THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week / Year 2 - Week 10 ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, November 11, 2007

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #39: “Get a Clue” (All Ages)

Sholly Fisch (w); Gordon Purcell (p); Al Nickerson (i); Heroic Age (c); Swands (l); cover by Zach Howard

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

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

In this issue : Gorilla City is missing, and the world's greatest sleuth is on the case: Detective Chimp! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Batman and the Elongated Man meet Gorilla City 's chief detective in order to try and figure out why Gorilla City has disappeared! Could Gorilla Grodd be somehow involved? Fisch has crafted a great story that requires the reader to really pay attention, as the clues are both visual and verbal. In this type of story, the focus is usually on Batman, so it's nice to see Elongated Man get a piece of the action. The artwork is just wonderful, and it's fun seeing the various ways in which Elongated Man stretches his body. Watch for an appearance by a third League member as well as references to comics legend Carmine Infantino, Sam Simeon (from DC's own series “Angel and the Ape”), Sherlock Holmes and a writer who shall remain nameless here, as one of his stories is a key in solving the crime.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #33: “The Tenant” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Cory Hamscher (p/i); Guru eFX (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Scherberger, Lee and 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: The good news: Aunt May has renovated the guest room in her house and rented it out to a boarder to earn some extra dough for the family. The bad news: She's rented it to DOCTOR OCTOPUS! Not only is Spider-Man's greatest foe using Peter Parker's house as a base of operations for his latest criminal enterprise and putting the moves on his favorite aunt, but now he's also hogging the bathroom all the time! Pete has to figure out some way to foil Doc Ock's latest scheme without tipping his secret identity... And breaking poor Aunt May's heart... (from marvel.com)

Review: Imagine, if you will, finding out that your aunt is going to allow one of your most hated enemies to live in the room RIGHT NEXT to yours! As the Thing would say, “Whatta revoltin' development!” Yardwork, Book Club meetings, Pilates classes for Aunt May…Peter doesn't buy it for a second, of course, and when he goes to investigate…well, you can probably guess what happens next. Van Lente comes up with some hilarious lines, and Hamscher draws a great Spidey. Just wait until you see who shows up in the last panel!

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SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #181: “Enerjak: Reborn, Chapter One: Rising Evil” (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); Tracy Yardley! (p); Jim Amash (i); Jason Jensen (c); John Workman (l); cover by Yardley! and Hen Hunzeker

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of Sonic and pals, based on the hit video game.

In this issue: The demolition starts here, with super-powered villain Enerjak wrecking havoc on Angel Island ! Our heroes are readying their defenses while Sonic and Tails race against time to find the still missing Knuckles!  Can they find him, or did Enerjak get to him first?  PLUS: "Undone": You'll shudder at the shocking origin of this new Enerjak...if your nerves are strong enough to handle it!  

Review: As I am relatively new to the Sonic universe, I am unfamiliar with the character of Enerjak. But after reading this issue, three things are abundantly clear: he's powerful, he means business and he wastes no time. In short order, he defeats the Dingo Regime and the Flame and Frost legions. But is he really wreaking havoc or bringing good to Angel Island ? And who is he, anyway? The artwork continues to impress, and colorist Jensen once again knocks it out of the park.

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SONIC X #25: “The Color Sonic” (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); Tracy Yardley! (p); Terry Austin (i); Josh Ray (c); John Workman (l); cover by Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante and Hen Hunzeker

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

Concept: During a battle between Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman, an explosion hurled Sonic, his friends, and Dr. Eggman across dimensions until they found themselves on planet Earth. Dr. Eggman is determined to establish his Eggman Empire, beginning with Earth…and Sonic is determined to stop him.

In this issue : It's time to fight fire with fire... or more precisely, fight hedgehogs with hedgehogs!  And what could be worse than one evil double?  How about five?!  It's hedgehogs galore in this milestone 25th issue of SONIC X!  And just wait until you see what the bad guys have saved for last! 

Review: This story delivers FIVE TIMES the Sonic goodness as he and the gang try to fight off the clones without getting anyone hurt! It's one hilarious scene after another, from Doctor Narasu's increasing frustration with Commander Passer to Dr. Eggman thinking he's in a nightmare to the final page, which features Eggman as you've never seen him before! In addition to the great art that Yardley always provides, here she does a nice job of paying tribute to the classic Sonic look as well.

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COLLECTIONS

MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #5 collects MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #5 and X-MEN: FIRST CLASS #5.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

THE BATMAN STRIKES! #39

CAPTAIN CARROT AND THE FINAL ARK #2

IRON MAN & POWER PACK #1

MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #5

MICE TEMPLAR #2

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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