Tag Archives: concrete: stars over sand

Mini Reviews: Concrete: Stars Over Sand #3, Badrock #2, Witchblade/Vampirella #1, Black Tower: Raven Conspiracy #1

Posted on by Leave a comment
Concrete: Stars Over Sand #3

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

Concrete: Stars Over Sand #3 (Dark Horse) – Concrete: Stars Over Sand starts to ramp up as pieces of memories start to form in its amnesiac protagonist’s head. Paul Chadwick’s visuals depict the pure beauty and savagery of nature, and I love the details he spotlights for the different flora and fauna. This issue explores the monstrousness and humanity at the heart of Concrete and sets up a doozy of a penultimate issue. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Badrock #2 (Image) – Badrock continues to punch above its weight as the titular character comes to grips with losing his power. Rob Liefeld’s captions capture the sadness Thomas feels when he’s powerless and then the triumph when he regains them temporarily. Artist Seth Damoose also gets to channel the Extreme Studios 90s with a massive double page pinup. However, the real emotional crux of this story is the relationship between Badrock and his mom. This is what made Badrock #2 sink its hooks into me along with big, explosive turn your brain off action. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy

Witchblade/Vampirella #1 (Image) – Two 90s “Bad Girl” icons collide and wrestle with their cravings for revenge, violence, and of course, blood in Witchblade/Vampirella #1. Marguerite Bennett and Laura Braga focus on friendship and visceral ass kicking in this one-shot with several double page spreads full of kicking, biting, and the power of the Witchblade. I love how Vampirella acts as a kind of devilish guardian angel for Sara Pezzini while female friendship triumphs over the male gaze. Braga’s design for the vampiric Witchblade is very cool though. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy

Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy #1 (DC/Vertigo) – The occult, spycraft, and supernatural creatures all collide in the multi-layered first issue of Ram V and Mike Perkins’ Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy #1. An American going to England to find magic is relatable to me, but not the chases and conspiracies. There’s quite a bit of exposition in Black Tower #1, but it’s tempered by the aforementioned chases and one bloody fight scene. V stays out of Perkins’ way and keeps the set pieces quiet before bringing his snarky, yet thoughtful dialogue to bear. I’m definitely lost in a maze after reading this first issue, but definitely want to see where the rabbit hole leads. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Concrete: Stars Over Sand #3

Posted on by Leave a comment

Concrete: Stars Over Sand #3

Writer: Paul Chadwick
Artist: Paul Chadwick
Cover artist: Paul Chadwick

Amnesiac Concrete, now in the mountains, does an uncharacteristic thing: he kills a deer and eats it. Ominously, he feels no sorrow nor empathy. Maureen hires a helicopter, possibly the last financial transaction of her life. Larry makes a secret decision that might be his most irresponsible, ever.

Concrete: Stars Over Sand #3

Mini Reviews: The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1 and Concrete: Stars over Sand #2

Posted on by
Concrete: Stars over Sand #2

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 Dirt Beneath the Devil #1 (Mad Cave) – In The Dirt Beneath the Devil #1, the family and business associates of a dead outlaw must hear his will, but first they must do a long ride from Kansas City to Wichita. Writer Dan Panosian tells the story from the POV of the outlaw’s Cornell-educated daughter June, which introduces fish out of water elements to go with the dark Western vibes. The other “heirs” are either the worst people period or quiet and mysterious making for good tension. On the art side, David Ferraci and Lee Loughridge provide gorgeous Western vistas with a side of jump scares featuring a horse, who may have a key role in this series. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Concrete: Stars over Sand #2 (Dark Horse) – Concrete continues to wander aimlessly and amnesiacally as Maureen rounds up a search party to look for him so he can be there for his kid. Paul Chadwick continues to beautifully alchemize art and writing in Stars Over Sand #2, and his captions are especially poetic when Concrete sees the stars and the moon for the first time. The recurring element of the plot is “missed connections”, and we’re a wrong turn or a bit of stone in the corner of a dune surfer’s eye from finding the protagonist. But maybe he doesn’t want to be found. Stars Over Sand #2 has a true sense of total loneliness in a barren landscape. I hope everything ends up being okay. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Concrete: Stars Over Sand #2

Posted on by

Concrete: Stars Over Sand #2

Creator: Paul Chadwick
Artist: Paul Chadwick
Cover artist: Paul Chadwick

Concrete awakens in the desert, his seared brain unable to put names to the terrifying objects in the sky. He picks a direction—the wrong one. Maureen organizes searchers and frets about Concrete’s irreplaceability as a father.

This is part 2 of 5 of Concrete’s journey through amnesia and paranoia back to life and the people he loves.

Concrete: Stars Over Sand #2

Mini Reviews: If Destruction Be Our Lot #2, Justice League: Dream Girls #3, Absolute Green Arrow #2, Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1

Posted on by
Cover of the comic 'Concrete: Stars Over Sand' by Paul Chadwick, featuring a stone-like figure standing on a sandy landscape, looking down at his hands with a cosmic background.

