THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 3 - Week 30 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, March 30, 2009

BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD #3: “President Batman!” (All Ages)

Matt Wayne (w); Andy Suriano (p); Dan Davis (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 : When the Ultra-Humanite wants to score big, he goes straight to the top – he's after the President! But Batman and Green Arrow have a rescue plan so daring that we could only call this story "President Batman"! (from dccomics.com)

Review: After tackling villains that have been turned into Dr. Psycho's psycho-zombies, the White House is cake for Batman and Green Arrow. In order to protect the President, Batman disguises himself as the Commander-In-Chief, while Green Arrow poses as a Secret Service agent. It's a kick watching them deal with a foreign premier, Congress and the Ultra-Humanite in their own unique ways. Batman delivers his own thoughts on civility and democracy, and the whole issue is just plain fun.

JOHNNY MONSTER #2 (Teen/Young Adult)

Joshua Williamson (w); J.C. Grande (p/i); Owen Hunter (c); Leif Giese (flats); cover by Grande & Jason Ho

Publisher: Image

Format: three-issue miniseries

Concept: From the acclaimed writer of DEAR DRACULA and Necessary Evil, Johnny Monster mixes Tom Strong with Godzilla movies by way of Tarzan and the Phantom to create a compelling and different monster mash!

In this issue: Johnny Monster is busted, his secrets have been revealed, his fans are pissed and the government has no choice but to hire violent mercenaries to hunt down and kill the monsters Johnny calls family! And to make matters worse he is trapped by an angry tentacle beast and the only person that can save him is... Firebreather! (from imagecomics.com)

Review: It really is not a good time to be Johnny Monster right now. Thanks to a snooping reporter, Johnny has gone from heartthrob to hated really fast. And to make matters worse, Cecil Stedman, whom readers may know from INVINCIBLE, decides that there's really no reason for the monsters to live. How—and if—things are resolved is not for me to reveal. I'll say that Grande and Hunter's art impresses, and Williamson does a very nice job of making the story totally accessible while tying it into the Image universe. In addition to Firebreather and Cecil, having one of the monsters acknowledging Belloc (Firebreather's dad) as their king is a nice touch. Another nice touch is the fact that Williamson really lets the monster Rex speak his mind. And as much as Johnny tries to convince him otherwise, you know he has a point.

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #46: “A Timely Family Appearance” (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Pere Perez (p/i); Dalhouse (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by David Williams & Guillem Mari

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: From a long lost world comes two new citizens to New York : Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal! Unfortunately for them, while they've been living the easy life of cartoon characters, their arch-nemesis Toughy Cat has been living in the real world, and gaining immense power! What used to be all fun and games is now deadly serious! Luckily, when Johnny runs across the desperate duo, the Fantastic Four agree to provide a new life, and protection, for Ziggy and Silly, but can even the Fantastic Four stand against a nigh invulnerable feline fury?!! (from marvel.com)

Review: This issue starts out like a regular Fantastic Four tale: Johnny fights and almost loses to an anthropomorphic villain, Sue saves and lectures Johnny, Johnny decides he's had enough and goes off on his own, then he and Ben visit a mysterious caller. Then Tobin throws us a curve by introducing Ziggy, Silly and crew. (For the record, they were comic book characters created for Timely Comics, Marvel's 1940s predecessor.) They've been holed up for twenty years, thanks to Toughy's overprotectiveness. Perez beautifully illustrates this by drawing the animals in their original cartoonish style except for Toughy, who's turned into a much tougher character. It's a beautiful illustration of how doing everything yourself and shouldering everyone else's responsibilities can take its toll on the body. This is a story that probably shouldn't work, but it does. And the way in which Toughy gets his comeuppance will make perfect sense to cartoon fans.

PHANTOM: THE GHOST WHO WALKS vol. 2 #1: “End War, part 1” (Teen/Young Adult)

Mike Bullock (w); David Michelinie (story consultant); Silvestre Szilagyi (p); Sergio Mulko (i); Bob Pedroza (c); Josh Aitken (l); covers by Joe Corroney, Vivek Goel, Sy Barry and Art Lyon

Publisher: Moonstone

Format: monthly series

Concept : "The Ghost Who Walks" comes alive, as the classic comic strip character is put through his paces in all new adventures. Thrilling adventure fraught with dire peril!

