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

Please note that I will use the following abbreviations when listing the credits for each issue:
w = writer, p = pencils, i = inks, c = colors, l = letters.

TEEN TITANS GO! #34: “The Great Race” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Todd Nauck (p); Larry Stucker (i); Heroic Age (c); Ken Lopez (l); cover by Sean “Cheeks” Galloway

I haven't watched TEEN TITANS in a while as I don't have cable, but this comic continues to entertain, thanks to Torres' wonderfully humorous writing and the consistently-on-model art. As the story's title suggests, the plot concerns a race between Kid Flash and the Tornado Twins, Mas Y Menos, in order to raise money for T.U.R.F. (Titans Urban Reconstruction Fund). What follows is a “Tortoise and the Hare”-style plot, with Kid Flash being cocky and stopping to help other Titans along the way, while the Tornado Twins keep going at a steady pace. Torres does something here that I've never seen a comic book writer do. Usually, when a character is supposed to speak in a foreign language, their dialogue will be in English with < > marks or a note to indicate that their words are translated, or the dialogue will be in said foreign language with a translation immediately following. Here, Torres has the Tornado Twins speaking Spanish, and the reader is instructed to go to the letters page to find the translations. It could be a great way to introduce young readers to a foreign language and help develop research skills.

Sean “Cheeks” Galloway 's DeviantArt site: http://cheeks-74.deviantart.com/

LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS, VOL. 1 TPB (2 ND printing) (All Ages)

Mike Bullock (w); Jack Lawrence (p/i/c); Dave Lanphear (l); cover by Jack Lawrence

I was actually not able to find the 2 nd printing, but I do have the 1 st printing, as well as what has been published of Vol. 2 thus far. A boy named Joey Price receives a gift from his grandmother: The Night Pride, four stuffed animals (two tigers, a panther and a lion) whose job it is to protect him from the Beasties. I really don't want to give away any more of the plot, but this is one of those rare titles that, quite simply, has everything I want in a comic. Bullock and Lawrence beautifully capture the fear, wonder and excitement of childhood, while touching on the values of loyalty, friendship, courage and the power of imagination. There are no pop culture references or any inappropriate things that somehow pass for entertainment these days. What you get is superb storytelling and beautiful art. (Seriously, Jack Lawrence draws some of the best facial expressions I've ever seen.) Volume 2 is currently underway, and artist Paul “Gutz” Gutierrez is taking over the penciling duties. From what I've seen, it will be a smooth transition. This is absolutely one of the best titles currently being published.

Paul “Gutz” Gutierrez's DeviantArt site: http://gutz.deviantart.com/

Jack Lawrence's DeviantArt site: http://jackademus.deviantart.com/

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #19 (All Ages)

Peter David (w); Mike Norton (p); Norman Lee (i); Guru eFX (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Cameron Stewart and Christina Strain

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN and MASM are currently my two favorite Spidey books. Both have great writers and art teams. Whereas USM's story arcs span several issues, MASM features self-contained stories that are just plain fun. In this issue, the giant alien dragon, Fin Fang Foom (beautifully drawn by Norton) is awakened after having been frozen in ice and brought to the New York Natural History Museum , where Liz and Peter Parker are. Liz is captured; Spider-Man follows. Peter David brings plenty of adventure, his great sense of humor, and a nod to comic legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. But what really stands out is how he touches on the importance of family from both Liz and Foom's perspectives. And though Foom is the villain, you sort of feel for him in the end.

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #25: “The Devil May Care” (All Ages)

Adam Beechen (w); Rick Burchett (p/i); Mike Sellers (l); Heroic Age (c); cover by Ty Templeton

I'll say one thing, Adam Beechen writes GREAT stories for JLU. This issue concerns Blue Devil, who is so distraught over the fact that people are scared of him despite being a good guy that he'd do anything to become normal again. Dr. Fate, however, cannot help him. For those who aren't familiar with Blue Devil, there is a nice one-page recap to bring the reader up to speed. The message here is about learning to accept yourself despite what others may think.

For next Time: THE BATMAN STRIKES #25

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris
September, 12, 2006

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