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

If Destruction Be Our Lot #2 (Image) – Detained for having “issues” with their programming and potentially spotting a human, Abraham Lincoln and Speed go through quite the series of pitfalls, explosions, and torture bots in If Destruction Be Our Lot #2 from the Rosenbergs, Andy MacDonald, and Francesco Segala. IDBOL #2 exposes the dark underbelly of this robots only world and has big Toy Story 3 energy. Through witty banter and thrilling chase sequences, the Rosenbergs and MacDonald cement the bond between Lincoln and Speed with an assist from an old friend, Skinny. Lincoln is hilarious, but there’s a deep sadness to this protagonist too like when he says he doesn’t remember after his assassination. Even though the cast is (currently) just robots, IDBOL #2 continues to be a shining example of pro-human sci-fi. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Justice League: Dream Girls #3 (DC) – Dreamer’s struggle with the Key gets mighty personal, and Galaxy practices self-advocacy big time in the penultimate installment of Justice League Dream Girls. Nicole Maines, Jadzia Axelrod, and Stein & Brandt use the majority of the comic to show Galaxy reach her breaking point pleading for why she should be on the Justice League. Most of her “mistakes” involve aliens and mind control, but this ends up being for a metaphor for how transgender women have to be absolutely perfect at whatever endeavor they’re a part of or they’re cast aside. The interaction between Galaxy and the 1st transgender superhero Coagula is an utterly iconic mentoring and banter moment and truly empowers Galaxy to speak up for herself and Dreamer. It’s also a lovely homage to Coagula’s co-creator, the late Rachel Pollack. It’s also so damn relatable that Galaxy is overwhelmed by all the screens around her: a true superhero vulnerability for 2026. The Dreamer scenes drawn by Jan Bazaldua and Rosi Kampe are less homage and more a vision of a cozy slice of life existence with both artists straddling the line between beauty and horror. Also, Stein & Brandt should seriously be the regular artists on Justice League with their knack for group shots with feeling. The backup this time is an adorable Harley and Ivy story from G. Willow Wilson and Maria Llovet that understands both the chaos and tender love of their romance. Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy

Absolute Green Arrow #2 (DC) – Working for evil billionaire Hector Hammond, Dinah Lance and Malcolm Merlyn continue to look into the Green Arrow Killer. This is while Pornsak Pichetshote, Rafael Albuquerque, and Marcelo Maiolo put new spins on classic GA supporting characters and turn in some of the best social commentary in superhero comics. One of the suspects is Mia Dearden, who opens up when Dinah spars with her in some gritty Albuquerque grids. Each punch landed and line of dialogue shows how hard it is to not be caught up with evil corporations and billionaires. Absolute Green Arrow #2 digs into the moral dilemmas and psychological trauma Dinah faces through killer layouts from Rafael Albuquerque and powerful colors from Maiolo. An unhinged, line crossing third act only ups the ante for the series. Overall: 9.5 Verdict: Buy

Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1 (Dark Horse) – This was the first Concrete comic I’ve ever read, and at times, I definitely felt like I came into a movie that was already halfway over with a web of relationships, backstories, and themes already baked in. But, then, I basked in Paul Chadwick’s immersive visuals of Concrete and his friends enjoying the Great Sand Dunes National Park before trouble strikes. This is such a thoughtful and meditative comic that when the pace picks up towards the end, it’s jarring and truly frightening like a tidal wave on a peaceful beach. But definitely count me as a new believer in this indie comics icon and in Paul Chadwick’s poetic writing and naturalistic art. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1

Posted on by

Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1

Writer: Paul Chadwick
Artist: Paul Chadwick
Cover artist: Paul Chadwick

The Eisner, Harvey and Reuben Award-winning Concrete is back with a 5-part story of amnesia, wilderness, and suspense. Concrete has entered the desert and not come back. Larry and Maureen are frantic. Reports come that he is wandering the nearby arid mountains, covered with blood, attacking people. Concrete, lightning-struck, confused, roams a frightening world he can’t understand. Roars tear across the sky. A strange globe rises. His body is sheathed in stone. He thinks he is being hunted. People are a threat.

His journey back to life, and his friends’ dire search against a looming deadline, is as strange and tense as any Concrete story ever told.

Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1

Paul Chadwick’s Award-Winning Concrete is Back!

Posted on by

The multi-Eisner Award-winning, multi-Harvey Award-winning, and Reuben Award-winning creation of comics master Paul Chadwick Concrete is back with Concrete: Stars Over Sand, a five-part story of amnesia, wilderness, and suspense. Beginning June 2026, fans will get the opportunity to read all-new Concrete for the first time since 2012.

Concrete has entered the desert and not come back. Larry and Maureen are frantic. Reports come that he is wandering the nearby arid mountains, covered with blood, attacking people. Concrete, lightning-struck, confused, roams a frightening world he can’t understand. Roars tear across the sky. A strange globe rises. His body is sheathed in stone. He thinks he is being hunted. People are a threat.

His journey back to life, and his friends’ dire search against a looming deadline, is as strange and tense as any Concrete story ever told.

Celebrate the return of Concrete in Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1 (of 5) when it arrives at comic shops on June 17, 2026, for $4.99. 

Concrete: Stars Over Sand
Concrete: Stars Over Sand