The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

[******]

Just looking to read the reviews? Click here.



Yes I'm slacking on my RG duties. I was sick last week. I'm busy this week. FOAD.

Also, Jeff Lemire is awesome. I hope this has lots of hockey.



Superboy #1
as selected by starlordWritten by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by PIER GALLO

Superboy is back in a brand-new ongoing series! Join Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH) and amazing up-and-coming artist Pier Gallo as they take Superboy on a journey to a side of Smallville not even Superman knows about! What mysteries lurk beneath the surface of this all-American town – and what are their direct ties to Superboy? The start of the next great DC Universe epic begins right here!

Superman | 32pg. | Color | $2.99 US



American Vampire #8
selected by KernyWritten by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
1935, Las Vegas. Who are the Vassals of the Morningstar? What do they want with Skinner Sweet? And who do they consider to be "the most dangerous vampire in the world"? Don't miss the penultimate chapter of "Devil in the Sand," and see why critics are going crazy for this can't-miss new Vertigo series.

Vertigo | 32pg. | Color | $3.99 US | Mature Readers


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 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. 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. Effective 11/10 you must pick a comic $3.99 or less, anything above that is off limits.

starlord (this week)
Kerny
John Snow
thefourthman
Daringd
Twigglet
Amoebas
SilverPhoenix
Zero
john lewis hawk
Royal Nonesuch
Frag It
Victorian Squid
Stephen Day
GHERU
young neil
Jude Terror
48THRiLLS
GLX
Eli Katz
Punchy
BlueStreak
prozacman
AMS
Chubbles
guitarsmashley
King Impulse

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 - 5.34 (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 - 6.21 (Column)
236. Tiny Titans #31 - 5.17 (Column)
236. New Avengers #3 - 4.88 (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 - 7.82 (Column)
240. Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #3 - 7.66 (Column)
241. Nemesis #3 - 5.17 (Column)
242. Franken-Castle #21 - 5.99 (Column)
243. Ultimate Comics Thor #1 - 5.88 (Column)
244. Victorian Undead Special - 6.25 (Column)
245. Kick Ass 2 #1 - 6.51 (Column)

[Greg]

I'm slight interested in this one.

[Victorian Squid]

Amlah6 would never have told us all to FOAD.

[******]

Amlah6 would never have told us all to FOAD.

No, but every time some asshole would spell it amalah he wanted to.

[Victorian Squid]

No, but every time some asshole would spell it amalah he wanted to.

I almost did that as a joke.

[******]

I almost did that as a joke.

Capitalizing the A was joke enough, funnyman.

[Zero]

You tell 'im Jon.

[thefourthman]

Superboy #1

I’ve touted the genius of Lemire for some time now. I caught wind of Essex County before it was complete and devoured The Nobody. Sweet Tooth has filled the void left by the cancellation of Young Liars – it is the crusade book, read it before it is cancelled.

Fans of Lemire will rejoice in the opening sequence here where the writer expertly evokes his most accomplished work. Smallville is rural Kansas after all and the wide open spaces and sense of isolation that filled the pages of Essex County is appropriate in this milieu as well.

Then there is the characterization. For those unfamiliar with Connor Kent, there is an explanation as to who this Superboy is, the test tube baby of Superman and Lex Luthor. We get to see his interactions not only with Ma Kent and Krypto, but also with his classmates. We get to see him fight a dangerous Super-foe in Parasite and get an ingenious look at that power he possesses that his idol does not.

However, it is with Lori and Simon that we see the true power of Lemire as a writer. With Lori, the scribe makes it clear that there is back story present here, but manages to keep the new reader in the loop, giving enough info to make it clear who and what she is or was and the conflict her identity causes for Connor. The other is Simon - who is set up as a confidant which will be important for the development of the title hero. It is neat to have an otherwise Jimmy Olsen character be given an insider role as well and I look forward to how this relationship will enhance the stories told.

