THE CAT'S MEOW: What's Good on the Shelf This Week-Year 2 - Week 12 ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviews by John Norris, November 26, 2007

I thought I would begin this week's column by reviewing a wonderful new graphic novel that is well worth your time to read.

FLINK (All Ages)

Written and illustrated by Doug TenNapel 

Publisher: Image

Format: graphic novel

Concept: An all-new graphic novel from the creator of EARTHWORM JIM, TOMMYSAURUS REX and CREATURE TECH! A boy survives a plane crash and is rescued by a Bigfoot named Flink. They form a close bond by learning about the loss of each other's family members. (from imagecomics.com)

Review: When the author dedicates his book to Bigfoot, you know you're in for something special. I'll say one thing for TenNapel; he does not waste time or space. From the inside front cover to the inside back cover, not one page or panel is wasted. We are immediately introduced to Conrad, who has a thing for handheld video games. Conrad gets shaken out of his complacency when he and his Bigfoot-hunting dad go down in a plane crash. The way Flink is gradually introduced is brilliant, and he proves himself to be a most likeable character. For all the great dialogue, some of the best moments are silent ones, such as when Conrad locks eyes with a deer. More than just a “boy and his Bigfoot” story, it's about a special (and unlikely) friendship that gets put to the test. It's also about loss, reunion, and taking risks for those you care about. Leave it to TenNapel to take a fantastic conceit and make it ring true. Highly recommended.

____________ 

THE FLASH #234: “The Wild Wests, part 4: Tethered” (Teen/Young Adult)

Mark Waid/John Rogers (w); Freddie E. Williams II/Doug Braithwaite (p/i); Tanya and Richard Horie/Alex Sinclair (c); Pat Brousseau/Rob Clark, Jr. (l); cover by Manuel Garcia

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

Concept: Wally West returns as the Scarlet Speedster.

In this issue : The unstable powers of Wally West's growing children reach a terrifying new level! And in the backup feature, "The Fast Life," by Mark Waid, John Rogers and Doug Braithwaite, the compelling tale of Wally's family's life on a Flash-friendly alien world continues. (from dccomics.com)

Review: In the aftermath of the invasion, the kids' powers continue to grow. Iris has tapped into a new one that's very useful. Alas, Jai isn't so lucky. Waid and Williams do a nice job of showing a confused kid who not only has to deal with unstable powers, but is concerned about something he heard his parents tell the Justice League (from the last issue). In the beautiful backup story, featuring Braithwaite's gorgeous artwork, Barry Allen brings wife Iris to the planet Savoth.

____________

FRANKLIN RICHARDS: FALL FOOTBALL FIASCO! (All Ages)

rk, Pallot & Loughridge

Chris Eliopoulos & Marc Sumerak (story); Sumerak (w); Eliopoulos (p/i/l); Brad Anderson (c); cover by Eliopoulos

Publisher: Marvel

Format: one-shot

In this issue: It's first down and 10,000,000 BC as Franklin Richards hits the field for another batch of terrifically terrifying tales! But it's not just giant lizards our little hero has to worry about. He's also got to deal with visitors from the future, invaders from outer space and some very angry foliage! With five new stories for the price of one, this all-new special is a guaranteed touchdown! (from marvel.com)

Review: It's football season, and that means only one thing for Franklin Richards…more misadventures! In this new collection of stories, Franklin builds his own football team, watches the Inhumans' dog Lockjaw, creates his double, meets future Franklin and H.E.R.B.I.E. 2.0, and encounters an alien. Eliopoulos and Sumerak deliver the laughs as expected, but there's also a very nice and rather touching moment between Franklin and Katie at the end of “Double Trouble.”

____________

INVINCIBLE #46 (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: Invincible and Rex Splode haven't always seen eye-to-eye but when Dupli-Kate's twin brother Multi-Paul comes to town, more than a little angry about his sister's death, the two of them find a little common ground on which to relate – common ground called KICKING ASS! (from imagecomics.com)

____________

Review: It says a lot about Kirkman's talents as a writer that no matter how much (or how little) dialogue is in any give issue, it never feels boring or forced, but rather completely natural. Check out the scene in which Mark and Rex are fighting Fightmaster and Drop Kick while talking about girls and relationships. It's great stuff…and then Multi-Paul shows up, and Ottley and Crabtree cut loose. Regular readers of this book know what to expect.

