Robot Man Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 On 8/7/2024 at 4:20 PM, Jayman said: So, just a quick review of Cruel Universe #1: I found this issue far superior in quality compared to Epitaphs. The Champion: A very enjoyable starter story. They didn’t need the last page at all IMO, I think it ended perfectly with this panel. Solo Shift: Nice artwork and coloring but a bit too predictable. Drink Up: Pretty good story with a very ECish style ending. Priceless: Interesting art style that I did not dislike. Might not be for everyone though. Story was good. Overall the issue started and ended strong. Solo Shift coming in last, only for the predictability of the story. I’d give this one an “A”! Did this come out today? SpineTic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayman Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 On 8/7/2024 at 8:06 PM, Robot Man said: Did this come out today? Yes. SpineTic and Robot Man 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telegan Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 On 8/7/2024 at 6:20 PM, Jayman said: So, just a quick review of Cruel Universe #1: I found this issue far superior in quality compared to Epitaphs. The Champion: A very enjoyable starter story. They didn’t need the last page at all IMO, I think it ended perfectly with this panel. Why do I keep thinking there should be a needle somewhere in that panel? WHERE'S THE NEEDLE?! I'll be putting in an order for my copies in a day or two and hopefully have them next week. Can't wait to see if they live up to the hype. Raze and SpineTic 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADAMANTIUM Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 On 8/7/2024 at 9:24 PM, Telegan said: On 8/7/2024 at 6:20 PM, Jayman said: found this issue far superior in quality compared to Epitaphs. The Champion: A very enjoyable starter story. They didn’t need the last page at all IMO, I think it ended perfectly with this panel. Why do I keep thinking there should be a needle somewhere in that panel? WHERE'S THE NEEDLE?! I'll be putting in an order for my copies in a day or two and hopefully have them next week. Can't Don't forget the modern with it even on the label SpineTic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayman Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 Anyone else read their copy of Cruel Universe yet, what did you all think? SpineTic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Robot Man Posted August 8 Popular Post Share Posted August 8 Well, gotta eat some variant crow. Went to my LCS today to pick these up. They were sold out. The owner orders very tight. But he felt bad and pulled these two out from under the counter and sold them to me for cover price. Maybe it was because they wern’t in mint condition… These were the ones I liked the most anyway. Raze, Telegan, OtherEric and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpineTic Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/RTFf8gJGiPL9nJeR/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpineTic Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 (edited) Edited August 9 by SpineTic OtherEric and Point Five 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post OtherEric Posted August 9 Popular Post Share Posted August 9 Jayman, Ken Aldred, Telegan and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OtherEric Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 A quick question: The IFC of Cruel Universe #1 lists a Comics Corner exclusive variant by Marc Chiarello, but I can't find a reference to it or an image anywhere. Did this one just not happen? SpineTic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpineTic Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 https://dailydead.com/exclusive-terror-torment-and-extraterrestrial-invasion-covers-creative-teams-revealed-for-ec-comics-epitaphs-from-the-abyss-5-and-cruel-universe-4/ Exclusive: TERROR, TORMENT, AND EXTRATERRESTRIAL INVASION! – Covers & Creative Teams Revealed for EC Comics’ EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #5 and CRUEL UNIVERSE #4 EC Comics’ "relentless return" continues in EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #5 and CRUEL UNIVERSE #4! Coming in November from Oni Press, we have all the details on the creative teams for both issues, plus a look at all of the covers you'll want to pick up for yourself! "THIS FALL…THE REVENGE-FUELED RETURN OF EC COMICS RAGES ONWARD! Continuing EC’s landmark return, Oni Press proudly announces two new murderous, must-read issues in smash-hit series EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #5 and CRUEL UNIVERSE #4! Making their murderous mark on the world this November, find them in comic shops everywhere . . . if you dare! On November 13th, EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #5 welcomes you back to the Grave-Digger's cemetery on the edge of the endless, black ABYSS that awaits us all . . . some sooner than others, heh heh! Inscribing this month's moribund epitaphs in