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

 THE BATMAN STRIKES! #32: “How to Take Out a Room Full of Goons” (All Ages)

Scott Beatty (w); Christopher Jones (p); Terry Beatty (i); Heroic Age (c); Rob Clark Jr. (l); cover by Sanford Greene, Nathan Massengill & Dave McCaig

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of Bruce Wayne in his early years as Batman. Based on the current animated series.

In this issue: The Joker's sick of Batman, and he's putting together a posse of Gotham 's baddest bad guys to put the Bat out of their misery, once and for all! Can even the Dark Knight handle the Joker, Poison Ivy, Clayface, Firefly and more? (from dccomics.com)

Review: Robin's been training with holographic rogues, but Alfred and Bruce figure it's time he hit The Book for a while—the book being the Batman Handbook. (I didn't know Batman had a handbook. See, who says comics aren't educational?) While Robin's studying, we see Batman take on eleven of Gotham 's worst. The fun here lies in finding out if Batman's really in trouble—or if it's just what he wants them to think—and if all eleven are really against him. Funniest part: Robin asking about the “kerblooey” word.

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HULK AND POWER PACK #2: “Energy Crisis” (All Ages)

Marc Sumerak (w); David Williams (p); Gary Martin (i); Gurihiru (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Williams

Publisher: Marvel

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: Ol' Greenskin meets the Power kids in this limited series.

In this issue: When their father unveils his newest invention, the Power clan unexpectedly finds themselves facing off against one of their most shocking opponents ever! Lucky for them, the Hulk is there to lead their charge into action! Get ready for more gamma goodness! (from marvel.com)

Review: The Pack is fighting Hydra, who have a mysterious electrical specimen which Katie is able handle…but not for very long. At a demonstration given by their father and Dr. Banner, Katie accidentally unleashes that specimen, a villain better known as ZZZAX! I find Sumerak's take on Banner and Hulk's relationship interesting. Time was when the two HATED each other; Hulk hated “puny Banner” and Bruce hated the transformation into Hulk. Here it's as if they've come to terms with the situation. When Zzzax has him caught, Banner knows he's gonna transform and actually seems ready for it. And when Mass Master asks Hulk about the invention, Hulk replies, “Banner builds…HULK SMASHES!” It's like they acknowledge the fact that there's a time and place for both of them. The artwork is vibrant and just FULL of spark (no pun intended), and combined with the great story, makes a great read.

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THE LONERS #1: “Fear of Flying” (Teen/Young Adult)

C. B. Cebulski (w); Karl Moline (p/i); Christina Strain (c); Rus Wooton (l); cover by Jason Pearson

Publisher: Marvel

Format: six-issue miniseries

Concept: They used to battle evil, but now they're trying to save themselves. They're six former crime-fighters, with little in common, meeting as civilians in a spandex self-help group. A mutant, a monster, a renegade, a rebel and a lost soul. Before this story is over, they'll take off their masks, reveal their secrets and decide if they can truly stop being heroes.

In this issue: From the pages of RUNAWAYS! Once they were the teen heroes known as Darkhawk, Turbo, Ricochet, Green Goblin and Lightspeed. Now they're five young adults trying to stay out of spandex. But is walking away from the buzz of danger and intrigue easier said than done? And is a self-help group enough to keep these former crime-fighters out of action? Pull up a chair and join the circle as writer C.B. Cebulski (X-MEN FAIRY TALES), artist Karl Moline (ROGUE, Route 666) and cover artist Jason Pearson (Bodybags) ask the question: How do you kick an addiction to masks and tights? (from marvel.com)

Review: There's not much to say that hasn't been said above, but if you love RUNAWAYS, you're sure to like this title as well. What makes it intriguing is that in RUNAWAYS, the teens are an ordinary bunch who discover their powers along the way. Here, the teens are fully aware of their powers, as they've already done the superhero bit, and see them as a curse as well as a blessing. The treat here is reading how three of them decide to don their costumes again for a night.

Look out for: a rather scantily-clad female mutant

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MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #1: “Jumping Silent Cars That Sleep At Traffic Lights” (Teen/Young Adult)

Words and pictures by Mike Allred; colors and separations by Laura Allred; lettering created by Nate Piekos

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

Concept: Frank “Madman” Einstein returns in an all-new series.

