Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories – Jace #2
Writer: Michael W. Conrad
Artist: Caitlin Yarsky
Colorist: Alex Guimarães
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover artist: Caitlin Yarsky
Jace and Tezzeret arrive on Dominaria, seeking a powerful artifact on the volatile and unforgiving island of Shiv. As Jace relives the violence and brutality of his old mentor, he struggles to remember the purpose of their mission.
Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Kyoshi Warriors #2
Writer: Brandon Hoàng · Danielle Weires
Artist: BellBessa · Adele Matera
Colorist: BellBessa · Adele Matera
Letterer: Jimmy Betancourt
Cover artist: Danielle Weires
Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors have joined the Earth Kingdom army in the war against the Fire Nation. Struggling to recover after losing a battle, they’re met with resentment by General Andal, who demands victory no matter the cost. With the next onslaught imminent, what will the Kyoshi Warriors be willing to sacrifice in order to fit in under the command of General Andal?
From writer Brandon Hoàng, illustrators BellBessa and Xanthe Bouma, and colorist Adele Matera comes the second installment of a new story following the fan-favorite Kyoshi Warriors and their first steps into the wider world of Avatar: The Last Airbender!
Hellboy in Love: Obsidian #1
Writer: Mike Mignola · Christopher Golden
Artist: Alex Nieto
Letterer: Clem Robins
Cover artist: Alex Nieto
Anastasia is called to Crete when an excavation team unearths a tomb with striking similarities to the engraved skull stolen from her by a witch in India. The trail for proof of the mysterious Suaren Artea society may not have gone as cold as she thought, but danger still lurks behind every turn.
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.
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
Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1 (Marvel) – Stoners and superheroes collide in the cheesy, yet charming Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1 from Kevin Smith, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith, Roberto Poggi, Erick Arciniega, and Marco Menyz. Not all the jokes land, but you can really tell that Smith is like a kid with all the toys in the box having his creations interact with all the Marvel hitters and ending up in one hell of a battle against Dr. Doom and a host of other baddies. The ending is especially sweet building off the honest emotions of Clerks 3 with a Marvel/New Jersey twist. There are so many iconic moments for Marvel/View Askewniverse fans (That’s a big Venn Diagram), and Camuncoli brings a blockbuster sheen to the art without being afraid to get funny. Kevin Smith has truly been killing it with these intercompany crossovers recently. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy
Skate Ali #1 (Dark Horse) – Sam Humphries and Natacha Bustos tell a timely tale of finding community in an age of isolation and authoritarianism in Skate Ali #1. In post-apocalyptic L.A., skating is illegal, but it’s the only thing that keeps protagonist Ali happy and sane. Bustos’ art and colors capture the joy Ali has from riding her board as well as the pitfalls and more surreal elements when she runs into the Warriors-like skate clans. Skate Ali #1 is all about the feeling of giving a shit about something while the world crumbles and is a heightened version of finding joy in subculture while not neglecting the cliqueishness of these space. Also, Ali’s dad made my cry and her nurse’s advice to her after her big skating accident cracked me up. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy
Justice League: Dream Girls #2 (DC) – JL Dream Girls #2 is another exciting and vulnerable chapter of this Pride Month event penned by Dreamer and Galaxy creators Nicole Maines and Jadzia Axelrod with art from Brandt and Stein, Vincent Cecil, Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund, Stephen Sadowski, and Joe Quinones. Dreamer and Galaxy continue their tour through alternate realities while their friends try to support them, and the Justice League and GL Corps passes judgment on them. Brandt & Stein’s skill with facial expressions work well for the interpersonal conflict of the frame story, and the guest artists shine on homages to the Hard Travelin’ Heroes eras of Green Lantern and Green Arrow, an Old West riff, and Dreamer and Galaxy playing the roles of John Constantine and Zatanna. But underneath these flourishes, JL: Dream Girls #2 boils down to Dreamer fighting a hard fight against herself and having issues even letting her friends in. Maines and Axelrod explore both her identity as a trans woman and a superhero and refreshingly don’t give any easy answers while creating some new conflict for Galaxy in the “real world”. Also, JL: Dream Girls #2 features a kind of holodeck story starring Jo Mullein where Steven Underwood, Morgan Hampton, and comics legend Alitha Martinez use ballroom culture and Spike Lee-influenced ring constructs to show her struggling with memories of “the one who got away”. This internal conflict is compounded by all the different Lantern Corps members staying on Oa, but you don’t need to be current on the GL books to get something out of this memorable character study. Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy
