Mini Reviews: Two Debuts. Faith Returns and Ain’t No Grave!
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
Faith Returns #1 (Valiant/Alien Books) – I haven’t read Valiant in a minute, but this was a fun comic from Jody Houser and Aleta Vidal as fangirl/pop culture journalist (In this economy!)/force field wielding superhero Faith must clear her name after her worst enemies framed her as a villain in a previous series. Faith Returns #1 brings in Archer and Armstrong as guest stars, and there’s a jaunty, road movie feel to the comic as they try to track down the baddies and end up in Sin City. Vidal brings the bright colors and action, and there’s some humor in the comic too like a magic-themed villain performing at a crusty motel instead of the Vegas Strip or how no one uses Faith’s actual superhero name, Zephyr. Houser does a good job of showing how Faith’s superhero/science fiction fandom help her process the world around her even though the sci-fi cursing can be a little much at times. Just say “fuck”, girl. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy
Ain’t No Grave #1 (Image) – Ain’t No Grave is a Western with a literally killer premise and even more beautiful art from Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, and Jean-Francois Beaulieu. The book follows a female gunslinger-turned-family woman named Ryder who is diagnosed with a terminal condition and must go on an arduous journey to cure it somehow. Like a fever dream, the book flashes between past and present with Beaulieu’s palette ranging from John Ford-esque vistas to ghostly pale. The extended length allows for a lot of establishing shots for Corona and also lays the emotional bedrock of the series which Ryder’s relationship with her partner Darius and daughter. I love the subtle changes in body language when Ryder is being a mom, and when she’s back in badass mode. Ain’t No Grave reminds me a lot of one of my favorite, Westerns, but with more of a supernatural bent and is an engaging slow burn of a read. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy
