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

THE BATMAN STRIKES! #30: “Young At Art” (All Ages)

Russell Lissau (w); Sanford Greene (p); Nathan Massengill (i); Heroic Age (c); Phil Balsman (l); cover by Greene & Massengill

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: When a squad of high-tech thieves hit the Gotham Musuem, only the unlikely dynamic duo of Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth can stop them! But even they may not be enough to save a priceless artifact when Catwoman gets involved! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Bruce has seen fit to display his massive art collection for the public to see…and burglars to rob, including Catwoman! Sanford Greene handles the pencilling duties here, and his renderings of Batman and Catwoman are great. What really makes the issue memorable, though, is seeing Alfred get a piece of the action, holding his own against three crooks while Batman takes care of the rest. They make a “dynamic duo” of a different sort.

_______________________

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #21: “King Of the Monsters” (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: The creatures of MONSTER ISLE have finally overthrown and exiled the MOLE MAN. And for their new leader they recruit the bravest, noblest monster they know ... the Thing! (from marvel.com)

Review: The Thing is my favorite member of the Four. He's certainly the more sympathetic member, having a kind personality with the physical appearance of a monster. So when the creatures of Monster Isle ask him to be their new leader, he figures, “why not.” Van Lente does a nice job of presenting a scenario that, unfortunately, we see in the real world all too often: People vote someone “in” based on appearances and other assumptions, only to turn against them when they go against assumptions and dare to speak of change, which is just what happens when the Thing doesn't do something the Mole Man would have done. It makes one wonder why they got rid of the Mole Man in the first place, since he is obviously the more monstrous soul.

_______________________

PERHAPANAUTS: SECOND CHANCES #4: “Into the Perhaps!” (Teen/Young Adult)

Todd Dezago (w); Craig Rousseau (p/i); Rico Renzi (c); Dezago & Rousseau (l); cover by Rousseau

Publisher: Dark Horse

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: There are places in this world where the fabric of reality has worn thin, where strange and terrible creatures have crossed over to lurk in the shadows and the night. There is an organization dedicated to finding these creatures and sending them back from whence they came, sealing the rift behind them, and maintaining the integrity of those borders. The organization is called BEDLAM. Its agents are…THE PERHAPANAUTS!

In this issue: In this issue--everything happens!

Seriously.

"From the slightly deranged and feverishly creative minds of Todd Dezago and Craig Rousseau..."
--Augie De Blieck, Jr., Comic Book Resources

"...good clean comics fun."
--Augie De Blieck, Jr., Comic Book Resources

"...it would be a shame to see it get lost in the flood of new titles arriving on shelves these days."
--Augie De Blieck, Jr., Comic Book Resources

"...even the letters column continues the mirth and mayhem of the comic." --Augie De Blieck, Jr., Comic Book Resources

"#@&%!! Can't you guys find anybody else to pimp your crappy book?!?"
--Augie De Blieck, Jr., Comic Book Resources

(from darkhorse.com)

Review: This issue picks up where the last one left off, with Karl transporting Dover and the team back to 1977 and Dover 's true world via the “Par-Ha” conduit. They get to see his world and people, as well as what happened when he originally went through the rift. Realizing that there's nothing for him anymore, he's brought back. Rousseau and Renzi once again do an amazing job, particularly with Dover 's colorful world and an AMAZING double-page splash of the Par-Ha. Choopie's final words make for a very touching moment. This issue brings “Second Chances” to a close; I can hardly wait to see what Dezago & company have in store for the characters—particularly Arisa and Choopie, as the final pages hint at.

Look out for: minor use of language

_______________________

SPIDER-MAN & POWER PACK #4: “Fashion-Sense Tingling!” part 2 of 2: “I Was a Preteen Super-Villain!” (All Ages)

Marc Sumerak (w); Gurihiru (p/i/c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Gurihiru

Publisher: Marvel

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: Power Pack teams up with Spider-Man in this fun-filled adventure.

In this issue: It's siblings vs. symbiotes as Spider-Man and Power Pack find themselves up against a new enemy they never expected -- one of their own teammates! Has sweet little Katie Power finally gone to the dark side...and if so, will she ever want to come back?! Find out in the spine-tingling conclusion to this team-up tale! (from marvel.com)

Review: Oh, NO!! The symbiote is taking over Katie's body at night, and she's helped the Sinister Six capture Spider-Man! The great twist is that Katie doesn't KNOW what's been happening. It's up to the other Power kids to rescue Spider-Man AND get the symbiote off of their sister. Gurihiru's art is lively as usual, and seeing the symbiote sporting pigtails is a hoot!

_______________________

TRADES/DIGESTS

FRANKLIN RICHARDS: LAB BRAT DIGEST collects FRANKLIN RICHARDS: SON OF A GENIUS, EVERYBODY LOVES FRANKLIN, SUPER SUMMER SPECTACULAR and HAPPY FRANKSGIVING – plus MASKED MARVEL #1-2.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

KRYPTO THE SUPERDOG #6

INVINCIBLE #39

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #10

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

2/17/06