Know Your Station #5 (of 5)
(W) Sarah Gailey (A/CA) Liana Kangas
In Shops: Apr 12, 2023
SRP: $3.99
Elise’s investigations finally reveal who’s at the end of the trail of blood, and the complex motivations behind the murders.
However, chaos ensues as the true killer shows their face, with bloody results…
Know Your Station #5 (of 5)
(W) Sarah Gailey (A/CA) Liana Kangas
In Shops: Apr 12, 2023
SRP: $3.99
Elise’s investigations finally reveal who’s at the end of the trail of blood, and the complex motivations behind the murders.
However, chaos ensues as the true killer shows their face, with bloody results…
Know Your Station #4 (of 5)
(W) Sarah Gailey (A/CA) Liana Kangas
In Shops: Mar 08, 2023
SRP: $3.99
Paranoia among billionaires is rising almost as high as their profits while they tighten up on security, but they may no longer be the only targets, as Elise discovers some shocking evidence in her search for the killer.
After witnessing the most gruesome murder yet, Elise is on the verge of a breakthrough in the case… before another panic button blares and she’s greeted by a familiar voice.
Know Your Station #4 (of 5)
(W) Sarah Gailey (A/CA) Liana Kangas
In Shops: Mar 08, 2023
SRP: $3.99
Paranoia among billionaires is rising almost as high as their profits while they tighten up on security, but they may no longer be the only targets, as Elise discovers some shocking evidence in her search for the killer.
After witnessing the most gruesome murder yet, Elise is on the verge of a breakthrough in the case… before another panic button blares and she’s greeted by a familiar voice.
BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at Know Your Station #4, the penultimate issue in a five-issue limited series from the highly acclaimed writer Sarah Gailey, with star artist Liana Kangas, colorist Rebecca Nalty, and letterer Cardinal Rae, that takes a stab at the ultra-wealthy, their dreams of escaping the very planet they’ve put in peril, and the consequences of a future that might not be so far away, available on March 8, 2023.
Paranoia among the billionaires is rising almost as high as their profits while they tighten up on security, but they may no longer be the only targets, as Elise discovers some shocking evidence in her search for the killer. After witnessing the most gruesome murder yet, Elise is on the verge of a breakthrough in the case… before another panic button blares and she’s greeted by a familiar voice.
Know Your Station #4 features main and variant cover art by series artist Liana Kangas, and variant covers by highly acclaimed illustrators Becca Carey and Ming Doyle.
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
Stranger Things: Tales from Hawkins #1 (Dark Horse) – The first issue of this new anthology style Stranger Things miniseries from Jody Houser, Caio Filipe, and Dan Jackson focuses on the stories of the regular citizens of Hawkins, Indiana while all kinds of dimension spanning, monster fighting shenanigans are going on in the main plot of the Netflix show. Tales from Hawkins #1 is about two hunters in the woods who end up becoming the hunted and shows how hapless the town would be without the help of a telekinetic preteen, some resourceful kids/teens, and an undaunted sheriff. I love how Jackson varies his color palette from autumn Midwest to utter hopelessness and Filipe’s layouts show off the speed and danger of the Demogorgon. However, the two leads of the story are pretty unremarkable and don’t get much characterization so their dark ends ring hollow even with a surprise cameo at the end. Overall: 6.4 Verdict: Pass
Know Your Station #3 (BOOM! Studios) – Other than the social commentary (Rich people are Karens, especially in space), in Sarah Gailey’s script and the gorgeous and gruesome art and colors from Liana Kangas and Rebecca Nalty, I enjoy Know Your Station because it isn’t afraid to take a beat and zero in on its key characters while the billionaire bodies pile up in the spaceship. Protagonist Elise confides with definite red herring Marin about the communication issues onboard and the graphic, artistic manner of the rich board member’s deaths. But more importantly, she opens up about her imposter syndrome and addiction revealing that she had no formal investigative training and was just going to be a dish washer on board the ship. Gailey and Kangas create a real bond between Marin and Elise as they get know each other on a deeper level until shit hit the fans in a final day-glo page. If you like procedurals/mysteries, but aren’t into cops, Know Your Station is definitely worth a reading. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy
