THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week / Year 2 - Week 6 ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, October 14, 2007

CAPTAIN CARROT AND THE FINAL ARK #1: “Bad Hare Day!” (All Ages)

Bill Morrison (w); Scott Shaw! (p); Al Gordon (i); Tom Luth (c); Ken Lopez (l); cover by Shaw! and Morrison

Publisher: DC

Format: three-issue miniseries

Concept: Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew are back for an all-new adventure!

In this issue : The Zoo Crew is back in a 3-issue COUNTDOWN tie-in miniseries! Captain Carrot reunites the team to face a threat that begins at the "Sandy Eggo Comic-Con" and quickly menaces the entire world! The gang's all here: Fastback, Pig-Iron, Yankee Poodle, American Eagle, Alley-Kat-Abra, and the Captain himself, taking on the Salamandroid! (from dccomics.com)

Review: As suggested by the front cover, CAPTAIN CARROT AND HIS AMAZING ZOO CREW is a classic (according to me) DC comic that was co-created by Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway and Scott Shaw!. If you've never heard of it and are into funny-animal books, then it's well worth the time to browse through the back-issue bins at the comic shops. All the members got their powers from coming into contact with meteor fragments—all except Rodney Rabbit, who becomes Captain Carrot by eating one of his “cosmic carrots.” This is an all-ages issue in its truest sense, as it offers something for everyone. Kids will enjoy all the animals, adults will get a kick out of the many puns (“Sandy Eggo,” “Cattoon Network” and “Gnu York City,” to name just a few), and comic fans will love the many comic in-jokes and the fact that the series acknowledges the Crew's previous comic appearance in TEEN TITANS VOL. 3 #30-31.

Look out for: This issue does have something for everyone, but I should point out that there is a flashback scene that talks about a cat murdering a mouse. There's absolutely nothing bad shown; in fact we only learn of it through the voice-over. There's also a scene involving the death of a baby goldfish, but it is done in a parody style.

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GARGOYLES vol. 2 #6: “Clan-Building, chapter 6: Reunion ” (Teen/Young Adult)

Greg Weisman (w); Gordon Purcell (p/i); 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: What promises Yetis, monks, deadly archers and long-lost cyborg-zombie rookery siblings with multiple personality disorder? That's right, it's "Clan-Building, Chapter 6: Reunion ." Thailog's new executive assistant keeps him busy with a tale of World Tour's past, as Goliath, Angela, Elisa, and Bronx journey to Tibet and encounter an old friend... or perhaps a foe. (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: Things are finally going well for the Gargoyles, all things considered. The clones (except one) have chosen good over evil, Goliath is healing, Maggie is well, and everyone is free. Meanwhile, Thailog makes an unusual request: a bedtime story. Thus, we are told a tale of how Goliath and company encounter Coldstone. Weisman does a nice job keeping the reader guessing as to whether he is being controlled by the good or evil spirits within him.

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JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #38: “When Bad Girls Go Good!” (All Ages)

Matt Wayne (w); Dario Brizuela (p/i); Heroic Age (c); Mike Sellers (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: Giganta's back in town and looking for the Flash! But it's not revenge she has in mind, it's…dating? (from dccomics.com)

Review: The things a woman will do to get a man's attention…you know, things like taking a riverboat casino and an armored truck but leaving the money intact, or knocking around some construction equipment. All this just to get the Flash's attention! I like Brizuela's take on the Flash, and Wayne keeps things lively as his big problem tries to help out. But when Linda Park appears…watch out!

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MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #4: “The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of MAYHEM!” (All Ages)

Paul Benjamin (w); David Nakayama (p); Gary Martin (i); R. Street (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Nakayama

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Caught in a blast of gamma-radiation, brilliant scientist Bruce Banner now finds himself living as a fugitive, cursed to transform in times of stress into the living engine of destruction known as the HULK.

In this issue: When it comes to capturing the Hulk, General Ross doesn't fool around. He's recruited the nuclear powered villain Radioactive Man and he's also outfitted Madrox the Multiple Man with a Hulkbuster exoskeleton that duplicates when he does. But the Hulk's not the only one in trouble when their mountainside battle triggers an avalanche that threatens an entire town. (from marvel.com)

Review: Sometimes I wonder who the real monster is, Hulk or General Ross. Yes, the Hulk is an engine of destruction, but he still has a sense of right and wrong, albeit a very basic one. He knows, for example, that saving civilians (“puny” though they may be) comes before fighting villains. Ross, however, takes the opposite view, making the Hulk's capture his #1 priority at all costs. Nakayama, Martin & Street deliver the artistic goods, and there's a great panel in which we see Radioactive Man punching Bruce through a cabin window. But it's Benjamin who really shines in this issue through his handling of Bruce. Even though we only see him in the beginning, he narrates the whole issue, and it's as though he acknowledges that as much as he may hate to admit it, there is a time and place for the Hulk…and despite differences in size, strength and smarts, the two may not be quite so different after all.

