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

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #9: “A Not-So-Beautiful Mind” (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: When the Avengers run up against MODOC! Do we really need to tease this plot? Just look at the picture. (from marvel.com)

Review: If the purpose of the cover is to grab the viewer's attention, then Stewart & Guru eFX did their job quite well, because that is one seriously bizarre cover. And believe me, there is an equally bizarre story to back it up. The creative team must have had a field day with this one. For those who don't know who (or what) MODOC is, don't worry; he'll be more than happy to brainblast you and talk about his origin, which is just what he does to the Avengers. Then he decides that they really need to expand their minds (mentally AND physically) and puts them through a cellular reconstruction process. (Hence, the seriously bizarre cover.) Watching seven floating heads (which is essentially what they are) fight crime and speak in a highly intelligent manner—including the Hulk—is a hoot and a half. The icing on the cake is the inclusion of Hulk enemies the Leader, who himself has a gamma-enhanced brain, yet is told to get a teaching job; and the Abomination, whom “Huldoc” defeats in a manner that gives new meaning to the phrase “using your head.” It all adds up to one wacky opus, indeed.

Administrator Note: Go HERE for links to previews for M.A.Avengers.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #20: “Freezer Burn!” (All Ages)

Zeb Wells (w); Kano with Alvaro Lopez (p/i); Lee Loughridge (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Kano

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 HUMAN TORCH is really really hot. ICEMAN is really really cool. And they really really don't like one another. So we've stranded them together with a bunch of pretty girls and a super-villain! Let's see what happens! (from marvel.com)

Review: At long last, I am reviewing the OTHER MA title! Iceman and the Human Torch personify the phrase “polar opposites,” but one thing they do share is love for the ladies. So when they find that they've both agreed to judge the Miss Teeny Teen Pageant, it's not long before they start going at it. Enter Zzzax, an electrical villain who feeds on energy from human minds. It turns out that the smartest person in the room is Ms. Rogers, the pageant director, who figures that the only way to stop Zzzax is for the two heroes to combine their powers. See, when heat melts ice, you get…well, you'll have to read the explanation for yourself. What we really get makes this issue perfect for a classroom setting: a lesson in science and a lesson in teamwork together in one self-contained story.

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ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #104: “Clone Saga, part 8” (Teen/Young Adult)

Brian Michael Bendis (w); Mark Bagley (p); Drew Hennessy with Matt Ryan (i); Andy Troy (c); Chris Eliopoulos (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: A double-sized spectacular brings to a close the incredible “Clone Saga.” Everything has led to this moment, as a battered and beaten Spider-Man faces off against the ascendant master of many arms: Doctor Octopus, in the greatest battle of the web spinner's young career. The life of Peter Parker and those he loves will never be the same—a true turning point for the Ultimate wall-crawler! Part 8 (of 8) (from marvel.com)

Review: This is it…it all comes down to this issue. Reed Richards and Dr. Storm attend to MJ in the Baxter Building , while on the rooftop, Richard Parker's existence is explained in a wonderfully touching and very emotional scene with Sue Storm. Nick Fury confronts the FBI's Henry Gyrich. And Peter, Jessica and Otto Octavius beat the stuffing out of each other in a fight that sees Bagley REALLY cut loose. Bendis and Bagley are determined to go out swinging, and just as issues are resolved and we begin to feel a sense of closure, they pull out one more major twist: Reed presents Peter with what may be the most life-changing decision he has or will ever have to make.

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TRADES/DIGESTS:

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN VOL. 5: MONSTERS ON THE PROWL collects MA SPIDER-MAN #17-20. You can order it at amazon.com.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

TEEN TITANS GO! #39

INVINCIBLE #38

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

1/21/07