In this issue : The Madman universe has imploded, turning itself inside out. This brand new series is going to do the same to your brain and leave you begging for more! If you've never experienced this legendary Mike Allred creation, now's the perfect time to jump on this all-new thrill ride that begins with Frank "Madman" Einstein facing his most terrifying challenge yet, as his entire existence is in question: in fact, ALL existence!! This story will also include an innovative recap of every essential event in the Madman mythos. Future issues in the series will take you to the most wondrous places a comic book can offer. Climb aboard and dig the ride! (from imagecomics.com)

Review: Mike Allred is an artist with a truly unique style. It has a wonderfully ‘retro' feel to it, yet feels modern at the same time. His linework combined with Laura's colors produces art so full of energy that it practically leaps off the page. If you've never heard of Madman before, this issue recaps his life up to this point…and what a major turning point it is, as his existence comes into question…along with the existence of everything else! It will truly leave you guessing. Look for an impressive double splash featuring Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon, Mike Mignola's Hellboy and Frank Miller & Geoff Darrow's Big Guy (from the comic/cartoon “Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot”).

Look out for: some dead bodies and a decapitated head

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MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #23: “Pyramid Scheme” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Clay Mann (p); Terry Pallot (i); Lee Loughridge (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Carlo Pagulayan, Jeffrey Huet & Chris Sotomayor

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Irradiated by cosmic rays and transformed to possess superhuman powers, they joined together to fight evil. Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch and the Thing. Together they call themselves the Fantastic Four!

In this issue: RAMA-TUT, the Pharaoh from the Future, has reached through time to kidnap the Thing's girlfriend (who happens to be quite the sculptress) to design his pyramid for him, and only the Four can rescue her! (from marvel.com)

Review: By his own admission, Ben Grimm just doesn't get modern art…even some of Alicia's works! (Of course, he doesn't tell her that.) Far more impressed with her talents is Rama-Tut, whose guards kidnap her for the sole purpose of building his pyramid. But are they really who they claim to be? The art team does a great job, particularly with the Pharoah's guard. And Van Lente provides a very touching scene between Ben and Alicia, who has been cured of her blindness by Rama-Tut. The lesson: for better or worse, appearances aren't everything.

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MARVEL ILLUSTRATED: THE JUNGLE BOOK (Teen/Young Adult)

Gil Kane & Mary Jo Duffy (w); Gil Kane (p); P. Craig Russell (i); Christie Scheele & Petra Goldberg (c); Jim Novak (l); cover by Russell & Loren Kindzierski

Publisher: Marvel

Format: one-shot

In this issue : The saga of Mowgli and his brothers, adapted from Rudyard Kipling's THE JUNGLE BOOK by comics legends Gil Kane and P. Craig Russell! Originally presented in MARVEL FANFARE #8-11. (from marvel.com)

Review: If, like me, you are familiar with THE JUNGLE BOOK mostly because of Disney's 1967 animated film, then this book is a revelation. It is a masterful adaptation. The dialogue is simply beautiful to read, and the artwork by Kane and Russell is equally as beautiful to look at. I think it would make a nice companion to the book itself, and could be a great way to introduce readers young and old to classic literature. Also included are previews of future adaptations of THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK and TREASURE ISLAND .

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SPIDER-MAN AND THE FANTASTIC FOUR #1: “The Arrival”

Jeff Parker (w); Mike Wieringo (p); Wade von Grawbadger (i); Pete Pantazis (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Wieringo, Karl Kesel & Pantazis

Publisher: Marvel

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: It's a hero-filled limited series as Spidey teams up with the Fantastic Four.

In this issue: Two great tastes that taste great together! The world's greatest super hero and the world's greatest super team collide for an adventure set nowhere near a CIVIL WAR (and upon which we will not put a CIVIL WAR TIE-IN label)! After a visit by the Impossible Man, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is faced with a dangerous new alien threat for which he has only one recourse...call in the Fantastic Four. Separately, Spidey and the FF are the foundation of the Marvel Universe. Together...they just may save it! (from marvel.com)

Review: Mike Wieringo draws Spidey with the best of ‘em, and his run on FANTASTIC FOUR with Mark Waid was simply amazing . So the fact that he is drawing BOTH should be reason enough to get this. But if you require further incentive, you also get a fun, action-packed and often hilarious story by Parker. From the Impossible Man's appearance to Ben's prank on Johnny, the story is quite entertaining. And from the Impossible Man's display of his shape-shifting abilities to the intimidating look of The Imperator, Wieringo's art is fantastic, and von Grawbadger and Pantazis really make it pop. Great story, great art…what more do you want in a comic?

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TRADES/DIGESTS:

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR vol. 5: ALL 4 ONE 4 FOR ALL digest collects MA FF #17-20. Available to order at amazon.com

To be reviewed in next week's column:

FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #11

INVINCIBLE #40

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY #1

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #12

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #108

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

4/15/07