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Mini Reviews: Swamp Thing 1989 #4, Giant Robot Hellboy Returns #1, Sicko #1, Gambit Wanted #1

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Swamp Thing 1989 #4

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

Swamp Thing 1989 #4 (DC) – Rick Veitch wraps up his Swamp Thing run the way he originally intended with art from Tom Mandrake and Trish Mulvihill in Swamp Thing 1989 #4. There’s one last battle between Swamp Thing and Anton Arcane, the birth of his and Abby’s child (A son in this version), and a literal, but well set-up Deus ex machine to give the Hollands a happy ending. There’s a zen quality to Veitch and Mandrake’s work as Swamp Thing has seen and done everything and just wants to be with his wife and kid. He portrays calm compared to the chaos of Arcane and his ever shifting body. Superhero comics rarely have endings, but now Alan Moore and Rick Veitch’s Swamp Thing has a near-perfect one that actually fits in current DC continuity too. (PS It’s such a treat to have Mandrake draw Spectre in all his godlike and actually useful glory.) Overall: 9.6 Verdict: Buy

Giant Robot Hellboy Returns #1 (Dark Horse) – Giant Robot Hellboy Returns has diminishing returns from its predecessor despite high energy, craggy linework from Duncan Fegredo and some trippy violets from colorist extraordinaire Dave Stewart. But Mike Mignola’s script is filled with technobabble. The comic feels like the boring part of an old school Toho movie when the badly dubbed scientists yammer, and you wish giant monster and robot would duke it out. The worst part of GRH Returns #1 is that it just tapers off at the end instead of having a good cliffhanger. Overall: 6.1 Verdict: Pass

Sicko #1 (Ignition) – Tini Howard and Amilcar Pinna’s Sicko is a cathartic read for anyone who has been treated like shit or not believed by the health care system. Protagonist Valentine is dying, and she and her doctors don’t know why, but they wear hazmat suits around her. There’s also some shifty healthcare conglomerate/alternative medicine going on and creating conflict in the background. Howard’s nonlinear narrative creates context for Valentine’s plight while still being a propulsive biohazard thriller. Pinna and colorist Amanda Grazini go full trippy when Valentine uses her “abilities” on the run contrasting with the sterile hospital rooms. This issue has Breaking Bad pilot energy, but swap the blue meth for prescription pills. I’m definitely along for the ride. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Gambit Wanted #1 (Marvel) – Once I got over the shock of Storm being a child for some reason, I ended enjoying this flashback Gambit comic from Chris Claremont, Robert Gill, and Bryan Valenza. Claremont’s writing is wordy as ever, but his captions provide insight into Gambit’s psyche while still leaving room for action. The highlight of the issue is an extended Gambit/Bullseye fight with breathtaking choreography from Gill and deep purples from Valenza. I don’t know the reasons behind the hit on Gambit, but Gambit Wanted #1 portrays the thief turned hero at a turning point in his career. I also look forward to more cool fight scenes. Overall: 7.7 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Swamp Thing 1989 #4

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Swamp Thing 1989 #4

(W) Rick Veitch (A) Tom Mandrake

THE CHILD IS BORN, AND ALL OF HELL IS LICKING ITS CHOPS! After over three decades of anticipation, Rick Veitch’s legendary finale to the Swamp Thing saga explodes! The child is born, and Anton Arcane has slithered out of hell to claim them as his final prize. Can John Constantine and Abby’s closest friends protect their baby? Will the fate of the world be tipped into an abyss of unalloyed hatred? Or will Swamp Thing do whatever it takes to return to his loved ones and save them from Arcane’s clutches? Welcome to the ultimate ending to the saga of Swamp Thing.

Swamp Thing 1989 #4

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

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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

Preview: Swamp Thing 1989 #3

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Swamp Thing 1989 #3

(W) Rick Veitch (A) Tom Mandrake

BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, SWAMP THING MUST FACE THE SOURCE! After three decades of controversy and cancellation, Rick Veitch’s finale to the Swamp Thing time-travel saga barrels toward its mind-bending conclusion! Swamp Thing’s journey back through time has finally led all the way to the Big Bang and beyond. There, in the presence of the Source of the Multiverse, Swamp Thing must make an impossible choice: join the Source of life itself or find his way home to Abby. While 13 billion years in the future, John Constantine works his occult network while Hell itself is ablaze with villains of yesteryears forging evil into a new and terrifying form! The child of Swamp Thing, Abby Arcane, and John Constantine, heir to the role of Earth’s Elemental, is about to be born. And everything hangs in the balance.

Cover of Swamp Thing comic issue #90 featuring a large stone monolith with 'SWAMP THING' written on it, surrounded by a fiery background, and a green creature standing in the foreground.
A page from a DC Comics publication titled 'Meanwhile...' by Rich Handley, discussing themes of heroes and villains in comic narratives, with references to various DC characters and storylines.
A comic book panel featuring a conversation in a pub setting. Characters discuss various topics while holding drinks, with one character resembling a bartender and another observing. The artwork blends detailed illustrations with expressive dialogue.
A green humanoid figure stands on a rocky landscape under a colorful, swirling sky, facing a large orange structure that reads 'SWAMP THING'. The words 'SOURCE AND SORCERY' are etched into the ground.

