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Kinder Gentler Weak 2?

Also, yes, a Guy Fawkes mask is our custom topic icon.



Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #3
selected by The Phenomenal SireWRITER: ED BRUBAKER
PENCILS: DALE EAGLESHAM

His enemy stands revealed - but that's just the beginning of Steve's problems: Reverted to his former 98-pound-weakling self, Steve is trapped in the heart of the enemy's lair and fighting for his life! Rated T $3.99



Nemesis #3
selected by GLXWRITER: Mark Millar
PENCILS: Steve McNiven

Don't worry, everyone. Nemesis has been captured and put in the highest security prison that America has to offer. Problem solved. Series over. What's that? It's only issue three? Uh-Oh! More shocking twists and turns from the masters of modern comic-book awesomeness Mark Millar (KICKASS, CIVIL WAR) and Steve McNiven (WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN, CIVIL WAR). Mature Content $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. There is no such thing as a "late" review.

The only request I make 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 Hab, 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. Also you'd better keep in mind the Amber Atoms rule, if your pick isn't reviewed by 2 or more people you will be exiled from the Group for 1 year.

Sire (this week)
GLX
Eli Katz
Mr_Batman
Punchy
BlueStreak
Chubbles
guitarsmashley
starlord
Kerny
John Snow
thefourthman
Daringd
Jubilee
doombug
Amoebas
SilverPhoenix
Zero
john lewis hawk
Royal Nonesuch
SuperginraiX
frag it
Victorian Squid
Stephen Day
nerdygirl
GHERU
Jude Terror

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.

[******]

[Reveal] Spoiler: Click to Expand

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. Action Comics Annual #10 - 7.87
052. All New Atom #8 - 6.98
052. Dark Tower #1 - 8.61
052. Fantastic Four: The End #5 - 8.55
052. Fell #7 - 9.03
052. newuniversal #3 - 8.13
052. Pirates of Coney Island #4 - 7.93
052. Ultimate Spider-Man #105 - 7.7
052. Uncanny X-Men #483 - 6.47
053. Batman #663 - 3.83
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 - 6.52 (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 - 5.24 (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 - 6.28 (Column)
215. Amazing Spider-Man #626 - 5.18 (Column)
216. Blackest Night #8 - 6.41 (Column)
217. S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 - 9.23 (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 - 8.22 (Column)
222. Heroic Age: Prince of Power #1 - 7.25 (Column)
223. Avengers #1 - 7.51 (Column)
224. Gotham City Sirens #12 - 4.39 (Column)
225. Red Hood: The Lost Days #1 - 6.71 (Column)
226. S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 - 7.57 (Column)
227. New Avengers #1 - 6.11 (Column)
228. Bullet to the Head #1 - 4.5 (Column)
229. Deadpool: Wade Wilson's War #2 - 3.93 (Column)
230. Batman & Robin #13 - 6.24 (Column)
231. Gorilla-Man #1 - 4.81 (Column)
232. Time Masters: Vanishing Point #1 - 4.79 (Column)
233. Justice League: Generation Lost #6 - 7.39 (Column)
234. Baltimore: The Plague Ships #1 - 6.46 (Column)
235. Thor: The Mighty Avenger #3 - 6 (Column)
236. Tiny Titans #31 - 5.17 (Column)
236. New Avengers #3 - 4.81 (Column)
237. Garrison #5 - 4.71 (Column)
238. 1 Month 2 Live #1 - 6.02 (Column)
239. Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities and the Ghastly Fiend of London #1

[Punchy]

Was 'weak' deliberate? Because last week was weak!

[******]

Was 'weak' deliberate? Because last week was weak!

Intentional, but not in the way you took it.

You've got your Marvel book this week, try not to whiney up the thread. pls k thx.

[Punchy]

Intentional, but not in the way you took it.

You've got your Marvel book this week, try not to whiney up the thread. pls k thx.

I didn't whine last week.

[guitarsmashley]

sorry on vacation. Will review next week and last weeks book sometime around monday.

[Victorian Squid]

SRSS #3 of 4

This miniseries brings back one of my favorite Cap villains from one of my favorite arcs as a young reader, but until that was revealed (in issue #2 I think) the book didn't particularly interest me. Once I knew who the bad guy was though, I went back and read the first two issues and found it a solid read. If you liked the first two, you'll like this issue. It's another sturdy but ultimately unexceptional offering, with typical plot holes you can only get away with in comic books and 007 movies--such as why the villain would leave Rogers in the lab complex with the Vita Ray machine ready to go and go to fly off to who knows where. Machinesmith is a villain with a lot of potential and he's too smart for lazy plotlines. I expect more because Ed Brubaker is the writer, and used to blow me with his early Cap run. This is late Cap run-type of okay but not great.

It's almost a joke in itself to see Dale Eaglesham drawing a scrawny Steve Rogers--or anybody, for that matter--and I like his artwork here with a couple minor issues with his figures and lack of sublety with facial detail in some panels. The colorist's work is another matter entirely, however. I don't think the shading effects or background colors were done well at all and in one scene he actually seems to forget one of Steve's assailants is a dark-skinned African-American thug and uses the same tones for him as Steve, a pale caucasian. Steve seems to literally shoot the black off of him. It's so obviously wrong that associate ed Lauren Sankovitch and editor Tom Brevoort deserve a share of the blame along with colorist Andy Troy.

