Tag Archives: Comics

Mini Reviews: Reborn: Ultimate Impact #1, Of the Earth #1, Odin #1, Sirens Love Hurts #4, Umbrella Academy Plan B #4, Absolute Green Arrow #1

Absolute Green Arrow #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

Reborn: Ultimate Impact #1 (Marvel) Chris Condon and Stefano Caselli try their darndest (The Spot always looks cool visually), but Reborn: Ultimate Impact #1 can’t beat the clunkiness of a cash-in on the new Ultimate Universe’s success. Honestly, the pieced together name of the title is the perfect metaphor for the first issue itself which throws together Earth-6160 death cultists, Miles Morales and the origin boxes, and a new crop of heroes. It’s lots of plates spinning of a first issue, and most of the characters except for Jersey City’s new “Wonder Man” seem pretty generic, but maybe they’ll grow on us. There just isn’t throughline between the Annihilus stuff and the new heroes except for they have to have someone to punch eventually. Sadly, the once promising Ultimate U ended pretty abruptly (Deniz Camp and company continue to do good work on Ultimates though.), and this is more of the same. Overall: 6.1 Verdict: Pass

Of the Earth #1 (Image)Of the Earth #1 is pure, pitch black Texas crude atmospheric horror noir from Chris Condon, newcomer Andrew Ehrich, Charlie Adlard, and Pip Martin. Condon and Ehrich use in-universe books and oil company memos to give the comic a true crime vibe while Adlard and Martin lay on the creepy visuals while giving this first chapter a slow burn. Protagonist Tabby is beyond a fish out of water in the aptly named Solitude, Texas where she’s trying to reconnect with family after some time. An extended scene with a dead dog, rental car, and a Duel-esque pickup truck shows that she’s a little too nice and compassionate for this neck of the woods and hints at the horrors to come while being a study of suspense in miniature. I’m here for fossil fuel cryptids, and this unique genre hybrid of a comic centered around a resource that starts wars. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Odin #1 (Image) Marguerite Bennett, James Tynion, Letizia Cadonici, and Jordie Bellaire draw on the real life evil of white supremacy to create a horrifying, psychedelic comic. What starts as undercover journalist Adela infiltrating a Gen Z Nazi/Odinist group goes so wrong as the severe nine panel grids and analytic captions become something more primal and darkly poetic. Let’s just say that crazy stuff happens in the back half of this comic. I love how Cadonici and Bellaire depict the bleak barren nature of the camp site before upending with big red swatches and a loose drawing style. Adela has literally bitten off more than she can chew, and I’m invested in this twisted rabbit hole although the subject matter hits very close to home. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Sirens Love Hurts #4 (DC/Black Label)Tini Howard, Babs Tarr, and Miquel Muerto stick the landing in this feminomenon of a series. It’s so cool to see how Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Black Canary, and Catwoman’s relationship has progressed through the four issues of Sirens Love Hurts culminating in one hell of a beat ’em up against the freaky Big Bad, Horoscope. Howard and Tarr tie up the romantic subplots nicely too with some real talk between Batman and Catwoman and Harley and Ivy. (I love how she writes Batman!) And, of course, the fits are fierce, and the colors from Muerto are immaculate. I could read so many more adventures with this group of friends and creative team lineup. Overall: 9.8 Verdict: Buy

Umbrella Academy Plan B #4 (Dark Horse) – After a bit of a hiatus, Umbrella Academy Plan B is starting to round into zany shape. Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba introduce some mysterious new characters like Jennifer while also fleshing out some old trieds and trues like Klaus, Allison, and Five. The book works when it’s about a dysfunctional family or resisting fascism not so much when it’s about parallel timelines and random one-off supporting characters. There’s even a plot point stripped straight from volume 2. However, Ba and Dave Stewart continue to make this book like gorgeously bonkers, and Way has his moments too like Allison reflecting on her life in the supervillain prison Hotel Oblivion. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

Absolute Green Arrow #1 (DC) – Luigi Mangione meets Jason Voorhees in Pornsak Pichetshote, Rafael Albuquerque, and Marcelo Maiolo’s riveting, all-too-timely take on Green Arrow. Absolute Green Arrow #1 picks up after the events of Absolute Evil with Hector Hammond hiring Dinah Lance and Malcolm Merlyn to investigate the murders of former business partners Oliver Queen and Jubal Slade. Slade is a rapist and pedophile too, and Queen was trying to do the right thing so it complicates Dinah’s relationship to her job. Pichetshote makes her very sympathetic: someone who hates the rich, but takes gigs from them to help cover her father’s healthcare. She’s the perfect entry point to this dark world that’s enhanced by the grit and power of Albuquerque and Maiolo’s visuals. This is the kind of superhero comic I need in 2026 and yet another strong launch for the Absolute line. Overall: 10 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Zatanna #2

Zatanna #2

(W) Jamal Campbell (A) Jamal Campbell

ZATANNA ZATARA’S GREATEST TOUR CONTINUES! With a murderous plague spirit on the loose, the Mistress of Magic makes a stop in Memphis, Tennessee, hoping to find aid in a ghostly and melodious ally. However, the enigmatic Agent Di Manes of the Department of Occult Affairs lurks in the shadows, biding his time, going over his own script, ready for his cue.

