THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 14 ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, December 09, 2007

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #40: “Cast No Shadow” (All Ages)

Ben McCool (w); Dario Brizuela (p/i); Heroic Age (c); John J. Hill (l); cover by Zach Howard

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of the Justice League, based on the hit cartoon.

In this issue : The Justice League's shadows are missing! Only Zatanna and Dr. Fate know how to fight such terrible magic, but they're in over their heads! (from dccomics.com)

Review: How can you fight your own shadow…assuming that's even possible? That's the situation the JL find themselves in, and Zatanna and Dr. Fate are their only hope. But for Zatanna, this adventure may turn out to be personal, as she begins to sense the presence of her long-lost father, who once gave her some words of wisdom when she misused her powers. Knowing WHEN to use your gifts is just as important as knowing HOW to use them..

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MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #34: “The Un-Natural” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Cory Hamscher (p/i); Guru eFX (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Scherberger, Lee & Guru eFX

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Bitten by an irradiated spider, which granted him incredible abilities, Peter Parker learned the all-important lesson, that with great power there must also come great responsibility. And so he became the amazing Spider-Man!

In this issue: A series of mishaps makes Peter Parker the star shortstop on the Forest Hills High baseball team – opposing ace pitcher Harry Osborn and Midtown Academy in the citywide finals. Unfortunately, Harry's dad is one of these gung-ho sports dads who absolutely hates it – hates it – when his son's team loses. And when you're also the Green Goblin, you don't have to settle for cursing out the umpire from the bleachers. You can shove a pumpkin bomb up the opposing shortstop's left nostril! Oh, and we didn't even mention the moral issue of using performance-enhancing super powers in sports. (from marvel.com)

Review: When is spider-like agility NOT a good thing? When it allows you to catch an incoming baseball (courtesy of Flash Thompson), thereby attracting the coach's attention! Peter's fast rise to stardom once again earns him the enmity of both Flash and Norman Osborn. In Norman , Van Lente portrays the obsessive parent who will not accept anything other than total victory from his child (which, to me, is a shame). The story also contains an important message against cheating and using performance-enhancing drugs…and who would have guessed that Flash would be the one to deliver it?

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COLLECTIONS

MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK, vol. 1: MISUNDERSTOOD MONSTER digest collects MA HULK #1-4.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #4

THE BATMAN STRIKES! #40

CAPTAIN CARROT AND THE FINAL ARK #3

GARGOYLES vol. 2 #7

IRON MAN & POWER PACK #2

MARVEL ADVNETURES HULK #6

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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Note: The age ratings and opinions featured in these reviews are those of reviewer, John Norris, and may not be shared by the administrator of this web site.