BBSPRGW14: Western Tales of Terror #5

[Angel of Distraction]

This week: Western Tales of Terror #5

SMALL PRESS REVIEW GROUP

Previously in:

Little Star #2---8.1 (14 of 22 Reviewed)
Strangehaven #17---7.75 (7 of 21 Reviewed)
Eclipse & Vega: The Beds We Make #2---9 (2 of 18 Reviewed)
Strange Eggs #1---4.3 (7 reviews)
Hero Camp #1---6.8 (10 reviews)
Atomika #3---6.8
Supernatural law---7.5 (2 reviews)
The Hunger---7.1 (7 reviews)
Dracula Vs. King Arthur---8 (6 reviews)
Shuck the Sulfurstar---7 (out of 5 reviews)
Dead Eyes Open---6.3 (out of 3)
Banana Sunday #1---6.8

The Lemming with the Locket
dEnny! - 6.75
Tom G
Alex Lannin
Criden
Cth
Joe Peeler
Opus Croakus
TIP
Itsdlevy---
Shwicaz---
Kirby’s Corpse---
Neophyte
Angel_R


THE RULES:

1. Anything non-Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, or Image qualifies.
2. Reviewers: You MUST have your pick ready at least two weeks in advance to make it easier to get for people whose shops don’t normally order these books. The two-week system ought to make this more than fair. Use the Diamond Two-Week Shipping Lists here---http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping.asp---to make your picks. Indy titles listed here tend to be more reliable in shipping than the big two. Emergency schedule changes can always be handled.
UPDATE: You may now pick any book that has appeared on stands up to a month before your week.
3. If you need some lenience, for instance a book you want to do comes out the week after your turn, I can try to spin it. PM me. But unless it’s a real emergency, please try to stick to what’s that week.
4. On account of Indy titles tend to be iin a higher price range, I am upping the price limit to $5.00.
5. No licensed products. Examples: Star Wars. Thanks to the membership for reminding me. If anyone thinks they have something that would be an exception to this PM me.
AN EXCEPTION: Sonic the Hedgehog has taken on enough of a life of it’s own to be exempt from this.
6. No deviation from the topic at hand, that week's comic.
7. No picking your own books! You self-promoting lil weasels.
Also, it must be obtainable at a physical location, like a comic shop or bookstore. Nothing that you have to directly order from a publisher or website: Too many headaches for members. Also, a good point was brought to me: Paying shipping on one comic? Not worth it.

AN EXHORTATION: Please try not to pick an issue of a book that the reader must have read the previous issues of to understand. That isn’t really fair to a new reader, and I hate to see a good book get blasted because the reader has no real way of knowing what is going on.

If for whatever reason you don't want to PM me about a group issue, use my e-mail, but state who you are on the board and that it is a group question or it will get the spam treatment.

Ryan

[RebootedCorpse]

Wow, a total of three reviews on L&R. Maybe it IS time to shoot this thing in the head.
I guess there are just too few people who want something other than superhero stuff.

[Angel of Distraction]

Wow, a total of three reviews on L&R. Maybe it IS time to shoot this thing in the head.
I guess there are just too few people who want something other than superhero stuff.

I figure we'll stumble along as long as someone wants to. Always figured it'd come to that, actually. A few will send in before the end of the week, likely.

I have been having a hard time getting mine. :-x

[alexlannin]

Again, I'm not getting this this week, probably next week, possibly never.
Diamond's REALLY good to these indie publishers, eh?

[Shwicaz]

Again, I'm not getting this this week, probably next week, possibly never.
Diamond's REALLY good to these indie publishers, eh?


you can get a copy at http://www.hoarseandbuggy.com (http://www.hoarseandbuggy.com) (josh's site)

They even have a nice 'retailer' section. We reordered our Elk's Run through there for the store, and it was a snap.

[JoshuaFialkov]

Again, I'm not getting this this week, probably next week, possibly never.
Diamond's REALLY good to these indie publishers, eh?
You'll notice I stopped doing the massive press releases about when books come out, for just this reason. I have no way of knowing when stuff's actually making it to stores. That being said, WToT5 should be out to everyone this week.

In theory.

Fuckers.

[Christian Beranek]

You'll notice I stopped doing the massive press releases about when books come out, for just this reason. I have no way of knowing when stuff's actually making it to stores. That being said, WToT5 should be out to everyone this week.

In theory.

Fuckers.

We have the same problem with our books.

Josh, your retailer section is impressive.

[JoshuaFialkov]

We have the same problem with our books.

Josh, your retailer section is impressive.
Yeh, it needs updating, but we realized early on that if Diamond's not going to fufill reorders in a timely manner, we need to have some sort of system to help retailers get our books in.

[The Human Target]

I always get this, so I shall post my praise when I have the cash to go buy this weeks books.

