Titans (v.4) #1 (2023)

 

Titans (vol.4) #1 (July, 2023)
"Out of the Shadows"
Writer - Tom Taylor
Art - Nicola Scott
Colors - Annette Kwok
Letters - Wes Abbott
Edits - Rosa, Holzherr, Kaminski
Cover Price: $3.99
On-Sale: May 17, 2023

I'd say something like "hey, we finally made it!", but such a statement would only be for my own benefit. Ya see, I've been working toward this discussion/review piece for well over a month at this point... it took me forever to simply crack this issue open, much less read the thing! That's kind of the problem with putting a whole lotta eggs in one pseudo-creative basket... you (or I, rather) kind of inflate the importance of certain elements of the "creative process" to the point where, rather than them appearing ahead of me like a simple hurdle on a runner's track... they become like brick walls on the interstate, unavoidable... unscalable... and, wildly, painfully, unpleasant upon impact.

This Titans #1 was actually a book I "double-dipped" on. On release day, I had... I guess what the "kids these days" refer to as "FOMO". Even though I already had the issue preordered from DCBS, I felt like I was missing out not owning a copy right away. I also assumed that, once I had said copy... I'd sit down, read, and write about it that very same day! I even bought the friggin' $5.99 "trading card variant"!

But, I never got around to reading it. In fact, I never even opened the "trading card variant" copy. I think I only took it out of the bag once to snap a pic to send to a pal of mine. It wasn't until my mail-order copy showed up a few weeks later where I'd actually give it its first flip-thru!

Now, let's not get it twisted any... I didn't not read it because I was scared it would be a bad comic. I think it was more that I was still questioning whether or not I wanted to get back on the content-creating-conveyor belt. Like, if I really wanted to do it... or, if I had fallen back into that bottomless trap of attempting to fill some sort of void in my life with some (poorly) written words.

It's pretty sad (and embarrassing) that such a thing required so much (or, any) "soul searching". I guess that's just who I be.

Anyhoo... howsabout I finally stop vamping and jus' do da t'ing?

***Spoilers to follow, natch***

--

We open with a gunshot. Wally West has been shot through the heart... but who's to blame? The Flash thinks to himself how bullets ain't usually a "thing" to him... he's kind of mastered how to deal with them, via speed and vibration. Not this time though. He realizes that he only has one option at this point... a jog on the Cosmic Treadmill. He rushes through his kitchen to tell his family he loves them before hopping on the 'Mill.

From here, we shift scenes to a bedroom... where Beast Boy and (a shockingly pink-haired) Raven are sharing a bed. I... wasn't aware they were romantically linked, but I don't see any problems with it either. I also wasn't aware Raven had pink hair! Thought for a second this was a deep-cut callback to Logan's pink haired girlfriend Jillian from wayyyy back in the long ago! Now, Gar's been having bad dreams, and is shape-shifting in his sleep... taking the form of a teeny, tiny mouse. Worth noting, Gar's eye has healed/grown back... which an editorial footnote reveals will be explained in (the upcoming) Tales of the Titans #4. I think we're still several months/a half-year away from that as of this writing. Oh well. Anyway, it's here we learn that today is the day the Titans are making their new mission statement "official".

Next stop, somewhere by the water. Dick and Donna are attempting to recruit Tempest, one of the originals, into their new Titans crew. Garth is... kind of a dick. He isn't sure the Titans can fill the shoes of the Justice League... and, he kinda gets all Namor-y complaining about how little the surface-dwellers truly care about the underwater world. He reveals that not only will he will NOT rejoin the Titans, but that he's already working with someone else... someone who, in his words, "can make a real difference" and "do what the Titans can't." Not sure who he's talking about... but, I sure hope it isn't Deathstroke. Feels like any time a Titan has this sort of internal conflict, Deathstroke is involved.

Finally, we're back in Blüdhaven for the Titan-ic P.R. event. Before kicking things off, Dick... for some reason, tells Gar and Raven that he's not sure of their sleeping arrangement... and so, has made sure they each have their own private quarters in the new Titans Tower. Seems like a... I dunno... sort of inappropriate time and place to be having this conversation? Like, they really couldn't have discussed this before (or after) having the "eyes of the world" upon them? Feels just a bit forced. Anyway... Gar thinks it's a good idea to sleep separately, Raven disagrees... and the two engage in a bit of a make out session right then and there. Again, feels just a tad forced.

