THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good On the Shelf This Week

THE BATMAN STRIKES! #29: “While the Bat's Away” (All Ages)

J. Torres (w); Christopher Jones (p); Terry Beatty (i); Heroic Age (c); Mike Sellers (l); cover by Dave McKaig

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of Bruce Wayne in his early years as Batman. Based on the current animated series.

In this issue: Introducing…Robin! The Dark Knight's newest partner must join forces with Batgirl to protect Gotham City without Batman at his side. The young'uns will need all their training and instincts if Gotham 's going to stand a chance! (from dccomics.com)

Review: While Bruce is away on business, the Penguin decides to commit a crime. Even though Robin's been told not to go ‘freelancing' without Batman, he and Batgirl decide to go anyway. It turns out that they have been trained well. The story continually cuts between past training sessions and their present predicament, showing them putting their training to good use against Penguin and Bane. Lessons learned: know your enemy's strengths and weaknesses, and use their Achilles heel against them; teamwork is the key; have a plan, but be creative when you need to be. And some nice martial arts moves don't hurt, either.

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RUNAWAYS VOL. 2 #23: “Live Fast,” part 2 (Teen/Young Adult)

Brian K. Vaughan (w); Adrian Alphona (p); Craig Yeung (i); Christina Strain (c); Randy Gentile (l); cover by Jo Chen

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: At some point in their lives, all kids think they have the most evil parents in the world, but Nico Minoru and her friends really did. Discovering that they were the children of a group of super-villains known as The Pride, they stole weapons and resources from these criminals before running away from home and eventually defeating their parents. But that was just the beginning. Together, the teenage runaways now hope to atone for their parents' crimes by taking on the new threats trying to fill The Pride's void.

In this issue: As a new enemy turns Runaway against Runaway, the teen heroes must risk everything to prevent losing another teammate forever. (from marvel.com)

Review: What an interesting character Chase is turning out to be. Just when we thought he was walking the edge of insanity, he finally reveals to Nico his true intentions. He's gone from (seemingly) a slacker to a young man who cares for someone so much that he would do anything to get her back…ANYTHING. Molly proves once again to be a wonderfully-written character, as she expresses her sorrow over the effect of Gert's loss on the team the only way she can: by comparing the situation to when that “stupid idiot-face Joe” replaced Steve on Blue's Clues. It's a humorous, yet very touching moment.

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Once again, faithful readers, I dug something out of the archives this week. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you…

MAGIC PICKLE (All Ages)

Written and illustrated by Scott Morse

Publisher: Oni Press

Review: The Brotherhood of Evil Produce—comprised of The Phantom Carrot, Chili Chili Bang Bang, Peashooter, Squish Squash and the Romaine Gladiator—have stolen an estimated four hundred jillion dollars worth of priceless artwork, and there's only one vegetable powerful enough to stop them…Magic Pickle, a.k.a. Weapon Kosher, whose just been thawed after 50 years in cryogenic slumber. He breaks out of the lab only to discover that a little girl's bedroom now exists over it. And thus he meets Jo Jo Wigman, a girl who goes to elementary school and has a secret desire to kiss Danny Johnson on the lips. They fight the Brotherhood together, Pickle deals with the Loconut, and the story ends the only way it can…with a food fight in the school cafeteria! Morse puts his animation skills to good use (he was art director for Cartoon Network's COW & CHICKEN and I AM WEASEL), as the artwork is wonderfully exaggerated. This is a story that anyone can enjoy, but comic readers will appreciate the way Morse pokes fun at Captain America and the X-Men. You can't help but smile and laugh as you read it. It's wholesome, good-natured fun…and side-splittingly hilarious. It's available in trade paperback format from amazon.com.

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To be reviewed in next week's column:

INVINCIBLE #38

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #9

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #104

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

1/14/07