The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

[******]

[center][/center]
EW is reporting that the Sarah Connor Chronicles has been canceled. I blame Sire. Why do I blame Sire? I dunno, he's Sire, I just figure it has to be his fault. A show with the combined hawtness of Lena Headey and Summer Glau should never be canceled, I've always known that Fox was evil I just didn't know until now that they were a subsidiary of SkyNet.

So TSAoHPL... already optioned for film. Wonky. Hollywood doesn't even wait for comics to be published before buying properties anymore.

[center]
The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft #1
as selected by thefourthman[/center]story MAC CARTER
art TONY SALMONS
cover ADAM BYRNE

When an ancient curse transforms young H.P. Lovecraft’s darkest nightmares into reality, the timid writer becomes both an unwitting god of destruction and the only person who can battle the evil he’s unleashed into the world. One part biography, one part horror pulp, one part fugitive thriller and you have... one weird tale indeed.

[center]
Ghost Rider #34
as selected by Punchy[/center]
WRITER: JASON AARON
PENCILS: TONY MOORE

THE STORY:
"TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS," PART 2
Among the truckers who work the loneliest stretches of highways at night, there is a legend. The legend of the Highwayman, the hellbilly terror of the hammer lane, a former trucker who was cursed by the devil and now drives a mystical black rig, preying on the souls of anyone foolish enough to drive his highways come nightfall. This issue, that happens to be Danny Ketch, a man who knows a thing or two when it comes to curses.


If you would like to join the group it's easy. Just post a review and I'll add you to the member's list. As long as you stay active, eventually it will be your turn to make a pick.

With $4 comics becoming the norm, the economy being what it is and the growing popularity of mail order services the Review Group recognizes that it's becoming harder and harder to commit to participating each and every week. As long as you can post one review per calendar month you will stay in the member's list. It doesn't matter if you post your review the week of it's release or if you post it later. Going forward, there is no such thing as a "late" review.

The only request I make with the new format is that if you don't plan on posting a review or if you're going to be posting late is that you drop a note in the thread so that I can keep track of who is active and who isn't. The Spreadshee of Doom is thorough, but it can't read your mind.


Comics are to be scored on a scale from 1-10. 1 being suck, 10 being a damn good comic. Beyond that, there's no right or wrong.


If it's your week, you must announce your selection by 5pm EST the day Diamond releases it's shipping list. If you do not announce your pick at that time, I will add a poll to the thread that will remain open until 12pm EST so that the group can make the selection for that week. To ensure that you know it's your week, I will PM you when Midtown's list goes live on Thursdays.

thefourthman - 5.50 (This Week)
Punchy - 7.00
King Impulse
Daringd
McKegan
48THRiLLS - 9.00
Starlord - 8.00
GLX
Sire v 2.0
MrBlack
Flynn the Pirate
SuperginraiX
Alex Delarge - 9.00
Doombug - 9.00
GOSD
Chubbles
guitarsmashley
amlah6 - 7.25
young neil

BLUE indicates explanation given for not posting a review.
RED indicate that no review or explanation has been posted in two weeks.
RED and BOLD will be deleted at the end of the week unless a review or explanation is posted.


Each Tuesday I will putting together all of our reviews and we will have our very own article on the front page of The Outhouse! If you would like for your review to be included, please try to have it posted by the end of day on Monday.