Look out for: blood and minor language

____________

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31 st CENTURY #8: “Three's a Crowd” (All Ages)

Jack Briglio (w); Alexander Serra (p/i); Heroic Age (c); Mike Sellers (l); cover by Serra

Publisher: DC

Format: monthly series

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

In this issue : Two's company, three's a crowd…unless you're Triplicate Girl! Find out what happens when you combine a first date, a stubborn Super-Villain suitor and one very long night of monitor duty. (from dccomics.com)

Review: The cool thing about being Triplicate Girl is that she can go on three dates at once. The not-so-cool thing about being Triplicate Girl is that she's been on so many dates with so many guys that she can't remember them all…but someone does, and he'll stop at nothing to finish their date! But as you'll see in this fun story, Superman and Bouncing Boy aren't going to give up without a fight.

____________

THE LONERS #6: “Double Identities” (Teen/Young Adult)

C.B. Cebulski (w); Karl Moline (p); Mark Pennington (i); Beth Sotello (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 : Attempting to put their costumed pasts behind them, the Loners have learned that super hero life can be hell, even in the City of Angels . In this final issue of the acclaimed series, the spandex self-help group is attacked from within -- as one of their members betrays them! Shaken to the core, a Loner departs for good... in a way you never saw coming! Be here for the finale of the series IGN.com calls "an absolutely fascinating and ambitious concept." (from marvel.com)

Review: Phil has taken the Darkhawk amulet and armor, thinking Chris is defenseless now. But Chris knows what the amulet is capable of. Thus, we get TWO DARKHAWKS, and the gloves come off…or should I say, the gloves come back ON, as the other team members begin to wonder if trying not to use their powers was really the best way to go. It's a satisfying conclusion, and the art team really cuts loose and delivers what I think is their best work.

____________

MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #18: “With the Gods Against Us” (All Ages)

Ty Templeton (w); Cafu (p); Terry Pallot (i); Val Staples (c); Dave Sharpe (l); cover by Grummett, Pallot & Soto

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 : After centuries of imprisonment in solid rock, the legendary HERCULES breaks out into the modern world. And if you think YOU get up cranky in the morning, you should see Herc after a thousand years of down time. Will the Avengers be enough to stop a man-god gone mad? (from marvel.com)

Review: Stark Industries is excavating a temple, when who should pop out of the ground but Hercules and Cerberus, the three-headed beast! The Avengers sure have their work cut out for them. Cafu makes Cerberus look like a force to be reckoned with, and the Hulk (who gets to battle Cerberus AND Hercules) has some fantastic lines.

____________

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #30: “Doing More” (All Ages)

Daniel Way (w); Steve Scott (p); Kris Justice (i); Lee Loughridge (l); Nate Piekos (c); cover by Ki

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 : You've been bombarded with cosmic rays, granting you astounding abilities beyond the average human…do you use those powers to explore amazing new worlds and take on beings with near-limitless power, or do you take your skills to the streets and help the little man? (from marvel.com)

Review: “Don't you think that you could do more?” That's the question Johnny asks. Isn't the little man as important as any alien race? While the Four aren't the only superheroes in New York who can help people, it's not hard to see what he's getting at. But there's something to be said for helping alien races as well, as one returns the favor which allows them to defeat the bad guy. In the middle of all this, Way allows Ben to examine himself, giving a great speech about outward appearance vs. inward personality. Scott draws the Thing beautifully, giving him great facial expressions. And check out that splash page of the Thing in action!

____________

COLLECTIONS

MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #5 collects MA FANTASTIC FOUR #27 and MA SPIDER-MAN #31.

X-MEN FIRST CLASS: TOMORROW'S BRIGHTEST collects X-MEN FIRST CLASS #1-8.

____________

To be reviewed in next week's column:

GARGOYLES BAD GUYS #1

MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #5

MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #7

PHANTOM vol. 6 #20

TEEN TITANS GO! #49

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #116

USAGI YOJIMBO vol. 3 #107

X-MEN FIRST CLASS vol. 2 #6

By thy side,

John “Figaro” Norris

------ Discuss this review on The Cat's Meow section of the Comics in the Classroom Forums ----- 

Note: The age ratings and opinions featured in these reviews are those of reviewer, John Norris, and may not be shared by the administrator of this web site.