THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 16 ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, December 23, 2007

I thought I would begin this week by reviewing a really fun series that I finally got around to reading:

ABSOLUTE ZEROES (All Ages)

Written and illustrated by Jeremy Dale

Publisher: Ronin Studios/Heroforge

Concept: Alex and Ashley accidentally gained super powers. Now they must learn to use them and protect the city!

Review: I recently had the pleasure of meeting Jeremy (as well as fellow artists Steve Scott and Sanford Greene) at an in-store signing at Heroes & Dragons, where I shop. It was the first time I'd ever met comic artists in person, so it was a real thrill. I had seen some artwork for this series on Jeremy's DeviantArt site ( http://thincage.deviantart.com/ ), so to be able to actually read the issues was a treat. Alex and Ashley are an average brother and sister…until Ashley discovers that her new boss is really a superhero! When they all get zapped, the two gain his powers. Now they must learn to control them and fight off villains such as Firewire, Twisted and Pop Rock. The first issue's “director's cut” is inked, but issues 2 and 3 are printed directly from Jeremy's pencils, which gives them a wonderfully unique look. As for the stories, they flow nicely. This is good, clean fun, and that's just the way I like it. The first three issues are available at http://www.jeremy-dale.com/ .

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LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY #9: “Bad Ideas” (All Ages)

Scott Beatty (w); Ethen Beavers (p/i); Heroic Age (c); John J. Hill (l); cover by Alexander Serra

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

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

In this issue : An ancient legacy catches up with Brainiac 5 when he learns the terrible secret of his great-great-grandfather, Brainiac 1…one of Superman's greatest enemies! To make it up to him, Brainy takes him on a trip to his home planet's past, but an unexpected detour to the Phantom Zone could mean disaster for the Legion's future! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Imagine finding out that your great-great-grandfather will be one of your best friend's worst enemies! That's what Brainiac 5 discovers, and he decided it's necessary to tell Superman and show him where he came from. In this issue, Beatty asks us to consider whether or not we are responsible for the actions and ideas of our ancestors. Does our past have to dictate our future? In Brainiac 5's case, the answer is no. We're responsible for our own actions, not anyone else's.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #19: “Walk Tall” (All Ages)

Ty Templeton (w); Stephen Molnar (p); Kris Justice (i); Wes Dzioba (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Grummett, Pallot & Guru

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: Quicksilver returns to the Avengers to discover the team no longer trusts him. And they MIGHT have a good reason NOT to. Double crosses and betrayals lurk around every corner in this emotional mini-epic! All this, and the all-new Super-Adaptoid, too?!? (from marvel.com)

Review: One thing I really like about this issue is the fact that Templeton doesn't waste time. He tells us what we need to know and then moves on. A quick recap of Quicksilver's fallout with the Avengers, and we're off and running, figuratively speaking. We learn almost immediately his strength (speed), weakness (he's easily distracted) and what kind of women he likes…things that allow the female antagonist of the story to capture him in no time. In quick succession, the Adaptoid absorbs the Avengers' powers, making it seemingly unstoppable…until Quicksilver finds a way. The issue touches on themes of trust, humility and the power of observation. Caught in a situation where his speed won't do any good, it's only when Quicksilver stops charging and starts really observing the Adaptoid's behavior that he finds a way to stop it.

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MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #31: “Goin' Shoppin'” (All Ages)

Kirsten Sinclair (w); David Hahn (p/i); Lee Loughridge (c); Nate Piekos (l); cover by Kirk & Anderson

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: Cleanup on Aisle Four!!!! MAN, the FF just CAN'T catch a break! Even when they're just going shopping, they gotta deal with evil geniuses that've created an entire STORE designed to destroy our heroes! (from marvel.com)

Review: All the Fantastic Four want is to go shopping, but they're about to get more than they “bargained” for! In a nutshell, there's a hot new fragrance which makes anyone who smells it compulsively buy it, and the Four have to put a stop to it. The sight of the Thing getting a facial is worth the whole issue, but there's also the security guards gawking over Mr. Fantastic, the running joke of “Reed being the brains of the group,” Sue being mistaken for an alien, and others. It's a fun issue, available only at your local comic shop while supplies last.
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MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECIAL (All Ages)

Written and illustrated by various artists; cover by Ron Lim, Scott Koblish & Andrew Crossley

Publisher: Marvel

Format: one-shot

In this issue : It's that time of year already, and what better way to celebrate than with the Marvel Heroes? Answer: there is no better way. Join Spider-Man and Wolverine in a quest to get a cake to Aunt May's house, and to…stop a rogue Santa from destroying the city?!? Plus, Power Pack relives holidays past, and much, much more! (from marvel.com)

Review: Marvel brings us a trio of holiday tales. First up is “Piece of Cake,” in which Spidey tries to take a cake to Aunt May, but ends up helping Wolverine take down a Santa-controlled Sentinel instead. Will the cake survive? Will Spidey be able to stop Wolverine's rage? The ending will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter. Next is the excellent “Secret Santa,” in which the Loners exchange gifts (which they put a LOT of thought into) and Red Ronin realizes that she has feelings after all. You will be delighted at her meaning of “getting the team back into costume.” Finally, in “The Meaning of Christmas,” Lester is going to be fired from the Daily Bugle unless he can come up with something spectacular. So Reed Richards enables him to visit pretty much every known place in the Marvel Universe—Attilan, Latveria, Trask Industries, Asgard, Wakanda and others—to chat with the locals and learn the meaning of Christmas in the process. All three stories are great fun and will put a smile on your face and warm your heart just in time for the holidays.

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To be reviewed in next week's column:

THE FLASH #235

MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #8

TEEN TITANS GO #50

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #117

USAGI YOJIMBO #108

X-MEN FIRST CLASS vol. 2 #7

Wishing everyone a merry Christmas!!

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

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