THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 30 _ _________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, March 30 , 2008

ADOLESCENT RADIOACTIVE BLACK BELT HAMSTERS #2 (Teen/Young Adult)

Keith Champagne (w); Tom Nguyen (p/i); “Moose” Baumann (c); Zach Matheny (l); covers by Ngyuen & Baumann and Michael Avon Oeming

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Format: monthly series

Concept: The Hamsters return in this new series.

In this issue : Issue #2 continues the frantic pace set by our team in issue #1 as Gengis Khann wreaks havoc among the monks and takes a few Hamsters hostage along the way! Can the team put their differences aside and come back together to take him down! We'll find out! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: This issue picks up exactly fourteen seconds after the first issue ended, with Lucy still in mid-air from her fall. Fortunately, she finds Master Lock, who is living amongst Yeti. Meanwhile, we finally get a little bit of back story on the original four, Jackie in particular (but don't call him that; until he's reunited with his brothers, he will have no name). He will finally be reunited with his long-lost kin…or will he? And while all THAT'S going on, Arnold and Rock may find out that there's more to their home than meets the eye. Add to this chaos ninja Yeti and a Guitar Hero-playing, gum-chewing Golden Child, and you have one nutty issue.
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MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #34: “The (Mr.) Fantastic Fix-it Shoppe!” (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); David Hahn (p/i); Guillem Mari (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Grummett, Pallot & Anderson

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Irradiated by cosmic rays and transformed to possess superhuman powers, they joined together to fight evil. Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch and the Thing. Together they call themselves the Fantastic Four!

In this issue: Ahh, Reed Richards. Ever absent-minded. When the Fantastic Four helps to raise money for a block renovation, Reed runs an "I'll fix anything!" booth, and in between putting booster rockets on mopeds and laser cannons in wristwatches, he sort of, you know, accidentally fixes the Mad Thinker's android. Oops. Now it's the Mad Thinker and his Awesome Android versus the Fantastic Four and some toasters. Yeah, I said toasters. (from marvel.com)

Review: You have to love Reed Richards' idea of “fixing things up.” From putting rockets on a moped to rigging a gaming system to play games from other systems and even the ethersphere to installing insectoid legs on a laptop…it's a dream come true for kids and geeks!! Reed's a person who gets so caught up in his work that he becomes completely oblivious to his surroundings, not noticing that his teammates are gone or that he just fixed the Mad Thinker's android. Fortunately, his technical know-how will allow him to come up with a solution. The issue is filled with great moments: Ben and Johnny re-enacting “William Tell”, Johnny at the kissing booth (Hahn gives him some great expressions), Ben battling the Hulk (well...not quite), and best of all, Reed wielding toasters like a cowboy would handle his guns.
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MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #11: “Northern Lights” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Scott Koblish (p/i); Javier Tartaglia (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Francis Tsai

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Billionaire inventor Tony Stark built a suit of armor that saved his life. He now fights against the forces of evil as the invincible Iron Man!

In this issue : The Living Laser is back, and having merged with the aurora borealis, he's laying waste to the Great White North. Iron Man had better call in the cavalry! Wait, no--the Mounties! No, better yet-- Canada 's greatest super heroes, ALPHA FLIGHT! (from marvel.com)

Review: Alpha Flight and Iron Man's Arctic Armor are featured in this issue, and both look great, thanks to Koblish and Tartaglia. Iron Man goes from one strange situation to another; from accidentally getting pummeled by Alpha Flight to fighting alongside them against the Living Laser. Van Lente keeps things entertaining, especially with Alpha Flight's bickering. But they come together when it counts, so while they may be dysfunctional, they're still very much a family.
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THE PHANTOM #22: “Checkmate,” part 2 of 5 (Teen/Young Adult)

Mike Bullock (w); Silvestre Szilagyi (p); Tomas Coggiola (i); Bob Pedroza (c); Nate Pride (l); cover by EricJ & Pedroza

Publisher: Moonstone

Format: monthly series

Concept: "The Ghost Who Walks" comes alive, as the classic comic strip character is put through his paces in all new adventures. Thrilling adventure fraught with dire peril!

