The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

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This week the Review Group is covering Incognito: Bad Influences #1 and we want YOU to post a review!

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Are as excited for this week's Incognito: Bad Influences #1 as every other pulp comic aficionado on the planet?  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.

See that Comment Box a little ways down the page?  Post already!  Or you can go to The News Stand forum and follow the thread there.  Post your own review and by this time next week you can see your review along side your fellow reviewers on the front page of The Outhouse just like everyone who reviewed last week's pick, KICK ASS 2 #1.

Incognito: Bad Influences #1

WRITER: Ed Brubaker
PENCILS: Sean Phillips

LAST YEAR'S BREAKOUT HIT FINALLY RETURNS! By the award-winning team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. One of the biggest Hollywood options of the year, nominated for THREE Eisner Awards, INCOGNITO is finally back for more! It's apocalyptic pulp noir at its finest! It's been over a year since Zack Overkill came out of Witness Protection to build a new life. But working for the government isn't that different from being controlled by them, and his new secret identity is becoming more trouble than it's worth. So what will Zack do when tasked with a mission that sends him on a hunt into darkest corners of the super-criminal underworld where he was raised? Also returning with Incognito are the exclusive Pulp magazine essays by Jess Nevins, Professor of pulp history, only available in the single issues of Incognito. MATURE CONTENT/ NO ADS $3.50

Written or Contributed by: John Snow


http://173.199.169.70/index.php/news/comics-news/11077-call-for-reviews-incognito-bad-influences-1.html/

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[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)

[guitarsmashley]

we'll see. I know I read the first series but I'll be damned if I can remember what happened in the end and why it was different than sleeper.

[Zero]

I am looking forward to this week's comic for the first time since the book was an acronym,

[******]

I am looking forward to this week's comic for the first time since the book was an acronym,

IBI, man, IBI

[48THRiLLS]

Big expectations here...

[Eli Katz]

Well, I just read it and it sucks. Worst Bru-Phillips book, ever.

[Reveal] Spoiler: Click to Expand

I'm kidding. I haven't even looked at it yet.

[48THRiLLS]

Well, I just read it and it sucks. Worst Bru-Phillips book, ever.

[Reveal] Spoiler: Click to Expand

I'm kidding. I haven't even looked at it yet.

Not funny... not funny at all.

[Eli Katz]

Not funny... not funny at all.

I know. But I had to do something to control the mounting expectations.

[rdrsfn82]

Where the hell are the reviews? I want to see some scores from you people. I won't be getting the book until my DCBS order arrives on Tuesday, and I want to know if I can expect awesomeness or what.

[******]

Hastings didn't get this. Fucking heathens.

[Starlord]

bought it. haven't read it.

[guitarsmashley]

I read it...I'll write a review later.

[Eli Katz]

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips cover familiar territory in INCOGNITO: BAD INFLUENCES #1. A super-powered mole, Simon Slaughter, has turned native and become a top-ranking member of Level Nine, a fanatical terrorist group that he was supposed to infiltrate and undermine. Several agents have been sent to make contact with Slaughter and bring him back to the good guys. But all of these agents have failed to return. Authorities decide that Zack Overkill, the conflicted antihero from the first INCOGNITO miniseries, should be sent to meet Slaughter. Zack is still regarded by many as a criminal figure, and therefore may have better chance of contacting Level Nine than legitimate heroes. Zack’s hardly thrilled by the order and senses that this may be a suicide mission.

The setup in this opening issue is fast and efficient. This is a bullshit-free book, with no unnecessary double-page spreads. Brubaker and Philips open up with a bang and blend exposition and action with incredible competence. There isn’t a boring panel in the book. But there sure are a lot of familiar ones. Indeed, this story has clear similarities with SLEEPER -- Brubaker and Phillips’ outstanding series about a super-powered mole with mixed loyalties. But Bru is not only recycling his own ideas here, but he is also borrowing generously from Joseph Conrad. BAD INFLUENCES is essentially a retelling of HEART OF DARKNESS, where Zack is the Marlow figure and Simon Slaughter is the lunatic Mr. Kurtz. As well, this book finds much inspiration from pulpy 1930s adventure stories that the first INCOGNITO series drew upon. Almost every character, for example, has a cheesy alliterative name, like Simon Slaughter or Zoe Zeppelin.

So, is this a problem? Is the book too derivative for its own good? To be honest, I’m not sure. It will all depend on how Brubaker develops this story in subsequent issues. Will he twist and turn and rework all these clichés in exciting ways? Or has he incorporated too many clichés here and made it impossible for himself to produce anything of originality? We'll see, I guess.

But despite the many clichés, the pacing of the story is so fast and the art is so sharp that BAD INFLUENCES #1 is definitely worth checking out.

STORY: 8/10
ART 8.5/10
OVERALL: 8.25

[Victorian Squid]

Fear Agent #30

How much can one man possibly take? Shit continues to rain down on Heath Huston as...

Aw crap.

Wrong book.