Zatanna #2

Preview: The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #4

The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #4

(W) Chris Condon (A) Jacob Phillips

The Brooklyn Bridge is as good a place as any for Ezra to take a clandestine meeting with Karl Meyer, the man who could help him bust this case wide open. But mechanical monsters lie in wait, and Ezra’s life is put right on the line. He knows too much now, and the only way to stay alive is to act fast. What he finds at the Clockworkers ‘ Union might mean he’s already too late!

The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #4

Preview: The Flash #33

The Flash #33

(W) Ryan North (A) Gavin Guidry

Someone has hidden a nuke in Central City, and the Flash has minutes to find it before it goes off! Just one problem: Wally’s already checked everywhere. In fact, he’s actually been checking everywhere over and over for days due to the “putting yourself in danger” trend that’s been making his life a huge pain! But if the Flash can’t find the bomb alone, at least he’s got the help of his brilliant wife Linda, along with the aid of… Captain Cold? That can’t be right — can it? The clock is ticking. Plus: Wally’s mysterious Flashes of Insight escalate!

The Flash #33

Preview: Swamp Thing 1989 #2

Swamp Thing 1989 #2

(W) Rick Veitch (A) Tom Mandrake

As Swamp Thing is flung backwards through time, his true destination is revealed! While John Constantine works a world of connections to locate the lost elemental, Abby prepares to give birth to their child of three worlds. Witness the epic odyssey that could not see print until now! Over three decades in the making, welcome to the grand finale of Swamp Thing!

Swamp Thing 1989 #2

Preview: Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1

Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1

(W) Kenny Porter (A) Danny Earls

In a corner of far-flung space, a world explodes. A lone rocket escapes the destruction and races through space, ultimately landing on a small farm in small-town Kansas. A kindly couple steps with trepidation toward the alien craft as the door opens. Out steps a man named Jor-El, the sole survivor of the planet Krypton! As Jor-El fits in to his new home, he realizes that he can help the world, not just with his newfound powers but with his intellect as well. Witness how a Man of Steel and Science saves the world!

Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1

Preview: Superman #38

Superman #38

(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Dan Mora

SUPERBOY-PRIME PICKS A FIGHT WITH MAGIC! Superboy-Prime uncovers a secret coven of witches in Metropolis led by the hellish Witchfire. Prime wants to prove he can be the better Superman so badly that he takes on one of his vulnerabilities… magic! But the problem is, now Prime finds himself drawn to Witchfire’s deadly charms in more ways than one… all while one of Superman’s deadliest enemies spies on the wannabe Man of Steel and waits for his moment to strike!

Superman #38

Preview: Justice League Unlimited #19

Justice League Unlimited #19

(W) Mark Waid (A) Dan Mora

AT THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA… IS A SURPRISE RETURN! As the Leaguers struggle on Earth to fulfill the impossible missions mandated by the Heart of Apokolips and control the villains given amnesty, the space-faring JLU members come face-to-face with Brainiac Queen — back from the pages of Absolute Power and deadlier than ever!

Justice League Unlimited #19

Preview: Green Lantern #35

Green Lantern #35

(W) Jeremy Adams (A) Ig Guara, Osvaldo Pestana Montpeller

WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD! The glitz! The glamor! The giant alien that wants Odyssey dead! Wait… what? In order to ensure that her burgeoning career keeps… you know… burgeoning, Odyssey the Time Bandit is tasked with doing the meeting circuit. Accompanied by Kyle, she has to drive around to various coffees, lunches, and dinners to hobnob with the decision-makers. But where there are celebrities, there is paparazzi… and someone else. Someone who wants to stop Odyssey’s star from rising into the sky of celebrity!

Green Lantern #35

Preview: Harley Quinn #62

Harley Quinn #62

(W) Elliott Kalan (A) Carlos Olivares

DON’T TOUCH THAT REMOTE! We got a real special show for you folks this month — you’re gonna love it! I, the one and only true Harley Quinn, will be appearing for one night only on Throatcutter Hill’s premier public-access TV station. Sure, the folks working there don’t know it quite yet—but when I get there, I’m sure they’ll see things my way and air my show! This is a real wacky one — we got so much formal experimentation in here that you’ll be going “Great Tom King’s Ghost!” by the end of the issue!

Harley Quinn #62
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