Before our heroes can "officially" enter Titans Tower for the first time, Oracle calls in with a Titans-Trouble-Ticket. We've got a Category 3 Emergency that needs addressed right the eff now. Cyborg BOOM TUBEs the crew to a nuclear power plant where Titano the Ape is wrecking more than a little bit of havoc. Like, this could get ugly...er very quickly. Which. Hmm.

Okay, here's something I didn't wanna bring up. This threat has the potential of being a "big" one, yes? Like, cataclysmically big. Now, just because the Justice League is no longer an "official unit" or whatever... that doesn't mean that the individual members of the League are in retirement. Like, we've got a nuclear power plant being threatened/attacked... are we supposed to believe that Superman is just ignoring it? Is Wonder Woman just watching it play out on Themyscira TV with a bowl of popcorn in her lap? I know the "mission statement" of this book... but, it being part of a shared universe kind of makes it difficult to completely "buy in". Not a fault of the book/writing, more that it's just one of those things that kinda digs its way into my lizard brain.

Unless, of course, this is going to be a "story beat" somewhere down the line where the Titans learn that they've been working "with a net" the entire time. Like, they've been tasked with protecting the planet... all the while, Superman and the League have been watching over them (or even secretly stepping in) "just in case"? Who knows?

Anyway.

Gar takes this opportunity to transform into a Tamaranean Kaiju, so we can have a take on a Godzilla vs. King Kong sort of scene... which is a great reminder of what a ridiculously talented and versatile artist we have on this book. Like, damn... the art here's so good, I'm almost getting mad at it. Anyway, while Gar preoccupies Titano, the rest of our heroes perform their roles. While most of the crew is focused on scooping up as many civilians as possible, Cyborg heads to the core to contain, what he calls, "one of the most destructive nuclear events in history"... which, hrmm... again, where's Superman?

Cyborg's so good at what he does, he does it off-panel. So, the world is safe! What's not safe, however... is this book, because everybody's favorite -- Peacemaker, has just shown up! Now, I haven't read any current-year Peacemaker... and, if you've followed my "work" over the years, you'll know that I am a "cinematic universe" denier. I have less than zero use for any of that shi-- crap. I know Peacemaker is now something of a "funny, ha-ha"... so, hopefully he won't overstay his welcome.

So, Peacemaker arrives alongside a whole bunch of choppers. Upon landing, he orders that Titano be killed. The Titans step in to stop this from going down, and instead just beat the baddie until it drops... far enough away from the power plant as to not cause any potential "booms". Now, it ought to go without saying that Peacemaker is a dick. He comes across like mid-80s Guy Gardner... on steroids. Like, the "might makes right" strawman caricature of a Reagan voter. To the point where Donna even suggests that Peacemaker (and not the giant monkey who just nearly caused "one of the most destructive nuclear events in history") was the worst monster they'd have to face today. Oy.

Anyway, from here Peacemaker approaches Nightwing and says that the President of the United States would like to talk to the Titans about working for the government. Nightwing, unsurprisingly, turns down the call. The Titans are not interested in doing the bidding of a single country... they will be working for the betterment of the world. Peacemaker warns that they're only going to get this offer one time... and that, the fact that the Titans even exist ain't entirely kosher to some'a the political power players. After a polite "go eff yourself", the Titans BOOM TUBE on outta there. Once they're gone, we find out that Peacemaker is working for Amanda Waller (duh).

Back at Titans Tower, our heroes (finally) head inside. They're greeted by a trail of bloody (and familiar) footprints. Following them downstairs, our heroes discover the dead (?) body of the Flash. All of the monitors turn on... revealing the message "SOLVE IT".

--

This wasn't a perfect first issue... but, I really dug it. I think I can file this, along with the Nightwing arc that proceeded it, under "pleasantly surprised".

Let's tackle the cliffhanger before getting too deep into the weeds. Wally West is dead... again... maybe... possibly. It's definitely a "statement" cliffhanger, which is the sort of thing we usually get at the end of a first ish. Now, do I see this death "sticking"? I'm... not sure!

I haven't yet read (or even have a copy of) Flash #800 as of this writing... but I am aware that that its cover copy reads "A Celebration of Wally West". That sorta statement doesn't exactly bode well for our man, does it? Of course, all things are relative... and "death" in comics... even perma-death, is still very much a revolving door. So, it's probably best not to worry about the wheels-within-wheels of the comics creation process... and just sit back and let it all play out.

Either way though... this was one heckuva cliffhanger... and, laid the first brick in what will hopefully be a fun comic book mystery story.

Now, on the other hand, let's head into the weeds!