so much funerary stone, we welcome scribes Matt Kindt (BRZRKR), Matthew Rosenberg (DC vs. Vampires), and Joanne Starer (Sirens of the City) to write our rites of terror as artists Kano (Gotham Central), Alexandre Tefengki (The Good Asian) and more surprise guests rain down torrents of red ink in true and timeless EC Comics fashion! Featuring covers by Lee Bermejo (Joker), Naomi Franquiz (Tales from Harrow County), Jay Stephens (Dwellings), and Rian Hughes (The Multiversity), don’t miss a single blood-soaked page of the series that Capes & Tights calls “extremely well-written with outstanding artwork to complete the package" when The Grave-Digger reveals more tombstone-inspired tales in EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #5 – on sale November 15th! Then: Only human arrogance would lead us to believe that we are alone in this vast universe. The real question is, who will find us first? Allies to help us grow and flourish as members of larger cosmic society? Or others who would use up the earth for its resources, enslave the human race, and destroy everything we know and love? Do we live in a limitless realm of possibilities, or a deep dark Cruel Universe? Cozy thoughts, aren’t they? While you ponder those questions, you’ll find no comfort in the pages of our latest galaxy-annihilating offering CRUEL UNIVERSE #4 this November 6th . . . featuring the astronomical talents of EC veteran Matt Kindt (BRZRKR, Mind MGMT) while welcoming newcomers Cecil Castellucci (Shade the Changing Girl) and Matt Bors (Toxic Avenger) to the void as their harsh words are brought to terrible fruition by artists Alison Sampson (Hit-Girl), Daniel Irrizari (Cemetery Kids Don’t Die), and more! Featuring covers by Greg Smallwood (The Human Target), Kano (Immortal Iron Fist), Jay Stephens (Dwellings), and Rian Hughes (The Multiversity), the countdown to ultimate annihilation continues with more all-new stories of entropy and oblivion from the series that ComicBook.com says “goes above and beyond expectation to deliver . . . tales of terror that feel both timeless and incredibly contemporary” in CRUEL UNIVERSE #4 – on sale November 15th!" EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #5 (of 12) WRITERS MATT KINDT, MATTHEW ROSENBERG & JOANNE STARER ARTISTS KANO, ALEXANDRE TEFENKGI & OTHERS COVER A LEE BERMEJO COVER B NAOMI FRANQ HOMAGE VARIANT (1:10) JAY STEPHENS ARTIST EDITION VARIANT (1:20) NAOMI FRANQ ARCHIVE EDITION VARIANT (1:50) RIAN HUGHES ON SALE NOVEMBER 13th, 2024 | $4.99 | 32 PGS | FC IOC: 9/26/24 FOC: 10/21/24 CRUEL UNIVERSE #4 (of 5) WRITERS MATT BORS, CECIL CASTELLUCCI, & MATT KINDT ARTISTS DANIEL IRIZARRI, ANDREA MUTTI, & ALISON SAMPSON COVER A GREG SMALLWOOD COVER B KANO HOMAGE VARIANT (1:10) JAY STEPHENS ARTIST EDITION VARIANT (1:20) KANO ARCHIVE EDITION VARIANT (1:50) RIAN HUGHES ON SALE NOVEMBER 6th, 2024 | $4.99 | 32 PGS | FC IOC: 9/26/24 FOC: 10/14/24 mysterymachine, Telegan and OtherEric 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telegan Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 On 8/7/2024 at 9:30 PM, ADAMANTIUM said: Don't forget the modern with it even on the label Well, I was thinking more along the lines of the following, but ok! : or Raze, SpineTic and ADAMANTIUM 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telegan Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 On 8/9/2024 at 3:15 PM, OtherEric said: My favorite variant cover of the bunch because the original is one of my favorite Golden Age covers. I should be getting my copy this week... hopefully. Robot Man, SpineTic and OtherEric 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OtherEric Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 Covers L and Q. I was guessing the Corben cover (which doesn't actually have a letter) was going to be Q, so now I've got no idea, at least until I get the last two covers in. SpineTic and Jayman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 On 8/13/2024 at 5:14 AM, OtherEric said: Covers L and Q. I was guessing the Corben cover (which doesn't actually have a letter) was going to be Q, so now I've got no idea, at least until I get the last two covers in. Reminds me of Black Hole by Charles Burns a bit. Jayman and SpineTic 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telegan Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 On 8/13/2024 at 2:41 PM, Ken Aldred said: Reminds me of Black Hole by Charles Burns a bit. I like how foxing, spine tics, color-breaking creases, etc. are already included on some of these covers. They start out as a 4.5 - 6.0 Point Five, Robot Man, SpineTic and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayman Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 Just got my variant in today. I really like these the best. Plus they look like I signed them! ADAMANTIUM, Telegan, Ken Aldred and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ADAMANTIUM Posted August 13 Popular Post Share Posted August 13 (edited) On 8/13/2024 at 4:03 PM, Telegan said: On 8/13/2024 at 2:41 PM, Ken Aldred