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

GARGOYLES #4

Greg Weisman (w); Nir Paniry (art); Dustin Evans (c); cover by Greg Guler & Stephanie Lostimolo

Publisher: SLG Publishing

Format: bi-monthly series

Concept: Stone by day, warriors by night, the Gargoyles were betrayed by those they had sworn to protect. In modern Manhattan , the spell that held them frozen for a thousand years is broken, and the Gargoyles live again!  

In this issue: Thailog's back in town! In an adventure that takes us from the Labyrinth to the Eyrie to the White House, the evil clone of Goliath is determined to collect on his debts. Can the scattered clan come together in time to stop Thailog and save Goliath?! And does Goliath want to be saved – now that Elisa has broken his heart…? (from slgcomic.com)

Review: Despite the listing on the inside front cover, David Hedgecock is not the penciller for this issue; that honor goes to Paniry. While the art is serviceable, I personally prefer Hedgecock's style. (That said, you haven't lived until you've seen Broadway, Lex and Angela in WIZARD OF OZ costumes.) Fortunately, Wiseman's story is first-rate. Elisa and Delilah meet for the very first time. And one thing you can say about Thailog is that he sure knows how to crash a party!

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THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #12: “Full Throttle: Running Out Of Time” (Teen/Young Adult)

Marc Guggenheim (w); Tony Daniel (p); Art Thibert & Jonathan Glapion (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: Tony Daniel (TEEN TITANS) brings "Full Throttle" into the endgame stage! The dark force behind the Rogues' full frontal assault is revealed —and this issue's shocker ending will change the Flash forever! (from dccomics.com)

Review: This issue picks up right where the last one left off, with Bart revealing his secret identity to two men at the police station, then racing off to stop Inertia and the other rogues. Valerie meets Iris Allen, and the two try to do something to stop whatever's going to happen. But does knowing what's going to happen mean that they can stop it? That's the question that drives this page-turner. It's little wonder that this arc is entitled “Full Throttle,” and it kicks into high gear in this issue.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 ST CENTURY #2: “First Flight” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Sanford Greene (p); Nathan Massengill (i); Heroic Age (c); Robert Clark, Jr. (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: On the planet Raal, Timber Wolf was nothing but a beast. But in the Legion, he could be a super-hero! Can he — and the team — keep it together long enough to make it back home, or will this be the shortest membership on record? (from dccomics.com)

Review: This fun second issue sees Timber Wolf make his debut by being sworn into the Legion. He's eager to say goodbye—and good riddance—to Dr. Londo, the genetic experiments and “pain and suffering and living like a wild animal in the jungle” and start anew as a Legionnaire. But the more he offers to help, the more the other members turn him down, saying they've got everything “under control,” until he gets so tired of hearing it that he just steps in and shows everyone what he can do. It's about starting over and giving people the chance to prove themselves. And thanks to the art team, the book looks great…especially Timber Wolf himself!

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MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #13: “Attack of the 50-Foot Girl!” (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: How can The Avengers stop an insectoid invasion when their biggest member keeps stomping her teammates? At last--the story you keep requesting: The origin of Giant-Girl Janet Van Dyne! (from marvel.com)

Review: The Avengers have faced big challenges before, but their biggest one yet might just be Giant-Girl herself! It is finally revealed how Janet Van Dyne became Giant-Girl, which is something I really hadn't thought about before. Nor had I given much thought to her antennae. But thanks to the presence of a certain inventor who knows a thing or two about insects, it all makes sense.

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ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #109: “Ultimate Knights: Part 4” (Teen/Young Adult)

Brian Michael Bendis (w); Mark Bagley (p); Drew Hennessy (i); Justin Ponsor (c); Cory Petit (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: With Daredevil's super-squad assembled to take down the Kingpin, and Spider-Man in the clutches of the Kingpin himself, Daredevil breaks into Fisk Towers for an eleventh-hour rescue! But things go from bad to worse—when Spidey discovers a traitor in the midst of DD's team! Don't miss it! (from marvel.com)

Review: Bendis & Bagley continue to raise the stakes. Not only does Spider-Man find himself in the Kingpin's clutches, but when he reveals why he won't kill Spidey, it makes you dislike him all the more! And how Daredevil finds out whom the traitor is amongst them is something that is best left for you to discover, faithful readers.

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BIZARRE NEW WORLD #1: “If This Is a Dream, Do I Want to Wake Up?” (Teen/Young Adult)

Skipper Martin (w); Christopher Provencher (p); Wes Dzioba (c/l); cover by Provencher & Dzioba; variant cover by Tone Rodriguez

Publisher: Ape Entertainment

Format: three-issue miniseries

Concept: Meet Paul Krutcher, a regular schmoe who's got a little problem with gravity. Not a superhero yarn, just an average guy learning to deal with being planet Earth's first flying human being. What would you do if you could fly? Welcome to a Bizarre New World ! (from apecomics.com)

Review: This book presents a question that we've all probably thought about: What would you do if you could fly? Of course, comic books have seen their share of flying men, with Superman being the obvious example. But this book isn't about a superhero. Paul is not trying to save the world, nor is he trying to avenge a loved one's death. There's not even a backstory; neither Paul nor the reader knows how he acquired this ability. He just finds out he has it, and he has to deal with it. The story hits the ground running and flows beautifully, and Provencher & Dzioba deserve as much credit as Martin does. This issue is a shining example of superb visual storytelling. The artwork advances the story as much as the dialogue does; in fact, there are whole sections with no dialogue at all, because it's not needed. It's the ability of everyone involved to tell a story featuring a likable main character that most everyone can relate to that makes this issue so good.

Look out for: minor use of language and a reference to Christ walking on water. There's also a panel that sees Paul wetting his pants, though it's quite understandable when taken in context.

Visit the Bizarre New World website: http://www.bizarrenewworld.com/

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TRADES/DIGESTS:

RUNAWAYS vol. 3 deluxe hardcover collects RUNAWAYS #13-24.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #2

MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #1

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

5/20/07