Doctor’s humor as seen on television, which is much appreciated. The pacing read fast though and it would have been nice if it were possible to slow it down. The storyline did leave readers with a cliffhanger in this first issue, and I’m curious to see where it goes, so I will be reading on in the future.

Artist Ivan Rodriguez, who also worked on Doctor Who: Supremacy of the Cybermen, creates a Who-World one might expect for a superhero-based story line, reminiscent of Superman (in my humble opinion). Rodriguez has moments where he captures Capaldi’s character traits nicely and others where you can see the artist’s own unique hand added in. It’s not particularly my favorite but it’s by no means the worst.

Overall, the storyline didn’t take me where I thought it might go, but that’s what’s great about Doctor Who; Does anyone ever really know what to expect from a Timelord? Rhetorical question. Of course not. If you’re a Doctor Who fan, it’s a must-buy. If you’re not, it might not hold the same nostalgic significance it holds for others.

Story: George Mann Art: ist Ivan Rodriguez Color: Dijjo Lima
Story: 8.0 Art: 6.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Buy

Titan Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

The Walking Dead S7E16 The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

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walking-dead-5 photoThe stakes continue to grow higher as paths cross; the group enacts an intricate plan.

The Walking Dead‘ wraps up its seventh season with a bloody extended episode that teases us a quick war that may end before it even begins.

Last episode saw Dwight defecting letting Rick know Negan is on his way and allowing for Rick to plan with the Scavengers to take on Negan and his Saviors. Things don’t go easy with double crosses and a shootout battle that feels like the cathartic release we’ve been craving this entire season.

But, the episode is an interesting one as it really focuses on Sasha in her sendoff episode. We know her character has to take off in some way due to the actress being cast in the new Star Trek series, but how will it go down?

That’s where the episode is interesting in that it teases you the entire time taking us through a construct of Sasha as she talks to Abraham in a dream-like sequence where we don’t know if this is her imagining things and hallucinating or if she’s dead and that’s juxtaposed with moments between Sasha and Maggie. It bounces between the two and it’s touching in numerous ways as an almost angel and devil on the shoulder debate.

I’m not going to spoil the crosses or the battle, but it’s absolutely worth it and the best moment of the season. This is the first volley in the massive war to come and there’s lots of emotional moments and small nods throughout the battle to keep you wondering who is on what side. Is Dwight turning into a face? Is it a put on? There’s lots of clues. And who turns and when is most interesting.

What I think is solid in this episode is that I felt like I was on the edge. I didn’t know where it was going to go and who was going to get killed and who would live. That’s impressive. I’ve read the entire series and still this episode had me guessing. Would it vear from the comics?

What’s great too is the Kingdom and Hilltop each have their moments as they still debate their actions and decide if they’ll rally or not. It’s quick but also a build up to the release.

But, it’s the end that stands out as Maggie and Rick recount what they’ve been through. It’s not just Rick, Maggie takes center stage as in the comics the series becomes her story as much as his. She steps forward as the leader in ways and we see that here. It’s solid and touching and as the episode wraps up it’s emotional. We’re taken through where they’ve been and get glimpses as to where it’s going as we’re reminded for all of the bang, the show is still about the people.

Overall rating: 8.65

Mini Reviews For The Week Ending 4/1

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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.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews.

Alex

old man logan 20

Man Thing #2 (Marvel) The first issue was pretty decent, and definitely made me want to continue with the series, but with this issue R.L. Stine brings a brilliant sense of old school comics storytelling with a more contemporary look at the character of Man Thing. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Old Man Logan #20 (Marvel) The second part of a story in which Logan wants to return to his past, our future, to retrieve the Hulk’s grandson from the original Old Man Logan arc in order to right a potential wrong. It’s a cool story that’s well executed, but ultimately serves to just set up the next arc and nothing more. And we’ll get a recap at the beginning of #21 anyway… this is a situation where the comic is solid but not required reading. Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Pass

X-Men Prime #1 (Marvel) I haven’t read an X-Men comic regularly in quite some time, although I do tend to dabble here and there – case in point this issue that seems to set the stage for the future of the X-Men (or at least until the next yearly event). X-Men Prime #1 isn’t a bad issue, but there’s nothing here that you won’t be able to pick up from a recap page in X-Men Gold or Blue #1 , which means you can completely bypass this issue. Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Pass