DC Announces Superman: The Stranger by Wes Craig

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DC has announced that it will return readers to the first days of the Man of Tomorrow with Superman: The Stranger, a new six-issue DC Black Label comic book series launching in September, written and illustrated by Wes Craig. Set in an Art Deco-inspired 1938 Metropolis, the series reimagines Superman’s earliest adventures through a modern storytelling lens while drawing heavily from the visual language of DC’s Golden Age of comic books and the Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons.

In Superman: The Stranger, readers will follow Superman at the very beginning of his journey. During the day, Clark Kent does what he can to make ends meet in the bustling city of Metropolis, but when the sun goes down, he leaps into action to keep the city streets safe. As Superman, Clark fights for a better tomorrow, but he feels like he’s not affecting change. The rich keep getting richer, and the poor struggle to survive. Can Superman truly save the downtrodden?

Superman: The Stranger, a six-issue DC Black Label comic book series written and illustrated by Wes Craig with colors by Jason Wordie and lettering by Tom Napolitano, will feature variant covers by Dave Johnson, Goran Parlov, and Ethan Young on the debut issue. Superman: The Stranger #1 arrives wherever comic books are sold on September 2, 2026, with all covers printed on cardstock for $4.99 US, and will carry DC’s Ages 17+ content descriptor for mature readers.

Preview: Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham – Noir Edition #4

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Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham – Noir Edition #4

(W) Rafael Grampá (A) Rafael Grampá

THE HEART-STOPPING CONCLUSION TO RAFAEL GRAMPA’S TWISTED MASTERPIECE! As bells ring out across Gotham City, blood runs in its streets. Doctorgeist’s plan has come to fruition, and his legion of loyal followers unleash the evil inside their rotting hearts upon friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. But there’s an evil lurking deep in Batman’s heart as well, one that Doctorgeist himself discovered long ago — and the only way to save Gotham might be to set it free once and for all…

Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham – Noir Edition #4

Preview: Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4

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Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4

(W) Rafael Grampá (A) Rafael Grampá

THE HEART-STOPPING CONCLUSION TO RAFAEL GRAMPA’S TWISTED MASTERPIECE! As bells ring out across Gotham City, blood runs in its streets. Doctorgeist’s plan has come to fruition, and his legion of loyal followers unleash the evil inside their rotting hearts upon friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. But there’s an evil lurking deep in Batman’s heart as well, one that Doctorgeist himself discovered long ago — and the only way to save Gotham might be to set it free once and for all…

Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4

Mini Reviews: Escape #7, Exploit #3, Did You Hear About Mimi Green #1, Swamp Thing 1989 #2

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Exploit #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

Escape #7 (Image) – Shaw makes his attack on the enemy Titan weapon in the fireworks-filled Escape #7. Daniel Acuna visually captures the horrors of a fire fight while Rick Remender‘s captions expose all of Shaw’s fears and doubts as he undertakes what is essentially a suicide mission. This could easily be the final issue of the series, but Escape isn’t just interested in the dog faction winning the war, but also how they treat the folks that have been oppressed by the bats. The use of anthropomorphic animals allows Remender and Acuna to go under the surface of the “last good war” and look at the real pain and trauma that it caused as this series continues. Overall: 8.6 Verdict: Buy

Exploit #3 (Mad Cave) – Exploit #3 is quite the twisty techno-thriller ride from Tim Leong, Laura Hudson, and Emiliana Pinna. Leong and Hudson uncover some cards about the assassination of Saxon and the identities of Dade and Mr. Ipsum while still keeping the story grounded in the romantic relationship between Kirby and Lenox that reaches a rough spot as they’re both fugitives from both the government and tech bros. There’s one chase sequence from Pinna and colorist Rebecca Good that is particularly exciting using a map-like double page spread and inset panels. Exploit #3 plunges right into the morally grey area, and I’ve never been more excited to read the next issue. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy

Did You Hear About Mimi Green #1 (Dark Horse) – Connor Goldsmith and Josh Cornillon take aim at cancel culture, wellness culture, and vitality with a heavy helping of body horror in Did You Hear About Mimi Green #1. Seriously, this comic is like if David Cronenberg directed Hacks. Cornillon’s visuals are capital “d” disgusting, but there’s a dreamy quality to his work as well, especially when Mimi thinks about her old lover. All in all, this is a unique and engaging debut from Goldsmith and Josh Cornillon that knows likable characters are overrated. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Swamp Thing 1989 #2 (DC) – It’s such a blessing to get the proper conclusion to Rick Veitch’s Swamp Thing run, and this installment is even timier and wimeyer than the previous issue’s Biblical beauty. Swamp Thing continues to be flung back in the depths of time, and it’s looking more and more hopeless that he’ll be reunited with Abby. Veitch and artist Tom Mandrake continue the Jesus parallels by having Abby giving birth to their daughter in a stable in Houma while Swamp Thing’s journey gets more cosmic and trippy. This issue also has guest stars galore like John Constantine, Jim Corrigan, Anthro, and the heroic Shining Knight as well as a more nefarious figure to fill the void in the Green. Swamp Thing 1989 #2 lacks the tragic beauty of the Camelot and crucifixion issues, but does capture the bonkers creative of the late 1980s era while not abandoning the all-important Swamp Thing/Abby relationship. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Swamp Thing 1989 #2

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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
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