In this issue: The biggest arc in Moonstone's Phantom run, culminating in the double sized issue #25, continues! After the tragic conclusion to last issue, The Phantom must pick up the pieces and move forward to discover who is responsible. However, his mourning is violently interrupted when war comes to the Deep Woods. (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: This issue finds the Phantom and Devil on the case, searching for clues to find out who is responsible for his wife's death, which will lead to some interesting discoveries. Meanwhile, Locke and Temur Singh have their own agenda, one which involves diamonds, war, Gutalle and someone very close to HIM (whose presence is still very much felt, if not seen). And in case the Phantom didn't have enough to be concerned about, there are still his kids, Kit and Heloise. This issue (and the whole series, really) is a great example of how to create escalating tension, particularly the scenes with Locke and Temur Singh. Szilagyi's staging is superb; from the wide shots to the close-ups on their hands to the way their faces are shown in shadow half the time beautifully reflects the seediness of both men, and Bullock's rich dialogue reveals the hatred hiding behind the formalities. And anyone with kids will sympathize with the Phantom near the end, when he's faced with some very pointed questions as the battle gets closer to home.
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SUPER FRIENDS #1: “Hungry For Power” (All Ages)

Sholly Fisch (w); Dario Brizuela (p/i); Heroic Age (c); Rob Clark, Jr. (l); cover by J. Bone

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Introducing SUPER FRIENDS — a brand-new series for younger readers to meet the heroes of the DC Universe, based on the hot toy line from Mattel! Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash and Aquaman are here to save the day — and be your friends, too!

In this issue: This issue features a full-length adventure with Amazo, the android who has all the same powers as our heroes, as well as activities, the Super Friends secret code key and more! (from dccomics.com)

Review: It's being promoted as “a brand-new series for younger readers to meet the heroes of the DC Universe,” so what better way to begin the first issue of the new SUPER FRIENDS series than by having the Super Friends rescue a bunch of school children? Professor Ivo doesn't think so, and he's built Amazo and given him all the combined powers of the team. It's going to take teamwork and Green Lantern believing in himself to get out of this one. To Fisch's credit, it's only toward the end of the story that we realize Amazo's missing something, and when it's revealed, it makes perfect sense. The issue is divided into three chapters, with games, a Superman fact file and a secret code for reading messages. It concludes with the team telling kids how they can be super friends in real life: being kind, showing respect, and helping out.
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TEEN TITANS GO! #53: “Wacky Wednesday/Hot & Cold” (All Ages)

J. Torres & Todd Nauck (w); Joe Quinones & Nauck (p); Quinones & Lary Stucker (i); Quinones & Heroic Age (c); Sal Cipriano (l); cover by Nauck & Kanila Tripp

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of the Teen Titans, based on the hit cartoon.

In this issue: Something old! Something new! In this issue you get two stories — TWO! First, a tale of times past featuring Beast Boy and the Doom Patrol. Then, Kid Flash and Jinx face off against some new foes, the brother and sister threat of Kid Kold and Ice Kate! (from dccomics.com)

Review: It's another Titans two-in-one! First, Torres takes us back to Beast Boy's past in “Wacky Wednesday,” in which BB messes with Mento's helmet, causing them to switch bodies—just as the Doom Patrol is needed! Then, Torres & Nauck take us to Keystone City in “Hot & Cold.” The action—and the bad puns—keep coming as Kid Flash and Jinx try to stop Kid Kold and Ice Kate from committing a robbery, only to have Jinx discover that Kold is actually an old flame! They're both hilarious stories that keep the action moving at a great pace, featuring some WONDERFUL artwork from Quinones and Nauck.
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ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #120 (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: Guest starring the X-Men! Now that one of Peter Parker's fellow students has been outted as a mutant, the struggle for their heart and mind is on! Magneto, Master of Magnetism, claims the new mutant as his own, but the X-Men aren't about to let that stand! It's a battle royale that rages across the city with the web-slinger caught in the middle! The dream tag-team of Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen deliver the finale to “Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends!” (from marvel.com)

