THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 3 - Week 21 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, January 26, 2009

MAREL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #32: “The Big Payoff!” (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Matteo Lolli (p); Christian Vecchia (i); Sotocolor (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Espin & Quintana

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 : No matter how powerful you are, how heroic you are, or how beloved you are, you still have to pay taxes. And when the IRS comes knocking on the door to Avengers Tower , it causes all sorts of problems. Luckily, the Avengers can avoid the problematic filing of their real names by helping the IRS collect back taxes on a few deadbeats. Unfortunately, those deadbeats include Bullseye, Man-Bull, the Absorbing Man, Whirlwind, and a certain highly-successful web-designer named Oog---and these guys DON'T want to pay! Action! Adventure! Taxes? (from marvel.com)

Review: If there's one thing even super heroes can't escape, it's taxes. Unfortunately, some heroes (Wolverine) haven't paid theirs. But the IRS agent knows how to take care of that…if they help collect backtaxes on a few guys, they don't have to file under their real names. Absorbing Man acts like you'd expect him to, and Bullseye's one-page scene with the Hulk is hilarious. On the other hand, it's hard not to side with Oog as he explains how he sees things, and anyone who has ever had trouble understanding how to file taxes will sympathize with Man-Bull.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #195: “Hedgehog Havoc, part 1” (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); Tracy Yardley! (p); Jim Amash (i); Matt Herms (c); Teresa Davidson (l); cover by Yardley! & Jason Jensen

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of Sonic and pals, based on the hit video game.

In this issue : It's the story fans have wished for for years: all your favorite hedgehogs together in one pulse-pounding epic that spans New Mobotropolis, Moebius, New Megaopolis and more! Thrill to the excitement as Shadow, Amy Rose, Rob O' the Hedge, King Scourge, Metal Sonic, and of course, Sonic the Hedgehog collide in this explosive tale that finds Scourge accelerating his assault against the Freedom Fighters and his hated enemy, Sonic. The outcome could result in long-lasting ramifications that could change everything forever! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: This issue is VERY aptly titled…there's a LOT of hedgehogs and a LOT of havoc! Bernie and Jules want to know where Sonic is. Sonic and Amy are at Castle Acorn on Moebius trying to stop Scourge, who's trying to conquer the world. Shadow and Metal Sonic show up by accident and join the fight. King Rob o' the Hedge shows up with Silver the Hedgehog, who wants to destroy Sonic. And Rosy…well, she just wants to destroy EVERYBODY! Confused? You won't be after reading this issue. Flynn keeps the pace brisk (appropriate for a Sonic title), and Flynn & company keep the action heavy with some wonderful panels and splash pages.

SONIC X #40: “The End!” (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); David Hutchison (p); Terry Austin (i); Jason Jensen (c); Phil Felix (l); cover by Pat “Spaz” Spaziante

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

Concept: During a battle between Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman, an explosion hurled Sonic, his friends, and Dr. Eggman across dimensions until they found themselves on planet Earth. Dr. Eggman is determined to establish his Eggman Empire, beginning with Earth…and Sonic is determined to stop him.

In this issue : A peaceful gathering of Sonic and his friends remains anything but when Shadow the Hedgehog and Metal Sonic crash the party - literally! Even Dr. Eggman is reeling in horror over the souped-up Metal Sonic, but that doesn't stop him from forming an alliance to attack the blue blur. Meanwhile, Shadow remains inextricably linked to Metal, the only one who can help him find his correct place in the universe. It's a mélange of friends, foes and overlapping alliances - and Sonic and his friends are caught in the middle! This issue's title is only the beginning, as it leads into a brand-new series called Sonic Universe that promises to chronicle the outcome of the Shadow and Metal Sonic conflict, as well as the further adventures of the entire Sonic-verse! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: It's a nice, peaceful day. You're having a tea party with Cream and Miss Vanilla, when suddenly, Shadow and Metal Sonic are fighting on top of the table. Of course, in the Sonic universe, such events are not uncommon. Shadow gets one last chance to renew acquaintances and make new ones before he gets a chance to go home. I can't tell you what Metal Sonic has to do with this, but the issue fittingly goes out with a bang. It's sad to see the series end, but it's really not the end at all, and I look forward to Sonic Universe. The final page is a fitting farewell.

TINY TITANS #12 (All Ages)

Art Baltazar & Franco (w); art & cover by Baltazar

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: It's all your favorite Titans, in their cutest possible form!

In this issue: In this special "Faces of Mischief" issue, see what happens in the average day of the faculty of Sidekick Elementary as we follow the antics of Principal Slade and Trigon. The Tiny Titans have their own ideas of what goes on in the Teacher's Lounge — but how close are they to the truth? (from dccomics.com)

Review: It's Trigon's day to sub, but subbing's the last thing on his mind. If he can't take over the world, he might as well have fun. And since it's nicer to have fun with someone else, he picks…Principal Slade? Who would have figured that Slade would want to have fun? Certainly not the Titans, and the juxtaposition of their dialogue at school with Trigon and Slade's actual activities is funny and well-done. And just wait until you see Darkseid! Includes a “baseball unscramble” and a Sidekick City Elementary Faculty pin-up.

COLLECTIONS

MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #19 collects MA HULK #9 and MA SPIDER-MAN #45

To be reviewed in next week's column:

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #12

BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD #1

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #44

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #130

USAGI YOJIMBO vol. 3 #117

WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #11

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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