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

Catacomb of Torment #2 (Oni Press) – Catacomb of Torment #2 takes the actual horror of our current late capitalist reality and turns it up to 11 transforming it to the horror genre. In “Red Blend”, Evan Dorkin and Lukas Ketner go straight for the jugular taking shots at rich white men who have inherited all their wealth and exploit their workers while selling it for spare parts to private equity investor. Ketner is kind of the master of the reaction shot showing the protagonist Jud’s kind younger sister Grace get more and more horrified at his action until his comeuppance. Let’s just say you’ll never look at wine in the same way after reading this short story. Featuring a fashion illustration visual style from Fabiana Mascolo, her and Jeremy Lambert‘s “The Dressmaker” continues the anthology’s eat the rich vibe with an up and coming fashionista (over)matching wits with a boring rich guy. The fits are immaculate in this comic, and I love how they match the protagonist’s personality as Lambert and Mascolo dig into how women are treated differently depending on how they dress. The anthology wraps up with Matt Bors and Kano‘s “Hostile Architecture” where urban designer Desmond takes spikes on ledges, bars on benches, and sharp bits on subway turnstiles to a sadistic, high tech extreme. A series of panels where a grinding skateboarder goes flying made me gasp big-time, and the scenarios get even more and more extreme. I love the horror franchise that this story ends up being a riff on, and Kano’s art is a tortuous delight. If you like classic horror, hate capitalism, and maybe are just a little sick and twisted, then you’ll enjoy Catacomb of Torment #2. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #2 (Marvel) – Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe continues to be too much fun thanks to Gerry Duggan, Javier Garron, Juann Cabal, and Paco Medina, whose art style blend seamlessly for some giant monster versus superheroes action. After a framing flash forward to 2099, his issue focuses on various scientific and magical ways to take out Godzilla, including Pym particles, the crimson bands of Cytorrak, and Thor riding Fin Fang Foom. Of course, these all fail, and the fight against the King of Monsters turns into a delay of the inevitable. I love that Duggan’s signature humor doesn’t go away during this mammoth-sized story with some of C-list supervillains reacting pricelessly to Godzilla destroying their favorite bar. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy

Black Cat #1 (Marvel) – Felicia Hardy is trying to live a more heroic life in the new Black Cat series from G. Willow Wilson, Gleb Melnikov, and Brian Reber. Having a female writer on Black Cat does wonders for her characterization, and I love the insights into what makes her tick while she runs from the cops and supervillains, who have become more bold and dangerous since Spider-Man is dealing with something over in his book. On the visual side, Melnikov’s art is sexy and stylized, and he continues to have a real knack for fight choreography as Black Cat and the Lizard throw down in this one. His comedy chops are too as I got a laugh out of just seeing all the random heroes and villains in Night Nurse’s waiting room. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Umbrella Academy: Plan B #2 (Dark Horse) – The conflict between our titular heroes and the Sparrow Academy in Umbrella Academy: Plan B #2 has some Justice League vs The Authority, but with that signature Gerard Way/Gabriel Ba/Dave Stewart quirkiness. Way and Ba’s gift for pitch black humor is still intact as demonstrated in a flashback of a Sparrow Academy training exercise (I definitely watched this past weekend’s English Premier League matches differently.), Klaus’ new status quo, and a raygun obsessed US president. The anti-fascist satire is on fire this issue as Way and Ba begin to expand the plot of the series while still having time to check in with the individual members of the Umbrella Academy. To be honest, I couldn’t pick anyone from the Sparrow Academy in a lineup except for their version of Space Boy. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #3 (DC Comics) – Krypto #3 is a touching, standalone story of heroism from Ryan North and Mike Norton. I love how Norton and colorist Ian Herring show the windswept winter landscapes that turn from idyllic to dangerous and progress the story through body language and context clues. Nothing is stronger than a bond between and kid and their pet, and Krypto #3 reinforces that while building up Krypto’s legacy as a hero in his own right. I love how this book is basically Superman: For All Seasons, but with Krypto. Overall: 9.5 Verdict: Buy