Review: Poor Liz Allen. In a very short time period, she's burst into flames, discovered she's a mutant…and now Magneto's found her! What's even more shocking, though, is the news he brings…of her father! So we have Magneto promising to take her to her father, while Spidey and Iceman (and eventually the other X-Men) try to convince her that Magneto is the bad guy. Fortunately, Spidey's been through this before. For those of you who read ULTIMATE X-MEN, this story takes place after the events of UX-M #93. Not that they don't do a great job every issue, but Immonen, von Grawbadger and Ponsor really produce some strong art here.
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USAGI YOJIMBO vol. 3 #110: “Kitsune Gari” (Teen/Young Adult)

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

Publisher: Dark Horse

Format: monthly series

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

In this issue: Rabbit ronin Usagi and the bounty hunter Gen face a dilemma of unexpected dimensions when a shortcut through a forest turns into a dangerous guessing game!

There are some mysteries in the wild that are best left undisturbed, as Gen and Usagi discover while traveling through an area reputed to be the home of a trickster fox. Momentarily separated, when the two meet up again, Gen has the unsettling suspicion that what appears to be Usagi may be someone-or something-else entirely. As Usagi begins to behave more strangely, how will Gen decide if that is really his friend by his side? (from darkhorse.com)

Review: Sakai introduces the issue's main message—things aren't always as they seem—at the very beginning, with Usagi and Gen attending a magic show. Gen may be a good samurai, but it's his arrogance and stinginess that will get him in trouble. He and Usagi venture into a forest despite an old man's warning; from there, Sakai messes with Gen's mind until the very end. It's a great story that will keep you guessing.
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WOLVERINE: FIRST CLASS #1: “The Buddy System” (Teen/Young Adult) 

Fred Van Lente (w); Andrea di Vito (p/i); Laura Villari (c); Simon Bowland (l); cover by Salva Espin & Brad Anderson

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: The next generation of students has arrived at Xavier's School--Colossus, Storm, Nightcrawler, and the mysterious Wolverine--and with them, new teaching methods. Professor X pairs up green recruit Kitty Pryde with the been-everywhere, done-everything vet Logan , and neither of them are all that happy about it. But unless they learn to work together, neither of them will come back from their first mission together alive! (from marvel.com)

Review: This story is told from Kitty's perspective. It's her first day at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, and everyone's in a good mood…except Wolverine, of course. And then he finds out that he gets to take Kitty on her first mission. But as Xavier says at the end, the mission is a school and even Wolverine has something to learn. I gave this a “teen/young adult” rating, but I don't see a problem in letting older children read it, too. (Marvel gives it an “A” rating.) This is a great read with some wonderful artwork from di Vito. If you like X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, you're sure to like this as well. Speaking of which…
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X-MEN FIRST CLASS vol. 2 #10: “Frederick” (Teen/Young Adult)

Jeff Parker (w); Craig Rousseau (p/i); Emily Warren (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson & Dean White

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: “Hey Cyclops!”
“Huh?”
“Why're ya so dang boring?”
“I dunno.”
“Well…if we give ya a whole issue of First Class, do you promise to be cool?”
“Ok.”
“Deal!” (from marvel.com)

Review: You have to love that plot synopses and Bobby's Cyclops jokes that begin the issue. But things begin to take a more serious turn, making it a perfect vehicle for Cyclops. While the rest of the team is sick, the Professor sends Cyclops on a mission to find what they think is a killer mutant. We get a glimpse of Frederick 's origin thanks to the Professor, but the mutant's power ensures that Scott will be on his own part of the time. Like any leader, Scott's in a position where he will have to face unpleasant situations, including death—and like any leader, he needs encouragement, which the professor provides in a wonderful scene. Rousseau nicely handles the artistic duties here, and readers of THE PERHAPANAUTS will undoubtedly pick up on an early scene involving a certain blood-sucking creature.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #44

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #38

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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