Mini Reviews: The Domain, X-Men, and Kid Cudi Presents: Moon Man
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
The Domain #1 (Image) – So this is the actual in-universe comic being put out by Syd Dallas in Chip Zdarsky’s Public Domain, and it’s a pretty good one. More sci-fi than superhero, Zdarsky and artist Rachel Stott chronicle the story of three space nerd friends who find alien tech and gain great abilities. Most of the issue focuses on them as people and their life’s struggles before the spaceship crashes, the action starts, and powerful forces are arrayed against them. I love that Stott goes away from the superhero ideal and gives the leads a diverse range of body types. This is a fun pickup for any fan of extraterrestrials. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy
X-Men #1 (Marvel) – I literally just read the 2023 Hellfire Gala last weekend so maybe I’m not the best qualified to judge issue, or maybe I am because I haven’t been in the loop. Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, and Marte Gracia relaunch the X-Books with Cyclops leading a team holed up in a decommissioned Sentinel factory in Alaska. The Scott Summers-led strikeforce fights an Orchis/AI/U-Men hybrids while trying to rescue Wolverine and six new mutants who aren’t what they seemed while a very non-war criminal Beast tries to smooth things over with the police chief. I think the U-Men is a great metaphor for this issue ; it’s a launch comic grafted from the parts of better eras in X-Men history, including Grant Morrison’s New X-Men (The Xorn/Glob Herman/U-Men of it all), Jason Aaron’s Wolverine and the X-Men (Quentin Quire and Idie’s relationship), and even the most recent Krakoa era with references to Orchis and a heroic Juggernaut. MacKay writes fun banter between unlikely pairings like Juggernaut and Magik, but the first enemy is boring. Also, when they’re introduced, it’s hard to follow Stegman and Mayer’s visuals although they excel at the big action splashes, or the issue’s few quieter moments like the police chief interacting with Beast, Xorn, and Glob Herman. X-Men #1 is a perfectly serviceable mutant comic and feels like a beat ’em up cartoon instead of exploring any deeper themes. Like a punning Magneto, seriously? Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read
Kid Cudi Presents: Moon Man #3 (Image) – Scott Mescudi, Kyle Higgins, and Marco Locati slow down the pace for an issue to show protagonist Ramon’s feelings about the loss of his friend Glenn and also come to terms with basically everyone knowing about his abilities. In the age of social media and surveillance states/corporations, the secret ID is dead, and Mescudi and Higgins use this to raise the stake as Janus Corporation wants to harness Ramon’s abilities and are already working with his colleagues. My favorite part of Moon Man #3 is Ramon and an old NASA colleague Janelle (Maybe their relationship was deeper than that.) reminiscing about old times and the vastness of the universe like a philosophical Kid Cudi lyric. Igor Monti’s colors continue to be the best thing this comic has going for it from complex, rich night skies to a flat, loud palette for uses of superpowers. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy (I purchased a copy.)
Motherlands #1 is a pretty damn bleak mother/daughter story, and no one will be comparing it to Lady Bird any time soon. But writer Si Spurrier, artist Rachel Stott, and colorist Felipe Sobreiro capture a little of the attitude, piss, and vinegar of old school 2000 AD progs in a comic that Vertigo on the cover. They embrace the dystopia and a world that features psychic abilities and multiversal travel as well as reality television and nursing homes. After a flimsy flashback that does a decent job establishing the main “sci-fi” part of this new world and a tough, effective chase sequence, Motherlands finds its footing by honing in on the relationship between Tabitha and her mother, Selena, who are both trawlers aka interdimensional bounty hunters. However, Tabitha treats her job like a beat cop or something she does to pay rent and keep food on the table while Selena did hers to be famous like the Kim Kardashian of trawlers complete with fancy outfits, one liners, and interpersonal drama.