Static: Shadows of Dakota #1 (DC Comics/Milestone) – Vita Ayala and Nikolas Draper-Ivey are back with another high energy Static mini that features glorious action sequences, a look into how Virgil Hawkins helps his community out of costume, and introduces a truly unsettling villain. Draper-Ivey continues to be one of the most interesting artists in superhero comics with his manga influences shining through in emotional scenes like when Static talks to a Bang Baby who’s being chased by Feds and accidentally blows up a city street. And speaking of explosions, Nikolas Draper-Ivey brings a kind of freeze frame effect to the more epic moments of each fight or when Ebon is reaching into a Bang Baby hunter’s brain. Finally, I like that Ayala and Draper-Ivey intersperse quiet scenes between the high octane fights on city streets like when Virgil feeds an unhoused lady and tells off some cops who are rude to her, or when he reflects on the damage his battles do while watching his mom and sister do their EMT work. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy
Miracleman: The Silver Age #4 (Marvel) – In keeping with the Miracleman tradition, Miracleman: The Silver Age #4 features a 16 page lead story plus a reprint of a Young Miracleman story from the Mick Anglo that ties into what’s going on in the lead story from Neil Gaiman, Mark Buckingham, Jordie Bellaire, and Todd Klein, whose letters do a fantastic job conveying the tone of the dialogue. Plus he gets to riff on family Bibles in the opening scene which shows worshipers at the Church of Miracleman. (It’s sparsely attended.) In keeping with the themes of the series, Gaiman and Buckingham go psychological instead of physical, especially in conversation between Tom Caxton (Formerly Mister Master) and Young Miracleman talking about how what he’s going to do with his life after being the top superhero after Miracleman. Buckingham’s double page spreads combined with small grid panels make the comic seem both epic and intimate. There are worlds between Young Miracleman’s journey to find himself in the Himalayas and the maneuverings on Olympus and especially the Kirby-esque Black Warpsmiths. Reprint pages aside, Miracleman: The Silver Age #4 is an inviting blend of a coming of age story featuring Young Miracleman and a bigger picture plot about a utopia starting to show its cracks. The Warpsmiths are right ; something is definitely off on Earth. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy
Brett
Static: Shadows of Dakota #1 (DC Comics/Milestone) – A fantastic start to the second volume of the series that picks up right after the first ended. With new threats looming the issue acts as both a solid way to catch up on what has happened and also lead into what’s to come. The art is top notch with pages that’ll leave you lingering. This is a hell of a start to the series that shouldn’t be missed. Overall: 9.0 Verdict: Buy
Plush #3 (Image Comics) – The series continues its twisted ways as we learn more about the cannibal furries. That alone should really tell you everything you need to know. The art is great. The writer is wtf funny. It’s such an oddity and it’s fantastic. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy
Zombicide: Day One #1 (Source Point Press) – While I know of the board game, I’ve never played it so I’m sure I’m missing some details in the comic. But, from what I know of it, it captures a lot of what people seem to enjoy about it, especially its characters that are full of personality. There’s something fun wit the debut that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Overall: 7.75 Verdict: Read
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 (**).
Know Your Station #3 (of 5)
(W) Sarah Gailey (A/CA) Liana Kangas
In Shops: Feb 08, 2023
SRP: $3.99
Due to her addiction and hallucinations, Elise grapples with the worst possibility-is she the killer?
Her bouts of super-strength aren’t providing any comfort from these suspicions, especially as the horror of the next victim greets her!
Things are more tense and deadlier than ever as each remaining billionaire receives an anonymous threatening message…
Know Your Station #3 (of 5)
(W) Sarah Gailey (A/CA) Liana Kangas
In Shops: Feb 08, 2023
SRP: $3.99
Due to her addiction and hallucinations, Elise grapples with the worst possibility-is she the killer?
