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

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INVINCIBLE #43 (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: SPACE FIGHT! Allen the Alien has returned to Earth, seeking more information from Invincible that he can use against the Viltrumite Empire. Unfortunately, The Immortal is giving Allen a less-than-warm welcome. (from imagecomics.com)

Review: When Invincible first met Allen the Alien way back in issue #5, it was because of a misunderstanding; Allen had been coming to the wrong planet. The setting is space once again, Allen's a lot stronger, and this time it's the Immortal who has the misunderstanding. (Of course, the guy HAS been through a lot lately.) Allen has proven to be one of my favorite characters in the series because of his personality and the way he keeps his cool. Kirkman once again writes some great conversational dialogue that provides a nice mini-recap. This issue has it all: action, likeable characters, well-written dialogue…and a visit from a surprise guest. _________________

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #14: “The Avenging Seven” (All Ages)

Jeff Parker (w); Leonard Kirk (p); Terry Pallot (i); Val Staples (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Kirk, Pallot & Sotomayor

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: A young woman from a small farming village enlists the Avengers to help stop an enemy attack. Can the Avengers fortify the village and teach the villagers how to defend themselves in time?

Review: The Avengers help a small town defend themselves against Gorg's hordes in this fun, action-packed tale. It's like the movie “The Magnificent Seven,” only funnier. From Hulk instructing the villagers how to smash like him to throwing fertilizer instead of stones to the one-liners given to Spidey and Wolverine, the whole thing is just hilarious!

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THE PHANTOM #17: “Invisible Children, part 1 of 3” (Teen/Young Adult)

Mike Bullock (w); Silvestre Szilagyi (p/i); Bob Pedroza (c); Troy Peteri (l); cover A by Marat Mychaels, Adelso Corona & Adam Street; limited cover B (shown) by Darryl Banks, Terry Austin & Pedroza

Publisher: Moonstone

Format: monthly series

Concept: "The Ghost who Walks" comes alive, as the classic comic strip character is put through his paces in all new adventures. Thrilling adventure fraught with dire peril! (from moonstonebooks.com)

In this issue: Ripped from today's headlines, The Phantom takes on an African Warlord who believes he is a prophet of the Almighty God himself. At stake, are the lives of thousands of children stolen from their homes and indoctrinated into the Warlords Resistance Army through mental, physical and spiritual torture. The Warlord HIM has conscripted these ‘Invisible Children' to fight his Holy War and assert his self-proclaimed ‘Divine Will' on the peoples and Governments of Africa in his first step towards world domination. (from moonstonebooks.com)

Review: Rule #1: WE ARE NOT GOD. Unfortunately, there are people who think that they ARE, and they are convinced that they have free reign to do what they will. HIM is one such person, but the Phantom will have none of that. Taken on its own, this would be just another good adventure story. But knowing that these events are real—and that there's no way to truly depict their horrific nature in a comic book—is what gives the story weight. The action is implied as much as it is seen; there's only one panel where blood is actually spilled. This allows the mind to fill in the blanks, imagining what that slap or that whip must feel like. Also included, and just as eye-opening as the main story, are an essay showing how the Phantom has always responded to history and current events, a message from Bullock and an article originally posted at silverbulletcomics.com containing interviews with Bullock and Invisible Children's Danica Russell.

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TEEN TITANS GO! #44: “Red Raven” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Mike Norton (p); Lary Stucker (i); Heroic Age (c); John J. Hill (l); cover by Todd Nauck & Kanila Tripp

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of the Teen Titans, based on the hit cartoon.

In this issue: Red Raven is on the loose! It's up to the Titans to stop Raven's dark side from ruining the day! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Torres occasionally likes to refer the reader to other Titans stories. In this case, it's the story entitled “Pieces of Me,” which was featured in issue #42. In that story, Raven was accidentally split into her “emoticlones.” The Titans eventually rounded them up, except one…the devilish Red Raven. Without her dark side, Raven finally feels truly happy. She's never felt this way before, and she likes it…A LOT. Meanwhile, Red is out wreaking havoc. Torres asks the reader to consider if letting something slide for the sake of our own personal comfort is worth the trouble it could cause our friends later.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #2

FANTASTIC FOUR AND POWER PACK #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #35

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #29

RUNAWAYS vol. 2 #27

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

7/01/07