[spoiler="Not a"]001. Daredevil #82 - 8.13
002. Exiles #77 - 6.29
003. Jonah Hex #5 - 6.26
004. American Virgin #1 - 7.7
005. Birds of Prey #92 - 6.41
006. Squadron Supreme #1 - 7.66
007. Blue Beetle #1 - 5.95
008. Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #41 - 6.67
009. DMZ #6 - 7.65
010. Captain America #17 - 7.43
011. Thing #6 - 7.03
012. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #8 - 7.68
013. Cable & Deadpool #28 - 7.45
014. Fell #5 - 8.81
015. X-Factor #7 - 7.84
016. My Inner Bimbo #1 - 6.38
017. Wonder Woman #1 - 7.3
018. Green Lantern Corps #1 - 5.65
019. Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1 - 5.38
020. New Avengers #21 - 6.12
021. Detective Comics #821 - 8.05
022. Ultimate Spider-Man #97 - 7.86
023. Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #1 - 4.17
024. Batman #655 - 7.69
025. Usagi Yojimbo #95 - 6.41
026. Sonic the Hedgehog #165 - 6.5
027. The Boys #1 - 7.3
028. Heroes for Hire #1 - 6.25
029. Ultimate Fantastic Four #33 - 5.75
030. Local #6 - 9.1
031. Thunderbolts #106 - 6.14
032. Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #8 - 8.34
033. True Story, Swear to God #1 - 7.69
034. Criminal #1 - 7.63
035. Fables #1/#54 - 8.83
036. WildCats #1 - 6.51
037. Action Comics #844 - 7.22
038. Incredible Hulk #100 - 7.5
039. Franklin Richards, Son of a Genius: Happy Franksgiving - 4.32
040. Texas Chainsaw Massacre #1 - 4.34
041. Punisher War Journal #1 - 6.54
042. Immortal Iron Fist #1 - 7.35
043. Spider-Man: Reign #1 - 4.79
044. The Spirit #1 - 7.67
045. New Avengers: Illuminati #1 - 7.33
046. Winter Soldier: Winter Kills - 8.27
047. Amazing Spider-Man #537 - 6.94
048. Thunderbolts #110 - 6.75
049. Red Menace #3 - 7.43
050. Moon Knight #7 - 5.86
051. Ultimate Civil War Spider-Ham Crisis #1 - 6.21
052. Fell #7 - 9.03
052. Dark Tower #1 - 8.61
052. Fantastic Four: The End #5 - 8.55
052. newuniversal #3 - 8.13
052. Pirates of Coney Island #4 - 7.93
052. Action Comics Annual #10 - 7.87
052. Ultimate Spider-Man #105 - 7.7
052. All New Atom #8 - 6.98
052. Uncanny X-Men #483 - 6.47
053. Batman #663 - 3.59
054. Civil War #7 - 7.2
055. Runaways #24 - 9.01
056. Punisher MAX #45 - 7.47
057. Blade #7 - 6.08
058. Army@Love #1 - 6.38
059. Blue Beetle #13 - 6.4
060. Avengers: The Initiative #1 - 7.27
061. Nova #1 - 6.92
062. Cable & Deadpool #39 - 5.92
063. Catwoman #66 - 7.06
064. 52 Week Fifty-Two - 7.15
065. Countdown #51 - 6.8
066. Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #12 - 6.31
067. Captain America #26 - 8.28
068. Witchblade #106 - 5.81
069. Invincible #42 - 8.35
070. Sub-Mariner #1 - 5.54
071. Highwaymen #1 - 7.87
072. Superman/Batman #37 - 4.6
073. Dynamo 5 #5 - 6.28
074. Annihilation: Conquest - Wraith #1 - 6.63
075. Lone Ranger #7 - 7.54
076. X-Men #201 - 4.76
077. Metal Men #1 - 6.18
078. Green Lantern #22 - 7.85
079. Pilot Season: Ripclaw - 5.89
080. X-Men: First Class #3 - 7.53
081. Teen Titans #50 - 8.02
082. Buffy the Vampire Slayer #6 - 6.96
083. Punisher War Journal #11 - 5.22
084. World War Hulk #4 - 6.96
085. All-Star Batman & Robin #7 - 6.43
086. Vinyl Underground #1 - 5.73
087. Green Arrow & Black Canary #1 - 8.27
088. The Sword #1 - 6.89
089. She-Hulk #22 - 7.38
090. Tales of the Fear Agent: Twelve Steps in One - 6.18
091. Annihilation: Conquest #1 - 6.93
092. Batman and the Outsiders #1 - 6.87
093. Flash #234 - 5.72
094. Gotham Underground #2 - 5.52
095. Ultimates 3 #1 - 4.8
096. Amazing Spider-Girl #15 - 6
097. Birds of Prey #113 - 7.16
098. Pax Romana #1 - 8.59
099. Hack/Slash #7 - 6.97
100. HULK #1 - 7.19
101. Booster Gold #6 - 7.68
102. Order #7 - 6.97
103. Narcopolis #1 - 5.37
104. Reviewer's Choice
105. Tiny Titans #1 - 6.81
106. Loaded Bible 3: Communion - 8.68
107. Project Superpowers #1 - 5.93
108. Echo #1 - 8.34
109. Mighty Avengers #10 - 7.12
110. Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. #27 - 7.73
111. Proof #6 - 8.48
112. Secret Invasion #1 - 7.95
113. Titans #1 - 6
114. Noble Causes #32 - 7.26
115. Hulk vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide - 7.39
116. DC Universe 0 - 4.94
117. House of Mystery #1 - 7.77
118. Captain Britain and MI:13 #1 - 7.36
119. Checkmate #26 - 4.09
120. Final Crisis #1 - 6.91
121. The Boys #19 - 8.3
122. Skaar: Son of Hulk #1 - 5.53
123. Transformers Spotligt: Cyclonus - 5.92
124. Trinity #4 - 5.15
125. Jonah Hex #33 - 8.7
126. I Kill Giants #1 - 7.55
127. Batgirl #1 - 5.23
128. Uncanny X-Men #500 - 6.22
129. Wildcats #1 - 7.33
130. Venom: Dark Origin #1 - 7.16
131. Astonishing X-Men #26 - 5.12
132. Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1 - 7.67
133. Runaways #1 - 7.34
134. Marvel Apes #1 - 6.15
135. Star Wars: The Clone Wars #1 - 6.22
136. Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. #33 - 7.25
137. Back to Brooklyn #1 - 5.58
138. Four Eyes #1 - 9.42
139. Green Lantern Corps #29 - 6.16
140. Ghost Rider #28 - 7.44
141. Unknown Soldier #1 - 8.66
142. Amazing Spider-Man #575 - 6.98
143. Final Crisis: Resist - 6.44
144. Batman: Cacophony #1 - 7.37
145. Deadpool #4 - 6.57
146. Ms. Marvel #33 - 5.97
147. Secret Invasion #8 - 7.15
148. Punisher: War Zone #1 - 7.17
149. Ex Machina #40 - 8.11
150. Immortal Iron Fist #21 - 8.21
151. Incognito #1 - 8.65
152. Punisher #1 - 6.25
153. G.I. Joe #1 - 6.68
154. Hellblazer #251 - 6.94
155. Justice Society of America #23 - 6.53
156. Watchmen - 9.86
157. Batman #686 - 8.84
158. Amber Atoms #1 - 4.25
159. Runaways #7 - 5.25 (Article)
160. Superman: World of New Krypton #1 - 6.68 (Article)
161. Guardians of the Galaxy #11 - 6.41 (Article)
162. Invincible #60 - 7.08 (Article)
163. Muppet Show #1 - 6.66 (Article)
164. Flash: Rebirth #1 - 6.88 (Article)
165. Wolverine: Weapon X #1 - 6.40 (Article)[/spoiler]