And my only other complaint is how much time is spent fighting beefy thugs who seem to be otherwise unexceptional fighters--I would think Machinesmith would have some competent robots or something, although the end of this issue might be foreshadowing a darker role for the mechanical Mrs Erskine to come in the concluding chapter. Still, I want more Machinesmith, dammit!

I'd give it an 8, but I deduct a point for the coloring snafu so,

7

My Prediction:

[Reveal] Spoiler: Click to Expand

Machinesmith downloads himself into Mrs Erskine!

[Victorian Squid]

First review!

[48THRiLLS]

STEVE ROGERS: SUPER-SOLDIER #3 (of 4)

I have been really enjoying this mini so far and after reading this issue I now wish it was an ongoing, I would have no problem buying this along with the Bucky-Cap ongoing. We last ended with Steve being reverted to his 98 pound weakling form and here we get a glimpse of him being bullied as a kid and then him and his 98 pound bad self beating down the super solder serum enhanced goons, the inner dialogue while he was taking them apart was pretty cool... I mean it was nothing you didn't know or see coming but I like the reiteration that it isn't just the serum that makes Steve Rogers who he is (which is the best trained combat fighter in the world ). The Machinesmith is probably one of the goofiest villains I have seen but Brubaker manages to almost make him not as goofy... it does makes for a fun comic and the art is absolutely beautiful. Eagelsham not only draws a perfect Steve Rogers, he does a great job with the Super Soldier Serum-less version also and I really thought the flashback panels were very well done, especially the colors. I am looking forward to the concluding next issue to see what happens with Steve and his new robotic sidekick. Like I said before... I wish this would be turned into an ongoing, not having Steve Rogers headlining a book of his own is a super bummer.

My only nit pick is how his magic shield works. Could he not use it when he was reverted? How does the damn thing work anyway, I don't remember seeing an explanation in this book or any other Cap/Avenger books... not a big deal I just am curious I guess.

STORY - 9

ART - 10

OVERALL - 9.5

Oh yeah... put me back on the list... I am back fuckers!

[Victorian Squid]

I hope you're feeling better about life, 48Thrills.

[******]

Oh yeah... put me back on the list... I am back fuckers!

[48THRiLLS]

I hope you're feeling better about life, 48Thrills.

Eh, it was just a month long breakup with my girlfriend and I just didn't feel like writing book reports... or doing anything that didn't involve bourbon... cuz that is what makes everything better right?

I was gonna rejoin last week actually but I forgot to pick up the book

[thefourthman]

There is expert storytelling here for sure. The juxtaposition between Steve’s past and his present is handled with great skill and creates a fantastic read. It’s compelling and interesting.
Here’s the thing though… first of all, I don’t buy Steve’s ability. Sure training is a factor, but the sudden removal of weight and muscle would not only disorient him but cause massive problems with his abilities. I would have to assume that things would be very similar to severe atrophy at that point. It’s the kind of thing that hurts suspension of disbelief – no longer do I believe what could be going on. And it’s a hard thing to point to, because it is possible that Rogers could take the bad guys by surprise, I just don’t believe that the stamina needed would exist in the situation.
It’s a nitpick for sure, but one that hurt my enjoyment of an otherwise solid issue.
The art is another matter. Machinesmith is meant to be creepy with his head turning around and the limbs and head extending like Inspector Gadget. It’s not though, some of it is being desensitized… some of it is Eaglesham. He is a quality artist. He has a strong narrative sense. However, since his work on Fantastic Four there is some weirdness to it, especially once Steve is back to his full Super Soldier strength, he ends up looking like he is Captain America on steroids. This is especially odd given the way Rogers views the monsters that Machinesmith has created.
It’s an odd book that is amazing in its strengths and held back by its weaknesses. In the end, it’s a wash and as much as it pains me, an average book – even with its creative pedigree.
Story 3
Art 3
Overall 6

[Punchy]

There is expert storytelling here for sure. The juxtaposition between Steve’s past and his present is handled with great skill and creates a fantastic read. It’s compelling and interesting.
Here’s the thing though… first of all, I don’t buy Steve’s ability. Sure training is a factor, but the sudden removal of weight and muscle would not only disorient him but cause massive problems with his abilities. I would have to assume that things would be very similar to severe atrophy at that point. It’s the kind of thing that hurts suspension of disbelief – no longer do I believe what could be going on. And it’s a hard thing to point to, because it is possible that Rogers could take the bad guys by surprise, I just don’t believe that the stamina needed would exist in the situation.
It’s a nitpick for sure, but one that hurt my enjoyment of an otherwise solid issue.
The art is another matter. Machinesmith is meant to be creepy with his head turning around and the limbs and head extending like Inspector Gadget. It’s not though, some of it is being desensitized… some of it is Eaglesham. He is a quality artist. He has a strong narrative sense. However, since his work on Fantastic Four there is some weirdness to it, especially once Steve is back to his full Super Soldier strength, he ends up looking like he is Captain America on steroids. This is especially odd given the way Rogers views the monsters that Machinesmith has created.
It’s an odd book that is amazing in its strengths and held back by its weaknesses. In the end, it’s a wash and as much as it pains me, an average book – even with its creative pedigree.
Story 3
Art 3
Overall 6

Captain America's powers basically are steroids.

[Stephen Day]

I'll be getting my comics on Saturday this week. I'll be writing my review sometime this weekend.