Godzilla’s Odyssey #1 (IDW) – In Godzilla’s Odyssey #1, Frank Tieri and Ilias Kyriazis re-cast the titular monster as an agent of Zeus helping Odysseus return home from Ithaca. The comic is a speed-adaptation of the epic poem with Kaiju standing in for various monsters from the myths. There’s a lot of emphasis on the gods making an Odysseus his plaything, and Kyriazis’ designs for them are excellent from muscular Zeus to sensible Athena and angry Poseidon, who ends up being the butt of many jokes. I would honestly read a whole book of Greek myths drawn by Ilias Kyriazis. The comic hits most of the highlights of the poem, but it feels truncated in places. But, hey, there’s no place like home. Godzilla is a more malevolent figure in the Tom Scioli backup in which Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham join forces to fight him. The art is creative, but the story runs out of steam in the end. However, the lead story is a wonderful primer for the upcoming Odyssey film although I’m sure the Greek gods and Godzilla himself will have much less screen time. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy
Legendary Hellboy creator Mike Mignola is revisiting one of the most iconic chapters in Hellboy history with a brand new two-issue comic event, Hellboy in Hell: Nothing but Blood. Mignola is teaming up with internationally acclaimed artist Cyrille Pomès in his Hellboy Universe debut to chronicle a demonic uprising in the underworld. Written by Mignola, drawn and lettered by Pomès, and colored by Dave Stewart, both issues will feature main covers by Pomès and variant covers drawn by Mike Mignola on issue one, and Marc Riou on issue two.
Often celebrated as one of the most ambitious and important chapters in the Hellboy saga, Mike Mignola’s Hellboy in Hell, which was originally published between 2012-2016 revealed the truth about Hellboy’s origins, introduced readers to his extended family, and gave fans a breathtakingly imaginative tour of Hell. Now, Hellboy in Hell: Nothing but Blood will reexamine this pivotal time in the character’s journey with an unforgettable new adventure. Hellboy in Hell: Nothing but Blood #1 takes place after the death of Satan and the fall of Pandemonium in Hellboy in Hell #8. When Hellboy sees a young woman being chased by winged beasts in the midst of an uprising against Hell’s most powerful demons, he steps in to save her, but nothing – and no one – are what they seem to be.
Hellboy in Hell: Nothing But Blood #1 is due out on October 7, 2026.
Welcome to near future Los Angeles—a neon-scorched city where skateboarding has been ruthlessly outlawed. But nothing stops Skate Ali. By day, she’s just another student dodging detention. By night—she’s a rebel on wheels, an enigmatic loner defying the law on the Los Angeles streets. But when Ali slams headfirst into the infamous world of underground skateboarding, she comes face to face with a crew of outcast skaters called the LA Skull Clan, and their masked leader, Skull Queen 9. Fueled by a magical force called the Rush, the clan pulls off explosive moves and defiant acts of resistance. Faced with the opportunity of leveling up her game, but afraid of actually being perceived by others, Ali must decide: will she play it safe, or kickflip straight into a revolution? Skate Ali #1 feels a bit like the 80s and 90s skateboarding movies that gave a big middle finger to authority while also showing off other tricks.
Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Sam Humphries, Skate Ali #1 introduces us to a world that feels like it’s not all that impossible. There’s been attempts to outlaw activities primarily enjoyed by kids. Attacks on skaters is a common thing, with moves to limit where they can skate and labelling them as troublemakers and a nuisance. Skate Ali #1 feels like an extension of all of that with jackbooted thugs attempting to break up skating clans.
But, DeConnick and Humphries add more to the concept with each of those skating clans bringing something magical/mystical to the action. It’s battles with a slight twist as there’s powers skaters tap that allow them to perform bigger tricks or just create a skate park out of nothing. It’s an element that infuses a video game aspect to the world adding powerups to the equation and giving each group more of a personality.
