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

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #33: “Everything Old Is New Again” (All Ages)

Jason Hall (w); Carlo Barberi (p); Bob Petrecca (i); Heroic Age (c); Robert Clark, Jr. (l); cover by Ty Templeton

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of the Justice League, based on the hit cartoon.

In this issue: No struggle is worse than the old guard meeting the new kid on the block. Star Girl and the Crimson Avenger are about to learn more about each other than they ever wanted! (from dccomics.com)

Review: You know how it is…Crimson Avenger is the older one, Star Girl is the youth, and they don't understand each other at ALL. But that's all about to change. Thanks to Morgaine Le Fey and the London Stone, they find themselves in a “Freaky Friday”-type situation. Watching them try to get through each day in their predicament is hilarious. In the end, they learn—as do the readers—that young or old, we should respect each other even if we don't understand each other.

_________________

THE LONERS #2: “Reflex Actions” (Teen/Young Adult)

C.B. Cebulski (w); Karl Moline (p/i); Christina Strain (c); Rus Wooton (l); cover by Jason Pearson

Publisher: Marvel

Format: six-issue miniseries

Concept: They used to battle evil, but now they're trying to save themselves. They're six former crime-fighters, with little in common, meeting as civilians in a spandex self-help group. A mutant, a monster, a renegade, a rebel and a lost soul. Before this story is over, they'll take off their masks, reveal their secrets and decide if they can truly stop being heroes.

In this issue: It's Ricochet's day off! But can the former Slinger – used to costumed days of girls and thrills – adjust to life as just another wannabe in L.A. ? And when he's pushed by the guilt of his past, will he spiral back into the tights? What do you think? So who's waiting to slice his jacket to shreds – and what former Generation X member makes a shocking return on the very last page? (from marvel.com)

Review: They all came to LA with the intent of hanging up their costumes. But for Ricochet, it isn't so easy. He tells the story of why he really came to LA and what happened between him and Hornet. I find Ricochet to be well-written in this issue. We get a picture of a guy who did the right thing for the wrong reasons, quit when his team was no longer the center of attention, and now wants to do the right thing for the RIGHT reasons. It's a great character study.

_________________

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #27: “But Seriously, Folks…” (All Ages)

Chris Kipiniak (w); Patrick Scherberger (p); Roland Paris (i); Guru eFX (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Scherberger, Hamscher & Guru eFX

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Bitten by an irradiated spider, which granted him incredible abilities, Peter Parker learned the all-important lesson, that with great power there must also come great responsibility. And so he became the amazing Spider-Man!

In this issue: When the JESTER takes New York's museums hostage, SPIDER-MAN thinks it's time for his patented blend of webs, wise-cracks and punching. Grim-and-gritty-guest-star NIGHT THRASHER does things differently. Can the two heroes stop fighting each other long enough to fight the villain? At least a little? (from marvel.com)

Review: Dwayne Taylor seems like an odd choice to take over a kids' TV network…after all, the man hardly ever cracks a smile. Spider-Man, of course, is the complete opposite. So when the Jester takes over a kids' show and announces his plans, the two can't seem to work together and stop him. It's about knowing when to lighten up and when to take things more seriously.

_________________

THE PHANTOM #16: “Forgotten” (Teen/Young Adult)

Mike Bullock (w); Silvestre Szilagyi (p/i); Bob Pedroza (c); Troy Peteri (l); cover by Bret Blevins & Terry Austin

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: What happens when a young woman decides to give back to the people's of Africa who have given her family a fortune beyond imagining? Her drive to do what's right propels her head first into an invisible war with the lives of the Africa 's children hanging in the balance. Will she be able to find the Phantom in time? Or will her good intentions bring disastrous results? (from moonstonebooks.com)

Review: Angela Carlyle is the latest in her family to bear the mark of the Phantom, a mark which will ensure her protection in the African jungle. But it's her reason for coming to the jungle that makes the story so intriguing. I would hesitate to recommend this for small children, but I think it would be perfect for high school/college social studies, African studies and possibly religion classes—and, really, for anyone who loves action/adventure stories and likes to keep up with current events. This issue serves as a set-up for the next three-issue story arc, titled “Invisible Children,” and is inspired by the current real-world situation in Uganda: a warlord who claims to be God is stealing children from their homes, torturing and brainwashing them until they submit to his rule and join his army. It's an entertaining issue with gorgeous artwork from Szilagyi and Pedroza. More importantly, it serves as a wake-up call and is proof that Bullock is as much at home in the African jungle as he is in the Stuffed Animal Kingdom of LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS.

Look out for: There's no blood, foul language or nudity. Again, it's the subject matter that I feel may not be for small children.

To learn more about the situation in Uganda and what Bullock and Moonstone are doing to help, please visit the following site: http://www.silverbulletcomics.com/news/story.php?a=4660

_________________

RUNAWAYS #26: “Dead-End Kids, pt. 2” (Teen/Young Adult)

Joss Whedon (w); Michael Ryan (p); Rick Ketcham (i); Christina Strain (c); Joe Caramanga (l); cover by Jo Chen

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: At some point in their lives, all kids think they have the most evil parents in the world, but Nico Minoru and her friends really did. Discovering that they were the children of a group of super-villains known as The Pride, they stole weapons and resources from these criminals before running away from home and eventually defeating their parents. But that was just the beginning. Together, the teenage runaways now hope to atone for their parents' crimes by taking on the new threats trying to fill The Pride's void.

In this issue : The kids continue their New York adventure and encounter someone dangerous that they've never met before. Hint—LOOK BEHIND MOLLY ON THE COVER. Will he punish the Runaways? Superstar Joss Whedon (Buffy, ASTONISHING X-MEN) and rising star Michael Ryan (NEW X-MEN, NEW EXCALIBUR) continue a tale that will take the Runaways somewhere they've never been before! PART 2 (of 6)! (from marvel.com)

Review: Whedon and Ryan deliver another fun, action-filled issue. Whedon demonstrates that he's just as good at writing for Molly as Brian K. Vaughan was. Molly has the BEST lines in this issue, especially when she tries to describe how Chase and Old Lace could survive a missile and when she voices her reservations about hitting people who have no superpowers…after she demonstrates that she can hold her own against the Punisher.

Look out for: minor use of language

_________________

To be reviewed in next week's column:

THE BATMAN STRIKES! #33

HULK & POWER PACK #3

INVINCIBLE #41

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #24

SPIDER-MAN & FANTASTIC FOUR #2

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

5/6/07