The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

[******]

[center]
Just looking to read the reviews? Click here.

[/center]

No time for OP, Dr. Jones. Does anyone doubt that Yoni will pick the Fall Out Boy comic for next week? Seeing as that's his favorite band, it seems to be the obvious selection.


[center]
Locke & Key: Crown of Shadows #1
as selected by Chubbles because he is awesome[/center]
Writer: Joe Hill
Artist: Gabriel Rodriguez

Prologue: 'The Haunting of Keyhouse.' Sam Lesser may be dead and gone, but Dodge still has uses for him, and in the first chill days of October, will make contact with him again. The dead know things the living may not, and Sam's restless spirit has had time to discover the thing Dodge wants to know most of all... where to find the key to the black door. The third storyline in the Eisner-nominated series begins here! 32 pages, $3.99


[center]
Punisher #11
as selected by guitarsmashley[/center]
WRITER: Rick Remender
PENCILS: Tony Moore

In the belly of New York, skulking and forgotten creatures of the night uncover the remains of a man in a familiar outfit. Frank Castle is dead. What exactly IS Frankencastle? Long time collaborators Rick Remender and Tony Moore (GHOST RIDER, Fear Agent, The Walking Dead) are reunited for what will be the greatest struggle in the afterlife of the Punisher. Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster… Parental Advisory …$2.99


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 Spreadsheet 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. (If you're seriously MIA, I'll probably put the poll up sooner) To ensure that you know it's your week, I will PM you when Midtown's list goes live on Thursdays.

Chubbles (this week)
guitarsmashley
amlah6
young neil
Old Man
thefourthman
Chris
Week 203: Webcomics
Punchy
Daringd
House of J
GHERU
Week 208: Free for All
McKegan
Kerny
Dragavon
PDH
48THRiLLS
Sire v 2.0
starlord
Jude Terror
prozacman
Mr_Batman
GLX
MrBlack
KingImpulse
SuperginraiX
Jubilee
doombug

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: SoA #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 Spotlight: 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 - 9.88
157. Batman #686 - 8.84
158. Amber Atoms #1 - 4.25
159. Runaways #7 - 5.25 (Column)
160. Superman: World of New Krypton #1 - 6.68 (Column)
161. Guardians of the Galaxy #11 - 6.41 (Column)
162. Invincible #60 - 7.08 (Column)
163. Muppet Show #1 - 6.66 (Column)
164. Flash: Rebirth #1 - 6.93 (Column)
165. Wolverine: Weapon X #1 - 6.4 (Column)
166. The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft #1 - 7.82 (Column)
167. Ghost Rider #34 - 8.82 (Column)
168. Phonogram: The Singles Club #2 - 6.33 (Column)
169. Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #1 - 7 (Column)
170. Unwritten #1 - 8.53 (Column)
171. The Boys: Herogasm #1 - 7.09 (Column)
172. Last Days of Animal Man #1 - 6.23 (Column)
173. Batman and Robin #1 - 8.01 (Column)
174. Amazing Spider-Man #597 - 7.19 (Column)
175. Transformers Spotlight: Cliffjumper - 7 (Column)
176. Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia - 6.62 (Column)
177. Justice League: Cry for Justice #1 - 6.71 (Column)
178. Wednesday Comics #1 - 7.84 (Column)
179. Blackest Night #1 - 8.86 (Column)
180. Immortal Weapons #1 - 7.17 (Column)
181. Mice Templar: Destiny #1 - 7.81 (Column)
182. Doom Patrol #1 - 5.12 (Column)
183. Ultimate Comics Avengers #1 - 7.14 (Column)
184. Daredevil #500 - 8.71 (Column)
185. Fantastic Four #570 - 6.9 (Column)
186. Sweet Tooth #1 - 8.1 (Column)
187. Dark Reign: The List - Avengers - 6.05 (Column)
188. Beasts of Burden #1 - 8.73 (Column)
189. Wolverine: Giant Size Old Man Logan - 7.95 (Column)
190. Teen Titans #75 - 4.67 (Column)
191. Haunt #1 - 6.6 (Column)
192. Unwritten #6 - 7.41 (Column)
193. Azrael #1 - 4.11 (Column)
194. Dark Avengers: Ares #1 - 6.78 (Column)
195. Deadpool Team-Up #899 - 5.29 (Column)[/spoiler]

[Punchy]

I wonder if my LCS will get this.

[******]

I wonder if my LCS will get this.

Does your LCS normally stock Eisner nominated series published by IDW?

[Punchy]

Does your LCS normally stock Eisner nominated series published by IDW?