Joe

X-Men Prime #1 (Marvel)  I am (was) one of the biggest X-fans there ever was. I came from the Claremont 80s where I was a child and along with Spidey and Batman, they pulled me into the wonderful medium of comics. I didn’t even hate the early 90s (mostly since I was a teenager) with the bulging steroid version of Cable. Whedon had a good run, as did Morrison, and so on. I like Old Man Logan by Lemire, and didn’t entirely hate what Bendis did (at least for a little while) with his run. What I am getting at, is that I was excited for this new relaunch. But if X-Men Prime is any indication, I am not. I still have hope that they will put the right creators on these books, or things can improve with the first issues, but in my opinion our muties are still not getting what they deserve. Nothing seemed creative, new, or even nostalgic in a good way. Overall: 5 Recommendation: Pass

Inhumans Prime #1 (Marvel) Similar to X-Men Prime, I left this book disappointed. Sure, this isn’t Royals #1, but it isn’t a free book, and it is serving as a status quo for what to expect for the Inhumans going forward. I enjoyed most of Soule’s run on Inhuman and Inhumans, and I like Al Ewing as a writer. That being sad, I felt like this book didn’t offer much, aside from letting us know where Royals will begin, and why they would be off of earth. We get an explanation to that, and some cleaning the slate on Maximus and where the Inhumans run left us. There is an interesting character that shows up at the end, so time will tell in Royals what that means. Overall: 6 Recommendation: Read

SSBS_Cv1_open_order_varSuicide Squad / Banana Splits Annual #1 (DC) – This comic does have some quirky fun stuff, and with it having Suicide Squad characters with the Banana Splits, it isn’t trying to hide how silly it is. It worked for a little bit for me, but with it running as long as it did (like all of this weeks annuals), I lost interest toward the end. Kudos for having a preview for the new Mark Russell Snagglepuss in the back! Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

Booster Gold / Flintstones Annual #1 (DC)  Leave it to Mark Russell to hit this one out of the park. The Flintstones has been a great comic representing some of the themes we are seeing in the real world, but delivered with our favorite Bedrock family handling them. Booster is his usual goofy self, and the story makes sense within it’s own ridiculousness. The Jetsons backup was actually quite interesting as well. Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Adam Strange / Future Quest Annual #1 (DC)  Strange forgets who he is, as he relies on the crew from Future Quest to come to his aid. There’s mammoths and other huge beasts in a jungle and Andreyko even touches on Hawkman and Strange’s miniseries he wrote, and also gives a nod to someone who looked like Hawkman from Hanna-Barbera. Also, The Batman/Top Cat has a funny twist that was pretty good. Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Read

Green Lantern / Space Ghost Annual #1 (DC)  Tynion writes a pretty fun adventure story where Hal meets Space Ghost, and after a mixup and some fun fights using both of their powers, we see them work together. The art is “out of this world” in this issue as Sebella draws a classic photorealistic style within a sci-fi tale. The Ruff N Reddy backup is something I did not expect, and it went for something different with Chaykin writing, but it is one of the oddest and darkest things I’ve read in these annuals. Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

Logan

DeadlyClass_27-1Deadly Class #27 (Image) Rick Remender and Wes Craig take a break from the new crop of assassins to tell the backstory of Saya, the violent, mysterious scion of an old Yakuza family in Japan. Remender’s script reads like a standalone gangster movie with conflict over family and honor punctuated by outbursts of violence. The jealousy between Saya and her brother Kenji is the central crux of the issue as she is willing to do the dirty work of a “honorable” criminal while he just wants the outward trappings of one. Jordan Boyd’s colors are standout as usual going from decadent and day-glo when the yakuza members are running up a tab at the local drinking to stern during the issue’s climactic seppuku sequence. Overall: 9.3 Recommendation: Buy