The art by Natacha Bustos and lettering by Josh Reed add to the pop punk style the comic bleeds. There’s a great style to it with characters having so much personality, each delivering a unique look that tells its own story. The world is also key in setting up the concept and direction delivering one that feels like it’s slightly worn down and familiar, but also slight details on it being futuristic. It’s the type of future that’s only slightly different than ours, one that helps immerse the reader and not distract with all of the fancy tech. But, that visually works great for a comic whose focus is skateboards. The color of the comic helps make it pop taking it from a rather dour story of police rule to one of defiance and seeking enjoyment and what we love in the face of authority.
Skate Ali #1 is a fun start to the series. It has a solid concept that feels like it’s a bit of a throwback to 80s and 90s skateboarding films where they take on some evil politician or corporation. It’s infusion of abilities for the various skateboarding groups also gives it a bit more of a fantastical feel that sucks readers in to the enjoyment of it all and opens up the possibilities.
Story: Kelly Sue DeConnick, Sam Humphries Art: Natacha Bustos Letterer: Josh Reed
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy
Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
Skate Ali #1
Writer: Sam Humphries · Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: Natacha Bustos
Letterer: Joshua Reed
Cover artist: Natacha Bustos
Welcome to near future Los Angeles—a neon-scorched city where skateboarding has been ruthlessly outlawed. But nothing stops Skate Ali.
By day, she’s just another student dodging detention. By night—she’s a rebel on wheels, an enigmatic loner defying the law on the Los Angeles streets.
But when Ali slams headfirst into the infamous world of underground skateboarding, she comes face to face with a crew of outcast skaters called the LA Skull Clan, and their masked leader, Skull Queen 9. Fueled by a magical force called the Rush, the clan pulls off explosive moves and defiant acts of resistance.
Faced with the opportunity of leveling up her game, but afraid of actually being perceived by others, Ali must decide: will she play it safe, or kickflip straight into a revolution?
Eisner-winning writer Kelly Sue DeConnick (Bitch Planet, FML) and hitmaker Sam Humphries (Harley Quinn, Guardians of the Galaxy) team up with artist Natacha Bustos (Moon Girl, Miles Morales) for a high-octane, genre-smashing sci-fi skatepunk saga about friendship, rebellion, and finding your line when the world wants to knock you down.
Monsters in Love: A Pride Anthology
Writer: James Tynion IV · Tate Brombal · Vita Ayala · Sina Grace · Jadzia Axelrod · Zoe Tunnell · Josh Trujillo · Lilah Sturges · Lee Knox Ostertag · Kenny Wroten · Jacoby Salcedo
Artist: Isaac Goodhart · Claudia Aguirre · Tench · Sina Grace · Lee Knox Ostertag · Kenny Wroten · Jacoby Salcedo · Vash Taylor
Colorist: Miquel Muerto · Claudia Aguirre · Tench
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Cover artist: V. Gagnon
We need love and monster now more than ever!!!
Beloved anthology Monsters In Love turns romance comics on their ogre-sized head with 10 swoon-worthy stories by fan-favorite LGBTQIA+ creators, including James Tynion IV, Jadzia Axelrod, Vita Ayala, Zoe Tunnell, Sina Grace, Josh Trujillo, Claudia Aguirre, Tench, and many others, just in time for Pride Month.
This super-sized special also includes a framing story by the creative team from The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos!
80 page one-shot for less than 10 bucks!
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Wings of Fate #1
Writer: Tim Sheridan
Artist: Will Sliney
Colorist: Israel Silva
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Cover artist: Will Sliney · Israel Silva
In the aftermath of Skeletor’s siege on Eternos, a down-and-out refugee gives sanctuary to a mysterious, injured falcon. Now, to save her life, he must embark upon a perilous journey through the Mystic Mountains and seek aid from the storied inhabitants of the realm of Avion.
From writer Tim Sheridan (Masters of the Universe: Revolution) and artist Will Sliney (Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren) comes an all-new adventure set in the film universe of Masters of the Universe (2026).