I ever tell y'all why I stopped reading Marvel Comics back in 2015-2016 or so? I'm sure I have... though, this blog is in such a state of disrepair that I wouldn't even know how/where to begin citing myself. One of the reasons I just couldn't take Marvel anymore was the way they were shoehorning S.H.I.E.L.D. into every friggin' book in the line (in some cases, pushing titular characters into supporting roles). It was bad enough when every issue of a Marvel comic would end by getting a reaction from the Avengers... but, when we reached the point where even Earth's Most Exploited superteam had to check in with Nick Fury Maria friggin' Hill every third page in order to get a snarky approval before acting on a global threat, I had to throw in the towel.

I didn't start reading superhero comics to see the good guys constantly fight bureaucratic red-tape... and deal with endless cutaways to darkened monitor-filled rooms. Unfortunately, that's kind of where we're at right now. I wasn't a fan of it at Marvel with S.H.I.E.L.D.... and, I'm not a fan of it here at DC with Amanda Waller and Company. Like, to the point where I literally started to glaze over. Not a fault of the writing... as I'm sure this Waller edict is coming from on-high. The Dawn of DC Primer was chock full of the Peacemaker/Wall tandem... you'd almost think that Bendis was still here.

I could go on, but I'll curb it for now. Suffice it to say, I'm not looking forward to seeing the Titans vs. the United States Government... or, whoever the hell Waller is actually working for/with.

Another bit that caused my antenna to sorta-kinda "ping" was the soapbox near-miss to Nightwing's refusal to join up with Peacemaker. I feel like most contemporary comics writers feel they have a lot to say about what's going on in the world... it's just that, precious few of them are able to put elements of that into their writing without coming across like... well, a ranty Twitter user or an echo-chamber resident (as if those aren't the same thing). I think, so far, we're safe here... but, I feel like we started to brush up against a lecture with this scene. Like I've been saying, I don't know Tom Taylor. I'm detached from social media, I don't read any comics "newz" sites, and Wizard Magazine hasn't been a thing in well over a decade (more like two decades if we discount the absolute horror show that Wizard became toward the end)... I just hope he doesn't wind up going all Winicky on us. This would normally be where I'd link to all my Judd Winick posts... but, damned if I can figure out these WordPress digs... every link I try and add comes up a 404! What a pain in the ass.

I've already chatted up my qualms with the big guns of the DC Universe sitting back and letting the Titans try and solve a nuclear threat during their first "official" outing... so, I'll just let that be. Putting the story in a vacuum... like, if we were to pretend that all the power-players were "off-planet" or whatever, I'd say this was a very well-done scene. It featured a massive threat and played up to the strengths of each of our heroes... expertly displaying that even their "support roles" (civilian detail, etc.) are vitally important to the overall unit. Plus, the art was... ya know, phenomenal.

Overall, minor quibbles aside (mostly/completely informed by my own comics cynicism), this was a very good initial outing for our new-old team. I'm definitely looking forward to more... though, I am worried that I'm going to wind up "double-dipping" as to not have to wait for my monthly DCBS order to arrive.

Earth 2 #1 (2012)

Earth 2 #1 (July, 2012)
"The Price of Victory"
Writer - James Robinson
Penciller - Nicola Scott
Inker - Trevor Scott
Colorist - Alex Sinclair
Letterer - Dezi Sienty
Special Thanks - Andy Kubert
Assistant Editor - Sean Mackiewicz
Editor - Pat McCallum
Cover Price: $3.99

Here's a book I remember being kind of excited for.  The name "Earth 2" stirs up a lot of images for me... and I'd bet many a classic DC Comics fan.  I guess I wasn't all that excited, because I actually forgot to preorder it!

I headed to the store and "Byrne-stole" it... ya know, flipped through it before buying it... and realized that it really wasn't what I was looking for.  Especially not for $4!

Found it in a fifty-cent bin not too long ago... and figured for that price, it might be worth a read.

--

It's Earth 2, five years ago.  Just like we saw in the first New-52! arc of Justice League, Apokolips is on the warpath.  Parademons have invaded, and it's up to Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman to save their world.

While they battle the baddies we get a bit of internal monologue from each.  Superman laments the fact that this is all going down in Metropolis... his city, that fell under his watch.  Also, Lois is dead.  Diana thinks about Amazon Island also having fallen.  Bruce, however, is tunnel-visioned on the task at hand.  He approaches a tower, while checking in with his daughter, Helena Wayne... Robin!

Robin, in turn reaches out to Supergirl who is flying over Papua New Guinea.

On the ground below, a squad of soldiers being led by Al Pratt are guarding a nuclear device.

