THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 3 - Week 22 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, February 02, 2009

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #12 (Teen/Young Adult)

Robert Kirkman (w); Jason Howard (p/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 : As if Wolf-Man didn't already have enough to worry about – here comes TRIPLE THREAT! Are they here to hurt him – or HELP him? This issue sets the stage for the next dramatic phase in the life of Gary Hampton, the Astounding Wolf-Man! (from imagecomics.com)

Review: Kirkman sure knows how to keep the reader guessing. Characters appear long enough that we get an update on them, but we're left wanting to know a lot more. There are twists galore in this issue, from Wolf-Man's lesson with the Elder to Zech and Chloe to Triple Threat's encounter with Wolf-Man…or is it? Howard shows that he handles expressions and emotion every bit as well as he handles action, and he really shows us the MAN behind the wolf. One scene in particular stands out; it's when Wolf-Man is inside his old house and remembers his wife's death. Kirkman wisely lets Howard tell the story through the art, and the expressions make it heartfelt. It's beautifully done.

Look out for: language, one panel with blood, and a scene in which Thrill-Kill cuts Eruptor open (though his ‘blood' looks like lava)

BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD #1: “The Panic Of the Composite Creature” (All Ages)

Matt Wayne (w); Andy Suriano (p); Dan Davis (i); Heroic Age (c); Randy Gentile (l); cover by James Tucker

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: In this awesome first issue, show writer Matt Wayne (Justice League, Ben 10: Alien Force) joins forces with Andy Suriano and Dan Davis to bring you "The Panic of the Composite Creature," a tale of terror and adventure! All this action plus Batman's secret files await you each and every month. So hang on to your seats, and get ready for the read of your life! (from dccomics.com)

Review: If you haven't seen BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD on Cartoon Network, I highly recommend it. It's an action-packed, fast-paced, hilarious show that teams Batman with different DC characters in each episode. This allows some of the lesser-known characters in the DC Universe a chance to shine. In this debut issue, Power Girl does the honors. (Aquaman shows up in the beginning.) I won't tell you what (or who) the Composite Creature is made of, but I can say that this issue maintains the look and style of the show, thanks to Wayne, Suriano and cover artist/show producer Tucker.

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #44: “Would You Like Living Darkness With That?” (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); David Hahn (p/i); A. Dalhouse (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Tom Grummett & Sotomayor

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: When a major fast food restaurant launches a "Good Taste Need Not Be Alien" advertising campaign, it hires a few aliens for publicity. But who's the marketing genius who thought Null the Living Darkness would make a good employee? And why won't anybody fire him? Battle lines are drawn at a fast food counter when the Fantastic Four stand between hungry citizens and an incredibly powerful, and incredibly belligerent, fast food cashier in, "Would You Like Living Darkness With That?" (from marvel.com)

Review: You can find some interesting characters behind the counter at fast-food restaurants, but Rick Donald's does them all one better by hiring actual aliens. And no one is more alien, or unreliable, than Null the Living Darkness. How he ends up getting a job in the first place is not for me to tell you. Suffice to say, this issue is just NUTTY! I'm definitely lovin' it.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #130 (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 : Aunt May is under arrest, Spider-Man is underwater and the world has gone to hell. Spidey and the gang will never be the same. Do not miss the shocking events that will define this book for months to come! (from marvel.com)

Review: When we last left Aunt May, the police were escorting her from her home. At the police station, they're intent on putting her through the ringer, when suddenly…well, you really have to see it to believe it. Spider-Man, as usual, gets caught up in the middle of things, but even he has no idea how big this particular “thing” is or who's causing it to happen. The police precinct scene is wonderful, filled with Bendis' overlapping, natural dialogue that makes you feel like you're there. Immonen and company really step up their artistic game with some amazing splash pages. Like I said, you have to see it to believe it.

USAGI YOJIMBO vol. 3 #117: “Traitors of the Earth, part 1” (Teen/Young Adult)

Written & 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 rabbit ronin Usagi wanders into a new three-part adventure that begins with the unleashing of a never-before-seen threat! Three hundred years ago, Lord Hayashi quashed an uprising incited by Lord Nobu, slaughtering all traitors and leaving their bodies unburied as punishment at the Battle of the Gray Overlook. Now, something has happened and Sasuke the Demon Queller has been called upon to face a new evil. A delicate balance exists between the powers of light and darkness, and when the thief Kitsune picks the purse of a samurai to find a small, nondescript jewel, she threatens to upset this balance forever! (from darkhorse.com)

Review: Sakai begins the issue with the story of the uprising, and then cuts to Kitsune, three hundred years later. Working her magic on a samurai, she steals his purse only to find a “cheap trinket.” Little does she know how much trouble she will find herself in. There's a lot of information yet to be revealed, but one thing is for sure: the opening battle and the scene in which Sasuke battles an unknown monster are breathtaking, done in an epic style the way only Sakai can do it.

WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #11: “The Pack, part 2” (Teen/Young Adult)

Fred Van Lente (w); Hugo Petrus (p/i); Ulises Arreola (c); Joe Caramagna (l); cover by Williams & Quintana

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 : Though a lycanthrope's bite has turned Wolverine into a true raging beast of the night, he may have at last found peace in his werewolf pack. But when he learns that the focus of the pack's vengeance is Kitty Pryde's father, only Jack Russell, the Werewolf-by-Night, may be able to stop him in time! (from marvel.com)

Review: Normally, I give the book an “all-ages” rating. The only reason I didn't this time is because there's a lot of werewolf action in this issue, but there's no bloodshed. What we see is Wolverine embracing his bestial side because he thinks he's finally found a pack he can run with. But when he sees who the pack's really after, it's a reminder that he was running with the right pack all along…the X-Men. And having a group of close friends you can trust and be yourself around is much better than being a lone wolf with no one to turn to…which, unfortunately, is just what Jack Russell is. I can't say enough about Petrus and Arreola; the werewolves look fantastic, and the whole issue is just visually AMAZING.

COLLECTIONS

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, vol. 21: WAR OF THE SYMBIOTES TP collects ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #123-128.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

FRANKLIN RICHARDS: IT'S DARK REIGNING CATS & DOGS

SUPERGIRL: COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8 th GRADE #3

WOLVERINE AND POWER PACK #4

X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #1

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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