[48THRiLLS]

This was totally off my radar but I am actually pretty curious to check it.

[GLX]

Dear Punchy,

Please pick this:

GHOST RIDER #34

K? THX.

[Victorian Squid]

I want to know what you guys think of it, I wanted to pick this up but all the copies were water-damaged and at $4.99 there was no way I was going to buy one. If it sounds good I'll find it elsewhere.

[doombug]

I can't wait to read this.

[thefourthman]

I want to know what you guys think of it, I wanted to pick this up but all the copies were water-damaged and at $4.99 there was no way I was going to buy one. If it sounds good I'll find it elsewhere.

why not buy it and get the shop to commit to replacing it when their replacements come in? That is what we do all the time.

[Alex Delarge]

I want to know what you guys think of it, I wanted to pick this up but all the copies were water-damaged and at $4.99 there was no way I was going to buy one. If it sounds good I'll find it elsewhere.

No the cover just makes the issue seem water damaged.

[******]

No the cover just makes the issue seem water damaged.

So, for the extra $$$ what you're really getting is faux water damage? Interesting...

[Victorian Squid]

All right, to all the water damage comments:

Yes, they were water damaged. It's been raining for 3 days. Many of the comics (not just that book) were damp on the top edge at the shop I went to. I managed to find a Cap and Incognito that weren't wavey on the top edge, but all the HP Lovecrafts had a wavey top edge from it. Honestly, for a $3 book I wouldn't even care probably, but I can't pay $5 for a fucked up book.

