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

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HULK & POWER PACK #4: “It's Not Easy Being Green, part 2: Hulk SMASH Everyone!” (All Ages)

Marc Sumerak (w); David Williams (p); Gary Martin (i); GuriHiru (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Williams

Publisher: Marvel

Format: four-issue miniseries

Concept: Ol' Greenskin meets the Power kids in this limited series.

In this issue: The Hulk and Power Pack have teamed-up to take down some of the Hulk's greatest foes, but now they face their greatest opponents yet -- the mightiest heroes in the Marvel Universe! It's good guy vs. good guy when a rampage goes wrong...and the only ones who can hope to stop the destruction are Marvel's youngest heroes! Will the kids be able to soothe the savage beast or will they end up caught in the middle of a super hero war? (from marvel.com)

Review: It's an angry, wrongfully-accused Hulk vs. a veritable Who's Who of Marvel heroes, with Power Pack caught in the middle! They're trying to stand up for Hulk, but will that make any difference with a mad Hulk? I really feel for Katie…taking on the Hulk AFTER having to deal with the alien symbiote (in SPIDER-MAN & POWER PACK), she's really been put to the test. Sumerak finishes off the series nicely, and the art team beautifully handles the fantastic action scenes with such a cast of characters.

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INVINCIBLE #42 (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: Ever thought about trying INVINCIBLE but just haven't gotten around to it? NOW is your chance! This special introductory issue - priced to sell - features the start of a brand new story-arc, and is an EXCELLENT jumping-on point for new readers. Also in this issue - a recap of the entire series from start to finish, bringing you up to speed with the hottest new superhero comic this century! Find out what all the fuss is about! (from imagecomics.com)

Review: It starts with an OUTSTANDING cover image, probably the best image of Invincible I've seen. Mark divides his time between space and earth, helping astronauts, quickly taking out bad guys, thinking about his former girlfriend and spending time with his “brother” Oliver—who, as Mark discovers, has changed somewhat since they last saw each other. He also has to answer some difficult questions about his father in a beautifully-written scene. After the massive battles of recent issues, it's nice to be able to take a breather for a change. Included in this issue is a recap of the entire series to date, so if you are new to the book or haven't read it in a while, this is the issue that will bring you up to speed.

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JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #34: “Phantoms” (All Ages)

James Peaty (w); Gordon Purcell (p); Bob Petrecca (i); Heroic Age (c); Mike Sellers (l); cover by Zach Howard

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Follow the adventures of the Justice League, based on the hit cartoon.

In this issue: Superman must deal with the greatest threat Krypton left behind: Zod! (from dccomics.com)

Review: Everyone has their Achilles heel. Superman's happens to be anything Kryptonian. When he hears that the Phantom Zone—the extra-dimensional prison created by Krypton's finest scientists to house its worst criminals, including General Zod—has been bleeding through into our world, he is quite concerned. His mistake lies in deciding to enter the zone by himself. See, for all his power, there are some jobs that are too big or dangerous for even Superman. That's why teammates are so important. They provide strength in numbers and are there to catch us when we fall.

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THE LONERS #3 (Teen/Young Adult)

C. B. Cebulski (w); Karl Moline (p/i); Beth Sotelo (c); Rus Wooton (l); cover by Jason Pearson

Publisher: Marvel

Format: six-issue miniseries

Concept: They used to battle evil, but now they're trying to save themselves. They're six former crime-fighters, with little in common, meeting as civilians in a spandex self-help group. A mutant, a monster, a renegade, a rebel and a lost soul. Before this story is over, they'll take off their masks, reveal their secrets and decide if they can truly stop being heroes.

In this issue: Guest-starring the former Gen X-er now known as Hollow! Phil Urich has a Goblin – a green one – lurking within. But with tensions escalating, how long can he keep his dark side from exploding out? Plus: Who is Hollow, and how will the girl once called Penance bring danger to the door of the Loners? (from marvel.com)

Review: We get some back-story on former Goblin Phil Urich, who is trying to lead a team of ex-heroes while battling his own personal demons. We also find out what happened to Lightspeed and Ricochet, as they crossed paths with a monster. But if there's one thing that Phil knows, it's that the distinction between monster and man isn't always obvious. So who is the monster, and will they always be one?

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MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #28 (All Ages)

Chris Kipiniak (w); Patrick Scherberger (p); Norman Lee & Roland Paris (i); Guru eFX (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Scherberger, Paris & Guru eFX

Publisher: Marvel

Format: monthly series

Concept: Bitten by an irradiated spider, which granted him incredible abilities, Peter Parker learned the all-important lesson, that with great power there must also come great responsibility. And so he became the amazing Spider-Man!

In this issue: The Green Goblin's got it in for the Wall-Crawler. And bad. When he deals Spider-Man a particularly painful defeat, Peter Parker hangs up his web-shooters and locks himself in his room. But how's the hero supposed to beat the villain when he's too scared to take him on? Really. How? (from marvel.com)

Review: The Green Goblin wants everyone to understand that he REALLY hates Spider-Man, so Kipiniak and Scherberger break the fourth wall and allow him to address the readers. (Let me pause here and say that Scherberger's Goblin is FANTATSIC.) Goblin's trap is quite effective, sending Peter into an emotional slump. What Peter has to learn is that no one, not even superheroes, can win every battle, and that you have to face your fears and go on.

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To be reviewed in next week's column:

THE BATMAN STRIKES! #34

FRANKLIN RICHARDS: WORLD BE WARNED #1

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #25

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

6/9/07