In this issue : It's time for a new beginning... a new focus...a new direction...and new issues more often! Welcome aboard story consultant (Iron Man writer) David Michelinie! Join us for stories torn from today's headlines of modern day Africa-told in a fashion true to the earlier/darker days of The Phantom strip! In this issue: When a UN peace-keeping mission in Northern Africa takes an explosive turn for the worse, The Phantom soon discovers that this is but the opening shot in a war to end all wars, waged by an army who lusts for their own martyrdom! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: The first proper issue of the new Phantom series arrives, and believe me, things are off to a great start. Well…not so great for The Phantom, Diana and Dr. Axel. Unfortunately, there's never a shortage of conflicts, and this one is quite, well, explosive! Stories like this one that deal with current world events give the series a sense of relevance and urgency not found in other comics. Bullock and Szilagyi have produced another fascinating story, continuing their winning streak.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #198: “ Phoenix Down!” (All Ages)

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

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

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

In this issue : The countdown to the epic Sonic the Hedgehog #200 continues! Sonic leads the fully assembled Freedom Fighters and Chaotix on an invasion of Dr. Robotnik's city, but the doctor unleashes a terrifying new weapon that may make their fight a short one! Don't miss all the egg-plosive action! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: This issue hits the ground running…or, should I say, fighting! Sonic and pals really take it to the Dark Egg Legion, only to find themselves facing Robotnik's latest weapon. But Sonic is always at his best in the heat of battle, and he certainly knows how to stick it to his main enemy. Better yet, the characters have time to breathe a bit. The issue is big, colorful and action-packed…in other words, entertaining as always.

SONIC UNIVERSE #1: “Living Weapons” (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); Tracy Yardley! (p); Jim Amash (i); Jason Jensen (c); Teresa Davidson (l); cover by Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

Concept: A thrilling new sonic series that raises the stakes and expands the comic book world of Sonic!

In this issue : This is the comic the fans have waited for - an ever-expanding, all-encompassing series revolving around Sonic's many friends and foes whose continuity aligns with the regular monthly Sonic comic. Along the way, we'll deliver some of the popular supporting cast from the many Sonic video games, including many who have never appeared in the comics before! The first issue of Sonic Universe debuts with a story that's out of this world - literally - as Shadow and Metal Sonic continue their series-spanning fight and wind up in a whole new dimension! And things are bound to heat up when Blaze the Cat and a Chaos Emerald enter the mix! Don't miss the explosive beginning of this universe-spanning series! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: Readers who have followed Shadow and Metal Sonic from SONIC #196 to SONIC X #40 will finally get to read the rest of the story. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Blaze and Marine lend a hand, and if you didn't love Marine before, you will after reading this issue. From the first page, Flynn makes it very clear that this series will focus at least as much on the second word in the title as the first. Having written both SONIC and SONIC X, of course, makes Flynn uniquely qualified for the job; the same goes for the reliable Yardley, Amash, Jensen and Spaziante. Yardley really knows how to bring the characters to life through wonderful facial expressions, particularly on Marine. It's an excellent debut issue. The series is certainly in good hands, and I look forward to the next adventure.

USAGI YOJIMBO #119: “Traitors of the Earth, part 3” (Teen/Young Adult)

Written & 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 : Over the years of his warrior pilgrimage, Usagi has faced all manner of bandits, assassins, conspirators, ninja, and monsters, but now he finds himself up against a new threat: zombies! As Usagi and Sasuke battle to release Kitsune from the enchantment of the wizard Hatakeyama, the power of the netsuke amulet takes effect, and dead warriors from a battle three hundred years past return to life. With the proper incantations they can be controlled; otherwise they are drawn blindly to the amulet and will kill whoever has possession of it -- in this case, Usagi! (from darkhorse.com)

Review: If the fantastic wraparound cover is any indication, Usagi is in for the fight of his life. For that matter, so are Sasuke and Kiyoko. This issue hits the ground running and never lets up. It's a real page-turner, full of Sakai 's blend of action and epic storytelling. When Usagi and Kiyoko try to keep the netsuke from the dead army, things kick into overdrive. And I love it.

Look out for: Usagi chops some of the dead warriors' heads off—which, unfortunately, has no effect on them since, you know, they're DEAD.

WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #113: “Hand In Hand” (Teen/Young Adult)

Peter David (w); Ronan Cliquet (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 : Fan-favorite PETER DAVID comes to the First Classiverse! Kitty Pryde usually likes museums, but wouldn't you know it…the art gallery that Wolverine's taken her to is run by the evil HAND (they're Ninja types), which means that DAREDEVIL & ELEKTRA can't be too far away from the action… (from marvel.com)

Review: One minute, Kitty and Logan are checking out Japanese artifacts at the American Japanese Institute; the next minute, they're sipping tea and fighting the Hand. As Kitty would say, she's been hanging around the X-Men too long. David provides a nicely-paced and entertaining story—Kitty's friend's interaction with Matt Murdock is great—and Cliquet and Arreola provide some gorgeous art, particularly when Daredevil fights the Hand.

COLLECTIONS

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR: DOOMED IF YOU DON'T digest collects MA FF #41-44.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

AGENTS OF ATLAS vol. 2 #3

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #14

BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #4

DR. DOOM AND THE MASTERS OF EVIL #3

FLASH REBIRTH #1

X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #3

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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