Patrick

The Old Guard #2 (Image)  Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez continue their tale of immortal mercenaries. Rucka’s story is a bit by the numbers – by which I mean it’s just surface action without any larger resonance as to what it means to be an immortal warrior in a world that is eternally at war with itself. But Fernandez’ chiaroscuro art is just gorgeous (and is it just me, or does anyone else think of Bill Willingham’s D&D ads in the early 80’s? Like, in a really good way?). Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Lazarus_26-1Lazarus #26 (Image)**  This one is brutal. Aren’t they all, though. Rereading it for the review, I was surprised at how short the battle with the Vassalovka monster-Lazarus feels, considering it lasts 11 pages. That means two things: 1) the setup for it is really well-done. Not every writer can make a silent panel say so much and really make you take the time to try to understand what’s not being said. 2) The battle itself, like a lot of fights, takes place in a kind of fast-motion bubble of total clarity, extremely high stakes, and sudden changes of fortune. The twist that happens in this fight shocked me both in terms of plot and character and reminded me of what absolute and total bastards the heads of the families really are. Also: you must buy this issue just for Greg Rucka’s essay on what happens when the fictional near-future dystopia you’ve built suddenly and horrifying turns this close to real. And what to do about it. Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Cinema Purgatorio #9 (Avatar)  In “Revelations of the Bat,” Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neill take us into the life and death of Thelma Todd by way of a “lost” Roland West film, continuing to remind us that Hollywood was built on a pile of beautiful corpses. On to Ennis & Caceres’ “Code Pru,” in which we find out how NYC actually disposes of their zombies. Thanks for that full-page image, guys, I really needed to not sleep for a while. Gillen & Lopez’ “Modded” continues to grow on me, especially with the addition of “Lady Glasshat Dildobeast.” Overall: Purgatorio, 8.5, Code Pru 9, Modded 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Ryan C

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #8 (DC)**  Remember when this series was only supposed to run eight issues? I guess Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello, Andy Kubert, and Klaus Janson decided it was more important to give us one extra installment of pure set-up instead, and DC editorial and accounting both salivated, I’m sure, at the thought of everyone shelling out another six bucks, What we have here, then, is just a bunch of treading water in “anticipation” of the big, climactic final battle, and it’s about as involving as you’d expect. Overall: 1. Recommendation: Pass. Like an idiot, I purchased my copy.

ASC_ANIMOSITY_06_DIGITAL_EXCLUSIVE
The Old Guard #2 (Image)** The first issue of Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez’s tale of immortal mercenary soldiers was only marginally involving in my own humble opinion, but a lot more detail is fleshed out this time around while expertly avoiding page after page of pure “info-dump.” So hats off to Rucka for that, and hats off to Fernandez for another serving of his finely-flowing, expressionistic art. Really good stuff that has hooked me on this series without question. Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Animosity #6 (Aftershock)**  Marguerite Bennett and Rafael De La Torre don’t miss a beat as they kick off the second major story arc of this series, and while the resolution to last issue’s cliffhanger is both ill-explained and a cop-out at the same time, they quickly recover and it’s nice to see some of the mystery surrounding Sandor growing as the long-form “survival quest” plotline gains steam at the same time. The art is getting more confident and distinctive with each passing issue, as well. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Unfollow #17 (DC/Vertigo)** With one issue left to go, Rob Williams and Mike Dowling are careening toward what looks to be a memorable, if forced, conclusion, and while lots of bodies fall here as you’d expect, the action is well-balanced with not-overly-wordy explanations of Larry Ferrell’s “master plan.” Unfortunately, I can’t praise Dowling as much as I can Williams this time, as the looser, more “scratchy” art style he adopted a couple months back doesn’t fit the material nearly as well as his cleaner, sleeker earlier work. It makes sense thematically, as it accentuates the rapid pace of events, but it still looks sloppy and rushed, even if by design. Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

Shean

X_MEN_PRIME__1X-Men Prime#1 (Marvel) We catch up with a Kitty Pryde in New York where she has returned to one of her passions before becoming a superhero, a dancer. That is until Storm asks her to return to the Academy, to take her place as headmaster. We also catch up with Lady Deathstryke as she gets forcibly recruited into a shadowy organization. By issue’s end, Kitty realizes she has gotten into more than she bargained for. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Read

Green Lantern/Space Ghost Special (DC) Hal Jordan has always been DC’s resident Alsace cowboy, defending the universe against evildoers across the galaxy.Space Ghost has been a buffoonish version of a superhero, a costumed Johnny Carson if you will. When these two meet, it a series of unfortunate events where they first baffle but collaborate to save a planet. The best thing of about this special is Olivetti’s art, which is spectacular, she is very much like the second coming of Alex Ross. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy definitely for the ART!!!

Titans Annual #1 (DC) There’s something to those “trapped in an elevator “episodes that many of our favorite shows tend to do, especially The Walking Dead, who do three to four of those episodes every season.The Titans do that very thing in this annual, as they get trapped in a space resembling the Danger Room in Xmen with the Justice League. Through out this issue, many of the members of the Justice League explore their relationships with their protégés in the Titans. Altogether, an interesting character study that shows that these heroes are also human. Overall: 8 Recommendation: 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 (**).

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