THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 50 _ _________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, August 18 , 2008

AMELIA RULES! #20 (All Ages)

Written & illustrated by Jimmy Gownley; cover by Gownley

Publisher: Renaissance Press

Concept: Join Amelia and the gang as they go through the ups and downs of childhood.

In this issue : What, exactly, does it mean when you "hang out"? It's more complicated than one might think - don't worry, Reggie will explain it all. Also, Harold Buchholz provides a back-up story of the beloved Apathy Cat. (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: This is the same book that was offered for Free Comic Book Day 2007. Here is the review I wrote for it last year:

I have never read AMELIA RULES before. Honestly, I don't know why. I shall take steps to rectify the situation, because if this issue is any indication, I have been missing out on some great stories. Reggie goes to Amelia's house one rainy day to hang out, only to find that Rhonda, Kyle and Pajamaman show up as well! While Amelia helps Rhonda with a project, Reggie and Kyle engage in spirited conversation that ranges from the definition of "hanging out" (a beautifully set-up gag) to global warming. Watching Reggie "explain" global warming to Kyle is a hoot!! The Apathy Kat preview by Harold Buchholz (w/p/i) and Todd Webb (c) finds Samson, Java and Ap rejoicing over the fact that the schools have been closed because of the snow.until their teacher decides that class will be in session anyway! Ap and friends are gonna teach HIM a thing or two! Both stories are manic and absolutely delightful.

THE BATMAN STRIKES! #48: "Ice Age" (All Ages)

Russell Lissau (w); Christopher Jones (p); Terry Beatty (i); Heroic Age (c); Swands (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: Green Lantern and Batman must work together to keep Mr. Freeze from sending Gotham City into an endless ice age! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Wayne Industries' new system to bring water to areas affected by drought and blight is working perfectly, but Mr. Freeze would rather use it for something else. It's a good thing Batman has pals in the Justice League, because they can use the help.Green Lantern's help! As usual, Jones and company do a nice job; Batman and Robin look cool (no pun intended) in their cold weather suits, and Green Lantern looks fantastic. It's a fun issue, and it even channels HAL from 2001,

FIREBREATHER #2: "All the Best Heroes" (Teen/Young Adult)

Phil Hester (w); Andy Kuhn (p/i); Bill Crabtree (c);

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

Concept: Divorce is tough for any teenager, but when your mom is a normal human housewife and your dad is a 300-foot-tall, city-stomping monster, things get a little tougher. This is Duncan Rosenblatt's reality. His mom wants him to keep up his grades and go to community college. His dad wants him to ascend to his rightful place as king of all monsters.

In this issue: Firebreather's sweet sixteen is anything but. Accused of vandalism at school, embarrassed by his mom's cloying attention, and now the target of an unseen stalker, Duncan 's latest birthday might be his last. High school drama and high-octane action in the tradition of INVINCIBLE and Spider-Man. (from imagecomics.com)

Review: As if Duncan doesn't feel odd enough being a half-dragon at an all-human high school, his mom goes and bakes some birthday cupcakes for him to take to his class.and that's just the beginning of a hilarious, embarrassing and confusing day. Then he gets to practice doing CPR, deal with the school authorities (the "giving him the finger" scene is a hoot) and discover that someone REALLY wants his attention. Kuhn gives Duncan some wonderful expressions. Better yet, he and Crabtree cut loose with a great scene of Belloc in action. The icing on the cake is the "Li'l Firebreather" backup story by Joshua Hale Fialkov (w) and Tony Fleecs (a), in which Duncan goes to daycare for the first time. It's a charming story. Finally, be sure to check out the awesome FIREBREATHER/Cartoon Network teaser image. Hopefully we'll be able to view Duncan 's adventures on the small screen one day.

Look out for: The aforementioned CPR and "giving the finger" scenes are probably not what parents would want young children to see, but they're both very funny and not meant to imply any innuendo or insult.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY #17: "Thanagarians at the Gate" (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Sanford Greene (p); Nathan Massengill & Jeff Albrecht (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 : A distress call from a stranded United Planets ship pits the Legion against a gang of Thanagarian pirates - and they're not exactly carrying on Hawkman's heroic legacy! The team will have to call in the big guns, but their best hope is 1,000 years away. (from dccomics.com)

Review: Dream Girl gives Brainiac 5 a word of warning that he doesn't understand. All he knows is that several Legionnaires are missing, and it's up to him, Lightning Lad and Superboy to find them. Unfortunately, Thanagarian space pirates are waiting, and when Brainiac finds out what they want, Dream Girl's words finally make sense, allowing him to figure out what to do. It just goes to show that even someone with a 12 th -level intelligence doesn't know everything. Greene's artwork is wonderful, especially the way he draws Lightning Lad. I think it's terrific.

MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #14: "Small Doubts" (All Ages)

Peter David (w); Juan Santacruz (p); Raul Fernandez (i); Angel Marin (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by David Nakayama & Guru eFX

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 Hulk, Rick Jones and Monkey the monkey accidentally get sucked into a dimensional vortex, they think they might be in for a little danger. They don't know how right they are! They find themselves in the Microverse, facing off against the emotion-controlling powers of the Psycho-Man! Hulk has never had so much trouble dealing with such a small problem! (from marvel.com)

Review: The Hulk has always been driven by anger, but what if he's up against someone who can manipulate ANY emotion? That's just what happens when, after once again trying to find a cure for gamma radiation, Bruce and Rick get pulled into a subatomic realm ruled by one Revka, who has the power to make people feel and think whatever he wants them to. As I read this, I kept thinking of people who try to sway our thinking, such as telemarketers, government officials, and the media. But Revka is about to learn the hard way that you can't fool all of the people all of the time, and people can get angry when they realize they've been had. And we all know what happens when the Hulk gets angry.

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #42: "Cat Fight!" (All Ages)

Marc Sumerak (w); Vicenç Villagrasa (p/i); A. Street (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Michael Ryan

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: A night at the museum becomes a complete cat-astrophe when a feline femme fatale procures a priceless piece of Native American art. But the fur really begins to fly when the beautiful Black Cat is caught in the perilous pounce of the Puma! Looks like we've got ourselves a cat fight, Spidey... and you're caught in the middle! (Watch out for hairballs!) (from marvel.com)

Review: For once, J. Jonah Jameson wants pics of Native American art instead of Spider-Man! While at an exhibition, Parker meets one Mr. Fireheart and learns the history of a puma totem. Not surprisingly, the Black Cat wants it for herself. But both are surprised when the Puma appears! Villagrasa's name is new to me, but he and Street deliver some beautiful interior artwork, while Ryan provides a fantastic cover.

TINY TITANS #7 (All Ages)

Art Baltazar & Franco (w); art & cover by Baltazar

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: It's all your favorite Titans, in their cutest possible form!

In this issue : Get ready for a Tiny Titans trip to space! Join the gang as they journey through the galaxy to help Starfire clean her room. And find out what happens at your local Bird Scouts meeting. Plus, Supergirl stops by to save the day! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Most kids don't like having to clean their room, but imagine having to go all the way home to Planet Tamaran just to clean up your room! That's what Starfire's dad wants, so the Titans tag along, prompting a funny and colorful space-travel sequence. But things get funnier when everyone returns to Earth. I enjoyed the first official meeting of the Bird Scouts, and laughed at Wonder Girl's mistaking Psimon for Brainiac. And props to Baltazar & Franco for taking the ALIEN tagline we've heard a thousand times and making it funny.

TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED: THE ARRIVAL #1: "Dispatches" (All Ages)

Marty Isenberg (w); Dario Brizuela (p); Leandro Corral (i); Liam Shalloo (c); Chris Mowry (l); cover A by Alex Milne & Josh Perez; cover B & wraparound cover by Marcelo Matere

Publisher: IDW

Format:

Concept: The first ALL-NEW ORIGINAL comic based on the hit TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED series airing on Cartoon Network!

In this issue : In "Dispatches," TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED series head writer Marty Isenberg, along with artist Dario Brizuela take a brand new look at the story behind the AUTOBOTS' arrival on Earth. You've seen the Transformers Animated movie, but do you know the whole story? You will. as ULTRA MAGNUS, SENTINEL PRIME, STARSCREAM, BLACKARACHNIA, and many more tell their sides of the story that started it all!

Review: Up to this point, the TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED comic collections have been the animated episodes in print version, using still frames from the show. Now, at last, we get an original comic, and who better to bring it to us than the series head writer himself? Isenberg looks at the events of the movie from the perspectives of several characters, offering a fresh take on things. The art team nails the series' style perfectly. Brizuela is perfect for the book, and Corral's inks and Shalloo's colors really make things come alive.

COLLECTIONS

MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK, vol. 3: STRONGEST ONE THERE IS digest collects MA HULK #9-12.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

FLASH #243

GARGOYLES BAD GUYS #4

MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #10

SKRULLS VS. POWER PACK #2

SUPER FRIENDS #6

X-MEN FIRST CLASS #15

By thy side,

John "Figaro" Norris

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