THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week- #159 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, September 21, 2009

ASTRO BOY MOVIE PREQUEL: UNDERGROUND #4 (All Ages)

Scott Tipton (w); Diego Jourdan & Jorge Santillan Studios (p/i); Tom Smith (c); Neil Uyetake (l); covers by Jourdan & Santillan Studios and Ashley Wood

Publisher: IDW

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: He's back! Astro Boy makes his amazing return to comics, paving the way for his exciting feature film debut later this year!

In this issue : The secrets of the strange subterranean world are revealed! Now that he knows the truth, can Astro Boy undo the damage he's inadvertently done?! (from idwpublishing.com)

Review: At last, all is revealed…the secret of the gemstone, and who the real bad guys are. Now that Astro realizes he's been fighting on the wrong side, he has to try to make amends. But the Chiazzas have one more surprise in store for our hero. It's no surprise; however, that Tipton and Jourdan have made this a wonderfully entertaining series. And I must give a shout-out to Smith, whose colors really make the artwork pop, especially the rainbow-colored scene between Astro and the gemstone.

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #54: “Taken For a Ride” (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Matteo Lolli (p); Christian Vecchia (i); Sotocolor (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Skottie Young

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: Peter Parker makes a “date” with the new girl at school, then realizes a major missing component: A car. Luckily, he's a got a friend of a friend that loans rides for cheap. But when Pete discovers the cars are cheap because they've been stolen, it's a little late…some of the cars belonged to some bad guys…guys that don't mind hurting teenagers… Join Tobin, Lolli, and Young as Pete's brand-new Adventures continue! (from marvel.com)

Review: Poor Peter…no matter how hard he tries to keep his secret identity a secret, he just can't help but let a sentence slip through every now and then. But it's nice to see that he has Captain Stacy in his corner, at least. I love the direction Tobin and Lolli are going with this title. They really keep things down to earth without sacrificing the action and humor. As far as characterizations go, they've got Peter down pat, particularly the way he reacts to girls. Lolli gives him expressions that are simply terrific.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #203: “Heavy Is the Head, part 1: Surprise Visit/Friend In Deed, part 1” (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); Steven Butler/Jamal Peppers (p); Terry Austin & Jim Amash (i); Matt Herms (c); John Workman (l); cover by Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of Sonic and pals, based on the hit video game.

In this issue: Sonic learned last issue that the villains of the Iron Dominion were no push-overs. Now the fight gets personal! And when the Iron Queen arrives to show just how powerful she is, the life of a Freedom Fighter hangs in the balance! Plus, Knuckles must fight the fight everyone dreads, as he faces off against a former colleague-turned-traitor within the Chaotix! (from tfaw.com)

Review: Monkey Khan is not a popular guy, least of all with the local kids. But he just may be the only one who can stand up against the Iron Queen. Unfortunately, she has an ace up her sleeve, which Bunnie learns about the hard way…and it almost costs her life! And if Bunnie can't put up a fight, what chance does Khan stand? Meanwhile, Knuckles faces the one person he doesn't want to face…Espio! Both stories are action-packed and end on terrific cliffhangers.

USAGI YOJIMBO #122: “ A Place To Stay” (Teen/Young Adult)

Written and illustrated by Stan Sakai; cover by Sakai and Tom Luth

Publisher: Dark Horse

Format: monthly series

Concept: Once a loyal retainer until his lord's death in battle, Miyamoto Usagi is now an unemployed ronin walking the warrior's pilgrimage, in search of harmony.

In this issue: Badly injured from battle, Usagi seeks refuge in a peasant hovel, where a kind family takes him in. However, they become less charitable when they learn that a local gang is looking high and low for the ronin who killed their leader. The family must decide whether to send him away, or continue hiding him and become a target of the brigands. With little choice and much to lose, they may have to abandon the weakened Usagi to the wrath of the cutthroats. (from darkhorse.com)

Review: If you're looking for a nice jumping-on point in this series, here it is. Once again, we have a wonderful self-contained story. Usagi may have killed Boss Toshi, but Toshi's gang wants to avenge their fallen leader's death. It's a great scene in which Usagi finds himself cornered and outnumbered. I won't tell you how he escapes and ends up meeting the family, but I will say that he is prepared for the next attack. Sakai once again blends big action with gentle, quiet moments; hands down, my favorite scene is the one in which the morning sunlight comes up on Usagi's beaten face. It's just beautifully done.

WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #18: “Identity Crisis” (All Ages)

Peter David (w); Francis Portela (p/i); Jim Charalampidis (c); Joe Caramagna (l); cover by Skottie Young

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Return with us again to the early days of the all-new, all-different, X-Men for all-new solo adventures of Wolverine and Kitty Pryde!

In this issue: Wolverine and Kitty Pryde have had their disagreements in the past, but when Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man, shows up, they wind up on opposite ends siding with the same person! When one of Jamie's duplicates goes on the run, Kitty decides to help him escape from his creator. Logan sides with the original Madrox…but if he thinks he can stop Kitty from speaking her mind, he doesn't know teen girls very well! (from marvel.com)

Review: For a teenager like Kitty, finding yourself and establishing your identity can be tough. But no one has had to deal with the situation Jamie Madrox is in. When you can make duplicates of yourself, what happens when one of them decides it doesn't want to be a dupe anymore, but a person in its own right? David takes this premise and runs with it, telling a story of a man looking for himself, both literally and figuratively. Through Kitty and Logan , he raises some very interesting questions. If Madrox's dupe seems like a person in every way, is he really a person? And would denying him the right to have a life be bigotry? If Madrox doesn't trust his duplicate, does that mean he doesn't trust himself? These questions and more are answered in this fascinating story—in my opinion, one of the best in this series to date—that will really make you think.

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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