THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 3 - Week 6 _ _________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, October 13, 2008

INVINCIBLE #53 (Teen/Young Adult)

Robert Kirkman (w); Ryan Ottley (p); Cliff Rathburn (i); FCO Plascencia (c); Rus Wooton (l); cover by Ottley & Bill Crabtree

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of young superhero Mark Grayson.

In this issue : INVINCIBLE vs. TITAN! A few issues back, Titan tricked Invincible into helping him take over Machine Head's arm of the criminal organization knows as THE ORDER – and Invincible is not too happy about being tricked. (from imagecomics.com)

Review: After the events of last issue, Kirkman scales the action back a bit and lets his character-driven dialogue really shine. Oliver's actions are still weighing heavily on Mark's mind, and he's not even sure he can trust his mom. Thank goodness for Atom Eve, one person he can truly be himself around. Their scenes are absolutely beautiful. Ottley handles Mark's expressions wonderfully, from the joy of being with Eve to the frustration of trying to reason with Oliver. And the action scenes that are there are terrific, and beautifully showcase Rathburn and Plascencia's contributions to the book.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY #19: “Booster” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Alex Serra (p); John Stanisci (i); Heroic Age (c); Sal Cipriano (l); cover by Serra

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

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

In this issue: Heroes sometimes face the dilemma of choosing when to break rules in order to serve the greater good. That predicament is truly encountered when the Legion meet Booster Gold. But is he crossing the line or simply fulfilling his destiny? (from dccomics.com)

Review: The Legionnaires are fighting a group known as the Scavengers, when all of a sudden, Booster Gold shows up! But who is he, and what is he doing here? One Legion member might just know the answer. Serra delivers some nice artwork, and Torres providers a story with a twist.

MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #16: “The 7 th Level” (All Ages)

Peter David (w); Juan Santacruz (p); Norberto Fernandez (i); Angel Marin (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Grummett, Martin & 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: The protesters outside of a nuclear power plant are terrified of what might happen if the reactors are ever turned back on…but what they should be scared of is the fight between the Hulk and the Abomination happening inside! Russian spy Emil Blonsky infiltrated the facility, and thanks to a burst of gamma radiation, might just cause a nuclear disaster! Can the Hulk stop him? (from marvel.com)

Review: Y ou may remember hearing or reading about the nuclear accident at Chernobyl (If not, you will one day). No one remembers it more clearly than Emil Blonsky, a freelance spy who used to live there, and he thinks it's high time America had its own nuclear disaster. Enter the Hulk and some gamma radiation, and the Abomination is born. One of the Hulk's greatest foes makes his Marvel Adventures debut, and a major monster brawl ensues. Santacruz draws a nice Abomination, and the action looks great. David reminds us of the Hulk's attitude toward humans including Rick Jones, and it makes one wonder what the Hulk would do if there were no Monkey.

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #44: “Evil On a Grander Scale” (All Ages)

Marc Sumerak (w); Jonboy Meyers (p/i); Sotocolor (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Zach Howard

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 : All Peter Parker wanted to do was catch a movie with some friends... but NO! Instead, he's got to save the city from a legion of lizards set loose by the sinister Serpent Society! And if that wasn't enough, one of his oldest foes is ready to rampage through the streets of NYC all Godzilla-style! Sometimes being a super hero really bites -- with big pointy fangs! (from marvel.com)

Review: One Lizard is bad enough, ten Lizards are even worse, but all these Lizards plus the Serpent Society? Now Spidey's got a real problem! Where are all these reptiles coming from, and what does Dr. Curt Connors have to do with it? That's not for a review to spoil for you, but Sumerak's action-packed story is wonderfully brought to life through Meyers' and Sotocolor's fantastic art. As usual, there are some terrific smaller moments as well, especially Peter's fantastic expressions as he charms a lab assistant.

TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED: THE ARRIVAL #3: “Stiletto/'Bots Of Science” (All Ages)

Marty Isenberg (w); Dario Brizuela/Boo (p); Leandro Corral/Boo (i); Liam Shalloo (c); Chris Mowry (l); cover A by Marcelo Matere; cover B by Boo & Shalloo

Publisher: IDW

Format: five-issue miniseries

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

In this issue : OPTIMUS PRIME and his crew clash with a new female super villain whose high-tech heels can slice through anything-even AUTOBOTS! Also included is an untold tale of RATCHET's tour of duty in the Great Wars where the young field tech must wrestle with his decision to treat a wounded DECEPTICON. (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: Another month, another double dose of animated TRANSFORMERS goodness. First, Isenberg and Brizuela present “Stiletto,” in which the Autobots take on a former female kickboxing champ armed with a laser scalpel and an experimental metal alloy, and get quite a workout! It's action-packed, fast-paced and very entertaining. Isenberg and Boo's “'Bots of Science” is the exact opposite, but equally as entertaining. It's a well-crafted, character-driven duet between field tech Ratchet and a wounded Decepticon named Oilslick that questions whether or not enemies should help each other…and if they can learn from each other.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

DC SUPER FRIENDS vol. 2 #8

FLASH vol. 2 #245

MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #11

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #29

PHANTOM #25

SKRULLS VS. POWER PACK #4

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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