THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 3 - Week 27 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, March 09, 2009

AGENTS OF ATLAS vol. 2 #2: “The Sale /The Dragon's Corridor, part 1” (Teen/Young Adult)

Jeff Parker (w); Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz & Jana Schirmer (artists, present day); Gabriel Hardman & Elizabeth Dismang Breitweiser (artists, 1958); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Land & Ponsor

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: The heroes of the 1950s are back with big plans for the 21st Century!

In this issue : Norman Osborn's shadow government looks to pull ahead in the arms race with the help of the Atlas Foundation and the Uranian weaponry of the world's most bizarre defense contractor, Marvel Boy! The dark contacts grow even more solid when Jimmy Woo meets his understudy - Temujin, the son of the Mandarin! How does this all connect to one of the Agents' 1958 missions? Access M-11's datahold and find out! (from marvel.com)

Review: The story switches between a present day mission and a 1950s mission. Two different artistic teams handle the stories, and the result is a visually striking book. The issue also makes one thing abundantly clear: whether he's demonstrating an advanced weapon or hanging out at a local club, Gorilla Man is THE man, regardless of decade.

SUPERGIRL: COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8 th GRADE #4: “Part 1: Secret Entity!” (All Ages)

Landry Q. Walker (w); Eric Jones (p/i); Joey Mason (c); Sal Cipriano (l);

Publisher: DC

Format: six-issue miniseries

Concept: Supergirl stars in her own all-ages miniseries.

In this issue: A little orange cat with a big attitude shows up on the scene, but is he friend or foe? And Lena makes a discovery that may change her friendship with Linda forever. (from dccomics.com)

Review: You know, you would think that Linda would have learned to be more careful with Kryptonite by now. But no, it gets tossed out a window and electrified, landing in an alley…and Streaky the Supercat is born. Meanwhile, the school kids are missing for reasons unknown. And the inevitable finally happens…someone finds out Linda's secret. I really like the way Walker & Jones handle that aspect, and it's great to see Belinda Zee meet her match…in the form of a cat, no less!

X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #2: “Beginning Of the End” (Teen/Young Adult)

Jeff Parker (w); Amilcar Pinna (breakdowns); Roger Cruz (finishes); Val Staples (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Cruz & Staples

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: Why are threats from the X-Men's past coming back to haunt them, just as graduation looms? What kind of job could Cyclops hold out in the world? Why does Angel have to have costumes that his hair sticks out of nowadays? And does Professor Xavier even live here anymore? Come find more mysteries to ponder in the second part of FINALS! (from marvel.com)

Review: Back in X-MEN FIRST CLASS #10, Scott faced a character named Frederick . Guess what? He's back, along with a couple of other classic villains. How and why they show up is not for me to tell you, but believe me, it makes for some great action. But my favorite part of the issue is the conversation the members have about what the future holds in store after graduation day, something that most people have thought about (or will have to). And as usual, Bobby cracks me up!

COLLECTIONS

SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL TP has been reprinted.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #49

MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #9

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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