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

Chachu #1 (Image) – Chachu #1 is a hell of a creator-owned comic debut from writer Iman Vellani. She, Marianna Ignazzi, and Jordie Bellaire turn into a gorgeous Hollywood neo noir starring a Pakistani-Canadian college student whose trip to find her missing, mysterious uncle opens a big ol’ can of worms. Vellani’s captions demonstrate her protagonist’s yearning for connection and a life bigger than the one she’s currently have while Ignazzi and Bellaire’s visuals reveal a world full of glory and double dealing. Chachu’s missing wife might be the most interesting character of all as the creative team easily subverts damsel in distress/dead wife cliches to give her the beginnings of an arc and one hell of personality. This is a comic that will fit nicely on the shelf with such Image noirs as The Good Asian and the Brubaker/Phillips collaborations. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

Mary Jane, Face It Tiger #1 (Marvel) – Mary Jane, Face It Tiger #1 is an eras spanning celebration of one of the most badass female characters in comic books and her evolution from love interest to superhero on her own right. The comic leads off with a story set in the aftermath of Chameleon impersonating Peter Parker and then getting his ass beat by Mary Jane. JM DeMatteis and Andrea Broccardo use the superhero metaphor to explore living in the aftermath of trauma and also remind us how great Peter and MJ were together. Also, yay, therapy! In the second story, Ann Nocenti and Alina Yerofieieva offer a glimpse at Mary Jane’s superhero future while she fights off the villainous Haze on a movie set. Nocenti’s MJ is whip smart and easily bests an evil mist and a sleazy director with ease. Yerofieieva’s nigh-90s artwork, but with better storytelling chops fits the tone of the story too. Up next, JMS and Luigi Zacaria go for full bittersweet as an aged Mary Jane reflects on her life with Peter and Spider-Man. It’s a reminder that JMS was a damn good Spidey writer when he wasn’t focusing on the totems or One More Daying. MJ Face It Tiger #1 wraps up with a present day story showing MJ standing up for herself and her fellow actor with the help of the Venom symbiote. Sadly, this story is a bit of a rerun of the Nocenti/Yerofieieva one, but Phil Noto’s art is always solid and I need MJ’s Venom bag. Overall: 7.8 Verdict: Buy

Tank Girl Summer Love Sensation (Titan) – Tank Girl Summer Love Sensation is a reprint of a 1990 full color Tank Girl serial by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett in the mighty Deadline Magazine. Nominally, the comic follows Tank Girl and Booga visiting her grandparents in rural England, but it transforms into a mayhem, nudity, dirty joke, and obscure UK pop culture reference-filled quest for the Fountain of Youth. This comic is dense is a good way ; there’s always some new reference or background gag to laugh at. Also, Hewlett’s different visual approaches keeps the book interesting, especially his use of mixed media and collage. This is a book that can go from glorious Romantic art homages to jokes about rival cartoonist’s pubic hair. It’s the perfect beach read for the cheeky ones out there. Overall: 9.9 Verdict: Buy