THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 38 _ _________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, May 25, 2008

DC SUPER FRIENDS #3: "Wanted: The Super Friends" (All Ages)

Sholly Fisch (w); Stewart McKenny (p); Phil Moy (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 : The Super Friends are out of control! Will they discover who's in charge of them before they have to retire for good? Plus, activities, fact files and the next part of your Super Friends membership kit! (from dccomics.com)

Review: An old foe of the Super Friends is back, and he's got them right where he wants them.not just in the palm of his hand, but on the very tips of his fingers! Thus we find the gang retrieving an ancient jar, bell and wheel for this guy, since whoever owns all three objects will control all the magic in the universe! I like how Batman gets an idea of how to beat him from a kid wearing a costume. You can also make your own finger puppets, get the scoop on Wonder Woman, unscramble some wonder words, and watch as Superman goes to jail!
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THE FLASH #240: "Fast Money, part 3: Broken News" (Teen/Young Adult)

Tom Peyer (w); Freddie E. Williams II (p/i); Tanya & Richard Horie (c); Rob Leigh (l); cover by Williams

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Wally West returns as the Scarlet Speedster.

In this issue: Primate fear! Estranged from Jay Garrick, The Flash is brutally double-teamed by the return of the one foe able to outdo Spin's psychic rampage with one of his own - Grodd! Meanwhile, a lowlife strikeforce, one with strangely cosmic trappings, targets the twins' fantastically developing powers! Four generations of the Flash legacy anchor this special issue! (from dccomics.com)

Review: "Sometimes I have no idea what's going on. But more and more, I've been getting the feeling that something BIG is happening right behind my back-and that it's going to kick me right where it counts." The Flash has no idea, indeed. Beginning with Spin summoning Grodd to Keystone City , Peyer doesn't let up for one second. There's a rather disturbing scene in which people actually start living newscasts. For his part, Williams does some wonderful work, especially on Grodd, making him look every bit the huge threat that he is.
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GARGOYLES: BAD GUYS #2: "Redemption, chapter 2: The Lost" (Teen/Young Adult)

Greg Weisman (w); Karine Charlebois (p/i); Robby Bevard (tone assists); Doug Dlin (l); cover by Greg Guler & Bevard

Publisher: SLG Publishing

Format: bi-monthly series

Concept: The bad guys of the Gargoyles Universe share the spotlight in this spin-off series.

In this issue: The Japanese gargoyle Yama has been banished from Clan Ishimura until such time as his lost honor can be restored. Truly alone for the first time in his long life, he becomes a target of the Hunter, a human who has spent her life training to destroy the gargoyle race. So when Hunter and her new teammates, Dingo & Matrix, catch up to him, Yama is offered no mercy - and a job? (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: It's nice to see the bad guys getting the spotlight, and this time, it's Yama's turn. He's alone for the first time, having been banished from his clan for his betrayal. Next thing you know, he's confronting Hunter, Dingo and Matrix.and joining them. Though he may be labeled as a bad guy, he's got a soul; in the beautifully-written scene in which he must say farewell to the female gargoyle Sora, you can't help but feel for him. Charlebois does a great job, giving him wonderful expressions. And for added good measure, Weisma allows us to pay Fang a visit, who's about to get a major surprise.
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GARGOYLES: BAD GUYS #3: "Redemption, chapter 3: Estranged" (Teen/Young Adult)

Greg Weisman (w); Christopher Jones (p/i); Robby Bevard (interior tones); Doug Dlin (l); cover by Greg Guler & Bevard

Publisher: SLG Publishing

Format: bi-monthly series

Concept: The bad guys of the Gargoyles Universe share the spotlight in this spin-off series.

In this issue : While Hunter, Dingo, Matrix, and Yama are in Manhattan, trying to uncover why Doctor Sevarius freed Fang from prison, Hunter takes a break from the team to make peace with her wayward brothers - Jason Canmore and John Castaway! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: This issue begins just like the last one, with the team in battle, followed by a flashback. Hunter and the team are trying to find Dr. Anton Sevarious, the reasons for which have something to do with the last issue. As the mission continues, Weisman allows us glimpses of her before she became the Hunter. Jones fills in for Karine Charlebois, and it's nice to see his work on a title other than THE BATMAN STRIKES. BAD GUYS allows him to go further than STRIKES does, and there are some genuinely creepy moments mixed in with some humorous ones (including the views of each member's hotel rooms). Plus, his work just looks great in black & white.
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MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #8: "Fatal Funnies" (Teen/Young Adult)

Mike/J.L. Allred (w); Mike Allred/Nick Dragotta (p/i); Laura Allred (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by the Allreds

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

Concept: Frank "Madman" Einstein returns in an all-new series.

In this issue : A fantastic jumping-on point for new readers! Frank "Madman" Einstein thinks he has lost everything he loves and must find some way to get it all back. Is it as simple as pushing a cosmic "reset button" and taking his vitamins? Find out in this exciting issue! (from imagecomics.com)

Review: It's two Madman stories for the price of one this issue! First up is "Film Flam," in which Allred has Madman viewing his life as a movie, complete with a scratchy print (which was a nice touch). It's beautifully done and, as the solicitation says, a great jumping-on point for new readers. After they get up to speed on Frank's life, they should brace themselves for the lunacy that is "Find a Penny Pick It Up," in which Frank accidentally loses a wheat penny that's actually a nugget of transferium. Of course, chaos ensues.
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MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #24: Don't Be Hatin'." (All Ages)

Jeff Parker (w); Ig Guara (p); Jay Leisten (i); Ulises Arreola (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Kirk & Baumann

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Super-soldier from World War II. Weather Goddess. Super-strong alter ego of scientist Bruce Banner. Spider-powered web-slinger. Giant-sized crimefighter. Brilliant armored inventor. Feral mutant brawler. Together, they are the world's mightiest heroes, battling foes that no single super hero could withstand!

In this issue : FAN FAVE JEFF PARKER RETURNS! Giant-Girl hates Spider-Man. Spider-Man hates Ant-Man. Ant-Man hates Iron Man. Iron Man hates...everyone. Where is all this hate coming from? Some kind of... MONGER, perhaps? (from marvel.com)

Review: ANOTHER superhero group losing control this week? Just what's going on here? Actually, they're all overseeing a new criminal work release program at Stark Tower when it happens. It turns out to be the work of the Hate-Monger, and he knows just what to do and say to get the group really mad at each other. Parker's script is hilarious, especially the scene in which the group undergoes therapy with Doc Samson (and his "green arena-rock hair," as Spidey puts it). Check out Wolverine's priceless expression when he's on the couch.
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COLLECTIONS

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR vol. 8: MONSTERS, MOLES, COWBOYS & COUPONS digest collects MA FF #29-32.

MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #11 collects MA HULK #2 and MA SPIDER-MAN #37.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #6

FIREBREATHER vol. 2 #1

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #36

MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #13

POWER PACK: DAY ONE #3

TEEN TITANS GO! #55

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #122

USAGI YOJIMBO vol. 3 #112

WOLVERINE: FIRST CLASS #3

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS vol. 2 #12

By thy side,

John "Figaro" Norris

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