The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

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This week the Review Group is covering Avengers #1 and we want YOU to post a review!

Are you as excited for this week's Avengers #1 as Chubbles is? Do you want to write a review for it and discuss the book in depth with other members of the Outhouse community? Yes, yes of course you do. You also probably realize that Bendis gets the Review Group all in a tizzy and should result in Punchy calling at least one hipster a scurrilous berk at some point during the procedings so fun will be had by all.

See that 'Post A Comment' button a little ways down the page? Click it already! Follow the tips in the first post and by this time next week you can see your review posted along side your fellow reviewers here on the front page of The Outhouse just like everyone who reviewed last week's pick, Heroic Age: Prince of Power #1 .

To get this week's procedings off to a smashing good start, The Outhouse's favorite pig wrangler, thefourthman, posted an advance review of Avengers #1 earlier this week. If you don't mind a light spoiler or two, you can check it out here.

Avengers #1

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILS: John Romita JR.

THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE! There came a day! A day unlike any other...where two of Marvel's top creators teamed up for the very first time to create a bombastic new monthly Marvel comic that not only ushers in the Heroic Age of Marvel Comics but unleashes onto the world the most blockbuster Avengers team ever! Who will answer the call? And will they assemble just in time...because Kang the Conqueror is here from the future. And wait till you find out why…! Bonus back up feature: the oral history of the Avengers, part one. A brand new illustrated look at the Avengers in a way you have never seen before by series writer Brian Michael Bendis. Rated A …$3.99

The fine folks at Marvel provided The Outhouse with a preview and you can see it here.

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[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 - 8.87 (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 - 8.62 (Column)
185. Fantastic Four #570 - 6.9 (Column)
186. Sweet Tooth #1 - 8.1 (Column)
187. Dark Reign: The List - Avengers - 5.95 (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 - 5.25 (Column)
196. Locke & Key: Crown of Shadows #1 - 6.96 (Column)
197. Punisher #11 - 7.34 (Column)
198. Image United #1 - 3.53 (Column)
199. Jonah Hex #50 - 9.23 (Column)
200. Invincible Iron Man #21 - 7.45 (Column)
201. Walt Disney Comics & Stories #701 - 5.85 (Column)
202. Hellboy: The Bride of Hell - 7.32 (Column)
203. Webcomics Week (Column)
204. Siege #1 - 7.84 (Column)
205. Amazing Spider-Man #617 - 8.39 (Column)
206. Joe the Barbarian #1 - 7.97 (Column)
207. Robocop #1 - 3.59 (Column)
208. FREE4ALL (Column)
209. Choker #1 - 6.17 (Column)
209. Tails of the Pet Avengers - 7.04 (Column)
210. Supergirl #50 - 5.23 (Column)
211. X-Men Forever #18 - 5.35 (Column)
212. First Wave #1 - 6.98 (Column)
213. Daytripper #4 - 7.19 (Column)
214. Irredeemable #12 - 6.37 (Column)
215. Amazing Spider-Man #626 - 5.18 (Column)
216. Blackest Night #8 - 6.41 (Column)
217. S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 - 9.18 (Column)
218. Kill Shakespeare #1 - 5.36 (Column)
219. X-Men Forever Annual #1 - 6.41 (Column)
220. Siege: Secret Warriors - 6.53 (Column)
221. I, Zombie #1 - 8.24 (Column)
222. Heroic Age: Prince of Power #1 - 7.14 (Column)[/spoiler]

[Greg]

I was gonna pick this up for Azari, but times is hard.

[Punchy]

Wooo! Bendis! Bendis! Bendis! Bendis! Bendis!

[Jubilee]

I fully expect to not really like this issue.

[Greg]

I fully expect to not really like this issue.

The lack of Voodoo is disheartening, I agree.

[Jubilee]

The lack of Voodoo is disheartening, I agree.

It actually seriosuly is. After a big build up in New Avengers, I was hoping to see him again sometime, as he is a really interesting character at the moment.

[thefourthman]

The Avengers. In the past seven years, they have been Disassembled, New, Young, Mighty, Initiative, and now we are back to just plain Avengers. After all the events and all the insanity, we are back to square one.

Well not quite. As voracious Marvel readers know, there are still loose ends out there. The Scarlett Witch. The Decimation. Vision is, well, different.

