Tag Archives: Comics

Mini Reviews: Ultimate Universe Finale #1, Swamp Thing 1989 #3, Summer of Supergirl Special #1, Exploit #4

Summer of Supergirl Special #1

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

Ultimate Universe Finale #1 (Marvel) – I wasn’t a fan of the timey wimey BS that was Ultimate Endgame #5, but Ultimate Universe Finale #1 is a better conclusion to Earth-6160 as well as bittersweet glance of what could have been. Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto give Peter Parker a taste of his own medicine when May starts becoming a superhero capturing the domestic dynamic that made Ultimate Spider-Man refreshing. Bryan Hill and Stefano Caselli turn in a powerful coda to T’challa’s heroic journey and widely focus on his relationship with Storm. The Peach Momoko Ultimate X-Men and Deniz Camp Ultimates stories are the most tantalizing offering an exciting new status quo and a new Big Bad for Earth-6160. Finally, Chris Condon and Alessandro Capuccio’s is just a simple birthday hangout between Logan and Victor after issues and issues of violence. It feels like the conclusion this series deserved instead of chasing Magik through mazes. All in all, this comic reminded me of the good ol’ days of the Ultimate Universe, and maybe editorial will catch a hint and bring it back in a more comprehensive way than Ultimate Impact Reborn. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Swamp Thing 1989 #3 (DC/Black Label) – The DC Universe-spanning tapestry that Rick Veitch and Tom Mandrake are weaving comes into clearer view in Swamp Thing 1989 #3. It’s a truly a cosmic gumbo featuring cameos from John Constantine, Nergal, Darkseid, Anthro, and more all invested in Swamp Thing’s narrative of birth and rebirth, life and death. And then you’ve got Arcane doing the opposite number, and giving Mandrake and colorist Tristh Mulvihill an opportunity to indulge in their grisly child. But the heart of the story continues to be Swamp Thing’s battle to be with Abby and their unborn child, and that’s what keeps me coming back to each installment. Even after he’s factory reset by the Source, this is his first and last thought, and he’ll try to make it back to his loved ones. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Summer of Supergirl Special #1 (DC) – Just in time for her new movie, the Summer of Supergirl Special #1 is a delightful entry into the world of the Last Daughter of Krypton for fans old and new. The lead story from Sophie Campbell and Belen Ortega pits Supergirl against Lobo with a side of Krypto and the fittingly named Dawg. Opening with a court case, this story is freaking hilarious and also heartwarming as Lobo and his daughter Crush adjust to life in Midvale. (The mac n cheese sandwiches help a lot.) The modern Supergirl feels like a mix of rebel and wholesome, and Campbell gets that which is why she is the current writer and sometimes artist on the ongoing title. This story made me want to catch up on the Supergirl and Lobo comics while acting as a full meal in its own right. Next up is a Mary Marvel/Supergirl backup from Gail Simone and Emma Kubert where they fight a power-negating robot, but mostly bond as fellow adoptees and young female superheroes who are often in the shadow of their male counterparts. Kubert’s art fuses old school superhero art with contemporary techniques and brings some big feelings. The final story is for all the continuity cops out there courtesy of who else but Mark Waid and the chameleon-like Cian Tormey, who does a Supergirl Eras tour slicker than the billionaire with the big record sales and even bigger carbon footprint. The story is a recontextualizing of 60+ years of sometimes insane stories into a sales pitch for why Supergirl is awesome and should have her own movie and comic. And the Crisis on Infinite Earths and Woman of Tomorrow callbacks are pure beauty. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Exploit #4 (Mad Cave) – The ripped from the headlines/anti-billionaire/agitprop thriller series wraps up with a stylish, trollish extended heist issue from Tim Leong, Laura Hudson, and Emiliana Pinna. Pinna and colorist Rebecca Good make everything smooth and sleek thanks to the foundation of characterization laid in previous issues. It’s cathartic watching tech bros get their comeuppance, and the ending is pretty sweet/full circle with just a touch of bitterness to set up a potential sequel. Exploit is both a love letter to good tech journalism and a suspenseful story with badass queer leads. It’s the perfect way to wrap up Pride Month. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Graphic Book Club: Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow

Matthew Klein joins Alex K Cossa to kick off the newest audio offering from Graphic Policy, the Graphic Book Club!

Join us for the fourth episode where we talk about Super Girl: Woman of Tomorrow

We spend a bit of time talking about the book, getting into a few related side topics before finally picking the next read: Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage. See below for more information on the next read.

Join the conversation!

