THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 3 - Week 17 _ _________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, December 30 , 2008

Hello, faithful readers! I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. I've got lots of reviews this week. But first, I have a bit of news regarding a book I reviewed a while ago.

PET ROBOTS (All Ages)

Scott Christian Sava (w); Diego Jourdan & Villagran Studios (p/i); Frank Villarreal (c)

Publisher: Jonas Publishing/Worthwhile Books/IDW

Format: paperback

During the first year of this column, I was given a rather large file of this book for review purposes. You can read my original review here. PET ROBOTS is back, this time in paperback format, and with a quote from my original review on the back cover! It's available from Amazon, Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble.

Now, onto the reviews!

INVINCIBLE #57 (Teen/Young Adult)

Robert Kirkman (w); Ryan Ottley (p); Cliff Rathburn (i); Fco Plascencia (c); Rus Wooton (l); cover by Ottley & Plascencia

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of young superhero Mark Grayson.

In this issue : GUEST-STARRING THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN! In part one of a two-part crossover, Invincible sets off on a mission to bring the fugitive Wolf-Man to justice. (from imagecomics.com)

Review: INVINCIBLE and THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN are both terrific books and terrific characters, so to get a double dose of both together in the same week is very cool. Invincible crosses paths with a familiar face that he never wanted to see again and ends up facing the Wolf-Man. One thing I've always liked about Mark ever since he first met Allen the Alien is his willingness to both talk to and listen to others. The scene where Gary explains everything to Mark is just wonderful, and it's a real treat to see Ottley and company draw Gary both in human and wolf form. Unfortunately, Cecil Stedman isn't as willing to listen as Mark is, and the adventure continues in…

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #11 (Teen/Young Adult)

Robert Kirkman (w); Jason Howard (p); Cliff Rathburn (i); Fco & Ivan Plascencia (c); Rus Wooton (l); cover by Howard

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

Concept: When Gary Hampton is mauled and left for dead, his life takes a drastic turn. Gary is cursed — when the moon is full he transforms into a beast of the night — a werewolf! But this curse will not be used for evil — witness the birth or the world's most unlikely new superhero — The Astounding Wolf-Man!

In this issue: GUEST-STARRING INVINCIBLE! In part two of a two-part crossover, Invincible sets off on a mission to bring the fugitive Wolf-Man to justice. (from imagecomics.com)

Review: This issue picks up immediately where INVINCIBLE left off and hits the ground running with two awesome fight scenes. But what I love most about the issue is the friendship that is developing between Gary and Mark. It's nice to see that Gary can call someone “friend” again, and that Dunford is still trustworthy as well. As with Ottley, it's a treat to see Howard and company's take on Invincible. This is a very well-done crossover.

BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM! #3 (All Ages)

Written and illustrated by Mike Kunkel; letters by Steve Wands

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Welcome to the brand-new, all-fun adventures of Billy Batson as the World's Mightiest Mortal — Captain Marvel, from acclaimed writer/artist Mike Kunkel (Herobear)!

In this issue: Sometimes you just have one of those days. Billy just wants to stay Captain Marvel all the time and not change back into his normal self. That is, until Mary reminds him of a problem–he has detention! Meanwhile, Theo Adam now has the 7 Deadly Evils serving him as sidekicks. And he's not making matters any easier when he kidnaps Billy in hopes of stealing his power-granting magic word. When Mary finds Billy captured, she sets out to save him as Mary Marvel. But, things aren't always that simple when Theo Adam is around. (from dccomics.com)

Review: “There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths.” --Job 24:13

“He shot arrows and scattered the enemies, bolts of lightning and routed them.” --2 Samuel 22:15 (also Psalm 18:14 )

Kunkel builds his story on these two Bible verses. The light, of course is Captain Marvel, aka Billy Batson, and the darkness is Black Adam, aka Theo Adam. In his determination to learn the magic word that will transform him, Theo's brought a long a few friends. (And by “friends,” I mean the Deadly Evils of Man.) It sounds like heavy stuff, but Kunkel keeps things light and extremely entertaining. Those monsters may be deadly evils, but he looks like he's having a ball drawing them, and the detention scene and Marvel's mock phone conversation are downright hilarious.

THE FLASH #247: “This Was Your Life, Wally West, part 4: Incubation” (Teen/Young Adult)

Alan Burnett (w); Carlo Barberi, J. Calafiore & Andre Coelho (p); Jacob Eguren, Drew Geraci & Coelho (i); Tanya & Richard Horie (c); Travis Lanham (l); cover by Brian Stelfreeze

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Wally West returns as the Scarlet Speedster.

