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
The Last Day of HP Lovecraft #1 (BOOM!) – A translation of a French graphic novel by Romuald Giulivo and Jakub Rebelka, The Last Day of HP Lovecraft #1 delves into the final day of the racist, anti-Semitic, yet highly influential horror writer. Rebelka visualizes the author’s imagination through strange, feverish dreamscapes narrated by the recurring Mythos character Randolph Carter. The book critiques, pays homage to, and riffs on the works of Lovecraft and attempts to answer what kind of person would invent cosmic horror. The characterization of Carter is enjoyable as a puckish, nigh-omniscient protagonist as he both trolls and fanboys over HP Lovecraft. As an added bonus, there’s a handwritten letter from a dying Lovecraft to a dead Robert E. Howard about death. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy
Gotham Academy: First Year #1 (DC) – After too long of a hiatus, Gotham Academy is back with a prequel focusing on Olive Silverlock’s first year at the boarding school. Writers Brenden Fletcher, Becky Cloonan, and Karl Kerschl zero in Olive’s Batman-induced trauma as well as the general awkwardness of the first day at a preppy boarding school finding humor from the school’s strange aristocratic conditions. On the art side, Marco Ferrari and Eva De La Cruz capture the lush, dark academia before dark academia was a thing tone of the school and add some memorable flourishes like a monstrous portrayal of Batman. Olive Silverlock is a relatable outside character, and the prominent role of Arkham Asylum might bring folks from the superhero world into the Goth YA universe. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy
Umbrella Academy: Plan B #3 (Dark Horse) – Just like My Chemical Romance’s current Long Live the Black Parade tour, Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba engage with the contemporary rise/reign of fascism in a cheeky, theatrical way. But unlike the concerts, which recontextualizes MCR’s 2006 album The Black Parade into a satirical look at an authoritarian regime in a focused way using that album’s song as the spine, let’s just say Umbrella Academy Plan B continues to be all over the place storywise. There are some memorable moments like Klaus having an NA meeting with ghosts, Luther’s hero St. Zero pleading with him to return from the Moon to Earth and save it from the Sparrow Academy, and the Sparrows spreading chaos on national TV. But the various threads never cohere together like the previous issue, which was centered around a fight between the Umbrella and Sparrow Academies. Maybe, the bigger picture will be more clear in the next 3 issues, but for now, Umbrella Academy is a beautiful drawn, colored, and lettered (By DRAAG’s own Nate Pieko) mess. Overall: 6.1 Verdict: Pass
Bytchcraft #4 (Mad Cave) – The penultimate issue of Bytchcraft is rich, dense occult fantasy storytelling from Aaron Reese, Lema Carril, and Bex Glendining. I love how they interweave the theme of found family and matriarchy with a blockbuster, world ending threat. Also, there’s plenty of quips and humor (Especially from my personal favorite character Em.) to balance out the apocalypse of it all like the coven coming up with a game plan in a diner in Queens. Bytchcraft is a gorgeous and immersive comic, and I’m sad to see it end next month, but it continues to be a lasting legacy for the late Reese. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy
Batman #2 (DC) – Batman and Robin are more ACAB than ever in the 2nd issue of Matt Fraction, Jorge Jimenez, and Tomeu Morey‘s Batman run. This issue focuses on the relationship between Batman and Tim Drake using a flashback framing narrative of the Caped Crusader teaching Robin how to drive stick/the Batmobile. Fraction and Jimenez strike a balance between vulnerability and badassery, cool gadgets and heroes down on their luck. The fight sequences are full of piss and vinegar, and I love how Matt Fraction writes Batman and Tim Drake’s relationship like a parent and an adult child while the heat continues to come down on them in the ongoing plotline. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy
