THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 3 - Week 50 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, August 17, 2009

BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #7: “The Secret of the Doomsday Design!” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); J. Bone (p/i); Heroic Age (c); Travis Lanham (l); cover by Scott Jeralds

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Jumping out of your TV and into your comics comes the highly anticipated new cartoon BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD! Each month, The Dark Knight Detective faces challenges that only he can solve – with a little help from his DC Universe pals! Thrill as Batman visits new places and old friends. Chill as he chases down the most powerful villains in the DCU, armed with only his Bat-gadgets and his wits!

In this issue : Here comes the Doom Patrol! And they want Batman to help them out with…General Immortus? But we just shipped him off last issue! (from dccomics.com)

Review: There's no rest for superheroes. No sooner has Batman returned home from Greece , where he helped the Olympian fight Circe's pets, when he gets a call saying that the Doom Patrol has been captured! All except Beast Boy, that is, who tags along, makes funny jokes and helps Batman solve the mystery of just who kidnapped his teammates. If not Immortus, then who? It's another fun story from Torres, and J. Bone makes Beast Boy and his various furry incarnations look ADORABLE.

BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM! #6: “To Be King” (All Ages)

Art Baltazar & Franco (w); Stephen DeStefano (p/i); David Tanguay (c); cover by J. Bone

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!

In this issue: It's the magic of Shazam versus the magic of King Kull! Winner take all! (from dccomics.com)

Review: The statues are beginning to open their eyes, which means trouble for Captain Marvel and Mary. Dr. Sivana's on the loose, but that's not the biggest problem…King Kull is. Another problem is that while this issue isn't a BAD issue, it's not a memorable one, either, and I'm not sold on the artwork.

CARS: THE ROOKIE #4: “The Rookie Wins!” (All Ages)

Alan J. Porter (w); Albert Carreres (p/i); Flavio B. Silva (c); Deron Bennett (l); covers by Allen Gladfelter

Publisher: BOOM! Kids

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: Lightning McQueen and the cast of Disney/Pixar's CARS return in this miniseries.

In this issue: Lightning McQueen's thrilling origin story concludes! McQueen has found a top-notch pit crew, a big-name sponsor, an awesome new paint job...and a new nickname! He has truly found his groove, and he's determined to win his first Piston Cup race! (from boom-kids.com)

Review: The final issue of this miniseries is here, and you need only to look at the title to know how the story ends. It's what leads up to the final outcome that's important. McQueen returns to finish telling his story, and as usual, he embellishes the truth. But this is the big time now, unlike what he's used to. The lesson: It pays to listen to those who have experience. It also pays to have someone in the race pulling for you. I won't say any more about that, but I'll say that this is a fitting conclusion to an entertaining story.

TOY STORY #3: “A Dog's Life” (All Ages)

Dan Jolley (w); Chris Moreno (p/i); Veronica Gandini (c); Deron Bennett (l); covers by Chris Moreno, Mike Decarlo & Gandini

Publisher: BOOM! Kids

Format: four-issue minisieres

Concept: The toys from TOY STORY are back!

In this issue: More all-new adventures featuring the world's favorite toys! In this issue, the toys meet Andy's new dog, Buster!

Review: It's bad enough when you dog chews up your favorite toys. But Andy's toys face a bigger problem: Andy's new puppy, Rex, discovers their secret and tries to expose them! It's an entertaining battle of wits, but the real winner is the reader. Moreno makes Buster look adorable!

ULIMATUM: SPIDER-MAN REQUIEM #2 (Teen/Young Adult)

Brian Michael Bendis (w); Mark Bagley & Stuart Immonen (p); Scott Hanna & Wade von Grawbadger (i); Pete Pantazis & Justin Ponsor (c); Cory Petit (l); cover by Immonen

Publisher: Marvel

Format: two-issue miniseries

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

In this issue: Featuring all new material by Bendis, Bagley and Stuart Immonen, the legacy of Spider-Man is examined through the eyes of a repentant J. Jonah Jameson. This final chapter in volume one of Ultimate Spider-Man reveals the true fate of Peter Parker and guest stars the surviving Ultimates! (from marvel.com)

Review: As Jameson finishes his story, he recalls another incident where Spider-Man helped save the day, this time involving the Hulk. Simply put, I cannot recommend this issue highly enough. Everyone involved stepped up to the plate and totally hit it out of the park. I'd go so far as to say that this is the best story I've ever read by Bendis; Jameson and Bruce Banner's words are wonderfully compelling. And I have to hand it to the artists. With full support from the inkers and colorists, Immonen does some of his best work on the title (including the cover image), and Bagley's panels of the Hulk and the double splash page with Spidey and Doctor Octopus are ASTOUNDING. It's a great issue that is both a farewell and the start of something new.

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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