Matthew and Alex on Bluesky @matthewklein316.bsky.social and @karcossa.bsky.social.
Matthew’s on Instagram @macktheknife1116.

Matthew’s book Crashing is available now through IDW Publishing. His webcomic The Rhyme Scheme is available for free here. You can also find his podcast, Comics For You via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Purchase: BookshopAmazon


It’s time to go back to the 90’s! Carnage, the spawn of Venom, has assembled an army of Spider-Man’s criminally insane adversaries to spread his message of hostility, chaos and wholesale slaughter: Carrion, Demogoblin, Shriek and the Spider-Man Doppelganger! Outmanned and overpowered, the wall-crawler must recruit his own band of super-beings to combat the rising tide of evil: Black Cat, Cloak & Dagger, Firestar, Captain America, Iron Fist, Deathlok and – Venom?! Spider-Man’s worst enemy becomes his uneasy ally in the battle to halt the pure evil of Carnage’s mad rampage! Plus, an explosive day for Peter Parker leads him into a savage showdown with the Punisher – and Sabretooth!

The book is available in multiple different formats from your favourite local retailer.

Purchase: Amazon

Absolute Wonder Woman #21 does a great job of focusing in on Wonder Woman’s frustration

Diana’s worst nightmares come to light. The Hieron finds a new host. Barbara facesa harsh reality. Cale loses control.

Story: Kelly Thompson
Art: Dillon Snook
Color: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Becca Carey

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Zeus Comics
Kindle


This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Absolute Superman #20’s strength is its small details and focus on the characters

It’s Superman versus King Shazam versus Hawkman versus [REDACTED] in the greatest battle the Absolute Universe has ever seen! But who is their mystery challenger?

Story: Jason Aaron
Art: Rafa Sandoval, Vicente Cifuentes
Color: Ulises Arreola
Letterer: Becca Carey

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Zeus Comics
Kindle


This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Preview: DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: The Metal Legion #3

DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: The Metal Legion #3

(W) Ian Flynn (A) Adam Bryce Thomas

ENTER THE METAL LEGION! Dr. Eggman and the Legion of Doom are victorious! The Justice League, Sonic the Hedgehog, and his friends have been banished from reality! Now nothing will stand in the way of the villains’ ambitions — including themselves! One betrayal leads to another as the villains descend into all-out war — with two worlds caught in the crossfire!

DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: The Metal Legion #3

Preview: Supergirl: Survive #2

Supergirl: Survive #2

(W) Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan (A) Rod Reis

KARA AND KAL AGAINST THE LOBO GANG! Kara and Kal have lost their ship and, light-years from their destination of Earth, are now forced to seek travel from a busy spaceport. Conviction alone won’t be enough to keep Kara and her baby cousin safe from the vagabonds and swindlers of the planet — and Czarnian bounty hunters put the duo right in their crosshairs. Fortunately for them, there’s a full-spectrum squad of Green Lanterns nearby.

Supergirl: Survive #2

Preview: Poison Ivy #46

Poison Ivy #46

(W) G. Willow Wilson (A) Leandro Fernández

PANIC IN THE STREETS! Gotham City is a powder keg, and Poison Ivy is the match! The air is full of anger, pain, and despair as things go from bad to even worse. The chopping block is calling out for Mayor Pamela Isley. Can Ivy’s faithful underlings save her from herself, or will the city swallow them whole first?

Poison Ivy #46

Preview: The Deadman #2

The Deadman #2

(W) W. Maxwell Prince (A) Martín Morazzo

THE DEADMAN COMES TO GOTHAM! Our eschatological escapades continue in this definitive depiction of DC’s Deadest Do-Gooder! An unknown species of demon has eaten the heaven-bound soul of a highway cyclist… compromising the sanctity of Earth’s Spiritual Math… and threatening the fragile glue that holds everything together! At the behest of goddess Rama Kushna, Boston Brand — a.k.a. the Deadman — has finally donned his brand-new super-suit… which is perfect, it turns out, for his latest spectral assignment: a sleuthy sojourn to the city where sin never sleeps: Gotham!

The Deadman #2

Preview: JSA #21

JSA #21

(W) Jeff Lemire (A) Diego Olortegui

WHERE IS JIM CORRIGAN? The New God Metron takes Doctor Fate, Stargirl, Jakeem, and Kid Eternity back to the events of the DC ALL IN SPECIAL in search of Jim Corrigan after his defeat at the hands of Darkseid. Meanwhile the rest of the JSA continues its battle against the Spectre as it searches for its new host!

JSA #21
« Older Entries