4th: I'm not sure they were going to trade them in or not. I didn't have time to ask, but it seemed like they weren't going to which made me think maybe the books got wet during transit by the shop owners. The reason I say this is they were sort of trying to dry the damp books out. (They weren't HORRIBLY messed up, just noticeable and maybe that one book was worse than the others.)

I figured if it sounds good I can make a stop across town.

[Alex Delarge]

The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft #1 (of 4)
Written by Mac Carter
Art by Tony Salmons

Let me start by saying that the art in this book is not cup of tea. I like clean lines. However, Tony Salmons is a true artist and there are a couple of things about his art that I enjoyed. While the art was not clean, it reminded me of Kevin O'Neill's work in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, though a little bit rougher than that. Also, I love the way Salmons uses sounds in his images. It reminded me of what Quitely is doing in the preview pages for Batman and Robin, which is to make the sounds part of the art. Great stuff.

As for the story, wow. I didn't expect to be sucked in like that. I was transported into that world wholesale. It wasn't like I had to work at getting into the microcosm, I was there. Maybe it was the superb dialogue, crisp and pitch perfect. I haven't had a book enthrall me like this for the 20-30 minutes it took me to read, in a long time. Howard is a three-dimensional character, someone I can truly relate to and the world that Carter creates around him feels very authentic. I felt like I was there.

Art - 7
Story - 9

Overall - 9

[malcolm reynolds]

Just posted my review for last week, sorry for my lateness. Can't wait to read this week's book, totally missed it in previews.

[thefourthman]

So, for the extra $$$ what you're really getting is faux water damage? Interesting...

It was rather thick. And the cover doesn't look water damaged to me, more like worn... Water damage usually results in spotty discoloration and crinkling, wavy paper.

[thefourthman]

All right, to all the water damage comments:

Yes, they were water damaged. It's been raining for 3 days. Many of the comics (not just that book) were damp on the top edge at the shop I went to. I managed to find a Cap and Incognito that weren't wavey on the top edge, but all the HP Lovecrafts had a wavey top edge from it. Honestly, for a $3 book I wouldn't even care probably, but I can't pay $5 for a fucked up book.

4th: I'm not sure they were going to trade them in or not. I didn't have time to ask, but it seemed like they weren't going to which made me think maybe the books got wet during transit by the shop owners. The reason I say this is they were sort of trying to dry the damp books out. (They weren't HORRIBLY messed up, just noticeable and maybe that one book was worse than the others.)

I figured if it sounds good I can make a stop across town.

Are they a chain, or do they go to UPS to pick them up? Not that you would know, but even in transit, if they aren't handling the books, they should be able to get them replaced... If it is there fault, then I am at a loss and wish them the best of luck, I can't even imagine what that would be like.

I know when we receive damages to a whole book or box of books we do what we can to sell them regardless, so that may explain why they were trying to repair damages. Most comic shops are on a pure cash flow basis and if the entire or majority of the order came in damaged, it could conceivably destroy the business. We are on 60 day terms and in the green for the first time in our six year history and I would still frantically be trying to make the books as sellable as possible. Between loss revenue from not having stuff that week, and the exact reason that you state in your post, if I don't have it, there are other shops to check out. When we are missing a book, we always end up with more going in the back issue bins than when they are on time, regardless of whether or not it emergency ships or not. The hardcore fans have to have it on Weds and loyalty be damned.

[******]

It was rather thick. And the cover doesn't look water damaged to me, more like worn... Water damage usually results in spotty discoloration and crinkling, wavy paper.

By "interesting" I meant "that sounds kind of cool" rather than the traditional internet meaning of "that's total bullshit".

I ordered my copy online so it'll probably be Monday or Tuesday before I can post my review.

[thefourthman]

By "interesting" I meant "that sounds kind of cool" rather than the traditional internet meaning of "that's total bullshit".

I ordered my copy online so it'll probably be Monday or Tuesday before I can post my review.

It's neat, but it is a trick I have seen numerous times. Living Corpse, and others have done it before. The most successful was Next Issue Project #1, where they succeeded in emulating worn and discolored pages, something I read recently, maybe Grimm #1 had interior pages that aped water rings.