THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week- #174 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, January 28, 2010

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #4 (Teen/Young Adult)

Brian Michael Bendis (w); David Lafuente (p/i); Justin Ponsor (c); Cory Petit (l); cover by Lafuente & Ponsor

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: The bite of a genetically-altered spider grants high school student Peter Parker incredible, arachnid-like powers.

In this issue: Ultimate Spider-Man faces off with Mysterio! It's brutal, it's bloody and it's one of the biggest Spidey fights of the year! PLUS: Events in Kitty Pryde's life create a situation for Peter Parker that you have never ever ever seen in a Spidey title before! (from marvel.com)

Review: The identity of this cloaked stranger becomes even more mysterious when they save MJ from a kidnapping. Meanwhile, Peter's home life is going to get a lot more interesting, now that Johnny Storm's moved in. The scene with Johnny, Peter, Gwen and Aunt May at the table is just wonderful, filled with Bendis' rapid-fire dialogue. (I love Johnny's reaction upon learning he'll have to do chores.) Equally as wonderful is what I'll call the hilarious “anime moment” where MJ, Gwen and Peter tell off Flash Thompson. And the most exciting scene is when Spidey fights the Hulk, in which Lafuente does some of his best Spidey art to date.

WALL-E #0: “Working To Dig You Out” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Morgan Luthi (p/i); Digikore Studios (c); Jose Macasocol, Jr. (l); cover by Luthi

Publisher: BOOM! Kids

Format: monthly series

Concept: Superstar writer J. Torres (TEEN TITANS GO!) chronicles Wall-E's life before the events of the hit film.

In this issue: Wall-E is not yet the hardworking robot we know and love. Instead, he lets the few remaining other robots take care of the trash compacting while he collects interesting junk. But when the other robots start breaking down, Wall-E must learn to adjust his priorities...or else Earth is doomed! (from boom-kids.com)

Review: I think that not only is WALL-E a great film, but the near-silent first half hour of that movie is Pixar at its best. Torres and Luthi have managed to capture that essence on paper. As there is no dialogue, the book needed an artist every bit as good a storyteller as Torres, and Luthi hits it out of the park. Each page is touched by amusement, as Wall-E collects his “treasures,” and sadness, as we know where things are headed. It's a beautiful beginning.

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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