THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 19 ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, January 12, 2008

THE BATMAN STRIKES! #41: “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!” (All Ages)

Russell Lissau (w); Christopher Jones (p); Terry Beatty (i); Heroic Age (c); Randy Gentile (l); cover by Jones & Beatty

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of Bruce Wayne in his early years as Batman.

In this issue : Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy just want to have fun! But when your idea of fun is crime, catastrophe and chaos, Batman's going to be right on your tail! (from dccomics.com)

Review: If, like me, you read the title and IMMEDIATELY thought of Cyndi Lauper, then you are definitely a child of the 80's. Anyway, Harley's up for a night on the town, and takes Poison Ivy with her. Needless to say, Harley's idea of fun usually means mayhem and disaster for everyone else. But Lissau brings out the difference between the two ladies. Unlike Harley, Ivy isn't out to have a good time; she's on a mission to protect the earth, which in and of itself isn't a bad thing. It's her methods that are questionable.

(Read an interview I did with Lissau a couple of months ago HERE)

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MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #7: “Everybody's Gone Surfing H-U-L-K” (All Ages)

Paul Benjamin (w); David Nakayama (p); Gary Martin (i); Michelle Madsen (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Santacruz, Fernandez & Sotocolor

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Caught in a blast of gamma-radiation, brilliant scientist Bruce Banner now finds himself living as a fugitive, cursed to transform in times of stress into the living engine of destruction known as the HULK.

In this issue: Terrax, herald of Galactus, has come to punish the Silver Surfer for betraying their master. Terrax plans to take the Surfer's shining board before destroying Earth, but he didn't count on the Silver Surfer granting his power cosmic to allies. Even Terrax may know fear when he faces off against Silver Rick Jones, Silver Monkey and the savage Silver Hulk! (from marvel.com)

Review: Part of the fun of reading this series is in not knowing what Benjamin will think of next. It's not a good day for the Surfer, who's fighting Terrax for possession of the board. Cue the Hulk. Nakayama and Martin really kick things up a notch, and Madsen makes it all look pretty—and shiny. Monkey has two golden (silver?) moments, getting Bruce angry and stopping Terrax. What's really interesting, though, is the effect that the power cosmic has on the Hulk's mind. I like that he's still the Hulk (and still says “puny Banner”), but he talks like Banner. He even stops for a moment to consider staying in space. But the power must go back to the one who gave it—and needs it the most.

(Read a brand new interview I did with Nakayama HERE)

To be reviewed in next week's column:

THE FLASH #236

IRON MAN & POWER PACK #3

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY #10

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #20

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #35

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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