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
Street Sharks #2 (IDW Publishing) – Street Sharks #2 is another bowl of Saturday morning cartoon tastiness from Stephanie Williams, Ariel Medel, and Valentina Pinto. This issue is centered around a circus of animal hybrids who have been, let’s say, questionably enhanced by the mysterious Director. In the space of 20 pages, the Street Sharks save the day and wrap up the story in a stylish, action-packed bow. Williams’ script loves a good pun, and Medel continues to draw from professional wrestling to soup up the action sequences. There’s also an emotional connection between the Sharks and the circus and a continuing theme of how the media perceives the Sharks’ activities. This comic is a nostalgic, bonkers good time, and I wish it was an ongoing and not just a miniseries. Overall: 9.2 Verdict: Buy
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1 (IDW Publishing) – In the first issue of Tim Seeley, Fero Pe, and Luis Delgado‘s cross-property crossover, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fit together seamlessly with Godzilla and other Toho kaiju. They weld the backstory of the pre-corruption/schism Foot Clan to the threat of Godzilla to Japan and combine it with all kinds of funky mutagen science. This comic really does feel like using all the toys in the box moving at a rapid pace with plenty of action and fun banter. I love how Pe depicts the vast size and scale of the King of the Monsters compared to your usual human/turtle ninja and beneath the jokes and butt kicking, there’s a relevant theme of using tragedies to profit. So excited/scared for the Heroes in the Half-Shell to face King Ghidorah next issue. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy
American Caper #1 (Dark Horse) – Co-written by Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser, American Caper #1 launches a pitch black crime comedy set in the heart of the American nightmare of land deals, lawyers, and families with something to hide. Houser is joined by co-writer Lazlow and a great art team of David Lapham, Chris Anderson, and Lee Loughridge that burnish its crime credentials. Lapham and Anderson don’t flatter anyone in their character designs, and Loughridge’s palette is Old West meets suburban sprawl fitting for a gentrified Wyoming town. The co-author of this comic has a nine figure net worth so the satire is definitely soft targets, but American Caper has a lurid charm to it like the Grand Theft Auto games. Overall: 7.8 Verdict: Buy
Adventures of Lumen N #3 (Dark Horse) – I hate to use this term, but Adventures of Lumen N #3 is a total filler issue. Writer James Robinson makes Aeon Nemo just a total mustache twirler of a Big Bad with no psychological depth although his writing fares better with the protagonist Lumen Nemo, who is reveling in her adventurous origins. The plot barely progresses, which is fine, but Robinson doesn’t flesh out any of the book’s relationships and characters except for reiterating things about Lumen. At least, Phil Hester and Marc Deeing make the Nautilus look cool with their angular art style. I guess a battle is going to happen in the next issue, but the series has taken quite a dip in quality. Drop this one and re-read Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen/Nemo books instead. Overall: 4.8 Verdict: Pass
