THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, August 19, 2007

THE FLASH #231: “The Wild Wests, part 1: Growing Up Fast” (Teen/Young Adult)

Mark Waid (w); Daniel Acuna (p/i/c); Pat Brousseau (l); covers by Acuna & Doug Braithwaite

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Wally West returns as the Scarlet Speedster.

In this issue: Continuing the storyline so explosive we can't give anything away — and it's destined to be one of the most talked-about tales of 2007! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Mark Waid and Wally West are back, and so are Linda and the twins. It's been one heck of a year…and the twins' powers and metabolism have been developing quite rapidly. They're able to start helping their dad by rescuing people from a ferry explosion, but as Wally discovers the reason for the crash…he doesn't like what happens next. It's nice to have Waid back on this title. As for the art, I don't think it's TERRIBLE, but I do miss the likes of Tony Daniel and Scott Kolins…and, of course, the late Mike Wieringo.

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY #5: “Lightning Strikes” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Alex Serra (p/i); Herioc Age (c); Travis Lanham (l); cover by Steve Uy

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of the Legion, based on their hit cartoon.

In this issue: Whoever said "lightning never strikes twice" never met Lightning Lad! What starts as a friendly challenge turns into the storm of the century under Emerald Empress's watchful Eye, pitting Superman against Lightning Lad for the fate of the Legion! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Lightning Lad tries every kind of contest he can think of, and the result is always the same. There just doesn't seem to be anything he can do that Superman can't do better—which, being a competitive person, he does not take well at ALL. He's so upset that he becomes easy prey for the Empress, and what had been a series of harmless contests turns into a full battle. Torres looks at the effect of jealousy and what can happen when you let your guard down and allow competitiveness to take over.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #2: “The Hulks Take Manhattan ” (All Ages)

Paul Benjamin (w); Juan Santacruz (p); Raul Fernandez (i); Wilfredo Quintana (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Pagulayan, Huet & Sotomayor

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Caught in a blast of gamma-radiation, brilliant scientist Bruce Banner now finds himself living as a fugitive, cursed to transform in times of stress into the living engine of destruction known as the HULK.

In this issue: On the run from authorities and trying to figure out a way to cure his gamma-irradiated curse, Bruce Banner enlists the help of Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man. But things get out of hand when a lab accident creates another Hulk…and another…and another. (from marvel.com)

Review: As if ONE Hulk wasn't enough, think of what HUNDREDS could do! Madrox helps Banner find a professor's lair, but one of Madrox's dupes interferes. The result is a nightmare for New York , but highly entertaining and positively hilarious for readers: multiple Hulks, each one with a different personality. Benjamin hits a home run here; only in this issue will you find a Hulk who loves cute monkeys, one who claims to be “a lover, not a fighter,” one who quotes Shakespeare (as only the Hulk can), and a smart one who sings “Ave Maria” while recalibrating the professor's machine. The fact that everyone can clearly hear the Madrox dupe who narrates the tale is another nice touch. It's loads of fun.

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SONIC X #23: “Hedgehogging Their Bets” (All Ages)

Ian Flynn (w); Tracy Yardley! (p); Terry Austin (i); Josh Ray (c); John Workman (l); cover by Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante

Publisher: Archie

Format: monthly series

Concept: During a battle between Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman, an explosion hurled Sonic, his friends, and Dr. Eggman across dimensions until they found themselves on planet Earth. Dr. Eggman is determined to establish his Eggman Empire, beginning with Earth…and Sonic is determined to stop him.

In this issue: Ever since he came to Earth, Sonic has been saving the day and becoming a worldwide hero! But not everyone is happy with our hedgehog's heroics - and they're going to do something about it! What is this alliance of evil bent on Sonic's destruction, and where have we seen its members before? Can Sonic unravel the mystery before it is too late? (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: Sonic has been captured and taken before a group of six guys brought together by the mysterious Organizer. Though he doesn't know any of them, they all claim to have been ruined by him in some fashion. And the name of this group? That's for you to find out, faithful readers; believe me, you'll laugh as hard as Sonic when you do! The art team really does a fantastic job in this issue, particularly on the close-ups of the bad guys. Yardley is well suited for the blue hedgehog's books.

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ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #112: “Death of a Goblin, part 1” (Teen/Young Adult)

Brian Michael Bendis (w); Stuart Immonen (p); Wade von Grawbadger (i); Justin Ponsor (c); Cory Petit (l); cover by Immonen & Richard Isanove

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: There is a huge explosion in the side of the Triskelion—the side housing superhuman criminals. And from the acrid smoke emerges a man seething with vengeance—a man who wants Peter Parker dead! That man is Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin! And for the web-spinner, things are about to get out of control. All this and the Shocker, too! Ya can't miss it! (from marvel.com)

Review: I like stories that are as much about Peter Parker as they are about Spider-Man. This issue opens with a great car-chase scene and ends with Norman Osborn wanting out of his cell. Spidey can handle those. But can Peter Parker handle the new school assignment he's been given—and the girl he's been partnered with? Bendis writes some more of his great slice-of-life dialogue, and Stuart Immonen does a nice job with his first full issue of the series.

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Last week, I reviewed TRANSFORMERS: INFILTRATION. This week, let's look at some events that have spun out of that series. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you…

TRANSFORMERS: STORMBRINGER (Teen/Young Adult)

Simon Furman (w); Don Figueroa (p/i); Josh Burcham & grungewerx (c); Robbie Robbins & Sulaco Studios (l)

Publisher: IDW

Format: trade paperback

Concept: For those of you craving unchecked, giant robot action on an epic scale, look no further than this special space epic. In Infiltration , we had tantalizing hints about the state of play elsewhere in the TRANSFORMERS universe, but now we look in on CYBERTRON itself, unlocking a dark, dark chapter in the planet's history, one that is about to hit the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS again... full force! (from idwpublishing.com)

Review: This story takes place at the same time as the events in INFILTRATION, but while that story was told mostly from a human perspective, STORMBRINGER is all about the robots. The focus is on Cybertron. The planet is pretty much a wasteland, but several Transformers are trying to live there anyway, and a group of them is trying to resurrect a dormant evil. We see events that will eventually culminate in Optimus Prime receiving a pulsewave from Prowl and setting a course for Earth. Furman and Figueroa, as always, do a great job of bringing the story to life. Also included are Figueroa's cover and sketch galleries. It's available at bookstores everywhere.  

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To be reviewed in next week's column:

INVINCIBLE #45
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #15
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #27
MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #4

By thy side,
John “Figaro” Norris

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