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 X-Men (Marvel) – Godzilla continues his Marvel Universe Eras tour with a stop in the early 1990s and the X-Men lineup (Sans Jubilee) used for the classic animated series. It’s fitting that Fabian Nicieza handles the scripting duties, and he slips into the old hated and feared routine with a side of the kaiju genre. He and artist Emilio Laiso utilize Godzilla’s size scale to do some epic vertical fight sequences, including the best use of the Super Adaptoid in recent memory as an Ultraman/Voltron type figure. I also love the bond Professor X shares with Godzilla through their psychic link. Godzilla vs. X-Men has big-time action while still remaining true to the core of both properties and shows that Nicieza still has his fastball. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy
Supergirl #1 (DC) – Sophie Campbell and Tamra Bonvillain‘s Supergirl has both Silver Age zaniness (Super-pets, mistaken identities, thought bubbles) and bright, contemporary visuals to go with nuanced characterization of its lead character. Kara struggles with her identity as superhero, Kryptonian, and citizen of Earth, especially when her parents invite her back to see her in sleepy Midvale where things are a little, shall we say, Twin Peaks-y. Sophie Campbell nails Kara’s voice and gives the book a fun, yet mysterious vibe that’s also new reader friendly. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy
Absolute Batman #8 (DC) – Absolute Batman continues to have some of the best fight choreography in comics with guest artist Marcos Martin bringing the horror-tinged noise while Batman fights to get out of one of Mr. Freeze’s cryo chambers. He and writer Scott Snyder also use Bruce’s time in cryo to really zero in on the trauma he felt after his dad’s passing along with the guilt his late friend, Matches Malone, felt. Absolute Batman #8 puts this working class conception of Batman to good use having him integrated into his community (That happen to share the names of his greatest foes.) instead of being in a dark manor far away. Martin’s conception of Mr. Freeze will haunt me for quite a while, but it will be nice to get back on the Ark M plotline. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy
Exquisite Corpses #1 (Image/Tiny Onion) – James Tynion, Michael Walsh, and Jordie Bellaire kick off an immersive horror/conspiracy universe in the triple-sized first issue of Exquisite Corpses. The high concept premise of the 13 wealthiest families hiring killers whose weapons are revealed to them on a playing card is reminiscent of things like Battle Royale, The Purge and even previous Tynion comics like Department of Truth and Something is Killing the Children. However, this first issue gives us folks to root for in the midst of the decadent carnage, and its extra length introduces the 12 killers with aplomb while leaving a room for a little a room. Slasher film plus March Madness plus paranoid conspiracies equals take money. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1 (Image/Skybound) – No prior knowledge of Invincible is needed for this violent, guilty pleasure of a fight comic from Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, and Annalisa Leoni. After being kicked into a portal by Invincible, Battle Beast is on a quest for a worthy opponent to put him out his misery, but that’s easier said than done. Ottley and Leoni fill the pages of this first page with oodles of colorful extraterrestrial gore and body parts with most of the issue being a brutal fight sequence. However, Battle Beast #1 isn’t without a sense humor, and I live for the banter between the protagonist and the computer of ship whose crew Battle Beast previously brutally murdered. Overall: 7.4 Verdict: Read
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