And Monkey just looks SO DARN CUTE in a sweater!

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NEW AVENGERS/TRANSFORMERS #4 (Teen/Young Adult)

Stuart Moore (w); Tyler Kirkham (p); Sal Regla (i); Annette Kwok (c); Todd Klein (l); cover by Tom Raney

Publisher: Marvel/IDW

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: Optimus Prime and the Autobots meet Captain America and the Avengers in this limited series.

In this issue : This is it, the finale to the meeting between the robots with more than meets the eye and Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Last issue saw Iron Man shake things up in a giant way, and now all the players–the Avengers, the Autobots and the Decepticons–come together as two nations stand on the brink of nuclear Armageddon! What roll will Dr. Doom play in this final chapter? It's comics' most popular super team, the FF's #1 villain, and the world-famous robots all in one frenzied finale! (from marvel.com)

Review: Who knew radioactive blood could be so useful? Spider-Man finds out that he just might hold the key to defeating the Decepticons. Meanwhile, Iron Man and the Avengers battle Megatron outside. And where do Doom's loyalties lie? This is an adrenaline rush from first page to last, and the artwork is fantastic, particularly when Megatron and Iron Man fight each other. It's a great conclusion to a great miniseries. Hopefully these teams will meat again.

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RUNAWAYS vol. 2 #28 (Teen/Young Adult)

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 : Super-star JOSS WHEDON (ASTONISHING X-MEN, Buffy) and rising star MICHAEL RYAN (NEW EXCALIBUR, NEW X-MEN) continue their landmark run. Pun intended. Love is in the air as the Runaways try and run back from 1907. Part 4 (of 6).

Review: Well…what can I say about this issue other than that the kids keep getting in over their heads. As usual, Molly has the best lines, from her thinking that “Lucy in the Sky” is a song from around 1907, and her cluelessness when a girl named Klara mentions “marital duties.”

Look out for: Klara's situation, involving child labor and forced marriage, is not something I think young children would understand…or really need to read about.

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SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #180: “Preparations for WAR!” (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); Tracy Yardley! (p); Jim Amash (i); Jason Jensen (c); Jim Amash (l); cover by Yardley!

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

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

In this issue : Enerjak, the ultimate evil is reborn!  His return may result in an unlikely alliance as Sonic and Eggman consider a truce… at least one long enough to prevent the destruction of the entire planet!  PLUS: “Sonic Rush Adventure”: Straight from the thrilling new Sonic video game of the same name, Sonic and Tails embark on an action-packed adventure and face a mysterious new threat! 

Review: The cover image says it all. Sonic's worried expression and Eggman's fingers crossed behind his back as they shake hands lets you know that this is not going to be an easy truce. But Enerjak's return has made it necessary. Meanwhile, Dimitri fills us in on this Enerjak, while Julie-Su and friends can't sit still. The story and art are nice as always, but I must single out colorist Jensen for his great work in this issue, particularly on the final page. Also included is an entertaining “Sonic Rush Adventure” backup story entitled “High Stakes on the High Sea ,” in which Sonic and Tails meet Captain Marine.

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SONIC X #24: “Camera Hog” (All Ages)

Tracy Yardley! (w/p); Terry Austin (i); Josh Ray (c); John Workman (l); cover by Yardley!, Austin & Ray

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 : When Sonic, Knuckles, Amy and Tails give an entertaining and astonishing demonstration of their amazing abilities on Station Square TV, Eggman is watching!  Actually, he does more than watch – a mysterious new robot he has created downloads all of their abilities… along with a few extra talents it witnesses.  Of course, Eggman plans to send the souped-up robot out to destroy our star-struck heroes.  Can  Knothole   Village 's media darlings possibly defeat an enemy that does all they can do and more? 

Review: Everyone is thrilled to be on TV…everyone except Chris, that is. What is up with those cameramen? And what is this robot that has all of their abilities and seems to anticipate their every move? This is a really fun, nicely-paced issue that keeps the action coming. Bokkun steals every scene he's in, and watch how the robot in “Amy” mode declares its love for Sonic!

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COLLECTIONS

MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN VOL. 1: HEART OF STEEL (All Ages) digest (marvel.com does not say which issues are collected)

SPIDER-MAN AND THE FANTASTIC FOUR: SILVER RAGE trade paperback collects the SPIDER-MAN AND THE FANTASTIC FOUR four-issue miniseries.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

THE BATMAN STRIKES #38

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #17

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #29

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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