said: Reminds me of Black Hole by Charles Burns a bit. I like how foxing, spine tics, color-breaking creases, etc. are already included on some of these covers. They start out as a 4.5 - 6.0 I don't know how many times they've done that scenario, but here is one of an example from like 2012, and at least they're not all uniform. Just an fyi as it was a reason I liked this book as well 😂 Edited August 13 by ADAMANTIUM SpineTic, Telegan, Point Five and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Telegan Posted August 15 Popular Post Share Posted August 15 (edited) Now that I finally received my Cruel Universe #1, here's my very unprofessional review. The Champion : B+ ... No one is going to believe me when I say that I tried to guess the ending while on the first page of the story and nailed it. But no joke - I did! lol. It was a wild guess based upon the first page dialog and visuals. I wasn't overly sure of myself, but woo hoo. The story was pretty good and yes, I'll agree with others it's probably the best story so far in the Oni EC-revival that I've read. Also agree with @Jayman's comment about where they should've ended the story - I get it now. But it's also a bit of a recycled plot that I think I've seen before (so I took points off for that), but it was done well. Solo Shift : B/TBD? ... I understand what he was trying to do, and it was kind of given away as soon as they said "time travel", but don't understand how he didn't know what had happened. Maybe I'm missing something. Spoiler So he finds the girl dead, and at that point doesn't know it was he who killed her, which makes no sense to me to begin with since if he travels back in time, he should retain his memories of having killed her. He decides to go back in time and save her from her untimely demise. He then ends up killing her in the same manner she died anyway and seems shocked it was he who killed her. How did he not know this before he time-traveled? I have to be missing something obvious like maybe it's one of the parallel universe vs single/linear universe things discussions. This is why temporal mechanics and the Prime Directive aren't supposed to be messed with in Star Trek! They can be headache-inducing. lol. It's a good story that either was written wonky or I'm not sure I completely got (see spoiler), so it's a bit of a TBD for me. If you skip the part I'm unsure of in the spoiler, I'll give it a pretty good grade of B. Drink Up : C- ... Meh. This was about as average as it gets. Wasn't bad, wasn't good. It's like the story was being built up but then, all of a sudden, the end. It's like I was cheated out of a decent plot and just given a synopsis. I read a Cliff's Notes instead of the actual book. Was ok and decided to just move on with the next story. Priceless : C ... Another one that accelerates from a dead stop into a brick wall rather quickly. I don't hate it, but the ending was just another weird "ok" for me. Interior artwork in this was, again, ok. I won't judge too harshly. Cover art was a bit lacking in #1. The only ones I really "loved" were the homage cover to Weird Science #16 that was done by Jay Stephens (a must-have for me) and the Greg Smallwood "regular" cover with the T-Rex-looking monster. The 1:100 Spa-Fon cover by Tom Fowler is an awesome cover in terms of the homage/history, but outside of that, it's too expensive for what it is for me. Maybe if it crashes in price, I'll buy one. This first issue of Cruel Universe was a better first attempt than the first issue of Epitaphs from the Abyss, IMO. I love sci-fi and the 2 best stories in the book were sci-fi, so that may also have something to do with it. Most of the stories aren't surprise endings or not much of a surprise, but the journey to those surprises are what seem to be making or breaking the stories. Solid attempt and will definitely buy another. Edited August 15 by Telegan OtherEric, Ken Aldred, Jayman and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpineTic Posted August 15 Author Share Posted August 15 https://www.cbr.com/exclusive-jason-aaron-epitaphs-from-the-abyss/ EXCLUSIVE: Jason Aaron's New Horror Story Takes a Bloody Turn CBR has an exclusive first look at Jason Aaron's EC Comics debut in Epitaphs From the Abyss #2. Aaron will be joined by Tyler Crook, Jorge Fornes, Klaus Janson and Matt Kindt for the issue. Epitaphs From the Abyss #2 will feature three all-new tales of "depraved intention and traumatic tension" told in EC's signature style. "This is a dark little ditty in the classic EC style that's very much set in the present day, featuring the modern world's greatest tool of human misery and suffering," Jason Aaron said, teasing his story 'Sounds and Haptics' from the issue. "You've probably got one in your pocket right now. Maybe you're even holding it in your hands, staring at it, losing track of time, losing yourself. Put it down. Put it down now and run away. Before it's too late." Epitaphs From the Abyss #2 goes on sale Aug. 21. Point Five 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