[Angel of Distraction]

Yeh, it needs updating, but we realized early on that if Diamond's not going to fufill reorders in a timely manner, we need to have some sort of system to help retailers get our books in.

Hey Josh! Review it! Y'know, just for kicks! So few people come anymore, I don't see why a little fun is out of the question. Spend the whole review praising yourself and give it an 11.

[Christian Beranek]

Yeh, it needs updating, but we realized early on that if Diamond's not going to fufill reorders in a timely manner, we need to have some sort of system to help retailers get our books in.

I hear you. I'm still filling re-orders myself on DVKA #1. Stores either sold out or they had customers asking for it. Diamond told them it was on back orderwhen we still have plenty of copies available.

I'm sure you've heard the same story for your books.

[JoshuaFialkov]

Hey Josh! Review it! Y'know, just for kicks! So few people come anymore, I don't see why a little fun is out of the question. Spend the whole review praising yourself and give it an 11.
Heh.

I think it's easily the best issue we've done. The most stories, and not a stinker in the bunch. My favorite story... is kind of a toss up... I LOVE Tom Mandrake's story that opens the book, the art is just perfect for the story, manages to be creepy and cerebral, while still telling a solid and twisted story. My other favorite is probably the Niles/Mills story, because Scott took Steve's script and just turned it into pure magic. It shows a side of Steve's work that's often ignored, which is his excellent sense of humor, and the vibrancy of his characters.

And my story's not too bad, either. :D

[Angel of Distraction]

Heh.



And my story's not too bad, either. :D


Now I am dancing with glee. Can't wait. :D

[neophyte]

I'm working on getting some of these books...but it's hard. With only a few days lead-time, it's sometimes difficult for me to get my comic shop to order one for me. I'm going to try and track this down through another shop, or possibly just be late with my review...

[dEnny!]

[b]WESTERN TALES OF TERROR # 5[b] - Honestly, this is the first issue of WToT I've read, I own the other four, but just haven't gotten around to reading it, but except for Joshua's story these are all stand alone tales. A nice selection of creators on this book that provided some nice little stories. I could have done without the narrator personally, but maybe they were going for a Tales From the Crypt vibe.

Jason Rand went a long way to get to a Chili Dawg joke...wow. :)

The two stories that stood out to me as being the best were Six Shots and Know When To Hold 'Em.

The ending of The Wind definitely provided some "terror."

6.75

[JoshuaFialkov]

Now I'm curious if Denny saw his 'guest appearance' in Elk's Run #2. hmm....

[ItsDLEVY]

Just wanted to say that none of the four shops I've been to have this in stock, so I ordered through Josh's website and will review when it arrives.

[dEnny!]

Now I'm curious if Denny saw his 'guest appearance' in Elk's Run #2. hmm....

*runs and reads issue. I did...thanks. That was very cool of you.

[Angel of Distraction]

*runs and reads issue. I did...thanks. That was very cool of you.

Noticed that, but didn't think anything of it at the time. Of course I read it about a month early. ;)

[Taxman]

Now I'm curious if Denny saw his 'guest appearance' in Elk's Run #2. hmm....I didn't get that, I thought he was a drug dealer. Just how many Denny Haynes are there in comic books?

[Angel of Distraction]

One review?

That's IT?

I hate Iowa sometimes.

[JoshuaFialkov]

One review?

That's IT?

I hate Iowa sometimes.
Welcome to the depressing world of small press. :evil:

[Taxman]

Welcome to the depressing world of small press. :evil::lol:

[Angel of Distraction]

Welcome to the depressing world of small press. :evil:

I would have loved it if I had found it man. I'm really sorry.

[JoshuaFialkov]

Dude, seriously. I've been doing this long enough, both publishing and the board, that I know what it's like.

No big.

You know what?

http://www.poorlydrawnanimals.com/images/previews/WToTIss5.pdf (http://www.poorlydrawnanimals.com/images/previews/WToTIss5.pdf)

:D

[Taxman]

I was at what I think is the smallest store in town the other day, and I almost fell over when I saw WToT #4 on the shelf.

[Angel of Distraction]

Dude, seriously. I've been doing this long enough, both publishing and the board, that I know what it's like.

No big.

You know what?

http://www.poorlydrawnanimals.com/images/previews/WToTIss5.pdf (http://www.poorlydrawnanimals.com/images/previews/WToTIss5.pdf)

:D

WOOO! Thanks! That was the ONLY way I was going to get something like that shipped to this town!

[JoshuaFialkov]

WOOO! Thanks! That was the ONLY way I was going to get something like that shipped to this town!
Well, it IS available for order on our website. ;)

I'm giving shit away for free and people still don't respond!

What a world. ;)

[Shwicaz]

Josh, I have had my copy sitting right here since last week.

I haven't wanted to pick it up cuz I know its the final issue.