Her bouts of super-strength aren’t providing any comfort from these suspicions, especially as the horror of the next victim greets her!
Things are more tense and deadlier than ever as each remaining billionaire receives an anonymous threatening message…
BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at Know Your Station #3, the next issue in a five-issue limited series from the highly acclaimed writer Sarah Gailey, with star artist Liana Kangas, colorist Rebecca Nalty, and letterer Cardinal Rae, that takes a stab at the ultra-wealthy, their dreams of escaping the very planet they’ve put in peril, and the consequences of a future that might not be so far away, available in February 8, 2023.
Due to her addiction and hallucinations, Elise grapples with the worst possibility–is she the killer? Her bouts of super-strength aren’t providing any comfort from these suspicions, especially as the horror of the next victim greets her! Things are more tense and deadlier than ever as each remaining billionaire receives an anonymous threatening message…
Know Your Station #3 features main and variant cover art by series artist Kangas, and variant covers by highly acclaimed illustrators Becca Carey and Dani.
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
WildC.A.T.s #3 (DC Comics) – WildC.A.T.s #3 begins and ends with an exciting splash page, and Matthew Rosenberg and Stephen Segovia focus on action in this issue as the Wildcats face off against the newly minted Seven Soldiers of Victory (Not the Grant Morrison or classic one ; more like the Wish.com/ Authority) and one a covert mission to rescue a kid whose death could lead to a Crisis level event. Rosenberg really puts the Wildcats on the shit-end of the stick in this issue, which fits their new role as the Halo Corporation’s sacrificial lambs and dirty workers while the Seven Soldiers get the headlines and good life. Segovia’s skill at page architecture ramps up the team’s mission from routine to impossible as they get holed up in a building, and their only salvation is a character being teleported in from a subplot who can’t fly a chopper. The tenseness of the main plot really helped to start to bond with the team beyond just Zealot with Ladytron’s deadpan quips about bloodstream nanites making her especially endearing. WildCATS is definitely a throwback to the Extreme 90s and the wide screen 00s, but with modern, bleeding edge visual storytelling from Stephen Segovia and smart writing and straightforward plotting from Matthew Rosenberg. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy
Danger Street #2 (DC Comics/DC Black Label) – Tom King, Jorge Fornes, and Dave Stewart continue to link together obscure DC characters in the apocalyptic murder mystery Danger Street #2. King’s (by way of Dr. Fate’s helmet) storybook-style narration gives the comic a good flow and connects some of the seemingly disparate threads. Some of the most powerful scenes in the issue are the Danger Street Dingbats coming to terms with losing their own and the futility of hope as their cop friend struggles to find a lead on the murder. The stuff with the Green Team and Jack Ryder is pretty standard satire of ultracapitalism, but I love that Stewart uses similar flame colors for the Green Team’s murder basement, the exploding ship, and Darkseid’s realm. Yes, Darkseid still continues to appear in the title and shares a hug that makes you know the world is really coming to an end. This isn’t my favorite comic right now, but Fornes’ layouts and use of close-up’s in emotional scenes are really effective, and I continue to be a sucker for books that dig deeper into the motivations of B and C list characters. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy
Know Your Station #2 (BOOM! Studios) – Know Your Station is a class-conscious murder mystery in space from Sarah Gailey, Liana Kangas, Rebecca Nalty, and Cardinal Rae. In this issue, protagonist Elise (A security liaison for a bunch of rich corporate people living in space) tries to find out who killed one of the passengers and her cop partner. This seems straightforward, but Gailey and Kangas make the story compelling by having her dealing with withdrawal symptoms from a psychedelic drug called Blue with the help of the onboard AI St Brigid, who is totally the best character. Rae’s wobbling letters and Nalty’s trippy palette are a standout in this issue and do a great job of simulating her struggles with sobriety and losing time. It’s a visual experience that can only be done in comic and is nicely by suspense and good interactions between Elise and this issue’s red herring Marin, an executive who she has a connection with. Overall 8.8 Verdict: Buy
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 (**).
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