THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 13 ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, December 03, 2007

GARGOYLES BAD GUYS #1: “Redemption, chapter 1: Strangers” (Teen/Young Adult)

Greg Weisman (w); Karine Charlebois (art); David Hedgecock (l); cover by Greg Guler & Stephanie Lostimolo

Publisher: SLG Publishing

Format: bi-monthly series

Concept: The bad guys of the Gargoyles Universe share the spotlight in this spin-off series.

In this issue : Take five of the toughest villains in the Gargoyles Universe -Hunter, Scottish gargoyle-slayer; Dingo, Australian mercenary; Matrix, nanotech hive-mind; Yama, Japanese gargoyle; and Fang, mutate - and force them to work on the side of the angels. It may be hard to believe, but these Bad Guys are the best hope we've got! Bad Guys: time to fight fire with fire! (from grahamcrackers.com)

Review: Series fans will remember Dingo from his days as a member of The Pack—well-paid, well-equipped thugs who pretended to be heroes. Now he's getting a chance to be a hero for real. With Matrix's help, he takes out a new villain, only to turn around and have to face Hunter! This is a strong debut issue; Weisman's story flows nicely, and Charlebois provides beautiful black-and-white art, including a fantastic three-page wordless fight scene.

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MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #5: “We Are Atomic!” (Teen/Young Adult)

Mike Allred (w/p/i); Laura Allred (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by the Allreds

Publisher: Image

Format: monthly series

Concept: Frank “Madman” Einstein returns in an all-new series.

In this issue: Frank “Madman” Einstein is LOST IN SPACE and SPACED AND LOST, but friends are on the way! This nail-biting cosmic adventure has old and new members of THE ATOMICS to the rescue! You're not gonna miss the galactic events of this issue along with the usual grab bag of choiceness in the Madman universe! (from imagecomics.com)

Review: Those who are familiar with Allred's MADMAN universe will welcome The Atomics back. The old gang is back, and they have some new members. When Astroman comes crashing to earth, they finally realize that they jumped the gun when they sent Frank into space. Now they find out that Frank needs their help, three members in particular, to save him and the universe. It's all brought to you in the full-color goodness that only the Allreds can deliver.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #7: “Ghost of a Chance” (All Ages)

Fred Van Lente (w); Graham Nolan (p); Victor Olazaba (i); Martegod Gracia (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Skottie Young

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Billionaire inventor Tony Stark built a suit of armor that saved his life. He now fights against the forces of evil as the invincible Iron Man!

In this issue: DR. DOOM has captured Pepper, Rhodey and other employees closest to Tony Stark and given him a simple ultimatum -- turn over the one weapon Doom needs to destroy the Fantastic Four in four hours, or his friends' lives are forfeit! Iron Man has to sneak into Castle Doom in Latveria undetected and free the hostages before his time is up. So that means only one thing: Time to break out the STEALTH ARMOR! (from marvel.com)

Review: Stark's employees thought they were going to enjoy a Eurpoean skiing vacation…but Dr. Doom has other plans! In order to get them out, the STEALTH ARMOR is unveiled. As usual, Van Lente does a great job of explaining the suit's strengths and weaknesses in a way that's easy to understand and doesn't slow down the plot, and thanks to the art team, the suit (when we see it) looks VERY cool.

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MOONSTONE'S HOLIDAY SUPER SPECTACULAR (Teen/Young Adult)

Written and illustrated by various artists; cover by Marat Mychaels & Bob Pedroza

Publisher: Moonstone

Format: one-shot

In this issue: All new Holiday-themed storis of the Phantom, Buckaroo Banzai, The Spider, Kolchak, and Sherlock Holmes...by their regular creators! (from Amazing Fantasy Books & Comics)

Review: This collection is a mixed bag. The Kolchak, Spider and Buckaroo Banzai stories are definitely NOT for children , and I really didn't care for them. On the other hand, the Sherlock Holmes and Phantom stories are FANTASTIC. In “Holmes for the Holidays,” Holmes and Watson help a woman track her husband, who has been missing for three days. Joe Gentile blends mystery with humor and a touch of holiday spirit into a winning story. The BEST story of the bunch, however, is “Silent Knight,” in which the Phantom helps two men (who are unaware of his presence) deliver a truckload of cargo through hostile territory. It's refreshing to see a hero who does the right thing just because it's the right thing.

Look out for: blood and language in the Kolchak, Spider and Buckaroo Banzai stories.

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PHANTOM vol. 6 #20: “Worth Beyond Measure” (Teen/Young Adult)

Mike Bullock (w); Zeu (p/i); Bob Pedroza (c); Bernie Lee (l); cover by Marat Mychaels

Publisher: Moonstone

Format: monthly series

Concept: "The Ghost Who Walks" comes alive, as the classic comic strip character is put through his paces in all new adventures. Thrilling adventure fraught with dire peril!

