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Preview: Skate Ali #3

Posted on August 17, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

Skate Ali #3

Writer: Sam Humphries · Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: Natacha Bustos
Letterer: Joshua Reed
Cover artist: Natacha Bustos

Dear Dad — I’m in deep with the Skull Clan but I can’t keep up. They use the Rush to skate and I’m a complete flop at it. You know who’s no help? The ghost that lives in my skateboard (don’t ask). Anyway, there’s some secret blood oath tournament against Playa Clan and I’m totally screwed. It actually makes me wish I did my math homework once in awhile. Other than that, I’m just fine! Totally fine and totally not freaking out!! Love you, bye!!! –Ali

From Eisner-winning writer Kelly Sue DeConnick (Bitch Planet, FML) and hitmaker Sam Humphries (Harley Quinn, Guardians of the Galaxy) team up with artist Natacha Bustos (Moon Girl, Miles Morales) for a high-octane, genre-smashing sci-fi skatepunk saga about friendship, rebellion, and finding your line when the world wants to knock you down.

Preview: Skate Ali #2

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team

Skate Ali #2

Writer: Sam Humphries · Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: Natacha Bustos
Letterer: Joshua Reed
Cover artist: Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

Dear Dad—I almost got arrested. Okay so I DID get arrested LOL. These Skull Clan skaters are cool. But weird. But also some of them are really unpleasant and I kind of want to leave. But Skull Queen 9 said that if I joined them for their big stupid race she’d solve our problems. Idk. Their best skater Maria just pulled me up to a rooftop and told me to skate off the edge and . . . anyway, I think I might die? Also, I think I saw a ghost. Love you, bye!!! —Ali

Mini Reviews: Godzilla’s Odyssey #1, Justice League: Dream Girls #2, Skate Ali #1, Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1

Posted on June 14, 2026 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

Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1 (Marvel) – Stoners and superheroes collide in the cheesy, yet charming Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1 from Kevin Smith, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith, Roberto Poggi, Erick Arciniega, and Marco Menyz. Not all the jokes land, but you can really tell that Smith is like a kid with all the toys in the box having his creations interact with all the Marvel hitters and ending up in one hell of a battle against Dr. Doom and a host of other baddies. The ending is especially sweet building off the honest emotions of Clerks 3 with a Marvel/New Jersey twist. There are so many iconic moments for Marvel/View Askewniverse fans (That’s a big Venn Diagram), and Camuncoli brings a blockbuster sheen to the art without being afraid to get funny. Kevin Smith has truly been killing it with these intercompany crossovers recently. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

Skate Ali #1 (Dark Horse) – Sam Humphries and Natacha Bustos tell a timely tale of finding community in an age of isolation and authoritarianism in Skate Ali #1. In post-apocalyptic L.A., skating is illegal, but it’s the only thing that keeps protagonist Ali happy and sane. Bustos’ art and colors capture the joy Ali has from riding her board as well as the pitfalls and more surreal elements when she runs into the Warriors-like skate clans. Skate Ali #1 is all about the feeling of giving a shit about something while the world crumbles and is a heightened version of finding joy in subculture while not neglecting the cliqueishness of these space. Also, Ali’s dad made my cry and her nurse’s advice to her after her big skating accident cracked me up. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Justice League: Dream Girls #2 (DC) – JL Dream Girls #2 is another exciting and vulnerable chapter of this Pride Month event penned by Dreamer and Galaxy creators Nicole Maines and Jadzia Axelrod with art from Brandt and Stein, Vincent Cecil, Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund, Stephen Sadowski, and Joe Quinones. Dreamer and Galaxy continue their tour through alternate realities while their friends try to support them, and the Justice League and GL Corps passes judgment on them. Brandt & Stein’s skill with facial expressions work well for the interpersonal conflict of the frame story, and the guest artists shine on homages to the Hard Travelin’ Heroes eras of Green Lantern and Green Arrow, an Old West riff, and Dreamer and Galaxy playing the roles of John Constantine and Zatanna. But underneath these flourishes, JL: Dream Girls #2 boils down to Dreamer fighting a hard fight against herself and having issues even letting her friends in. Maines and Axelrod explore both her identity as a trans woman and a superhero and refreshingly don’t give any easy answers while creating some new conflict for Galaxy in the “real world”. Also, JL: Dream Girls #2 features a kind of holodeck story starring Jo Mullein where Steven Underwood, Morgan Hampton, and comics legend Alitha Martinez use ballroom culture and Spike Lee-influenced ring constructs to show her struggling with memories of “the one who got away”. This internal conflict is compounded by all the different Lantern Corps members staying on Oa, but you don’t need to be current on the GL books to get something out of this memorable character study. Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy

Godzilla’s Odyssey #1 (IDW) – In Godzilla’s Odyssey #1, Frank Tieri and Ilias Kyriazis re-cast the titular monster as an agent of Zeus helping Odysseus return home from Ithaca. The comic is a speed-adaptation of the epic poem with Kaiju standing in for various monsters from the myths. There’s a lot of emphasis on the gods making an Odysseus his plaything, and Kyriazis’ designs for them are excellent from muscular Zeus to sensible Athena and angry Poseidon, who ends up being the butt of many jokes. I would honestly read a whole book of Greek myths drawn by Ilias Kyriazis. The comic hits most of the highlights of the poem, but it feels truncated in places. But, hey, there’s no place like home. Godzilla is a more malevolent figure in the Tom Scioli backup in which Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham join forces to fight him. The art is creative, but the story runs out of steam in the end. However, the lead story is a wonderful primer for the upcoming Odyssey film although I’m sure the Greek gods and Godzilla himself will have much less screen time. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Skate Ali #1 delivers a New Kick to Dystopian Authoritarianism

Posted on June 10, 2026 by Brett

Welcome to near future Los Angeles—a neon-scorched city where skateboarding has been ruthlessly outlawed. But nothing stops Skate Ali. By day, she’s just another student dodging detention. By night—she’s a rebel on wheels, an enigmatic loner defying the law on the Los Angeles streets. But when Ali slams headfirst into the infamous world of underground skateboarding, she comes face to face with a crew of outcast skaters called the LA Skull Clan, and their masked leader, Skull Queen 9. Fueled by a magical force called the Rush, the clan pulls off explosive moves and defiant acts of resistance. Faced with the opportunity of leveling up her game, but afraid of actually being perceived by others, Ali must decide: will she play it safe, or kickflip straight into a revolution? Skate Ali #1 feels a bit like the 80s and 90s skateboarding movies that gave a big middle finger to authority while also showing off other tricks.

Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Sam Humphries, Skate Ali #1 introduces us to a world that feels like it’s not all that impossible. There’s been attempts to outlaw activities primarily enjoyed by kids. Attacks on skaters is a common thing, with moves to limit where they can skate and labelling them as troublemakers and a nuisance. Skate Ali #1 feels like an extension of all of that with jackbooted thugs attempting to break up skating clans.

But, DeConnick and Humphries add more to the concept with each of those skating clans bringing something magical/mystical to the action. It’s battles with a slight twist as there’s powers skaters tap that allow them to perform bigger tricks or just create a skate park out of nothing. It’s an element that infuses a video game aspect to the world adding powerups to the equation and giving each group more of a personality.

The art by Natacha Bustos and lettering by Josh Reed add to the pop punk style the comic bleeds. There’s a great style to it with characters having so much personality, each delivering a unique look that tells its own story. The world is also key in setting up the concept and direction delivering one that feels like it’s slightly worn down and familiar, but also slight details on it being futuristic. It’s the type of future that’s only slightly different than ours, one that helps immerse the reader and not distract with all of the fancy tech. But, that visually works great for a comic whose focus is skateboards. The color of the comic helps make it pop taking it from a rather dour story of police rule to one of defiance and seeking enjoyment and what we love in the face of authority.

Skate Ali #1 is a fun start to the series. It has a solid concept that feels like it’s a bit of a throwback to 80s and 90s skateboarding films where they take on some evil politician or corporation. It’s infusion of abilities for the various skateboarding groups also gives it a bit more of a fantastical feel that sucks readers in to the enjoyment of it all and opens up the possibilities.

Story: Kelly Sue DeConnick, Sam Humphries Art: Natacha Bustos Letterer: Josh Reed
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Exclusive: Kelly Sue DeConnick, Sam Humphries, Natacha Bustos, and Josh Reed darkslide with sci-fi skatepunk series called Skate Ali

Posted on February 20, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team

We have the exclusive reveal of Skate Ali, a new five-issue comic series from Kelly Sue DeConnick, Sam Humphries, Natacha Bustos, and Dark Horse Comics! Skate Ali is a high-octane, genre-smashing sci-fi skatepunk saga about friendship, rebellion, and finding yourself when the world wants to knock you down written by DeConnick and Humphries, illustrated by Bustos, and lettered by Josh Reed. Skate Ali #1 will be available in June 2026 and will feature cover art by Bustos, Joe Quinones, Sweeney Boo, Emma Rios, and Jamie McKelvie.

Welcome to near-future Los Angeles—a neon-scorched city where skateboarding has been ruthlessly outlawed. But nothing stops Skate Ali.

By day, she’s just another student dodging detention. By night, she’s a rebel on wheels, an enigmatic loner defying the law on the Los Angeles streets.

But when Ali slams headfirst into the infamous world of underground skateboarding, she comes face to face with a crew of outcast skaters called the LA Skull Clan, and their masked leader, Skull Queen 9. Fueled by a magical force called the Rush, the clan pulls off explosive moves and defiant acts of resistance.

Faced with the opportunity to level up her game, but afraid of actually being perceived by others, Ali must decide: will she play it safe, or kickflip straight into a revolution?

Drop into your local comic shop and pre-order Skate Ali #1 (of 5) before it hits shelves on June 10, 2026 for $4.99.