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

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INVINCIBLE #44 (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: Months ago, despite Invincible's defiance against them, the Viltrumites designated him the Viltrum agent on Earth, responsible for preparing it for takeover in 400 years. Now they have come to check in on him—and they've sent their fiercest, most deadly agent. (from imagecomics.com)

Review: Mark Grayson is like Peter Parker, and not just because they're both costumed superheroes. Both of them always seem to have so many issues going on at the same time that I always think, “Maybe THIS will be the issue where they finally snap.” But miraculously, they hold on. Here, Mark has girl trouble and is failing at school…and then a Viltrumite agent shows up! And if the cover is any indication, things won't be pretty. Check out Ottley and Crabtree's sweet spread featuring a monster attacking a ship. Cool stuff.

Look out for: blood

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MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #3: “The Creeping Doom” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Ronan Cliquet (p); Amilton Santos (i); Martegod Gracia (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Michael Golden

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of billionaire inventor Tony Stark and his armor-clad alter ego, IRON MAN!

In this issue: It's covered your car, it's smothered your house ... and now it's crawling through the door after you! It's THE CREEPING DOOM, and the PLANTMAN is using it to end the domination of animals over the Earth, and only Iron Man can stop him in time! It's the ultimate Nature vs. Technology grudge match, folks -- place your bets! (from marvel.com)

Review: In this issue, Van Lente gives us a very interesting character in Mr. Smithers. He's really neither protagonist nor antagonist; he's just misguided, someone who's doing a potentially good thing for a bad reason. Smithers clashes with Stark almost immediately; he argues that plants have feelings, and people “terrify” them with machinery every day. And you know what? It's not hard to see his point. (The fact that he could do a lot of good if he chose to would make a nice discussion topic.) In this nature vs. technology fight, it really does look like the plants have the advantage, but the way in which Iron Man resolves things is believable. The artwork continues to impress; Plantman and Iron Man both look fantastic…not to mention that great Michael Golden cover.

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TEEN TITANS GO! #45: “Biography of a Beast Boy / Cyborg's Story” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Alexander Serra/Fabio Laguna (p/i); Jason Millet/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: Special Secret Origins issue! The real stories behind Beast Boy and Cyborg's pasts can finally be revealed! (from dccomics.com)

Review: The pairing of Beast Boy and Cyborg in this issue allows Torres to really showcase his skill at writing both comedy and drama. Beast Boy is hilarious as the teller of the tall tale that is his origin, only to be constantly interrupted by the campers and Cyborg. His reactions are priceless. But when Cyborg and Sarah have some time alone, things take a more serious turn. While Torres allows Beast Boy to stretch the truth to the extreme, he's very efficient in telling Cyborg's tale; he touches on the dangers of reckless driving, resentment of parents, running away from home, using your powers for good and the power of unconditional love…all within the space of six pages. Artistically speaking, the differing styles of the two artists suit the characters and stories nicely; Serra's style is looser (for lack of a better term), while Laguna's is cleaner and more along the lines of Todd Nauck and Mike Norton's work on this title.

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USAGI YOJIMBO #104: “The Darkness and the Soul, part 2” (Teen/Young Adult)

Written and illustrated by Stan Sakai; cover by Sakai & Tom Luth

Publisher: Dark Horse

Format: monthly series

Concept: The adventures of the rabbit samurai known as Usagi.

In this issue: Time is running out for Lord Goyo's sick daughter and so is the patience of her father! Entrusting the fate of his offspring to the renowned healer Priest Jizonobu, Lord Goyo's faith has soured as his child's mysterious malady has progressed from bad to worse. To be fair, the Lord has offered the Priest one final incentive-heal the girl, or see his temple destroyed and all within it killed! As the Lord's daughter slips closer to death, there is little Jizonobu can do. Desperate for a cure, the Priest seeks out the hermit Ibaraki and the malefic gods to which he prays. Perhaps the girl's deliverance lies hidden within the shadows of the hermit's dark ways. Yet surely Jizonobu must know that for every good deed there must be a payment! (from darkhorse.com)

Review: In times of crisis, some people demand answers and/or results from ones such as priests, but no one—not even a priest--has all the answers. Such is the position that Priest Jizonobu finds himself in; save Lord Goyo's daughter from an inexplicable condition or see his temple destroyed. For me, this issue deals with how we react when faced with circumstances beyond our control, and what can happen when we turn from our faith to find answers.

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This week, the Transformers' War Within continues. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you…

TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN: THE DARK AGES (Teen/Young Adult)

Simon Furman (w); Andrew Wildman (p); Erik Sander (i); Espen Grundetjern & Alan Wang (c); Benjamin Lee (l)

Publisher: IDW

In this volume: Everything old is new again! More secrets of CYBERTRON's dark past are revealed, as this second collection of Transformers: The War Within sheds light on...the Dark Ages! OPTIMUS PRIME and MEGATRON are missing, presumed dead, the civil war for control of CYBERTRON has degenerated into a dark cauldron of confusion and turmoil, splinter factions clashing in endless border skirmishes. Into this potent powder keg of a divided world comes THE FALLEN, a TRANSFORMER from the planet's prehistory... with dark designs of his own! (from idwpublishing.com)

Review: Furman and Wildman bring us more tales of the War Within. Believe me when I say that if you like action, you will not be disappointed; there is never a dull moment in the story. Furman keeps things moving with constant action and well-written characters—once again, I love how he handles Grimlock—and the artwork is AMAZING.

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TRADES/DIGESTS:

MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE collects MA FANTASTIC FOUR #23 and MA SPIDER-MAN #27.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

FANTASTIC FOUR AND POWER PACK #2

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #36

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #30

SPIDER-MAN AND FANTASTIC FOUR #4

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

July 30, 07