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

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THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #13: “Full Throttle: Conclusion” (Teen/Young Adult) 

Marc Guggenheim (w); Tony Daniel (p); Jonathan Glapion, Marlo Alquiza & Tony Daniel (i); Tanya & Richard Horie (c); Pat Brousseau (l); cover by Daniel

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of Bart Allen as he assumes the identity of the Flash.  

In this issue: The Flash must make the choice he was offered at the beginning of "Full Throttle." And you won't want to miss the stunning full version of this cover — but you only can catch it when this issue races into stores! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Grandpa Barry says it best: “A hero is just someone who stands when their legs are gone.” A powerless Flash finds himself doing just that in this riveting page-turner. It's interesting to see Bart having to rely completely on his training rather than the speed force. Grandma and Val help him out, and the bad guys learn what Inertia's really been up to. But for me, the issue is ultimately about fighting the good fight despite overwhelming odds and facing death with courage.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY #3: “The Powers That Were” (All Ages)

Scott Beatty (w); Sanford Greene (p); Nathan Massengill (i); Heroic Age (c); Mike Sellers (l); cover by Steve Uy

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of the Legion, based on their hit cartoon.

In this issue: Auditions can be scary, especially when the team you're trying out for is the Legion of Super-Heroes! But a small-planet girl is about to make good when a big-time threat proves more than the Legion can handle. So say what you want about substitutes, we think they look pretty good together! (from dccomics.com)

Review: It's time to conduct a Legion membership drive, and none of the candidates show any potential…except Infectious Lass! Just as her name implies, she can infect people, which she does to the Legion. The result? They've switched powers with each other. But when the Khunds attack, could that turn out to be to their advantage? The Legion members get lessons in putting oneself in someone else's shoes and making the most of potential setbacks.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #2: “Enter the Dragon” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); James Cordeiro (p); Scott Koblish (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: When the entire workforce of Stark China simply vanishes, Iron Man jets out to investigate. He soon discovers they've been shanghaied to build The Mandarin's latest technological horror: a 1,000-foot long dragon ship that lays waste to everything in its path ... including the Armored Avenger! (from marvel.com)

Review: Ah, the Mandarin; a descendant of none other than Genghis Khan who can give Iron Man a run for his money thanks to rings that have “more gadgets in them than a Swiss army knife on steroids.” Fortunately, Tony has help in Jim Rhodes. I like the way Van Lente handles their relationship…and the way Rhodey hides his real work from Pepper Potts.

SPIDER-MAN AND THE FANTASTIC FOUR #3 (Teen/Young Adult)

Jeff Parker (w); Mike Wieringo (p); Wade von Grawbadger (i); Pete Pantazis (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Wieringo, Karl Kesel & Pantazis

Publisher: Marvel

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: It's a hero-filled limited series as Spidey teams up with the Fantastic Four.

In this issue: The new Silver Society has had enough interference from the F.F. and Spider-Man, and The Imperator unleashes some strong deterrents in response. While Reed Richards searches the galaxy for answers, our heroes find the situation so dire they have to make a deal with the devil — or worse, Doctor Doom! (from marvel.com)

Review: While Reed is searching for answers and Ben, Johnny and Spidey are fighting really big bugs, Sue gets a lead on something that could help them…only to find that the enemy is there, too. Action scenes abound here, but the real pleasures are the side remarks sprinkled throughout, such as Spidey busting his “4”.

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ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #110: “Ultimate Knights: Part 5” (Teen/Young Adult)

Brian Michael Bendis (w); Mark Bagley (p); Drew Hennessy (i); Justin Ponsor (c); Cory Petit (l); cover by Bagley and 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: The mind-stunning climax to the “Ultimate Knights” arc! The traitor revealed! The fate of the Kingpin of Crime! Daredevil's deep secret exposed! And Spidey's in the issue, too, we think. Don't miss a conclusion that will rock your world! (from marvel.com)

Review: At last the conclusion is here, and it does indeed rock. I applaud Bendis for the way he chose to resolve things. The issue beautifully illustrates the tension that comes from wanting so badly to harm your enemies, yet realizing that it's not the right thing to do. Daredevil finds himself in a position where he could hit the Kingpin where it really hurts, yet Spidey—who has as much reason to hate the Kingpin as anyone else—tries to persuade him not to, thereby showing everyone that despite his age, he is quite mature. The artwork only heightens this tension; the facial expressions on Daredevil and Kingpin are just fantastic. And the final image of Peter brings a melancholy touch to this arc's satisfying conclusion.

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TRADES/DIGESTS

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS vol. 3: BIZARRE ADVENTURES digest collects MA AVENGERS #9-12.

PERHAPANAUTS: SECOND CHANCES trade collects the four-issue miniseries.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

BIZARRE NEW WORLD #2

INVINCIBLE #43

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #14

PHANTOM vol. 6 #17

TEEN TITANS GO! #44

WHITE PICKET FENCES #2

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

6/24/07