The singular complaint that can be made for the book is obvious. As with Sweet Tooth, this is a brisk read. It is the kind of thing that will lend itself well to the trade waiter. However, it is not slight, it is just action packed and not full of filler dialogue and splash pages. It is staccato, if you will. Short, but pronounced. It is a meaty entrée, but manages to still be light and refreshing at the same time.

I am not familiar with the interior artist. However, he does an excellent job. Gallo somehow manages to evoke the Johns’ Titan stories that made me fall in love with this character while evoking the storytelling prowess of Lemire’s self drawn work all while setting itself apart as wholly its own. This is a talent to watch for sure.

As strong a debut as we have seen this year, doubly for a superhero book, this was a fun, refreshing read. I hope the trade waiters don’t kill the damn thing.

Story 4
Art 5
Overall 9

[Eli Katz]

Cool. I can't wait to read this.

By the way, Lee, where have you been lately? You busy in real life or something?

[thefourthman]

Cool. I can't wait to read this.

By the way, Lee, where have you been lately? You busy in real life or something?

Yeah, Choir Workshop two weekends ago, Jon kidnapped me Halloween weekend (saturday night he got kicked out of a party we were invited to and Sunday night we hosted a Walking Dead Premiere party), travelling again this weekend (Grandparents' 70th anniversary!), my Grandpa's funeral and increased activity at Church, along with several really busy weeks at work along with the upcoming NC Comicon (going out tomorrow to fix up the room we are having the panels in), I am really busy.... I have all the books I missed. One day I will read and review them.

[Victorian Squid]

Capitalizing the A was joke enough, funnyman.

Someone needs a Midol today.

[malcolm reynolds]

Finally added my Kick Ass review and I'll be picking up a copy of this tomorrow

[guitarsmashley]

Superboy #1

I’ve touted the genius of Lemire for some time now. I caught wind of Essex County before it was complete and devoured The Nobody. Sweet Tooth has filled the void left by the cancellation of Young Liars – it is the crusade book, read it before it is cancelled.

Fans of Lemire will rejoice in the opening sequence here where the writer expertly evokes his most accomplished work. Smallville is rural Kansas after all and the wide open spaces and sense of isolation that filled the pages of Essex County is appropriate in this milieu as well.

Then there is the characterization. For those unfamiliar with Connor Kent, there is an explanation as to who this Superboy is, the test tube baby of Superman and Lex Luthor. We get to see his interactions not only with Ma Kent and Krypto, but also with his classmates. We get to see him fight a dangerous Super-foe in Parasite and get an ingenious look at that power he possesses that his idol does not.

However, it is with Lori and Simon that we see the true power of Lemire as a writer. With Lori, the scribe makes it clear that there is back story present here, but manages to keep the new reader in the loop, giving enough info to make it clear who and what she is or was and the conflict her identity causes for Connor. The other is Simon - who is set up as a confidant which will be important for the development of the title hero. It is neat to have an otherwise Jimmy Olsen character be given an insider role as well and I look forward to how this relationship will enhance the stories told.

The singular complaint that can be made for the book is obvious. As with Sweet Tooth, this is a brisk read. It is the kind of thing that will lend itself well to the trade waiter. However, it is not slight, it is just action packed and not full of filler dialogue and splash pages. It is staccato, if you will. Short, but pronounced. It is a meaty entrée, but manages to still be light and refreshing at the same time.

I am not familiar with the interior artist. However, he does an excellent job. Gallo somehow manages to evoke the Johns’ Titan stories that made me fall in love with this character while evoking the storytelling prowess of Lemire’s self drawn work all while setting itself apart as wholly its own. This is a talent to watch for sure.

As strong a debut as we have seen this year, doubly for a superhero book, this was a fun, refreshing read. I hope the trade waiters don’t kill the damn thing.

Story 4
Art 5
Overall 9

I think your math is a little off.

[Starlord]

I think your math is a little off.

I was going to say that but I didn't want to ruin the final score.