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.
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Godzilla vs Chicago (IDW Publishing) – “The Godzilla Vs” series of one-shots from IDW is an ingenious idea to showcase individual city’s comics writers and artists through the lens of one of fiction’s greatest artists. The lead story “Godzilla Does Chicago” is a love/hate letter to Chicago horror host Svengoolie and infamous Chicago Cubs fan Steve Bartman whose tampering of a foul ball doomed the Cubbies to 13 more years of the Billy Goat curse. Mike Costa nails the petty, pathetic voice of Mechagodzilla-piloting, lovable loser “Fangoolie” while Ryan Browne‘s well-rendered art captures the high and lowlights and destruction of beloved Chicago landmarks in great detail. Next up is “The Blue Line” by Tim Seeley, which is an ode to the CTA and second chances. Paced like a thriller with the undercurrent of a romantic comedy and the spectre of Godzilla hanging over it all, “The Blue Line” is all about seizing the moment and not being paralyzed by indecision or second-guessing yourself. The tone and art is somewhere between an epic blockbuster and indie slice of life, which is kind of the sweet spot for me. In “Chi Godzilla”, cartoonist Ezra C. Daniels satirizes gentrification and politicians getting developer money through the POV of an alderman who wants to lure Godzilla to his ward so he can build back bigger and better. Daniels’ art reminds me a lot of Tom Scioli or Saturday morning cartoons, but his story is cathartic for the working class and a blast of nuclear breath at the fat cats who want to redevelop neighborhoods for profit. The Godzilla vs. Chicago one-shot wraps up with the hilarious “Godzilla versus Chicago” from Caroline Cash. Cash’s story has the deadpan, sarcastic humor that her self-published indie comics are known for, but there’s less gross punk rock boys and more giant size-changing woman. In fact, her story is one hell of a tokusatsu comic and is a great argument for drinking energy drinks. All in all, Godzilla vs. Chicago shows off the diversity of the Windy City’s cartoonists’ styles and sensibilities and is more fun than the John Stamos butter sculpture at Riot Fest. Overall: 9.0 Verdict: Buy
Toxic Avenger #5 (Ahoy! Comics) – Toxic Avenger #5 is a cathartic, disgusting, and darkly hilarious to the first miniseries/arc/season from Matt Bors and Fred Harper. There’s the political satire of clean ups, cover ups, and the government totally being cool with aliens/bugs/cicada broods running the Earth, but this final issue wisely centers around the conflict between Bryce and Melvin aka Toxie. Bryce is (literally) toxic Internet culture personified while Melvin just wants to enjoy life and occasionally wear a tutu. They come to blows, and it’s cool to watch Toxie have a screwed up version of a found family while he seizes the day and kicks some ass. Harper doesn’t flinch from showing blood, gore, body parts, and irradiated things fly all adding to the B-movie charm of this comic. Overall: 8.3 Verdict: Buy
Sentinels #5 (Marvel) – Even though it got the length of a miniseries to try to endear readers to its cast of Z-list mutants forced to go on missions for Warden Ellis and fused with Sentinel technology, Sentinels ends with a whimper not a bang. The connection to characters from the 2003 Sentinel miniseries comes a little too late, and honestly, Alex Paknadel and Justin Mason should have baked them into the book from the beginning. Unfortunately, it comes off as warmed over Tsunami imprint nostalgia and even distracts from giving what would be considered the “core” cast members of Sentinels a proper sendoff. It’s fitting that the ending of Sentinels is a verbal trailer for other X-books instead of concluding its characters’ story. Mason and Federico Blee‘s art is cool though, especially when the Sentinel tech grafts to folks’ bodies, and their action sequences have the fury of an early 90s X-Books with arguably the same weak stakes. Overall: 4.9 Verdict: Pass
Ultimate Spider-Man #14 (Marvel) – Once you think this is going to be a typical mid-arc Spider-Man story, Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto twist the knife in once more. But, along the way, Checchetto and colorist Matthew Wilson show off their dynamic approach to action scenes with Spider-Man ducking and weaving from Kraven’s sniper blasts while Mysterio trolls in the corner. Also, away from the hunt, the relationship between the son of Spider-Man and the daughter of the Black Cat blossoms with them sharing a beautiful moment about being legacy heroes/villains. Hickman’s tender care for Ultimate Spider-Man continues to shine even as he and Marco Checchetto take big swings in the main plot. Overall: 8.9 Verdict: Buy
The Seasons #2 (Image Comics) – Rick Remender, Paul Azaceta, and Mat Lopes‘ vibrant, yet tragic fantasy comic about anthropomorphized seasons raises its stakes in its second issue. The launch issue was squarely focused on protagonist Spring, but we meet dutiful daughter Autumn, artistic perfectionist Winter, and starlet Summer in this one. Lopes’ palette captures each sibling’s personality, and I love how Remender and Azaceta using seemingly mundane activities like making waffles to dig into Spring’s character. With the exception of Winter’s avant garde paintings, there’s a bright energy to The Seasons #2 combined with an air of colorful menace from the carnival that the ongoing plot is centered around. The Seasons continue to have real Ghibli vibes and is a very different kind of book from Rick Remender and company. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy
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