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
Danger Street #3 (DC Comics) – Danger Street is really starting to hit its stride as a homage to the 1970s DC series 1st Issue Special . It shares that comic’s focus on B and C list characters while bringing them together through the threat of cosmic destruction and a murder mystery. Plus corporations are trying to make money and wheel and deal. This book is turning into a showcase for Jorge Fornes and Dave Stewart‘s versatility as artists, and they turn on a dime going from the Kirby-esque psychedelia of the Source Wall to, well, 1940s Jack Kirby with the Danger Street Dingbats getting in scraps and looking for their friend’s murderer. Tom King and Fornes also bring a level of psychological depth that the 1970s comics didn’t have with the entire issue framed around Lady Cop (She hates that name though.) dealing with a malfunctioning printer at her work, and you can see the sadness and vulnerability in Starman and Warlord’s faces when a film studio treats them like IP and not people. Danger Street #3 feels both Biblical and slice of life, nostalgic and forward-thinking, and I look forward to seeing Tom King thread these disparate characters closer together. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy
Mosely #2 (BOOM! Studios) – After a gut-wrenching, powerful first issue, Mosely takes a step back in this week’s issue, but only a small one. Writer Rob Guillory isn’t afraid to get cynical in this script which includes Luddite protagonist Mosely turning his ire towards his fellow humans while trying to take out the tech god that controls the virtual reality playground where humans spend most of their days. (And is also the new jail.) There’s an exhausted rhythm to Guillory’s captions, which is in contrast to the dynamism of Sam Lotfi and Jean-Francois Beulieu‘s visuals. The book is most compelling when it focuses on the relationship between Mosely and his daughter, who is very dialed into what’s going on with the tech gods, but they don’t get a lot of time together in this issue beyond a flashback scene. So, this issue is just a lot of smashing until Mosely literally passes out at the end. While the first issue was more misanthropic satirical, Mosely #2 reads more like a Donny Cates beat ’em up even though a funny, yet poignant smaller scale backup story written and drawn by Rob Guillory gives me hope for future issues. Overall: 6.1 Verdict: Pass
Brett
WildC.A.T.s #4 (DC Comics) – Just when you think the series can’t get any better, it surprises you. The issue mainly focuses on Grifter’s battle behind enemy lines as the rest of the team attempts to get approval to save him. It’s an interesting turn of an issue in that its main focus isn’t the action and danger but the actual characters and their relationship. For as dysfunctional as the team is, Matthew Rosenberg reminds us that they are a family in a way. It’s one that might not get along all of the time, fight, and generally want to slap each other, but they’re family and a team that watches out for each other. But, the bigger surprise is the depth Rosenberg gives Grifter. He’s always been a “cool” character, little in words and mostly in action, but here we get his thoughts as the situation gets more and more desperate. We find that there’s a real hero here and despite the cynicism on the surface, he’s really good underneath. Add in fantastic art by Stephen Segovia, Elmer Santos, and Ferran Delgado and you have an issue that defines who these characters are. Overall: 9.0 Verdict: Buy
Nightcrawlers #1 (Marvel) – Sins of Sinister has been an interesting event showing a world that has gotten out of hand from even Sinister’s machinations. This new miniseries focuses on the Nightcrawlers, genetically spliced Nightcrawler with other heroes who are liberated for some reason. It’s a slice of story in the overall arc and doesn’t quite work on its own. It feels like a story that can’t quite fit in the main event series but also doesn’t quite stand on its own as well. Maybe as the issues play out it’ll work a bit better but as a debut issue, it falls a little short. Overall: 7.0 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 (**).
