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.

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Ryan

Harrow County #23 (Dark Horse)* – Cullen Bunn’s storyline takes another interesting, if tentative, lurch forward here as tensions continue to mount between our protagonist and her one-time best friend, but is the real danger to both youg ladies yet to make itself fully known? Tyler Crook’s art remains, as ever, darkly lush and evocative. Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Grass Kings #3 (BOOM! Studios)* – The least involving chapter to date in Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins’ still-young narrative is still a damn fine read and provides some explanation about who our “mystery guest” is while hinting at the trouble she’s about to bring down around the heads of everyoe in the so-called “Grass Kingdom.” The gorgeous watercolor art remains the star of the show here, but the whole story-and-art package is a wonderfully seamless affair. Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

The Fix #9 (Image Comics)* – I still laugh my ass off at every issue of Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber’s yarn about fuck-up crooked cops, but this chapter continues the trend of far less dense, more “decompressed” storytelling that’s taken hold in recent installments, and while admitting up-front that you’re openly swiping from “L.A. Confidential” is a clever enough way to address the elephant in the room, it doesn’t change the simple fact that derivative stuff is — well, derivative stuff. Lieber’s art is starting to look as rushed as the scripts, too. Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Read

Copperhead #13 (Image Comics)* – The intrigue surrounding the sheriff and her new boss/.former subordinate continues to deepen, as does the murder mystery surrounding the former mayor, but last issue’s cliffhanger is revealed to be a whole lot of nothing right off the bat, which feels like more than a bit of a cheat, so I’ve gotta kncok this down a notch for that. On the whole, though, Jay Faerber’s scripts continue to impress and Drew Moss is starting to grow on me (Get it? Moss? Grow? Okay, so it’s not really very funny) in his role as artist, but truth be told, I’ll always miss Scott Godlewski. Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

 

 

 

Elana

Bug: The Adventures of Forager #1 (DC Comics) Team Allred doing Jack Kirby’s Fourth World is a match made on New Genesis. They truly inhabit his dynamic visual style that is the most Comics of all. I am excited to see a story that is both written and drawn by this team.

The creative visual metaphors we get are clearly the product of visual storytellers. This story questions social control and the perhaps impossible dream of self determination and freedom. It is rich with references to the full Forth World canon but the visuals are stunning in their own right so newbies will love it. There is so much visual storytelling per page it demands re-reading. I love it. Overall 9.0 Recommendation: Buy it. Frame it.

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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 (**).