THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 45 _ _________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, July 14 , 2008

THE BATMAN STRIKES! #47: "20 Minutes" (All Ages)

Josh Elder (w); Christopher Jones (p); Terry Beatty (i); Heroic Age (c); John J. Hill (l); cover by Andie Tong

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of Bruce Wayne in his early years as Batman.

In this issue: Black Mask has taken Bruce Wayne hostage! Can Bruce find a way to escape without giving away his secret identity? (from dccomics.com)

Review: A building explodes, Black Mask issues an ultimatum, and the race against the clock is on. But it's past Batman's bedtime, and he really wants his sleep. Watching Batman quickly and efficiently take down Black Mask and his thugs is thrilling, but the best moments belong to Robin, Batgirl and the Joker. The Joker's watch and "evil plan #93 1/3" are hilarious, and there's some great interplay between Robin and Batgirl.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY" #16: "The Untold Legend of Arm-Fall-Off Boy" (All Ages)

Matthew K. Manning (w); Shawn McManus (p/i); Heroic Age (c); Randy Gentile (l); cover by Alexander Serra

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

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

In this issue : It's the issue you've been waiting for: The untold story of Arm-Fall-Off Boy! The embarrassingly powered would-be Legionnaire wants nothing more than a flight ring and for Saturn Girl to know his name. But since flight technology and easily detached limbs don't always mix, Arm-Fall-Off Boy has his work cut out for him! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Yes, it's a hilarious title. And it is, no doubt, a power that nobody in their right mind would want. But Floyd has no choice, as he was born with it. All he wants is to join the Legion and meet Saturn Girl. Manning takes this seemingly ridiculous concept and really makes something out of it. It's about taking a condition that some would view as a deficiency or setback and trying to see it as a positive thing, even when the results are embarrassing.

MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #13: "Are You My Mummy?" (All Ages)

Peter David (w); Juan Santacruz (p); Raul Fernandez (i); Angel Marin (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Sean Gordon Murphy & Moose Baumann

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: Hulk and his traveling buddies (fun-loving teen, Rick Jones and
rollicking monkey, Monkey) have returned to New York City to find something amiss. all the super heroes have been transformed into ravenous, stumbling monsters! But can even the strength of the Hulk stand up to the unstoppable. MARVEL MUMMIES?!? Fan-fave Hulk creator Peter David comes to Marvel Adventures Hulk with unlucky issue 13, bringing our most mummified issue ever! (from marvel.com)

Review: It may look like a classic Avengers cover, but it is definitely a Hulk story. After traveling to some pretty strange places, Bruce, Monkey and Rick are back in New York , only to find that everyone in authority-police, firemen, superheroes-has been turned into living mummies! (Sheesh.first Marvel Zombies, now Marvel mummies! What's next?) But Hulk has retained something that Bruce told Rick, and it serves as the moral of the story: too much of anything, even something you like, is bad for you. How Hulk uses this knowledge to set things right is not for me to say, but it is a valuable lesson.

COLLECTIONS

POWER PACK vol. 1 hardcover collects POWER PACK, X-MEN AND POWER PACK and AVENGERS AND POWER PACK ASSEMBLE.

RUNAWAYS: DEAD END KIDS hardcover collects RUNAWAYS #25-30.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

FLASH vol. 2 #242

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #26

MICE TEMPLAR #5

PERHAPANAUTS vol. 2 #3

TINY TITANS #6

By thy side,

John "Figaro" Norris

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Note: The age ratings and opinions featured in these reviews are those of reviewer, John Norris, and may not be shared by the administrator of this web site.