THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 3 - Week 26 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, March 03, 2009

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #13 (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 of the world's most unlikely new superhero — The Astounding Wolf-Man!

In this issue : Now, at long last we get the secret origin of Gary Hampton. Where did he come from? How did he rise to become one of the richest men in the world? If you think you know everything about the man who became the Astounding Wolf-Man, think again. (from imagecomics.com)

Review: Gary Hampton's been arrested, with no way for anyone to officially help him. Meanwhile, Dunford finally has a talk with Chloe, and Gary Hampton's history is revealed. We see his rise from small record store owner to billionaire. Kirkman shows us that Gary was willing to help others long before he became Wolf-Man. But it wouldn't be a Kirkman story without some plot twists, of which there are several. I won't spoil them here, but I'll say that this story will change the way you think about the characters. It's nice to have an issue that doesn't focus on Wolf-Man. Of course, werewolf or human, Howard and the Plascencia's artwork is beautiful.

Look out for: blood and some language

BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #2: “The Attack of the Virtual Villains” (All Ages)

Matt Wayne (w); Phil Moy (p/i); Heroic Age (c); Swands (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: Spinning out of the explosive new cartoon TV show, this stupendous second issue features Batman and the all-new Blue Beetle! Show writer Matt Wayne (Justice League, Ben 10: Alien Force) has the duo teaming up to investigate an invasion of mythical creatures! Why are ogres from a video game raiding the real world? It's up to Batman and Blue Beetle to find out – and they discover that someone's not just playing around! All this action plus Batman's secret files await you in this ongoing series based on the newest cartoon incarnation of The Dark Knight! (from dccomics.com)

Review: It's one thing to be absorbed in a video game, but to actually be ABSORBED into a video game is a different story! That's just what happens to Batman and the Blue Beetle. Gamers will get a kick out of this issue and its “Craft of War” characters, but everyone can enjoy Wayne 's witty dialogue and Moy's pleasing artwork, featuring Beetle's “wedgie alert.”

DR. DOOM AND THE MASTERS OF EVIL #1: “Doomed If You Do, Doomed If You Don't” (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Patrick Scherberger & Jacopo Camagni (p); Craig Young, Terry Pallot & Norman Lee (i); Guillem Mari & Chris Sotomayor (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Roger Cruz & Val Staples

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Doctor Doom assembles of team of villains.

In this issue: ALL NEW TALES!!! You've gotta ask yourself: If Doctor Doom's the most evil guy ever, how much more evil's it gonna get when he puts a whole TEAM of VILLAINS to work? It's the series where the bad guys get their say, and the Sinister Six are saying they aren't sinister enough! So, what's the solution? How about Kraven stealing a vibranium staff from the Louvre? Sweet! And how about Electro designs a new suit to better channel his powers? Great idea! And how about ramping up Mysterio's powers by breaking into Stark Industries to steal a miniaturized super-component, battling both Iron Man and Dr. Strange in the process? (from marvel.com)

Review: What's this? An all-ages book starring Marvel VILLAINS? I know, I found it hard to believe myself. In fact, I didn't realize this was an “all ages” title until someone pointed it out to me. Having read it now, I can say that despite the abundance of bad guys, the book is safe for everyone. This issue features the Sinister Six (that's Mysterio, Chameleon, Sandman, Kraven, Doctor Octopus and Vulture) stealing things from the Louvre and Stark Industries that Doom needs. Tobin avoids the clichéd dialogue that bad guys are known for, especially in all-ages tales, which I find refreshing. These guys act and talk like it's just an average day on the job, ordering from a food stand, cracking jokes about the Vulture being a vegetarian, asking to borrow Chameleon's car, and talking about their boss. The art team makes the book a visual treat with Mysterio's many group disguises and Doom himself, who looks great.

DR. DOOM AND THE MASTERS OF EVIL #2: “What Is Doom After?” (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Patrick Scherberger, Jon Buran & Scott Koblish (p); Terry Pallot & Koblish (i); Chris Sotomayor & Guillem Mari (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Kerschl & Anderson

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Doctor Doom assembles of team of villains.

In this issue: The Masters of Evil have themselves a plan, and all that stands in their way is the Circus of Crime and their ringleader...Doctor DOOM! When an untouched Hittite temple is found deep inside a New Mexico cave, the rush is on for the untold wealth, and a map where "eternal life" is the X that marks the spot! But where is the original Ringleader, and even with Doom now leading them, what can a bunch of circus performers do against the MASTERS OF EVIL? (from marvel.com)

Review: Doom, with the help of the Circus of Crime, is looking for a map that leads to eternal life. (The Circus of Crime, by the way, is Ringmaster, Livewire, Cannonball, the Clown, the Gambanno Brothers and Princess Python.) In order to do that, however, they'll have to protect Doom from the Masters of Evil. (That's Baron Zemo, the Executioner, the Melter, Radioactive Man and the Enchantress.) Or will they? Whose side is Doom really on, and what's he really up to? All is revealed in this issue. Once again, the art team does a great job; the splash page of Doom bursting through rock is quite impressive.

