THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #26: “The Ghosts of Atlantis” (All Ages)
Bill Williams (w); Carlo Barberi (p); Zach Howard (i); Heroic Age (c); Mike Sellers (l); cover by Ty Templeton
Publisher: DC Comics
Format: ongoing monthly series
Concept: Follow the adventures of the Justice League, based on the hit cartoon.
In this issue: Atlantis is under siege by living statues of titanic proportions! Who's causing this madness? Two of the JLA's greatest foes: Black Manta and Felix Faust!
Review: As much as this issue is typical Justice League action-adventure stuff, it also focuses on Dr. Fate. He spends a lot of time alone in his tower and doesn't get out very much. Therefore, he has some trouble interacting with some of the other members of the League, particularly Booster Gold. Williams uses the Atlantean battle to teach Fate—and the reader--a lesson about the rewards of service and the importance of community.
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MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #20: “Monster Mash” (All Ages)
Peter David (w); Mike Norton (p); Norman Lee (i); Guru eFX (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Cameron Stewart & Christina Strain
Publisher: Marvel
Format: ongoing 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: Guest-starring HAWKEYE! Frankenstein's Monster crashes Halloween, and Spidey's in waaaaaay over his head! Can the Wall-Crawler and the Ace Archer trick the brute, or will they be treated to their last Hallow's Eve?
Review: It's completely understandable that Halloween is not Peter Parker's favorite time of the year. After all, as Spider-Man, he's gone up against countless villains, creatures, and other assorted freaks…and now, Frankenstein's monster himself! I won't tell you how the monster ends up in New York . Suffice to say that the essence of the character remains the same: he's a misunderstood creature who just wants to be accepted. And David puts a nice twist on the story by having the “villagers” (trick-or-treaters and students at a Halloween dance) do just that by complimenting him on his “costume.” David also throws in references to Mary Shelley, the original 1931 movie, and a hilarious scene with Spidey, Hawkeye and a woman dressed as the Bride of you-know-who.
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This week I once again dug through my collection. I now present a book filled with comics that are tailor-made for educational purposes. Ladies and gentleman, I give you…
IMAGINATION ROCKET: SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES (All Ages)
Written and illustrated by various artists; painted cover by C. Scott Morse
Publisher: Behemoth Books
Format: trade paperback
Review: As the title indicates, there are six science-themed and eight social studies-themed comics. The science topics include creating and testing a scientific tool, analyzing variables, extinction theories, life form adaptation, abiotic and biotic factors and volcanic environments; the social studies topics include marketing and consumer demand, supply and demand, World War II and expository sequence, examining an author's message, barter economy, comparing diverse cultures and Japanese folk tales. Each comic contains an activity page with questions that deal with comprehension and further exploration of the given topic as well as writing exercises. These are lessons cleverly disguised as comics in a textbook cleverly disguised as a trade paperback. This book is available at amazon.com.
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Included in next week's column:
THE BATMAN STRIKES! #26
By thy side,
John “Figaro” Norris
Any questions or comments, contact me at comicsintheclassroom @ gmail.com