james mascia Archives - Graphic Policy

Mini Reviews: Dungeons and Dimwits, Something is Killing the Children, and Grommets!

Posted on June 30, 2024 by Logan Dalton

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

Dungeons and Dimwits #1 (Dren Productions) – This is a comic by James Mascia and Kodaris about a group of kids who get sucked into the world of Dungeons and Dragons. There are some silly jokes about the player characters fighting enemies way above their level, but the visuals are amateurish with kind of chibi style characters with one single, intense facial expression. Also, not all the jokes land in 2024, especially ones about a cast member always wanting to play a female character, ending up as one, and that being “Ew gross”. I love a good fantasy comedy series, but this doesn’t get the job done despite an insane cliffhanger. Overall: 5.0 Verdict: Pass

Something is Killing the Children #38 (BOOM! Studios) – This arc of Something is Killing the Children, “Road Stories”, has featured standalone stories from Erica Slaughter’s past, and issue 38 is no exception. Erica is passed out in a kid’s treehouse for most of the issue, and James Tynion and Werther Dell’Edera create suspense by keeping you in the dark if the monster is still around. SiKtC #38 provides an outsider’s view on Erica and her work with a few creepy moments from the plush she carries around. The last third of the issue start to show that she’s beginning to care about the people who she saves from monsters instead of getting the job done like when she helps even out the kids’ older sister’s hair after they made a mess of it with scissors. “Road Stories” has definitely been a “breather arc” after the intense New Mexico storyline, but SiKtC continues to be a solid, character driven horror book. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy

Grommets #2 (Image) – From the first page of a bedroom plastered with punk rock and Marvel Comics posters, Rick Remender, Brian Posehn, and Brett Parson continue to bathe in (occasionally gory) nostalgia in Grommets #2. Rick and Brian skate or die throughout Sacramento, actually meet some girls, and savor some Imperial phase Taco Bell. (Pre-Chihuahua/Enchirito era.) in the latest installment of this slice of life series. The scripting and dialogue feels like two buddies hanging out and trying to bust each other’s chops with Rick and Brian not being at a stage in their friendship where they can bare their souls about the deeper things in life. (Plus they’re teenage boys living in Reagan’s America.) The Jens (Badass female skaters) are a great addition to the supporting cast, especially Jen 2, who is ACAB personified. Grommets #2 is funny, scary, and even triumphant once Rick gets more confident at skating and continues to nail how epic every day as a kid used to feel. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Webcomics Weekly: Anti Christ

Posted on January 22, 2017 by Alex K Cossa

Welcome to Graphic Policy’s spotlight on webcomics, where we take a look at one of the many comics available online every Monday: Webcomics Weekly (but don’t be fooled by the “weekly” part of the title; the feature may happen more or less frequently than that). We’re defining webcomics as any comics published online for free consumption by the general public that doesn’t require a subscription service.

This week we’re taking a look at Anti Christ. The strip is created by James Mascia, who was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about the webcomic below.

Graphic Policy: In a nutshell, can you tell us what the strip’s about?

James Mascia: The webcomic is about a woman who is the Anti-Christ, and wants absolutely no part of it. She tries to kill herself time and time again, but can’t. She ruins the lives of everyone she comes into contact with, and her powers seem only good for wreaking havoc and causing death. She is on the run from terrorists who want to use her powers to destroy the Western World, as well as Angels who want to lock her in a purgatory for eternity.

Essentially, the whole story plays with the idea of the Anti-Christ trying to be a good person. Can she, or will she become the monster everyone expects her to be?

GP: How often do you update?

JM: I usually update every other week–on a Tuesday.

GP: How long have you been producing the strip?

JM: I’ve been working on it since August of 2016.

GP: Where did the idea for the strip come from?

JM: Believe it or not, it came from some sick and demented dream I had (I generally don’t dream about myself, which is weird in and of itself. I usually end up dreaming like I’m watching a movie). When I woke up, I jotted all the ideas and plot points down for it. Then I started writing the script for it about a week later. When you read the comic, you will see just how twisted this dream must have been.

Why it’s awesome: This is one of those webcomics that could easily be found printed and bound on the shelf at your local comic shop, and you’d happily pay three or four bucks for each issue; instead you get to read it for free (unless you contribute to the Patreon) on the interwebs, you lucky devil. Anti Christ is an incredibly well illustrated story that has a great flow to it, and one that you should spend some time enjoying.

Below you’ll find a couple pages from the webcomic (the first an second because I didn’t want to spoil anything). Enjoy, then go read the rest!