THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week- #191 ____________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, August 21, 2010

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER- MAN #61 (All Ages)

Paul Tobin (w); Christian Nauck (p); Terry Pallot (i); Sotocolor (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Takeshi Miyazawa

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 : FINAL ISSUE! There's been a fight brewing for some time, and it all explodes in this issue when Emma Frost comes face-to-face with justice in the form of…Sophia “Chat” Sanduval, the girl who can talk to animals. But is she a match for the woman who will become the White Queen? And with Spider-Man hunted by an entire crime family, and with Bullseye on his way…what can one wall-crawler do to help his girlfriend Chat, when she can't even remember who he is? (from marvel.com)

Review: Forgive the bad pun, but in this final issue with “Marvel Adventures” above the title, the “Chat” is really let out of the bag! Indeed, Chat puts the pieces together and finds out why she's been having trouble. It turns out that Emma Frost has a crush on her boyfriend, who just happens to be Peter Parker, AKA Spider-Man. Unlike other girls, however, Emma can do something about it. This brings out a side of Chat that we haven't seen before, and it's impossible not to root for her. Tobin has handled Peter and Chat's relationship beautifully, and ends the issue on a very warm and touching note that shows that Peter and Chat really care deeply about each other. As for Nauck, he draws some great Spidey action panels! This may be the final issue, but it really isn't; the series has relaunched, and I can't wait to read it.

USAGI YOJIMBO #126: “Nukekubi” (Teen/Young Adult)

Written & illustrated by Stan Sakai; cover by Sakai & 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: The rabbit ronin faces a terrifying creature from Japanese mythology in this creepy, self-contained story! Nukekubi are supernatural monsters that take the form of normal humans during the day, but at night can detach their heads to attack their unsuspecting prey. Invited to take refuge in an isolated mountain hut, Usagi doesn't notice anything suspicious about the house until he is awakened late at night by strange noises and a feeling of danger. Immediately, he sees the screaming head of his host -- with sharpened cannibal teeth -- flying down from the rafters! (from darkhorse.com)

Review: It must be quite a sight to wake up and find a detached head with sharp teeth flying right at you! But as creepy as that sounds, I must say that this is actually one of the funniest Usagi issues I've ever read. From Usagi's conversations with a crazy old woman to trying to get himself to fall asleep in the inn, everything before and after the encounter is utterly hilarious, which makes the encounter all the more shocking…an impressive feat, given that the reader has already seen the cover.

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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