THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 3 - Week 36 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, May 13, 2009

DR. DOOM AND THE MASTERS OF EVIL #4 (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Patrick Scherberger & David Baldeon (p); Terry Pallot (i); C. Garcia (c); cover by Roger Cruz & Sotomayor

Publisher: Marvel

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: Doctor Doom assembles a team of villains.

In this issue : She predates the birth of man. She manipulates matter at will. She can merge with the shadows. She's Selene, the original vampire, known as the Black Queen, and in her possession is something Dr. Doom desperately needs, but she's not going to give it up without a fight. Luckily for Doom, he's brought along a few friends, like Princess Python, Magneto, and a platoon of Sentinels reprogrammed into Witch-Hunters! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: This is it: the conclusion of the story. It all comes down to this. Dr. Doom has brought Princess Python and Magneto to Scotland to converse with the Black Queen about what he wants. Black Queen, of course, won't make it easy. But Doom once again proves that he's done his homework and knows exactly what he's doing. Through it all, Tobin keeps the reader guessing to the very end; Doom's goal and Princess Python's role in it are not made clear until the last two pages. Doom's wish is both surprising and not surprising; ultimately, he looks out for no one but himself. It's a well-done finale to a well-done miniseries.

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #35: “Lover's Leaper” (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Casey Jones (p/i); Sotocolor (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by David Williams & Sotomayor

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Super-soldier from World War II. Weather Goddess. Super-strong alter ego of scientist Bruce Banner. Spider-powered web-slinger. Giant-sized crimefighter. Brilliant armored inventor. Feral mutant brawler. Together, they are the world's mightiest heroes, battling foes that no single super hero could withstand. 

In this issue: Hawkeye needs a date for an Avengers picnic, but just once he'd like to meet a regular girl who doesn't punch holes through walls or jet off to Saturn for the weekend. But how does one go about meeting a normal girl when living the life of a super hero? The solution seems to be an online dating service called Lover's Leap, but when Hawkeye accidentally downloads a wealth of sensitive Avengers information onto the website, which (dang!) turns out to be a scam site run by Batroc the Leaper, it's going to take the combined fighting might of the Avengers to get Hawkeye out of this jam! Well, at least some of the Avengers. Please don't tell the others about this, okay? (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: When the ladies are away, the men will play! After all, even male superheroes need some time to just cut loose and be themselves. But when Hawkeye needs a date, what's a guy to do? Turn to the Internet, of course! Little does he (or any of the other male Avengers) know what he's about to get everyone into. In a funny way, it's about the danger of posting too much information on the Internet, and how removing said information isn't always easy.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

AGENTS OF ATLAS #4

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #15

FLASH: REBIRTH #2

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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