THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 51 _ _________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, August 24 , 2008

DC SUPER FRIENDS #6: "Challenge of the Super Friends" (All Ages)

Sholly Fisch (w); Dario Brizuela (p/i); Heroic Age (c); Randy Gentile (l); cover by J. Bone

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Introducing SUPER FRIENDS - a brand-new series for younger readers to meet the heroes of the DC Universe, based on the hot toy line from Mattel! Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash and Aquaman are here to save the day - and be your friends, too!

In this issue : You're invited to a special day: The Challenge of The Super Friends! Thrill as our heroes design special traps for each other at a charity event. Chill as those traps are sabotaged by the Key! How will they escape? (from dccomics.com)

Review: It's the Challenge of the Super Friends, where the challenge is that they have to get out of traps that they built for one another. Each trap has one way out, and they can't use any gadgets or tools, just their abilities and brains. There's only one problem: the Key, and a nice twist by writer Fisch. The Super Friends are all about teamwork, but how they can help each other when they can't even break out of their own traps is not for me to spoil for you. Fisch & Brizuela deliver another fun issue, complete with a fact file on Aquaman, the Swim Twins game, instructions on how to make Wonder Woman's invisible plane, and a look at the Super Friends' trophy room, which holds items from their past adventures.

FLASH #243: "Fast Money, part 6: Everything, Always" (Teen/Young Adult)

Tom Peyer (w); Freddie E. Williams II (p/i); Tanya & Richard Horie (c); Travis Lanham (l); cover by Williams

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Wally West returns as the Scarlet Speedster.

In this issue : The conclusion of "Fast Money"! The Flash returns to Keystone, making some bold moves to get his life and reputation back on track - with some serious consequences for his family! (from dccomics.com)

Review: I like stories that keep the reader guessing, and Peyer has certainly done that with "Fast Money," which finally reaches its conclusion. And believe me, it ain't over 'til it's over; from Flash and Jai thinking they're fighting Grodd to discovering the real reason for the kids' condition to Flash taking them inside the speed force itself, this issue is impossible to put down. The art is simply outstanding; from the first splash of Jai, Flash and Grodd to the unforgettable final image of Flash in all his glory, Williams and the Hories deliver possibly their best work on the book.

MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #10: "Knowledge Comes With Death's Release!" (Teen/Young Adult)

Mike Allred (w/p/i); Laura Allred (c); Nate Piekos (l);

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

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

In this issue: To be or not to be in The Atomics? That is the question. Recent changes in the team lineup is shaking up Frank "Madman" Einstein and cosmic repercussions are at stake. Plus what happened to the guy from the cable company?! Why is he so late?! Shouldn't he have shown up by now? (from imagecomics.com)

Review: With this series, Mike Allred seems to tell two stories at once. First, there's the events that actually take place before our eyes. Frank pays a visit to the Atomics and learns from Dr. Flem that his father may have left something for him. It's full of the great artwork that one expects from the Allreds. But then there's another story, told through the black narrative boxes, which suggests something bigger going on. Mike has said that the purpose of these boxes will be revealed in the next issue. I look forward to finding out.

SKRULLS VS. POWER PACK #2: "U.G. Universal Gangstaz" (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Cory Hamscher (p/i); Gurihiru with Wil Quintana (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Gurihiru

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Power Pack faces the shape-shifting Skrulls!

In this issue : Slimy SKRULLS have been impersonating Marvel's premiere all-kids super team and committing crimes around the galaxy! But POWER PACK, FRANKLIN RICHARDS and SMARTSHIP FRIDAY have a plan to flush out the copycats! How? By committing crimes all around the universe and becoming intergalactic gangstas! (You see, this is what happens when you let a ten-year-old come up with the plan...) (from marvel.com)

Review: Franklin and Smartship Friday are on their way to the reform school planet Hadith-VI, where the Pack has been exiled. After figuring out a way to escape, Jack comes up with a brilliant plan: impersonate the people impersonating them, and commit their own crimes. There's just one little problem, but that's not for a reviewer to tell you. I like that, unlike Jack, Van Lente doesn't treat Katie as just a stupid baby, and allows her to have the first clue as to how to break out of prison. It's also funny to see the Skrulls (in Power Pack forms) having their own troubles.with each other.

X-MEN FIRST CLASS #15: "Bad Hair Day" (Teen/Young Adult)

Jeff Parker (w); Karl Kesel (p/i); Val Staples (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Carlo Pagulayan

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: The next step in human evolution has arrived-Homo Superior. Mankind isn't sure whether this represents hope for the future.or the end of the human race. In a private school in upstate New York, one brilliant mutant is teaching a group of five such gifted students what they'll need to survive in this new world. These are the untold stories of Professor Xavier's first class of X-Men!

In this issue : Is she a bad girl? Is she a mutant? Does even she know what or who she is? Is that her real hair? The mysterious MEDUSA has escaped the reach of the Fantastic Four, only to run right into the home of the Uncanny X-Men! (from marvel.com)

Review: Medusa's back, and while she may not have a head full of snakes, she has something equally as powerful (and potentially dangerous).a full head of long, VERY red hair! But like the X-Men, there may be more to her than meets the eye. All will be revealed when the Wizard shows up, as well as an unexpected guest. (Read the hilarious backup story to find out why.) Kesel does a nice job with the art; he and Staples make Iceman look very cool (no pun intended).

COLLECTIONS

MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #14 collects MA FANTASTIC FOUR #32 and MA SPIDER-MAN #40

SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE vol. 2 HC collects SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #6-20.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN vol. 20: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS trade collects USM #118-122.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #27

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #39

MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPERHEROES #2

RUNAWAYS vol. 3 #1

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #125

WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #6

By thy side,

John "Figaro" Norris

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