THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week / Year 2 - Week 3 ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, September 23, 2007

THE FLASH #232: “The Wild Wests, part 2: The Deep End” (Teen/Young Adult)

Mark Waid (w); Daniel Acuna (p/i/c); Pat Brousseau (l); cover by Acuna

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Wally West returns as the Scarlet Speedster.

In this issue: What alien menace lies beneath the Flash's own home? And what's his dark, dark family secret — the one that's helping him keep the peace in Keystone? (from dccomics.com)

Review: Iris and Jai sure are brave kids. Not only are they surrounded by invading aliens, but they can't find mom or dad anywhere! Waid keeps things moving along nicely. How Flash shares alien memories with his wife is…interesting, to say the least, and there's a terrific scene involving the kids and an oncoming school bus.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY #6: “Attack of the Green Lantern Corps” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Alexander Serra (p/i); Heroic Age (c); Mike Sellers (l); cover by Serra

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

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

In this issue: In brightest day, in blackest night, beware their power…Teen Lantern's light! It's an all-out battle as the Legion face the combined might of the universe's bravest! Can the Legion convince them to join forces against an even greater threat, or will the original teen super-heroes be replaced? (from dccomics.com)

Review: The Green Lantern Corps is formidable through sheer numbers alone. Add to that the fact that the power of their rings is limited only by their imagination and willpower, and the Legion might not stand a chance! Torres and Serra keep things moving nicely in the story that has everyone seeing green. Look for a brief reference to Lanterns of the past.

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THE LONERS #5: “Chinks in the Armor” (Teen/Young Adult)

C.B. Cebulski (w); Karl Moline (p/i, ink assists by Mark Pennington); Beth Sotello (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: The RUNAWAYS spin-off puts the spotlight on a former New Warrior! Once a proud team of high-flying teenage heroes, the New Warriors has become the most hated name in all America . For Turbo, the downfall and disgrace of her old team has been a hard pill to swallow. But as she tries to put her past behind her, can she face her future without hiding behind a mask? Plus, what old Marvel character makes their exciting return to continuity this issue? Writer C.B. Cebulski (X-MEN FAIRY TALES) and artist Karl Moline (Route 666) keep you guessing and the critics raving! (from marvel.com)

Review: This is certainly a story full of surprises. In this penultimate issue, an old Marvel character helps defeat Nekra, Julie Power may or may not be registered, and Phil…well, you'll just have to readit. What happens at the end will make you eagerly await the final issue.

Look out for: a panel that implies a sex scene

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MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #4: “Spaced & Lost” (Teen/Young Adult)

Mike Allred (story and art); Laura Allred (colors & separations); lettering by Nate Piekos

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

Concept: Frank “Madman” Einstein returns in an all-new series.

In this issue: Has Frank "Madman" Einstein found his way out of his multi-dimensional funk? Can he hope to find his way back to the original reality? Will he be able to program his universal remote so he can find all his favorite TV shows? Some of these questions just may be answered in this groundbreaking (and dimension-breaking) issue! (from imagecomics.com)

Review: The tour de force that is MADMAN continues! Madman and Astroman have been launched into space, they get separated (I won't say how) and Madman is picked up by a stranger who claims she has been waiting for him. Can she get him home or will she lead him further astray? As always, the visuals are impressive; Laura's colors are simply eye-popping.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #16: “Even a Hawkeye Can Cry!” (All Ages)

Jeff Parker (w); Steve Scott & Ronan Cliquet (p); Nathaniel Massengill & Amilton Santos (i); Val Staples (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Grummett, 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: Look, sorry pal- ow- but this isn't Robin Hood and the Merry Men- ow-ow-, this is The Avengers- ow! Hey, watch it with those thi- ow, ow, OW! Fine. What did you say your name was, Hawk-something? (from marvel.com)

Review: Don't you just LOVE those Marvel synopses? Anyway, Parker puts the spotlight on Hawkeye and the new Masters of Evil (newer and more evil than the old Masters of Evil), once again showcasing his ability to write lesser-known characters in a way that doesn't require an extensive knowledge of Marvel history. Hilarious scenes abound in this issue: Iron Man's melting suit, Spidey grilling Hawkeye about his mask, the Mandroids, Hawkeye and Storm's “close-quarters combat training,” and…well, just about the whole issue. The art looks great, and check out that awesome cover! Good stuff.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #28: “How to Make Friends & Influence Planets” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Cory Hamscher (p/i); Lee Loughridge (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Smith & Loughridge

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Irradiated by cosmic rays and transformed to possess superhuman powers, they joined together to fight evil. Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch and the Thing. Together they call themselves the Fantastic Four!

In this issue: The populace of Earth hates and fears the stranded SILVER SURFER. But he falls in with a TV self-help guru who encourages him to win the planet over to his side -- by solving all the world's problems! Wielding the Power Cosmic, the Silver Surfer single-handedly wipes out famine, poverty and war, becoming the most popular super hero ever -- as well as the greatest threat to Earth's continued existence! Why does the Fantastic Four have to stop the Surfer from…saving the world? (from marvel.com)

Review: Back in issue #26 ( http://www.comicsintheclassroom.net/oocats_meow2007_july22.htm ), the Surfer was exiled to Earth. Since that time, he's kept himself away from humans since they fear and hate him. Enter Dr. Betty, who encourages him to use the Power Cosmic to gain people's trust. Which he does, and he finds that he REALLY likes it. Thus, we find the heretofore dignified, soliloquizing hero sporting a ghetto look (complete with gold chains) and single-handedly eliminating famine, poverty and war. But Van Lente (and Reed Richards) reminds us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Is the Surfer a savior or a harbinger for catastrophe? The fact is that no one can single-handedly solve all the world's problems…not even a silver superhero who wields the Pizzower Coshizzmic. (No, that isn't a typo.)

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MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #3 (All Ages) collects MA FANTASTIC FOUR #25 and MA SPIDER-MAN #29.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #3

FRANKLIN RICHARDS: MONSTER MASH

MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #5

PHANTOM vol. 6 #19

TEEN TITANS GO! #47

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #114

USAGI YOJIMBO vol. 3 #106

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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