Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.
These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.
Logan
Absolute Batman 2025 Annual (DC) – Absolute Batman 2025 Annual is a victory lap for one of DC’s best current titles giving three talented cartoonists a chance to play in this universe’s gritty sandbox and flesh out its protagonist even more. Up first, Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer have a story about Batman waging a violent war against a white supremacist gang that is inflicting harm on Latino immigrants in Gotham. The sheer cowardice of DC editorial publishing this story by a white cisgender heterosexual man, but cancelling a book with subject material by a transgender woman isn’t lost on me. However, this lead off story is a tour de force in ass kicking from DWJ that’s enhanced by an aggressive color palette from Spicer and memorable sound effects lettering from Clayton Cowles. One of Absolute Batman’s strengths are its brutal fight scenes, and Johnson outdoes himself with each poses, hold, and choreography set. But this story isn’t just a beat ’em up and has a real soul to it, especially in the contrast between Batman and a pacifist priest, who was an activist with Thomas Wayne when he was a young man. DWJ explores the paradoxical nature of seeking peace, but also punch your local Nazi. (Or crash a giant tractor into their HQ.) James Harren continues the recurring theme of fathers and sons in his story about Batman raiding a Party Animals hideout in an old church. There’s a brutal Gothic elegance to Harren’s approach to Batman and his enemies fusing Kelley Jones and Mike Mignola with an old-fashioned can of whoop ass as Batman dodges truly insane weapons and traps that would make Kevin McCallister smile. This second story also has a strong sense of location that enhances the action. Absolute Batman 2025 Annual wraps things up with a two page story from Meredith McClaren that is both edutainment about bats as well as a glimpse at how Batman affects ordinary citizens in the Absolute DC Universe’s Gotham. Her soft, manga-influenced style is also a nice palate cleanser after the aggression of the two main stories. Absolute Batman 2025 Annual is a master class in action cartooning as well as continuing to flesh out this blue collar, socially informed take on the Dark Knight. Overall: 9.2 Verdict: Buy