I promise I will read it before tomorrow.

[JoshuaFialkov]

Josh, I have had my copy sitting right here since last week.

I haven't wanted to pick it up cuz I know its the final issue.

I promise I will read it before tomorrow.
Nah, it's no sweat.

It's strange because this really is the best issue we've done, and haven't gotten a single review of it.

[Taxman]

Nah, it's no sweat.

It's strange because this really is the best issue we've done, and haven't gotten a single review of it.I talked to the people at my LCS today, and they said that they still have not recieved this. Maybe you small press guys should take the summer off from publishing to make more room with Diamond for all of these hyped-up vanity comics Marvel and DC put out.

[JoshuaFialkov]

I talked to the people at my LCS today, and they said that they still have not recieved this. Maybe you small press guys should take the summer off from publishing to make more room with Diamond for all of these hyped-up vanity comics Marvel and DC put out.
Ah, Diamond. Putting Marvel & DC's smallest competition out of business.. one 3 person company at a time. ;)

[Taxman]

Ah, Diamond. Putting Marvel & DC's smallest competition out of business.. one 3 person company at a time. ;):lol:

That .003% of the market share may help put some AOL executive's daughter through college, think of that!

[St.-]

Man i LOVED this issue. I really like the other ones before it but as far as unappolgitatic horror this one takes the cake. Freaky grandmother was insanly creepy as well as some of the others. The best part was how many stories got shoved into this final issue great stories with great artists. And woooooweeeee how funny was Chili Dog. The Steve Niles story almost was the biggest surprise of the book if it wasn't for Nate Bellagardes work on [edit]another[edit] story. I didn't even catch that it was him till i looked back at the credits page. Man his newer style is really cool (although I prefer the older). Great work all around and again it's really sad to see this book go but I love the idea of new and cool stuff coming from H+B.

[JoshuaFialkov]

It's not Nate... that's Scott MIlls ya goof.

Glad you liked it, thanks for being Mr. Supportive, too, Stephen. :)

[St.-]

It's not Nate... that's Scott MIlls ya goof.

Glad you liked it, thanks for being Mr. Supportive, too, Stephen. :)

:Oops: I worded it wrong. I know Nate did another story. :lol:

And there's been nothing to desupport...yet. ;)

[JoshuaFialkov]

Yeh, he inked Tony Moore's story. ;)

[St.-]

Yeh, he inked Tony Moore's story. ;)


WHERE HAVE I BEEN!? :scared: :cry:


oh and i get show my brother in guitars the first medical popcorn refrence in a respected comic format. :D

[JoshuaFialkov]

TheFourthRail.com - Snap Judgments:
http://www.thefourthrail.com/reviews/snapjudgments/080105/snapshots.shtml (http://www.thefourthrail.com/reviews/snapjudgments/080105/snapshots.shtml)


WESTERN TALES OF TERROR #5
by various (Hoarse and Buggy Productions)
Cover by Kieron Dwyer

Western Tales of Terror goes out with a bang, and while I'm sorry that the series ends with issue five, I can't say that I'm disappointed with the notion of going out on a high note. It's almost forty pages long, and it features contributions from Tom Mandrake, Steve Niles, Tony Moore, Scott Mills, Jason Rand, Juan Ferreyra and of course editor in chief Joshua Hale Fialkov. Mandrake's 'The Devil's Gate' is a great tale of post-Civil War witchcraft and insanity with the usual evocative artwork you expect from him. Rand and Ferreyra, creators of Small Gods, turn in 'The Tale of Chili Pete,' a fascinating story of a search for a magic chili recipe that is essentially a long setup for a weirdly off-kilter punchline, but while the ending left me a little cold, the rest of the story is the perfect weird old west tale. There was a similar disconnect for me in Niles and Mills' work on 'Gold Miners' Slaughter,' a zombie tale that was an odd fit for Mills' geometric shape-based style, but I liked the tale, even if I think that Mills would have been served better on another story and the story with another artist. 'Know When to Hold 'Em' by Matty Field, Tony Moore, Nate Bellegarde and Jacob Baakeis, like "Chili Pete," a long story setup for a punchline, but it's got gorgeous art and a nice tense poker sequence. "Six Shots" by Jason Rodriguez and Marco Magallanes and "The Wind" by Joseph Gauthier & R.H. Aidley are both quick and dirty horror pieces that get their point and get out, and while they may not have the punch of a longer story, they're a good example of how to tell good stories in short form. On the flipside of the coin, Fialkov finishes up another multi-part story with a miner facing down a dragon and it's as enjoyable as his previous tale of Indian zombies. Like all anthologies, Western Tales of Terror has featured some hit and miss storytelling, but there was at least one gem in every issue, and there were rarely any stories that out and out disappointed. Happy trails to you, Western Tales, and hopefully we'll see you again someday.