In this issue : "This Was Your Life, Wally West" concludes! As Flash stands alone without his powers or family to support him, only one question remains – is this end of the Fastest Man Alive? (from dccomics.com)

Review: Wally's wife, Linda, is practically on her deathbed. He doesn't know where his kids are. And to top it all off, his powers are running out. But even without his powers, Wally still knows how to use the speed force to find his kids. The issue really focuses on the superhero life and the negative effects it can have on a family as Wally wonders if it's time to make a break from it. The artwork is nice; even though there are three pencillers, their styles never clash.

MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #6: “The Anthill…and the Apocalypse!” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Matteo Lolli (p); Christian Vecchia (i); Guru eFX (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Clayton Henry & Guru eFX

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Join the Marvel Heroes for some amazing adventures.

In this issue : Here he comes, True Believers -- the astonishing ANT-MAN! The man with two, count 'em, TWO super powers! Who is he? How did he get both the ability to shrink to less than an inch tall and speak directly to ants? Why does he use those abilities to aid all mankind? SHUT UP -- Don't answer that! Those are rhetorical questions! Any answers you come up with can't possibly be as awesome as the real ones ... SO BUY THIS COMIC NOW!!! (from marvel.com)

Review: If you think ants are ugly, disgusting creatures, you may just change your mind after reading this issue. Hank Pym certainly sees them in a new light. In fact, you might say he's looking at life from a whole new perspective…less than an inch tall! We see him rise from nearly-evicted inventor to super hero and friend to ants everywhere. Hank's dialogue with the ants is absolutely wonderful, and any issue that features singing ants is worth the cover price.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #129 (Teen/Young Adult)

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

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 : Ultimatum is upon us!! Big changes are afoot and with them comes the much anticipated return of ULTIMATE SPIDER-WOMAN! But is she friend or foe?? Guest-starring the Human Torch and Kitty Pryde! (from marvel.com)

Review: Not that any issue of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN is boring—far from it—but this issue allows Peter (and the readers) to catch his breath and relax for a bit, even go out with friends. Not so much for the Human Torch, who will do anything to bail on his date, even pretend to run off to fight a villain, only to run into the Vulture—and Spider-Woman! The action and dialogue are both fast-paced and hilarious. But Bendis balances the lighter scenes with some heavier ones. And since they involve Aunt May, things are going to really hit home for Peter.

USAGI YOJIMBO #116: “The Outlaw” (Teen/Young Adult)

Written and illustrated by Stan Sakai; cover by Sakai & Tom Luth

Publisher: Dark Horse

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of the rabbit samurai known as Usagi.

In this issue : The outlaw Taniguchi is the bounty of the day, and hunters Gen and Stray Dog once again find themselves joining forces to better their chances of catching their common prey. Agreeing that the first to capture Taniguchi should receive the lion's share of the reward, the two part ways in an attempt to cover as much territory as possible. Yet when Gen is the first to find the outlaw, he discovers that-much to his dismay-Taniguchi is essentially a decent guy, undeserving of death! What will this money-loving, sentimental cutthroat do? (from darkhorse.com)

Review: Sakai delivers another Usagi-less issue, focusing once again on Gen. There isn't much Gen won't do for money, but could he have a heart underneath? Could Taniguchi be more than he seems? Once again, Sakai uses animals to tell a tale of humanity, as both men learn to see each other for who they really are…and discover they're both not so bad.

WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #10: “The Pack, part 1” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Francis Portela (p/i); Ulises Arreola (c); Joe Caramagna (l); cover by David Williams & Arreola

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Return with us again to the early days of the all-new, all-different, X-Men for all-new solo adventures of Wolverine and Kitty Pryde!

In this issue : Even a man with a healing factor, adamantium claws and enhanced senses to get him through a fight may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and need the help of Jack Russell, WEREWOLF-BY-NIGHT! (from marvel.com)

Review: Wolverine fights to control his bestial nature, but a chance encounter with a female stranger might unleash the beast! Something in the water has been affecting the local lycanthropes…including, as it turns out, Jack Russell himself! This issue will keep you entertained, and Portela and Arreola produce some nice artwork, especially of the wolves.

COLLECTIONS

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN vol. 11: ANIMAL INSTINCT digest collects MA SPIDER-MAN #41-44.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #43

VENOM: DARK ORIGIN #5

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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