THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, August 26, 2007

AMELIA RULES! #18: “The Things I Cannot Change” (All Ages)

Written and illustrated by Jimmy Gownley

Publisher: Renaissance Press

Concept: Join Amelia and the gang as they go through the ups and downs of childhood.

In this issue: When Amelia and her friends find out that "Ninja Joan" isn't moving away, they're all thrilled... but why doesn't Joan seem happy? Then, when Kyle invites Amelia to a 6th-grade dance, they find out the truth - Joan's father is being sent on a dangerous deployment with his job as a Captain in the United States Army. Suddenly the young friends need to help Joan through a very difficult time - knowing she won't see her father for a year... and that's the best case scenario. (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: One thing that makes this title great is the fact that Gownley always keeps it real, whether funny or serious. These situations could happen in real life, and we all know kids like Amelia and the gang. Gownley seamlessly alternates between the humor of Amelia and Kyle's first “date” (but don't call it a date because of the nuns) and the seriousness of Joan's situation. I love the way he changes the size, shape and color of the lettering and word balloons to reflect the mood of the characters. It's a nice touch that really serves to enhance the story, and it's particularly effective in the bathroom scene when Joan yells a dirty word to Hannigan, and her and Amelia's thought balloons cover the word up. At the heart of the story is a little girl who has to learn to come to terms with a bad situation she knows she can't change, and that it's okay to talk about it with close friends. I applaud Gownley for presenting this story in such an honest, intelligent way. Like Joan, it will have you laughing and crying at the same time. Also included is a lesson plan for teachers and counselors and messages from Mary Murphy and husband Major Stephen M. Murphy, U.S. Army, who reminds us that the government chooses when to go to war, not the military.

Read the press release HERE.

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INVINCIBLE #45 (Teen/Young Adult)

Robert Kirkman (w); Ryan Ottley (p/i); Bill Crabtree (c); Rus Wooton (l); cover by Ottley & Crabtree

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of young superhero Mark Grayson.

In this issue: In deep space, surrounded by Viltrumites, all alone, Allen the Alien faces his fiercest fight yet. (from imagecomics.com)

Review: One thing Kirkman really excels at is presenting several plot lines at once and still making readers feel like they've read a complete issue. In this issue alone, we see that tough female Viltrumite fight both Mark AND Allen (how Allen survives is for you to find out), Mark meets Oliver's teacher, Debbie has a nice evening out, and Nolan…well, that's something else for you to find out. Thanks to Ottley and Crabtree, Oliver has some wonderful facial expressions, there's a very expressive panel of Mark flying solo, and Allen has never looked better.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #15: “Bringers of the Storm” (All Ages)

Jeff Parker (w); Cafu (p); Terry Pallot (i); Val Staples (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Kirk, Pallot & Sotomayor

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Super-soldier from World War II. Weather Goddess. Super-strong alter ego of scientist Bruce Banner. Spider-powered web-slinger. Giant-sized crimefighter. Brilliant armored inventor. Feral mutant brawler. Together, they are the world's mightiest heroes, battling foes that no single super hero could withstand!

In this issue: Sound your horn, Heimdall! Villains march across Bifrost Bridge , to challenge the forces of Odin! But wait... who are these mortals that count themselves as friends of Thor? Avengers? Then bid them to unleash their vengeance lest we face Ragnarok! (from marvel.com)

Review: Walking trees, ravens that can fly at Mach 3…it could only mean one thing: the Avengers are being summoned to Asgard! And they don't like what they find when they get there: elven leader Malekith and singing Frost Giants! Find out how Spider-Man ends up being the key to saving Asgard in this entertaining tale, featuring beautiful artwork from Cafu.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #27: “Meet the Parents” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Cory Hamscher (p/i); Lee Loughridge (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Smith & Loughridge

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Irradiated by cosmic rays and transformed to possess superhuman powers, they joined together to fight evil. Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch and the Thing. Together they call themselves the Fantastic Four!

In this issue: And you thought meeting your girlfriend's parents was uncomfortable... The Human Torch invites his new heartthrob Crystal's family over to the Baxter Building for dinner with his family without realizing they're Black Bolt, Medusa, Gorgon, Triton, Karnak and Lockjaw ... The Inhumans! When agents of Maximus The Mad show up to capture them, you can be sure knowing which fork to use will be the least of the FF's problems... (from marvel.com)

Review: As if meeting your girlfriend's parents for the first time isn't awkward enough—and having been there myself, I can tell you that it is—imagine what meeting inhuman parents must be like! Van Lente sets the whole thing up beautifully: Johnny thinks Crystal and family are perfectly normal, and since he really wants to impress her, asks Ben to hold his temper and Reed to refrain from discussing science. (Reed Richards trying to discuss the Yankees is hilarious.) But what starts as a comedy of errors takes a more dramatic turn once the Inhumans' real reason for coming is made known, which leads to a rather bittersweet ending. Van Lente takes a familiar situation, gives it a twist, and then makes it all ring true.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #4: “Hostile Takeover” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); James Cordeiro (p); Gary Erskine (i); Martegod Gracia (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Michael Golden

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of billionaire inventor Tony Stark and his armor-clad alter ego, IRON MAN!

In this issue: Spymaster has seized remote control of Iron Man's armor (with Tony Stark in it) and sent Shellhead on a rampage of destruction through New York ! That sound you hear is the price of Stark International stock dropping like a rock ... and Justin Hammer is going to buy up every last scrap of it! Can Rhodey figure out how to free the Armored Avenger before Hammer takes over Tony Stark's company along with his alter-ego? (from marvel.com)

Review: This month's offering is a solid one, showing one of the dangers of being Iron Man: not being able to control your own armor. It also shows just how important Jim Rhodes is to both Tony and Iron Man; even with all the technology at his command, Tony/Iron Man can't do it all by himself. Van Lente manages to combine technology, business and superhero action into an entertaining story, but perhaps the best moment in the book is the phone conversation between Pepper Potts and Mavis Lash, who just might become a heroine to any abused secretaries who happen to read this issue.

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First there was INFILTRATION. Then we looked in on Cybertron in STORMBRINGER. This week, faithful readers, we head back to Earth. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you…

TRANSFORMERS: ESCALATION (Teen/Young Adult)

Simon Furman (w); E.J. Su (p/i); John Raunch & Zac Atkinson (c); Neil Vyetake, Chris Mowry & Robbie Robbins (l); cover by Su

Publisher: IDW

Format: trade paperback

Review: The events that began in INFILTRATION continue, as Optimus Prime reaches Earth and the stakes—and consequences—are raised sky-high. Verity, Jimmy and Hunter get involved like never before, and Prowl, Sunstreaker and Ironhide have a high time trying to protect them. And what do Sixshot, Laserbeak and Ravage have to do with things? Furman and Su take INFILTRATION's action and suspense and crank them up to yield a relentless page-turner.

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TRADES/DIGESTS:

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN vol. 17: CLONE SAGA (Teen/Young Adult) collects USM #97-105.

To be reviewed in next week's column:

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG vol. 2 #179

TEEN TITANS GO! #46

USAGI YOJIMBO vol. 3 #105

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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