THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week 

TEEN TITANS GO! #37: “Winterlude” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Sean Galloway (p/i/c); John J. Hill (l); cover by Todd Nauck with Kanila Tripp

Publisher: DC
Format: ongoing monthly series
Concept: Follow the adventures of the Teen Titans, based on the hit cartoon.

In this issue: It's another holiday with the Teen Titans! As if having to take on the mischevious magician Mumbo wasn't enough, things get really crazy when Starfire's pet Silkie gets a hold of Mumbo's magic hat! (from dccomics.com)

Review: “The Night Before Christmas” gets a Teen Titans twist. Torres tells the story—which involves Starfire, Siklie, Mumbo the Magician and a sick Beast Boy—entirely in rhyme. It's fun, lighthearted stuff, but it's the artwork that's the real draw (no pun intended) in this issue. Nauck and Galloway switch duties, with Nauck doing the cover and Galloway providing the interiors for the first time. Not that Nauck's work isn't great (because it is), but I'm glad that Galloway was given the chance to shine, as I believe his style is well-suited to comics, and this title in particular. There are many things to love here: Beast Boy and Raven in the opening credits, Cyborg in pajamas, Beast Boy's sleeping position, the effects of Beast Boy's sneezing and the touching final image of Beast Boy and Silkie. For his first interior work, Galloway comes through with flying colors. I can only hope that he will have the opportunity to do more in the future.

To see more of Galloway 's art, including pages from this issue, visit his DeviantArt page.

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This week, faithful readers. I went into the archives and selected a title that I feel is a shining example of what true all-ages comics should be. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you…

HEROBEAR AND THE KID: The Inheritance (All Ages)

Written and illustrated by Mike Kunkel

Publisher: The Astonish Factory
Format: trade paperback
Concept: A boy named Tyler inherits a pocket watch and a stuffed bear, which can transform into a flying polar bear with a red cape named Herobear.

Review: This trade collects issues #1-5. I didn't discover this series until long after the first two issues had been published. I heard about it through positive word of mouth, but what really convinced me to seek it out was when I found out that Kunkel came from the world of animation, having worked on films such as CATS DON'T DANCE and TARZAN. When I finally acquired a copy of issue #1, I was hooked by the time I got to the second page. Kunkel brings his animation skills to comics by printing directly from his pencils and using color on only one thing: Herobear's red cape. The result is a book with a visual style all its own. As with LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS, the story captures the joy, wonder and uncertainty of childhood, and is told with humor, warmth, and nostalgia. More importantly, it contains a positive message about the values of friendship and faith. It is also an example of how a trade paperback should be presented; in addition to the comic, there is also a guide to Kunkel's creative process and a wealth of wonderful sketches. For kids, adults, comics and animation fans, and really anyone who loves high-quality storytelling, this is essential reading.

This trade is available at barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com, and the Astonish Factory store.

Visit the Astonish Factory at theastonishfactory.com

To be included in next week's column:

INVINCIBLE #37
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #28
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #22
SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK #2

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

12/03/06

Any questions or comments, contact me at comicsintheclassroom @ gmail.com