As the Earth 2 Trinity continues battling the Parademons, we flashback to their pre-fight strategy session in the Batcave.  Bruce suggests introducing a virus program these strange Apokoliptan towers that have popped up.  He volunteers to do the deed so long as his superfriends can buy him enough time to do so.

Back on the battlefield, Diana is visited by the Roman "messenger" God Mercury.  The Gods themselves have suffered losses in this war.  He comments that man no longer believes in Gods... and it's time that the Gods believed in man.

Mercury vanishes into the horizon, and Superman finds himself swarmed by Parademons.  In the confusion, Steppenwolf is able to sneak up on Wonder Woman, and... kill her!

Upon seeing this, Superman goes super-nova... and explodes!  Unlike the late New-52! "new" Superman-superpower, this nova blast doesn't just leave him nude and depowered for 24-hours... this seems to actually kill him.

Back in Papua New Guinea, the Parademons descend on the nuke.  At the very same time, Batman arrives at the tower in Metropolis and prepares to inject the virus.  Helena informs him that she'll swing by to pick him up... she doesn't seem to realize this was intended to be a suicide mission.  Batman infects the tower... and it goes boom.

Despite the casualties, the mission was a success!  Parademons fall from the sky.  Robin and Supergirl reconnoiter and, catching a glimpse of a figure inside the boom tube, fly into it... directly into their Worlds' Finest ongoing series.

Back in the "present"... remember, all'at came before happened at the beginning of that "five-year timeline"... GBC owner, Alan Scott watches the documentary of the event we just read... complete with his own narration!  How 'bout that?  I hate listening to my own voice.  We see that the Earth (2) still smolders even a half-decade hence.

We shift scenes to Lansing, Michigan where Jay Garrick has an argument with his ex-girlfriend Joan.  They've broken up, and she has decided to head west to work for Tyler-Chem (likely an Hourman/Miraclo reference?).

We wrap up with Jay drinking his troubles away later that night.  On a hill overlooking the city, he is visited by... Mercury!

--

This was... okay.  Not what I wanted from an "Earth 2" book... but, at the same time, I can't be mad at it.

If I'm going to read about Earth 2, I'd prefer to read about the classic Justice Society or All-Star Squadron... not sure the world necessarily needed younger versions of Alan, Jay, Al and the gang.  Well, I guess it's not like a writer these days is going to create new characters, right?

While I still think the "five year rule" is kinda dumb, I appreciate the adherence to it for this issue.  Apokolips attacking different Earths at the same time is interesting... and it's cool to consider that multiple Justice Leagues were all embroiled in these wars.

Not sure how I feel about the (presumably) God-given powers for the Flash.  Not that breathing in "hard-water fumes" makes a heckuva lot of sense... but, there's a charm to it.  I got a bit of an Abin Sur meeting Hal Jordan vibe here, but still... I prefer this Society not be comprised of "chosen one" heroes.

It wasn't the best... but a decent enough way to launch "Wave Two" of The New-52!  Also... it's gorgeous!  Nicola Scott is one of the most talented artists to pop up this past decade... her work is almost always jaw-droppingly amazing.  It definitely does a lot of the "heavy lifting" here... raising a decent-but-skippable affair to something I'd recommend checking out.

--

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Teen Titans (vol.3) #89 (2011)

Teen Titans (vol.3) #89 (January, 2011)
"Bruised Egos"
Writer - J.T. Krul
Penciller - Nicola Scott
Inker - Doug Hazlewood
Letterer - Sal Cipriano
Colorist - Jason Wright
Editor - Rachel Gluckstern
Cover Price : $2.99

So, ya say Damian is in charge of the Teen Titans?  Nah... never happen.

Today we're gonna discuss an issue from such a bright time in Titan's history... from the criminally short-lived J.T. Krul run.  One of the worst casualties of The New 52! initiative.  Ever since Geoff Johns left this title, thirty-some-odd issues in, the Teen Titans were put through the wringer.  The team routinely fell apart... team members routinely died, sometimes gruesomely bloody deaths... the book just really turned to garbage.  J.T. Krul's arrival was like stumbling upon an oasis in the desert.  The addition of the ridiculously talented Nicola Scott... and dammit, you've got an awesome Titans run goin'.

Anyhoo... this is the tail end of the pre-Flashpoint Titans where Batman (who is currently Dick Grayson) decides it may behoove young Damian to spend some time with folks closer to his own age.  Let's hit it and git it...

--

We open at the Silicon Valley Tech Expo.  There is a young man with a hoodie... and strange circular burn marks on his head.  He is joined by a man in a suit, who appears to be his handler.  At one of the exhibits, a man is giving a demonstration on robotics... which, for whatever reason seems to rub our hoodie-wearing friend the wrong way.  He grabs him by the wrist... which somehow allows him to make the robo-pieces levitate... and the man falls limp.

