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 short reviews from the staff of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full review for. Given the lack of new comics, expect this weekly update to begin featuring comics that we think you’ll enjoy while you can’t get anything new to read – only new to you.
These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.
Logan
Joker #12 (DC)– Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock talk about income inequality on a private jet on this one, and James Tynion, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Cam Smith let the story breathe a little and dig into their relationship and just how screwed they are trying to nab Joker from a family of cannibal serial killers/Texas oil barons. Plotwise, Joker #12 is a lot of table-setting and maneuvering with almost the whole cast of the book, both good and bad, showing up and ready to get Joker in some way. There’s also a bit of a surprise at the end that ties into the big story being told by the Batman line. The Punchline backup is set up/maneuvering too from Tynion, Sam Johns, and Belen Ortega, and time will tell if the opening TikTok-inspired paneling will be seen if it’s visually innovative or age like milk. I did like how this chapter of the story focused on Harper Row’s emotional reactions to how Punchline has stolen the hearts of Gothamites, including her estranged brother Cullen. Overall: 8.1 Verdict: Buy
Suicide Squad: Blaze #1 (DC/Black Label)– Si Spurrier, Aaron Campbell, and Jordie Bellaire turn in satirical, bleak, and bucket of blood-filled tale in Suicide Squad: Blaze #1. It centers a metahuman with Superman-like abilities that is a cannibal and also just looks like a random white dude. He’s difficult to find so that’s where the Suicide Squad comes in with Waller having convicts fight the actual team of Boomerang, Peacemaker, Harley Quinn, and King Shark for a chance to have a procedure that will give them superpowers at the cost of their lives. Campbell and Bellaire do a good job of showing the energy burst/sapping of the “Blaze” procedure with the test subjects crackling with color that fills the panels in contrast with the drabness of the prison. They and Spurrier also spend the lion’s share of the first issue fleshing out the subjects and giving them distinct personalities before offing some of them. And I haven’t mentioned Michael Van Zandt, Suicide Squad Blaze’s lovely POV character, who Si Spurrier makes the absolutely most average human on the planet with abilities to match his aptitude. I love the snarky narration for him though. Overall: 9.0 Verdict: Buy
Well, there you have it, folks. The reviews we didn’t quite get a chance to write. See you next week!
Please note that with some of the above comics, Graphic Policy was provided FREE copies for review. Where we purchased the comics, you’ll see an asterisk (*). If you don’t see that, you can infer the comic was a review copy. In cases where we were provided a review copy and we also purchased the comic you’ll see two asterisks (**).
Source: Graphic Policy
