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
Chicken Devils #1 (Aftershock) – Brian Buccelato’s Chicken Devil is back for another volume with a new artist (Mattia Monaco) and a side of domestic drama to go with the hot chicken vigilantism. Monaco brings a dose of anarchy to the comic with bursts of color any time something violent or stressful happens like Mitch dealing with an Albanian biker gang or trying to save his marriage in an Ikea. He trying to have a normal life in the midst of working with the cops to cover up his murders makes Chicken Devils darkly humorous like the early seasons of Breaking Bad. However, by the end of the first issue, the scope of the series expands with Mitch putting the restauranteur and dad hats to the side and embracing the vigilante label with some help. Talk about the ultimate mid-life crisis. Overall: 7.7 Verdict: Buy
The Least We Can Do #2 (Image) – The second issue of The Least We Can Do slows down and focuses on Uriel’s training to fight against the Eden Army. Predictably, it doesn’t go too well, and artist Elisa Romboli uses dynamic paneling to show Uriel get her ass kicked over and over again as she struggles to use her Medium in combat. And speaking of Mediums, Iolanda Zanfardino and Romboli provide a lot more information about the different kinds, and how it’s difficult to use one if it was stolen, not found. The Least We Can Do #2 is kind of heavy on telling/exposition, but I feel like I have a little better grasp on this world after reading. Overall: 7.1 Verdict: Read
Namor: The Sub-Mariner – Conquered Shores #1 (Marvel) – Just in time for his live action debut, Christopher Cantwell, Pasqual Ferry, and Matt Hollingsworth turn in a story of a victorious, aging, and regretful Namor in a world where the heroes are gone and waters cover the Earth. Ferry uses wide layouts for Atlantis and tighter ones for the oxygenated area of Atlantis and the human dwellings in New York to contrast their plight and provide motivation for Namor, who is retired as king and works to find some kind of equality between humans and Atlanteans. Having him be a kind of diplomat is interesting characterization, but the bruises he gets from Luke Cage’s men might put at end to that. All in all, Conquered Shores #1 is an interesting dystopian story illustrating the simple fact that getting what you always wanted isn’t always fulfilling plus it features gorgeous, at times haunting visuals from Pasqual Ferry and Hollingsworth and real world parallels to climate change and inequality. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy
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 (**).
