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

FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #11 (Teen/Young Adult)

Marc Guggenheim (w); Tony Daniel (p); Art Thibert (i); Tanya & Richard Horie (c); Pat Brousseau (l); cover by Ethan Van Sciver; variant cover by Daniel

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of Bart Allen as he assumes the identity of the Flash. 

In this issue: The top Rogues haven't been on speaking terms for a while, so who's uniting them as one voice to take down the Flash? This issue kicks off a battle so brutal, we had to call it "Full Throttle"! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Question: why is Bart's grandmother shooting at him? Because she cares about him, believe it or not, and she knows why the Rogues are reuniting—and who's bringing them together. And if that weren't enough, Bart is questioned by the authorities regarding Steppenwolf's break-in…and just wait until you see how Bart explains THAT one! Daniel takes over as the artist here, and it looks just fantastic!

Look out for: minor language

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INVINCIBLE #40 (Teen/Young Adult)

Robert Kirkman (w); Ryan Ottley (p/i); Bill Crabtree (c); Rus Wooton (l); cover by Ottley & Crabtree

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of young superhero Mark Grayson.

In this issue: Invincible vs. The Sequids for the FATE OF THE EARTH! (from imagecomics.com)

Review: When Ottley replaced Cory Walker as the artist on INVINCIBLE, I had some reservations. After all, Walker 's work was GREAT. But since that time, each issue has been like a snapshot of an artist coming into his full powers. Ottley and Crabtree are masters at making action-oriented pages look busy without looking cluttered; a talent which is on display here in spades. They take the action and intensity levels and crank then to eleven, cutting loose and delivering some of the bloodiest fights the series has seen. (Parents and teachers be warned… this issue in particular is not for young children. ) But what elevates the action above violence for the sake of violence is the fact that you care so much about the characters. They're desperately fighting for their lives, and you feel it. You can almost hear the panic in Rex Splode's voice and feel the pressure as Eve struggles to maintain her force field. In fact, the only thing more intense than the fighting is the agony of having to wait until next month to find out what happens next.

Look out for: blood and guts. Like I said, this issue in particular is NOT for young children.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY #1: “Yesterday's Hero” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Chynna Clugston (p/i); Guy Majors (c); Rob Clark, Jr. (l); cover by Steve Uy

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of the Legion, based on their hit cartoon.

In this issue: An all-new series spinning out of the smash-hit TV show, written by J. Torres (TEEN TITANS GO, Sidekicks, Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures) and drawn by the creator of the indie favorite Blue Monday, Chynna Clugston-Flores!

To stop the Fatal Five from destroying Metropolis, the Legion of Super-Heroes travel back in time for reinforcements, because this looks like a job for…Clark Kent?! Can six teenagers from the future help a mild-mannered reporter become the Man of Steel, or will the Fatal Five determine his destiny before it's even begun? (from dccomics.com)

Review: I have yet to see an episode of the cartoon, so this is my introduction to the Legion. (I know…that's what YouTube is for. But I don't always have the patience that dial-up requires.) Anyway, Torres and Clugston provide basic background info for each character. This series kicks off with the story of how Clark Kent came to the 31 st century and became Superboy—er, Superman, as told by the other members of the Legion. Of course, they tend to contradict each other. TEEN TITANS GO readers will know what to expect from Torres, who applies the same wit and sense of fun here, and Clugston's art has the right look for the series.

CitC NOTE: This same issue will be available at some stores on Free Comic Book Day on May 5 th .

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MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #12: “Ego, the Loving Planet” (All Ages)

Jeff Parker (w); Juan Santacruz (p); Raul Fernandez (i); Adriano Lucas (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Cameron Stewart & Guru eFX

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Super-soldier from World War II. Weather Goddess. Super-strong alter ego of scientist Bruce Banner. Spider-powered web-slinger. Giant-sized crimefighter. Brilliant armored inventor. Feral mutant brawler. Together, they are the world's mightiest heroes, battling foes that no single super hero could withstand!

In this issue: The skies of Earth are a boiling tempest. Tidal waves threaten the coasts. A large dark force draws closer. Is it Armageddon? Naw, that's love in the air, baby... Ego style! (from marvel.com)

Review: The plot of this issue is completely RIDICULOUS…and that's just what makes it so much fun. You need not bother with logic. It starts with a terrific splash page of Iron Man battling a tornado, and it just gets stranger from there. As the Avengers discover, the cause of all the bad weather is a living planet first discovered by the Fantastic Four…a planet known as “Ego.” He's a planet of LOVE, baby, and he's got a thing for planet number 3 sportin' the ice caps! (Like I said, logic doesn't apply here.) I love the various ways in which Wolverine gets Banner to Hulk out without warning. Trust me when I say that the less you think about the plot here, the more you'll enjoy it.

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ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #108: “Ultimate Knights: Part 3” (Teen/Young Adult)

Brian Michael Bendis (w); Mark Bagley (p); Drew Hennessy (i); Justin Ponsor (c); Cory Petit (l); cover by Bagley & Richard Isanove

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: The bite of a genetically-altered spider grants high school student Peter Parker incredible, arachnid-like powers.

In this issue: Ultimate Daredevil's plan to bring down the Kingpin—permanently—kicks into gear, but Peter Parker has more immediate worries when an armed and masked vigilante bursts into Midtown High School looking for Spider-Man! Who is this man called Ronin and what does he want with our beleaguered web-spinner? (from marvel.com)

Review: In this issue, we see Mary Jane's first assignment for the Student News Network, which she does very well, and it's interesting to hear Principal Siuntres' comments. The main plot is seeing Daredevil's plan being put in motion, but by someone who may or may not be reliable. Bendis allows us into Ronin's mind as he battles Spider-Man, and he also allows Kingpin to show a trace of humanity in a scene with his sick wife.

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To be reviewed in next week's column:

TEEN TITANS GO #42

USAGI YOJIMBO vol. 3 #102

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

4/22/07