I can't remember if they get this in, I know they get the collections, but in this store, most indie books don't sell to well in singles, so they only get a few.

[thefourthman]

there is an emo boy comic? yech.

[thefourthman]

To those who have not been reading the series, the summary above probably seems a lot like gibberish. See, that’s where Hill’s book fails. The book is set up as a series of interlocking mini-series, much like Umbrella Academy or Hellboy. It’s a great conceit when done correctly. However, unlike the two Dark Horse titles, Locke & Key has a cumulative element that creates problems for the new readers that the format is meant to entice.

No doubt, the readership for the book is growing. This is probably a reaction to the strong word of mouth behind the title or the impatience of trade waiters who have to know what happens next. That kind of reaction is understandable. It really is a marvelous book. However, Way and Mignola go to great lengths to tell a complete story with each new volume. Hill is merely telling a chapter of a much larger story. This is not to say that the adventures of the B.P.R.D. or Number 5 and his family are not, just that they are told in story units that work on their own. Locke & Key forgets to tell a satisfying narrative by making exposition nonexistent. The main characters of the series are so sidelined in this issue, that even the faithful reader may not recall all the history involved until the end of the issue. Not really a problem for an entrenched reader but it is a massive hurdle for anyone new to the book.

read the rest of the review at http://brokenfrontier.com/reviews/p/det ... -shadows-1
Story - 7
Art - 9
Overall - 8

[******]

there is an emo boy comic? yech.

The one from Oni? I read an issue, it's not terrible.

[thefourthman]

The one from Oni? I read an issue, it's not terrible.

I meant fall out boy, dammit.
Emo Boy is bad.

[******]

Emo Boy is bad.

You're just saying that to hide the shame of being emo, IMO.

[thefourthman]

You're just saying that to hide the shame of being emo, IMO.

you must have me confused with that wrist cutter Doombug.

[******]

you must have me confused with that wrist cutter Doombug.

I haven't seen him around since I posted the group score for Deadpool. Do you think he's alright? Maybe we shouldn't be joking about the cutter thing right now.

[thefourthman]

he is around

[******]

Locke & Key: Crown of Shadows #1

At some point last December while I was trolling around the eBays looking for bargains I came across a copy of the first Locke & Key hardcover for under $10. I had heard a little buzz surrounding the book, but I honestly didn't pay much attention to it. I don't consider myself a Stephen King fan so why should I give a crap that his kid was writing a comic book? Whatever though, a bargain's a bargain and no one else bid on the book so a couple of week's later it showed up in my mailbox and I'll be damned if that wasn't some damn fine comic booking. Just new and refreshing in almost every way. Interesting ideas paired with strong characters and stunning art. Eight months later the hardcover for the second volume Head Games came in my Box-O-Comics and it just built upon the goodness with more intrigue and even better art. So did I beg Chubbles to pick this when it showed up as an option for the Review Group? Damns right I did.

The first thing you'll notice about Crown of Shadows when you pick it up off the shelf is the cover treatment. Damn cool trick there by IDW, it really looks like Sam's ghost is floating off the page.

I wasn't expecting it, but it was nice to get that basic recap page on the inside cover of the book. Simple, effective and straight to the point. That being said, this is a direct continuation of Head Games and begins just minutes after the last issue ended. While this issue does read more like a thirteenth issue than a first, between the recap and the interactions between the characters there should be enough there to get readers up to speed.

As an existing reader, there were a ton of really cool things going on in this issue. Getting back to Sam feels long overdue after how his character was left at the end of Welcome to Lovecraft and it was nice to see a bit of character progression for him. I can't wait to see where his character goes from here. The thing with Dodge was kind of a wow moment even if it's not yet clear to the reader what it means. For now I'll just add it to the ever growing list of mysteries surrounding the Key House. Great cliffhanger at the end, it would appear that the Echo Key is going to be the focus of this volume of this series.

Gagriel Rodriguez is awesome, pure and simple. I love the detail he puts into each panel, it's one of my favorite things about the series. He's also fantastic when it comes to the expressiveness of each character. He really should be a bigger name within the industry than he is. Some of the ghost fighting in this issue could have been a bit difficult to follow if not for the work of Jay Fotos. That could not have been an easy issue to color. Beyond that though, Fotos always does a really superb job of setting the tone of the book. When you think of horror comics you think of things being dark and overly shaded, but in Locke & Key the pages absolutely pop. Rodriguez and Fotos are one of my favorite artist combinations working together right now.

Story: 8.5
Art: 9.5
Overall: 9

[Victorian Squid]

Diamond shorted the LCS this book and some Project Superpowers book.