THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 3 - Week 24 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, February 16, 2009

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #48: “Two For One” (All Ages)

Todd Dezago (w); Jonboy Meyers (p/i); A. Street (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Francis Tsai

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 : FACE FRONT, TRUE BELIEVER! Have you ever heard the
expression, “Caught between a rock and a hard place?” No? Really? (jeez, what're they teaching kids in school these days…) Well, that's exactly where Spidey finds himself when he's caught between ELECTRO and a pulverizing pounding from the pugilistic SCORPION!!! (from marvel.com)

Review: In some cases, “two for one” is a good deal, but not when it's two super-villains! Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place…these two villains won't stop until Spidey's done for! Dezago likens Electro and Scorpion's pursuit of Spidey to big brothers or bullies beating up on the little guy. He also reminds us that you don't always get “two for one” when you think you should. One thing's for sure, though: Meyers and Street working on the same issue is a GREAT “two for one” deal. Not surprisingly, my two favorite pages are the splash pages in which both villains appear side-by-side.

MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #8: “The Legend Reborn!/Spy For the Cameras!” (All Ages)

Scott Gray/Roger Langridge (w); Craig Rousseau (p/i); Chris Sotomayor (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Henry & Guru

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Join the Marvel Heroes for some amazing adventures.

In this issue: In the 1940s, Scrawny teen STEVE ROGERS volunteered for a government experiment that turned his body into the peak of physical perfection…CAPTAIN AMERICA ! Cap busted heads during World War II, but then mysteriously disappeared…only to be found decades later, still young and ready to whup up on some bad guys! We're proud to bring you TWO TALES for the price of one: A present-day story as Cap battles modern malevolence, and a flashback fable featuring Cap in the 40s! (from marvel.com)

Review: Speaking of “two for one,” readers are treated to two great Captain America tales in this issue, both of which have timely themes. In “The Legend Reborn,” Cap is awakened after a decades-long disappearance, only to find that America has changed quite a bit. It's a great portrayal of a man who feels out of place in his own country, whose “old-school” thinking puts him at odds with modern society, and who feels useless. But when some familiar foes show up, it's a reminder that there will always be a need for heroes. And “Spy For the Cameras” is a spy story that offers two different points of view about freedom: Cap's and a reporter's. The artwork is a real treat as Rousseau and Sotomayor use both colors and sepia tones, as well as Cap's modern and classic designs.

PHANTOM: THE GHOST WHO WALKS vol. 2 #0 (Teen/Young Adult)

Mike Bullock (w); Silvestre Szilagyi (p); Sergio Mulko (i); Bob Pedroza (c); Josh Aitken (l)

Publisher: Moonstone

Format: monthly series

Concept: "The Ghost Who Walks" comes alive, as the classic comic strip character is put through his paces in all new adventures. Thrilling adventure fraught with dire peril!

In this issue: It all starts here, the jump-start for the new series that debuts next month! From the Chronicles of the First Phantom comes a retelling of his origin as you've never seen before! This issue is the perfect primer for those new to The Phantom, and gives long-time readers something special as well. As an added bonus, the issue features several pages from the upcoming Phantom Handbook! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: I've really enjoyed Bullock's Phantom stories, but I never knew his origin. Fortunately, Bullock and company kick this new series off by taking us all the way back to the year 1531, where a ship is attacked and a young man is taken in by a tribe and given a second chance. We see him rise to become the first in a long line of Phantoms. Bullock and Szilagyi continue to excel, and I look forward to seeing the Phantom take on new challenges.

SUPER FRIENDS #12: “Starro and the Pirates” (All Ages)

Sholly Fisch (w); Stewart McKenny (p); Dan Davis (i); Heroic Age (c); Travis Lanham (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 : Yo-ho, me hearties! The Super Friends have never faced a challenge like this before! What will they do when confronted with the menace of Starro and the Pirates? (from dccomics.com)

Review: Imagine you're whale watching, and suddenly you see a ship full of pirates! That's just one in a list of strange things the Super Friends find, which also includes weird sea stars and machines that make heat and smoke. It turns out that Starro's behind it all, and he's not got good plans for Earth! Aquaman gets to shine in this issue, and the way he helps defeat Starro is very clever. Fisch and McKenny even manage to sneak in information about sea animals and global warming. Also included: “Picture This,” an Aquaman Costume Corner and information on how to help stop pollution.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

FIREBREATHER vol. 2 #4

INVINCIBLE #59

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #33

TINY TITANS #13

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

------ Discuss this review on The Cat's Meow section of the Comics in the Classroom Forums ----- 

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.