THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 48 _ _________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, August 04, 2008

SKRULLS VS. POWER PACK #1: "I Was an Intergalactic Juvenile Delinquent!" (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Cory Hamscher (p/i); Gurihiru (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Gurihiru

Publisher: Marvel

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: Power Pack faces the shape-shifting Skrulls!

In this issue : Sssshh! There's this invasion, see, and it's a secret... No, no, not that one. I mean the one where dastardly SKRULLS impersonate Marvel's premiere all-kids super hero team, commit crimes around the universe in their form, so intergalactic bounty hunters capture and imprison Alex, Julie, Jack and Katie in Space Juvie...the dreaded reform-school planet Hadith-VI! And the only ones with any hope of springing them are FRANKLIN RICHARDS, H.E.R.B.I.E., and SMARTSHIP FRIDAY! (from marvel.com)

Review: Everyone in the Marvel Universe seems to be having a problem with Skrull invasions, and Power kids are no different. See, the Skrulls figure that impersonating Power Pack is the surest way to conquer Earth. Meanwhile, the REAL Power Pack is captured (by two aliens named Abercombie and Finch), taken to Patchworld, tried and sent to a reform school planet! I was hoping Gurihiru would provide all the interior art, but Hamscher's stuff isn't bad. (I LOVE the Gurihiru cover!) Van Lente provides yet another entertaining story, and I can't wait to see where things go from here.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #190: "A Bold New Moebius, part 2: Duality" (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); Tracy Yardley! (p); Jim Amash (i); Josh Ray (c); John Workman (l);

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of Sonic and pals, based on the hit video game.

In this issue: Worlds collide as Sonic and the heroic Freedom Fighters throw-down with the evil Scourge and the villainous Suppression Squad! Tensions run high as personal grudges come to light, and the fate of Freedom HQ hangs in the balance! Who will win this epic struggle? The answer may surprise you! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: The Freedom Fighters and the Suppression Squad duke it out, and talk about a battle royale! Meanwhile, the Chaotix face a similar challenge.getting through Dimitri and the Dark Egg Legion! Amid all the action, Flynn allows time for a nice, intimate moment between Antoine and Bunnie. And Yardley, Amash & Ray supply some great artwork, including said intimate moment and especially the first three pages, particularly Sonic and Scourge.

SONIC X #34: "Fool Party!" (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); David Hutchinson (p); Austin & Nickerson (i); Jason Jensen (c); Felix & Owsley (l); cover by Patrick "Spaz" Spaziante

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

Concept : During a battle between Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman, an explosion hurled Sonic, his friends, and Dr. Eggman across dimensions until they found themselves on planet Earth. Dr. Eggman is determined to establish his Eggman Empire, beginning with Earth.and Sonic is determined to stop him.

In this issue: When Chris' father holds a charity auction with the top prize being a personal pool party at Thorndyke Manor, guess what egg-shaped no-goodnik places the highest bid? Sonic and Tails make the scene to make sure Eggman doesn't steal it - or more precisely, doesn't steal one of Grandpa Chuck's special motors! Hopefully Eggman won't find out that Sonic can't swim! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: A pool party's no fun when you can't swim, but with Dr. Eggman as a guest, it's kind of important for Sonic to be there anyway. Beginning with Eggman's remarks about his "collection of green slips of paper going to a worthy cause," the story kicks into hilarious high gear. It's full of hilarious moments: Decoe and Bocoe imagining Eggman's plans to get Sonic, Eggman's infatuation with Edna, Tails "helping" Decoe & Bocoe, Eggman's big splash, and so much more! In fact, not since Eggman first assumed his El Gran Gordo alter ego have I laughed so hard at a SONIC X issue. It's great fun!

SONIC X #35: "Cracking the Eggman!" (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); James Fry (p); Terry Austin (i); Jason Jensen (c); John Workman (l); cover by Pat "Spaz" Spaziante

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

Concept : During a battle between Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman, an explosion hurled Sonic, his friends, and Dr. Eggman across dimensions until they found themselves on planet Earth. Dr. Eggman is determined to establish his Eggman Empire, beginning with Earth.and Sonic is determined to stop him.

In this issue : The city is being ransacked in a series of robberies perpetrated by cowboys, astronauts, pirates, ninjas, knights and more - all who mysteriously look like Eggman! Is it really the work of Sonic's #1 nemesis, or is someone actually foolish enough to frame the infamous foe? Can Sonic and his friends stop this costumed crime-wave before the town is looted dry? (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: Remember back in issue #27 when Bokkun went on such a sugar rush that he became an evil overlord? Well, that's nothing compared to what happens to Dr. Eggman when HE gets a sugar high! He becomes the living embodiment of the phrase "multiple personality disorder." The art team must have had a field day here, because Eggman changes costume no less that 21 times (that I counted).a feat that even Sonic might be hard pressed to beat! I like the non-violent but very effective way that Flynn allows Sonic to beat Eggman "at his own games," if you will, and even sneak in a message about healthy eating!

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #124 (Teen/Young Adult)

Brian Michael Bendis (w); Stuart Immonen (p); Wade von Grawbadger (i); Justin Ponsor (c); Cory Petit (l); cover by Immonen & Richard Isanove

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: The bite of a genetically-altered spider grants high school student Peter Parker incredible, arachnid-like powers.

In this issue : "War of the Symbiotes" rages on - as the Ultimate Beetle takes flight! Deep inside the corporate headquarters of Roxxon lies a vial containing the creepy black symbiote substance.or at least it did, until the Beetle stole it! Can Spider-Man capture this bug thug before disaster strikes, and what is Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s interest in the stolen material? The answers await in the book that has Ain't It Cool News saying "It's got excitement, emotion, action.I have such love for this book." (from marvel.com)

Review: First Eddie gets captured, and now the Beetle steals a vial with the symbiote. Wonder what Bendis has in store next? Who knows, but I will tell you that Immonen's artwork (aided, of course, by von Grawbadger and Ponsor) is fantastic, probably the best it's been since he started drawing the book. The Beetle suit looks AMAZING, particularly in the splash page where he's being chased by Spidey. As far as the dialogue, there aren't many writers who could make a conversation about getting a hole in the butt of your costume sound natural.

X-MEN FIRST CLASS vol. 2 #14

Jeff Parker (w); Roger Cruz (p/i); Val Staples (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Cruz & Staples

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: The next step in human evolution has arrived-Homo Superior. Mankind isn't sure whether this represents hope for the future.or the end of the human race. In a private school in upstate New York, one brilliant mutant is teaching a group of five such gifted students what they'll need to survive in this new world. These are the untold stories of Professor Xavier's first class of X-Men!

In this issue: The X-Men's new friend Aaron isn't acting quite right. As it turns out, neither are the rest of the X-Series androids back at his secret facility. You might even say they're starting to become... murderously unstable. PLUS: A Colleen Coover Cartoon! (from marvel.com)

Review: The X-Men are having a heck of a time battling the Lava Men, and Aaron doesn't seem to be helping much at first, but eventually does. Unfortunately, something has happened with the rest of the androids back at their facility. Cruz & Staples deliver some great artwork, particularly of the Lava Men. As usual, Parker seamlessly blends action with humor (mostly courtesy of Bobby, of course). But then he asks us to ponder the difference between man and machine-specifically, what happens when an android that's been programmed to think he's human is suddenly reminded that he isn't. Also included is the dialogue-free backup story "Missing Angel," which features some nice artwork from Colleen Coover.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

FRANKLIN RICHARDS SUMMER SMACKDOWN

SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE SEASON 2 #1

VENOM: DARK ORIGIN #1

By thy side,

John "Figaro" Norris

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