In this issue : From the Chronicles of the 13th Phantom comes a swashbuckling tale of adventure on the high seas! In the days after the Musketeers of the Guard were eliminated by King Louis the XVIII, three former members of the King's faithful will do anything to regain their former glory, including stealing the Heart of Lafitte! What is the Heart and why will the Phantom risk his life to get it back? (from Amazing Fantasy Books & Comics)

Review: After the intense “Invisible Children,” it's nice to take a breather. Bullock and Zeu take the reader back in time with the 13 th Phantom and chronicle his efforts to retrieve the stolen Heart of Lafitte. When the Heart is revealed, it's easy to see why the Phantom would go to great lengths to get it back. The whole issue is a blast to read; it's fun just to read the Musketeers' dialogue (complete with “zee's” and “zat's”), and Zeu and Pedroza provider some beautiful artwork. It all adds up to an effortlessly entertaining adventure story.

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TEEN TITANS GO! #49: “Legacy” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Todd Nauck (p); Lary Stucker (i); Heroic Age (c); John J. Hill (l); cover by Nauck & Kanila Tripp

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of the Teen Titans, based on the hit cartoon.

In this issue : Don't miss the issue that Teen Titans fans have been waiting for! A new foe is on a crime spree in Jump City , and it's up to the Teen Titans to put an end to it. But what happens when this villain actually turns out to be an evil blast from the past? (from dccomics.com)

Review: From the opening scene, in which an ominous, shadowy figure confronts Wintergreen followed by a shot of a huge storm at Titans Tower, we know that this isn't going to be business as usual for the Titans; or Torres and Nauck, either. Aside from a couple of lines, Torres does away with humor and focuses on action and drama, making the story a nice change from the usual fare. Nauck's art aids immensely in creating a sense that there is a real threat present. When the Titans learn of the villain's motivation, they are able to resolve things in a non-violent way by asking them to really reconsider things. Our past does not have to dictate our future, and that's something we all need to remember.

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ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #116: “Death of a Goblin, part 5” (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 : Green Goblin vs. Spider-Man... the final round?? Norman Osborn has come to the realization that Peter Parker is his legacy --- the living reminder of his unparalleled genius. All he wants Peter to do is to reveal to the world that it was he, Norman, who created Spider-Man. If young Parker will do this, all will be forgiven. If not, everyone that Peter loves will be destroyed! Will Peter give in to this simple but twisted demand? And what of Norman 's own progeny, his son Harry? Be there for the latest chapter in the Spider-Man vs. Green Goblin saga. (from marvel.com)

Review: Spidey is certainly in a predicament: falling with Green Goblin right behind him and no webbing to break the fall. Immonen, von Grawbadger and Ponsor deliver a great opening scene that ends with a double splash page that gives new meaning to the phrase “hit the pavement.” Bendis gives Spidey some great lines as he goes from venting his frustration to Director Danvers to conversing with Kitty to confronting Osborn. Then Peter turns on CNN…and you know that things will come to a boiling point in the next issue.

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USAGI YOJIMBO vol. 3 #107: “Sparrows, chapter 3” (Teen/Young Adult)

Written and illustrated by Stan Sakai; cover by Sakai & Tom Luth

Publisher: Dark Horse

Format: monthly series

Concept: The adventures of the rabbit samurai known as Usagi.

In this issue : Plagued by dark visions of the demon Jei, Priest Senzo creates an uproar in the temple when his terrifying dreams intensify. Elsewhere, the hunt for Inazuma, killer of Boss Bakuchi's son, reaches a tipping point. A group of bounty hunters have cornered her in a peasant's hut, but they aren't the only hunters on Inazuma's trail. Together with Gen and Stray Dog, Usagi finds his way to the hut--yet what the three discover upon arrival defies description! (from darkhorse.com)

Review: In this latest chapter of the “Sparrows” story, Sakai keeps several plots spinning; Senzo's dreams intensify, Inazuma/Jei fights bounty hunters and seems to be having problems, and Usagi joins Gen and Stray Dog in their quest. A lot happens, but Sakai never loses the reader. Inside the back cover, Sakai also answers (in a hilarious, not-quite-morbid way) the question: who would win in a fight between Usagi and Sergio Aragones' Groo the Wanderer? You'll have to find out for yourself!

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X-MEN FIRST CLASS vol. 2 #6: “The Catalyst” (Teen/Young Adult)

Jeff Parker (w); Roger Cruz (p/i); Val Staples (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Eric Nguyen

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: The next step in human evolution has arrived—Homo Superior. Mankind isn't sure whether this represents hope for the future…or the end of the human race. In a private school in upstate New York, one brilliant mutant is teaching a group of five such gifted students what they'll need to survive in this new world. These are the untold stories of Professor Xavier's first class of X-Men!

In this issue : "Hey Cyclops, you seen my powers anywhere?"
"Naw."
"Ay-ay, where my wings go at?"
"Dag, I'm all havin' to lift up my coffee with my HANDS, yo."
"Dang. We cold done lost our powerz." (from marvel.com)

Review: Imagine waking up one morning and finding that your powers are gone! That's just what happens to the X-Men, and everyone is in a sort of daze about it—except Cyclops, of course. Not even Cerebro can determine the cause. And the day is going to get worse. Though the tone is serious, you can always count on Bobby to inject some humor, including a hilarious STAR WARS spoof. Parker and Cruz deliver another solid issue. My only complaint is that, at least in the issue I bought, they placed the “Marvel Witch” backup story in the middle of the main story instead of at the end, which I felt disrupted the flow. Otherwise, it's all good.

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To be reviewed in next week's column:

INVINCIBLE #47

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #40

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #34

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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