Beyond just storylines though, this is not your dad’s Avengers. Beyond the wide ranging extended family that Steve Rogers gathers early on in this book, this team sees Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, and Wolverine. It has Bucky on the team as Captain America. Steve Rogers is the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. not the head of the Avengers. But at the end of the day, we are back to square one because Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor are a team again.

Bendis acknowledges that there are still unresolved plot threads. When Steve approaches Wonder Man, the actor says that getting the Avengers back together is a stupid idea. The big guy blames the Avengers for all that has happened. It is a shade of DC. The villains the Avengers face exist because of the Avengers. Simon misses the fact that as long as there are super powered vigilantes, together or separate, there will be threats for them to face. The Avengers, to a certain extent, need to exist in a world of superheroes. Like the assembled masses rebuilding Soldier Field in the comic, it is a show of hope, a symbol for their cause.

Funny I should mention the distinguished competition, there are shades of Kingdom Come in the story that Bendis sets up here. Kang comes to our time to get the reassembled team to go take care of their out of control kids. Surely, this will not end with Steve wielding the shield?

The Heroic Age really begins here, despite banners on Prince of Power or preview books available this week. There is a different tone to this book. The threat presented is a big idea; its direness affects the future, not the street level humans of the Marvel Universe. This is not the grim and gritty story we have come to expect from the recent Marvel Universe. There is a sense of fun that has not been present in books involving the big three.

That’s not to say that Bendis is a different writer. Many of the complaints that have been levied against him will continue. All of his characters speak in that quick and witty dialogue that has become known as Bendis speak. They are a little more polite though, they tend not to interrupt each other quite as much. The book is also dialogue heavy, even with big battles between Thor and Kang or the mysterious Next Avengers and Immortus.

Romita is one of the classic comics artists. A fan favorite and a Marvel mainstay, it is good to see him on the team book. Especially considering that he has brought the new style that was refined in the blood soaked pages of Kick-Ass with him. It is a great look for the book, it looks like it feels – like a comic. That was something that the more realistic art of The New Avengers stole from it, that feeling of a four color panel.

Despite masterful interpretations of almost every character and the great storytelling we expect from the master son of a master… JRJR is not perfect here. The new leader of the Avengers is revealed to be Maria Hill. To date, she has been a sexy soldier in spandex. It was easy to see why Tony Stark would want her to be a niche on the head board of his bed. Under the new pencils of Romita, Jr., she is mannish. He plays the soldier and short hair bit just a tad too butch and robs her of that bit of appeal.

The Avengers are back. Sure, there will still be complaints about the team and the voicing. If Marvel has proved nothing over the past seven years, it is that it is near impossible to please everyone at once. This book should come a long way towards that goal though, if the conservative and vocal fans will quiet down long enough to let it entertain them.

Story 9
Art 8
Overall 8.5

[Jubilee]

The Heroic Age really begins here, despite banners on Prince of Power or preview books available this week. There is a different tone to this book. The threat presented is a big idea; its direness affects the future, not the street level humans of the Marvel Universe. This is not the grim and gritty story we have come to expect from the recent Marvel Universe. There is a sense of fun that has not been present in books involving the big three.

That's the pargaraph which worried me to be honest.

[thefourthman]

The Heroic Age really begins here, despite banners on Prince of Power or preview books available this week. There is a different tone to this book. The threat presented is a big idea; its direness affects the future, not the street level humans of the Marvel Universe. This is not the grim and gritty story we have come to expect from the recent Marvel Universe. There is a sense of fun that has not been present in books involving the big three.

That's the pargaraph which worried me to be honest.

I'm worried cause I don't like fun comics?

[Jubilee]

I'm worried cause I don't like fun comics?

Yeah, what people describe as fun, really don't interest me

[thefourthman]

Yeah, what people describe as fun, really don't interest me

It's still a Bendis comic, all his trademarks are still there, but this is not a grimy comic. It should bridge the gap between readers like yourself and the stuffy conservative readers who want the bronze age back stat.

[thefourthman]

For the record: Books that I think are fun:

Muppets
Chew
Proof
The Goon
Deadpool Team-up

and that's about it.

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For the record: Books that I think are fun:

Muppets
Chew
Proof
The Goon
Deadpool Team-up

and that's about it.

1 out of 5 ain't bad I guess.

[Greg]

Lee, any specific good things happen with Azari?