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

Kaya #1 (Image Comics) – Writer/artist Wes Craig begins a post-apocalyptic fantasy epic with hunter Kaya and royal princeling Jin finding a way to the North to find somewhere to be safe. Of course, this goes terribly wrong, and there are lizard riders, unlikely alliances, and lessons about the importance of survival versus history. Craig’s storytelling and Jason Wordie’s color palette are the big highlights of the series as he knows how to go for the big wide shot of abandoned villages and then tighten it up with a grid when Jin is bargaining for food. Craig’s cartoonish art style is perfect for conveying the emotions of grief and desperation as well as friendship, and overall, this is a good entry into an intriguing world. Overall: 8.9 verdict: Buy

Rings of Power S1E7 “The Eye”– In its darkest hour, Rings of Power has really found its quality. “The Eye” explores the fallout of the volcanic eruption in the Southlands. There’s more intrigue and heart in the Harfoot’s storyline plus weird-ass cultists, and setbacks in Elrond’s quest to save his people through the mining of mithril. Director Charlotte Brandstrom sets the tone for the episode in the first minutes with Galadriel and Theo finding an unlikely bond and looking for survivors in a flaming wasteland. Their interactions are wonderful, and Morfydd Clark adds a new layer of vulnerability to the Elf general. With orange and sepia filters and bleak cinematography, “The Eye” shows the true, human cost of war and revenge, but also resilience with a now-blinded Miriel vowing that Numenor will return to finish the job. The visual motif of flames continues as the Harfoots’ grove turns out to be blighted until the Stranger works his magic, and then it catches on fire again. However, Nori, Poppy, and the other Harfoots have grown and changed throughout this season and end up beginning a kind of adventure of their own. Change isn’t something that King Durin IV of Khazad-Dum is into as he forbids his son Prince Durin from mining mithril and gets in a heated argument with him that has actors Owain Arthur and Peter Mullan tapping into their dwarven rage. Durin III is strongly framed to be in the wrong especially in light of what could happen to the Elves, but one of the final frames of the episode challenges this assumption. By embracing the darkness and exploring guilt and defeat with a sliver of hope, “The Eye” is the strongest hour of Rings of Power this season and definitely connects to the work of an author that had to withstand the trenches in one of the world’s most pointless wars. Overall: 9.1

Well, there you have it, folks. The reviews we didn’t quite get a chance to write. See you next week!

Please note that with some of the above comics, Graphic Policy was provided FREE copies for review. Where we purchased the comics, you’ll see an asterisk (*). If you don’t see that, you can infer the comic was a review copy. In cases where we were provided a review copy and we also purchased the comic you’ll see two asterisks (**).