THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week- #187 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, July 14, 2010

FLASH #3: “The Dastardly Death of the Rogues. Part 3” (Teen/Young Adult)

Geoff Johns (w); Francis Manapul (p/i); Brian Buccellato (c); Sal Cipriano (l); cover by Manapul & Buccellato

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Struck by a bolt of lightning and doused in chemicals, police scientist Barry Allen was transformed into the fastest man alive. With every step he runs, the scarlet speedster generates an enigmatic energy called the Speed Force, able to be tapped into by others throughout time who share is sense of justice. Today, Barry Allen protects and serves the world over as THE FLASH.

In this issue : It may be BRIGHTEST DAY, but when a mysterious group of so-called heroes turns up, another Rogue ends up dead. Plus, the mystery deepens as The Flash witness another murder — his own! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Barry has gotten out of one situation--facing his colleagues at the crime lab—to run into another one. Yep, the return of the Renegades! And this time, they have some new tricks up their sleeve. Johns and Manapul deliver another exciting page-turner as the Renegades break out one trick after another to trap the Flash until the very end, when Captain Boomerang shows up. And Barry Allen continues to show what a great character he is by being more interested in the case of a kid who may have been wrongly convicted of murder than in his own troubles (at least, until his troubles find him.) I love the “Flash Facts” regarding boomerangs and how they work versus how Captain Boomerang's boomerangs work.

MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #21 (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Esdras Cristobal (p/i); Sotocolor (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Clayton Henry & Wil Quintana

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Join the Marvel Heroes for some amazing adventures.

In this issue: FINAL ISSUE! Who remembers Gary Gaunt? Considered a monster during World War II, he was secretly dropped behind German lines so his terrible “Jekyll and Hyde” transformations would disrupt the German war effort. Gaunt…forgotten by society, has been able to control his hideous transformations for over 60 years…but when his special serum is stolen, Nova and the Avengers find themselves at ground zero with the strangest man/ monster of them all! (from, marvel.com)

Review: Nova's young, but even rookies have to make decisions sometimes. Like how to divide the Avengers up into tactical teams and who should stay at the base. Fortunately, the other Avengers are happy to “help” him make such decisions. Good thing, too, since the team has two threats to face and a possible third one as well. Tobin does a nice job of bringing us up to speed on Gary Gaunt's back-story. I like that we see Gaunt begin to change, but the one who has really changed is Nova. It's a nice final issue.

SUPER FRIENDS #25: “The Super-Olympics of Space” (All Ages)

Sholly Fisch (w); Dario Brizuela (p/i); Heroic Age (c); Rob Clark Jr. (l); cover by J. Bone

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Introducing SUPER FRIENDS - a brand-new series for younger readers to meet the heroes of the DC Universe, based on the hot toy line from Mattel! Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash and Aquaman are here to save the day - and be your friends, too!

In this issue: To commemorate 25 glorious issues, we're sending the team to compete in the Space Olympics! Of course, if they lose, Earth will be destroyed - but no need to tell them that! (from dckids.kidswb.com)

Review: The Super Friends celebrate 25 issues by…being forced to compete in the Space Olympics? It just goes to show that there's no rest for super heroes! Knowing that Earth will be destroyed if they lose certainly doesn't help matters. But the message in Fisch's story is that even when the stakes are really high, there's no place for cheating. There's always a better way, and I like the plan that the Super Friends come up with. Brizuela draws some very cool alien creatures, and I love Bone's Flash-centered cover. Activities include “Spot the Durlan,” “Go For the Gold” and “Up, Up and Away,” which is an exercise chart. An all-ages comic that presents a great message and fun activities AND encourages people to exercise? That's an example of what you'll find each month in the pages of SUPER FRIENDS.

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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