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #45: “If You Can't Join Them—Buy Them!” (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Vicenc Villagrasa (p/i); A. Dalhouse (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Clayton Henry & Guru

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: Mordecai Midas, the richest man on Earth, needs to beef up his image (good for a troubled financial market, don'tcha know), and what's better for the image than joining the world's most beloved superteam? Trouble is, the Fantastic Four won't have him! Worse, they resist his efforts to BUY his way onto the team. So what's a near-trillionarie to do? How about ordering Madame Masque to seek out and eliminate the FF's weakest member in order to create a job opening? Will the Fantastic Four uncover Midas's lethal plan, and just who does Midas think is the weakest team member? Find out in "If You Can't Join Them, Buy Them!" (from marvel.com)

Review: Most people dream of being a member of the Fantastic Four, and Mordecai Midas is no exception. (I guess that would make it the Fantastic Five then.) Unlike most people, Midas has LOTS of money, and figures a “golden touch” of sorts will work. To the team's credit, it doesn't, so he stoops lower. Tobin does a nice job with the story, especially the way he handles the Thing. He's smart enough to know when he's being played, but vulnerable enough to be hurt by Midas' words and actions.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #131 (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 : Ultimatum tie-in! The hits just KEEP ON COMING! Just when our waterlogged webslinger thought things couldn't get any worse, Spidey finds himself face-to-face with none other than the HULK! PLUS Spider-Woman, Daredevil, and Doctor Strange amidst the destruction... and not everyone lives to see the next issue…! (from marvel.com)

Review: Spider-Man has just survived the destruction of New York City , only to find himself face-to-face with the Hulk. Fortunately, the Hulk is willing to help. Things just get stranger as everyone tries to figure out what's going on, only to find out that things are far from over. I won't spoil the ending, but I must point out Bendis' wonderful scene with Jameson and Robbie, in which Jameson says something he probably never thought he'd ever say. And I must say that Immonen draws a great Hulk, and the double page splash with him and Spider-Man is simply AMAZING.

USAGI YOJIMBO vol. 3 #118: “Traitors Of the Earth, part 2” (Teen/Young Adult)

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

Publisher: Dark Horse

Format: monthly series

Concept: Once a loyal retainer until his lord's death in battle, Miyamoto Usagi is now an unemployed ronin walking the warrior's pilgrimage, in search of harmony.

In this issue: The rabbit ronin's wandering path crosses once again with the charming thief Kitsune's as they face a mysterious new enemy! Kitsune's fast hands often cause trouble, but this time she may have gone too far, stealing a powerful charm from the wizard Hatakeyama. Now a pack of thugs are after her, and it's Usagi to the rescue! However, Kitsune falls under the wizard's spell and the entranced thief leads Usagi and Kiyoko deep into the mountains. How can they keep up with her when their way is blocked by magic? (from darkhorse.com)

Review: Kitsune, Kiyoko and Usagi find themselves surrounded by thugs…all because of a netsuke! One of them escapes, but not before taking something of Kitsune's that can be used against her. Needless to say, the trio has no idea what they are in store for. Readers are in store for some of Sakai 's great storytelling, mixing frightening scenes with great battles and humorous moments. Artistically speaking, Hatakeyama's entrance is AMAZING.

WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #12: “The Substitute” (Teen/Young Adult)

Fred Van Lente (w); Scott Koblish (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: CYCLOPS returns to the X-Men! Will Kitty Pryde continue her training with him, or with Wolverine? Scott Summers and Logan duke it out over the right to be her mentor! (from marvel.com)

Review: The creators have done their homework, as evidenced by the reference to UNCANNY X-MEN #150 (October 1981) on the very first page. And as every X-fan knows, Wolverine and Cyclops are not exactly the best of friends, which Kitty learns firsthand when Cyclops instructs her on reconnaissance. Van Lente handles Kitty beautifully; as the adventure unfolds, her reactions range from hilarious to heartfelt, and she speaks her mind to both men. When she tells Professor X who she wants as her teacher and why, you can tell she's been paying attention. The issue gets an ‘A' from me.

Look out for: There's one panel in which Kitty has her back to the reader. Her shirt covers her top, but some might feel that her bikini bottom reveals a bit too much.

COLLECTIONS

SKRULLS VS. POWER PACK digest collects the miniseries.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

AGENTS OF ATLAS vol. 2 #2

SUPERGIRL: COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE EIGHTH GRADE #4

X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #2

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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