THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week- #160 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, September 29, 2009

AGENTS OF ATLAS #10: “Terror of the Jade Claw, part 2” (Teen/Young Adult)

Jeff Parker (w); Gabriel Hardman & Payul Rivoche (p/i); Elizabeth Dismang (c); Tom Orzechowski (l); cover by Dave Johnson

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Reunited in the present to save their leader Jimmy Woo, an incredible team of 1950s FBI agents discovered Woo was the heir to an ancient underground empire known as the Atlas Foundation! Assuming command of the worldwide syndicate, Woo and his fellow agents plan to use its far-reaching influence for good. Now Master Woo, Gorilla-Man, Namora, the Urania, Venus and the killer robot M-11 are regarded as global threats—and known to the underworld as the AGENTS OF ATLAS.

In this issue : There's no enemy quite like a former lover, is there? The gloves are all the way off as Jade Claw and her forces begin assaulting Atlas on every front! The Agents throw everything they've got at the Great Wall, but to no avail. Gorilla-Man is convinced only ONE member of the team can possibly stop the rain of pain... (from marvel.com)

Review: After last issue's loss, the group is broken up. So, for that matter, is the story…Parker divides the plot into sections. As Jade Claw closes in on Atlas, Bob tries to rebuild the spacecraft, Mr. Lao reveals more secrets, and M-11 gets an upgrade. Good thing, too…they're gonna need it! Hardman & Rivoche do a wonderful job here; the final page featuring the souped-up M-11 is AWESOME.

Look out for: one use of language

FINDING NEMO: REEF RESCUE #3 (All Ages)

Marie Croall (w); Erica Leigh Currey (p/i); Veronica Gandini (c); Marshall Dillon (l); covers by Amy Mebberson & Currey

Publisher: BOOM! Kids

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: The biggest selling DVD of all time comes to comics!

In this issue: Nemo, Dory and Marlin continue their dangerous journey, searching for a way to rescue their dying reef! Facing incredible odds, Nemo travels the great blue sea to save the one thing that matters most of all—home. Will Nemo and company survive an eerie encounter with a giant squid? (from BOOM! Kids)

Review: Nemo, Marlin and company seem to have a talent for getting themselves into sticky situations, but none stickier than this one! Nemo is separated from the group when he gets washed out of a bad current, only to meet a squid who needs their help. It's nice to see both Marlin and Squirt taking charge, one in a situation he's faced before, and the other in a situation he hasn't. Currey's art, especially a certain double-page splash, is just wonderful. I can't wait to see how this minseries ends.

IRON MAN & THE ARMOR WARS #2: “The Big Red Machine” (All Ages)

Joe Caramagna (w); Craig Rousseau (p/i); Val Staples (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Skottie Young

Publisher: Marvel

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: Cash, cars, boats, houses…Tony Stark has got it all. The only thing that could ruin his day? If every single one of his IRON MAN armors were stolen, and then turned against him. Join us for a nail-biting, strapped-to-your-seat adventure as Tony battles his greatest creations, and tries to discover who could (gasp) OUTSMART him!?!?

In this issue: You're Tony Stark. You invented Iron Man. You ARE Iron Man. Now all of your Iron Man armors have been stolen, and super villains are using your armor to try and destroy you. What do you do? You use an old set of DR. DOOM's armor to beat the snot out of your own tech, THAT's what you do. (from marvel.com)

Review: As if Tony doesn't have enough problems, now he's face to face with Dr. Doom…or, rather, a Doombot. I love the irony here: he has to use an enemy's armor to escape and protect himself while another enemy is using his own armor to attack. Fortunately, he's also got Jim Rhodes, who has skills of his own. In this issue, Caramagna and Rousseau pump up the excitement as the story unfolds. It's cool to see Rousseau and Staples take on the various armors, and they all look great.

MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #15: “Stage Illusions” (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Amilcar Pinna (p); Greg Adams (i); Sotocolor (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Sean Galloway

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Join the Marvel Heroes for some amazing adventures.

In this issue: Ahhh, the majesty of Hollywood ! The glamour! The glitz! Beautiful dresses! Well-tailored suits and a pair of… purple pants? When the Hulk and Tigra show up on the red carpet for Hollywood's biggest awards night, a veritable shoo-in to win Best Documentary for the critically acclaimed “Don't Look At The Camera: 3 days in the life of the Hulk,” it looks like it's going to be a truly magical night… that is unless the supervillain known as Mysterio gets mad that HIS studio doesn't win Best Special Effects and takes over the entire awards show in order to create an illusion that an alien armada is attacking New York, fooling the Hulk into thinking he's defending the city when he's really destroying it. But what are the chances of THAT happening. (Hint: It does.) (from marvel.com)

Review: The Hulk has starred in two feature films. Tigra, however, has NOT been in a movie…until now. A new documentary about the Hulk, in which Tigra is also in, is up for an award. Also up for an award this evening is Mysterio for special effects, and we all know how he hates to lose. But when you can control the Hulk's mind, you can certainly exact some payback. Tobin shows both sides of the Hulk—the innocent and the powerhouse—and does a good job of poking fun at high-profile awards ceremonies.

MUPPET ROBIN HOOD #4 (All Ages)

Tim Beedle (w); Armand Villavert, Jr. (p/i); Kat Valliant & Mara Aum (c); Marshall Dillon (l); covers by David Petersen & Amy Mebberson

Publisher: BOOM! Kids

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: The Muppets tell the Robin Hood legend for laughs, and it's the reader who will be merry!

In this issue: Robin Hood (Kermit the Frog) steals from the rich and gives to the poor. In this concluding issue, imprisoned Robin awaits the gallows. Can the Merry Men spring Robin free and defeat Prince John? If only they could find the “narrator” and discover how the story is supposed to end... (from BOOM! Kids)

Review: Robin is behind bars, the Merry Men are lost as to how to rescue him, and Friar Tuck is trying to redeem himself after having sold Robin out. While things may not be merry in England right now (except for Prince John, who is QUITE merry), the same thing cannot be said of the story. In fact, just when I thought the series couldn't get any funnier, Beedle and Villavert outdo themselves. Let's just say that they don't just break the fourth wall; they completely DEMOLISH it, ending the series on the highest, most hilarious note possible.

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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