Meanwhile at Titans Tower... the gang meets, the new boss?  Batman, who is now Dick Grayson, has decided to drop off his new Robin, Damian Wayne so that he can learn both the value of being a hero... and working as a member of a team.  He, of course, assumes he's there to lead the team... which is great.  Right out the gate, he threatens to "fire" Beast Boy... unless he ever comes across the need for a talking chipmunk, that is!

It should go without saying that Damian is something of an unwelcome presence at the Tower this day.  Kid Flash and Ravager joke about his diminutive stature... which nearly causes an all-out brawl.  The tension is only diffused when Bart nyoinks his Robin-a-rang away.

Cassie pulls Batman out into the hallway to "talk".  She really isn't feeling this new team member, and... perhaps projecting a bit... claims not to be the Bat-babysitter.  Dick pleads his case... which, honestly... shouldn't even be necessary.  I mean, if Dick Grayson talks to you about Titans business... you kinda just take him at his word, right?  Cassie ultimately relents, and Dick drops the tot... much to Damian's dismay.  He feels as though he's being punished for something or another... though Dick assures him this is all in his best interest.  Ravager overhears the exchange, and razzes the Boy Wonder a bit for it.

What follows is a brief cameo introducing an incoming character.  Seems there's something of a tradition among Titans creators, where they get to introduce new members.  For Krul it's Solstice. She actually makes it into The New 52! version, although she hardly resembles this bright, shiny, hopeful version.

Back at the Tower, the Titans are engaging in a bit of R 'n R... all except Cassie and Damian.  Cassie is busy following up on some research with the help of the Justice Society of America's Dr. Mid-Nite, and Damian is... ya know, brooding.

Brooding, until he notices a bit of a hub-bub going down at a nearby Silicon Valley convention center.  Wondy gathers the troops, and Raven 'ports them into the thick of things... but not before we have an interesting exchange on parentage between Robin and Ravager.  Their dynamic during this era is a ton of fun.

At the Tech Expo, the Titans confront their spotty-headed man.  Robin runs directly at him without thinking... and almost gets splatted on the floor for his impetuousness.  Gar shifts into a pterodactyl and pulls who we believes to be an innocent bystander out of harm's way... but we astute readers will recognize him as the hoody-guy's handler.

The baddie unleashes a burst of energy.  He then uses his powers to form all of the wreckage robotage into a swarm of insects.  

This manages to keep the Titans busy for a bit... however, the distraction is enough for Raven to sneak up behind the baddie and 'port him to her "safe place".

While there, they have a bit of a heart to heart.  The young man introduces himself as Barney.  Raven assures him he has no need to fear, and that he doesn't need to be alone ever again... finally earning his trust.  So of course, when they return to the real world... Robin socks him right in the mush.

Which proves to be a pretty bad idea indeed... Barney bursts with energy before fleeing into the San Francisco sky.

When the dust settles, the Titans stand around Damian with "Smooth moves, ex-lax" looks on their face, while the lad looks bewildered.  To be continued...

--

I get so mad reading these issues... just knowing that we are less than a year away from DC flushing it all down the turlet.  This was such a great time for the Titans!  We had an amazing creative team in Krul and Scott, and... man, we had the history.  The characters had bonds to one another... there was lineage... inter-connectivity... just a great cohesive little corner of the DC Universe.

When this initially came out, I was still a bit on the fence about our young Damian Wayne.  It wasn't until I saw him jawing with the Titans that I really got him.  I love his back and forth with his new teammates here... threatening to toss Beast Boy off the team, and telling Ravager he'll take her other eye... so good!  The very fact that he walks into Titans Tower and just assumes he's there to lead the team is amazing.  The big "reveal" that Damian would join the team (in Teen Titans #88) was great as well.  Maybe I'll get to that one someday.

Upon rereading this, I was a bit disappointed when the team jumped into action.  I was hoping for more of the interpersonal stuff at the Tower... however, the action half of this book is absolutely vital to setting the stage for Damian's learning a thing or three about what it's like to be a part of a team.  Loved the ending!

Actually... strike that... loved the entire thing!  This really felt as though it was going to be a Titans Renaissance... and honestly, if not for The New 52!, I bet it would have been.  Krul's writing here is spot-on, and Nicola Scott... c'mon, she's just a gift.  Definitely among my top comics artists going today.  Criminally cut short... but immensely enjoyable while it lasted.  Definitely recommended.

--

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