Team Titans #3 (November, 1992)
"Total Chaos, Part 9: Out of Chaos!"
Writer - Marv Wolfman
Penciller - Kevin Maguire
Inks - Will Blyberg & Jose Marzan, Jr.
Letterer - John Costanza
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Assistant Editor - Frank Pittarese
Editor - Jonathan Peterson
Cover Price: $1.75
Finally time to put Total Chaos to bed!
For your convenience, or my own compulsivity (perhaps both!), I'm going to add our Total Chaos discussions to the Collected Editions Page!
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We open with... Battalion! Hey, remember him?! Made a big deal outta him a few chapters back. Well, he's back, and really seems to like using the word "cheese" as an insult. He wanders into the path of a truck... and stops it with his fist!
Our final Totally Chaotic chapter begins... "Out of Chaos!", but... waitasec, the cover said...
Oh well. There are only two editors listed here... usually something like that gets missed by a panel of 5 or 6! Anyhoo... back on Titans Island, Troia infiltrates Lord Chaos' Temple to get her baby back.
The Titans follow soon after... and before we know it, a battle is raging between they and Chaos' army. Troia eventually loses her damned mind and goes to incinerate Lord Chaos... just bathing him in this nasty pink energy bolt.'
Terry, who also followed along, pops up and tries to reason with his wife... tries to talk her down from the precipice, but she just ain't hearin' none of it. Chaos lifts his hand as if to fire back, however... gets popped by the arriving Battalion before he can.
Teamer Mirage ain't exactly pleased to be seeing him... it does lead to an absolutely delightful full-page introduction for the man though. And yeah, he calls someone a "piece of cheese". Moments later, he'd introduce himself as the "drill sergeant from hell".
Meanwhile, Lord Chaos done healed up... and starts spouting off about protecting the future he created. Troia has a different opinion... also, the Titan Gods have decided to chime in with their pretty blue word balloons to blink the entire lot of 'em off Earth.
Then, in a page that... I swear is out of order, because it feels so out of place, Josh... you remember Josh, he was Charlie Killowat's pal in the future. Yeah, him! Anyhoo, he's here... and he's lookin' to kill his Chaos-traitor buddy. Only, Lord Chaos tells him to lower his weapon?! Well, duh, it's actually Miri. Also, Charlie's got it badddd for her.
On the very next page, everybody's been deposited at the Home of the Gods. See what I mean about that last page feeling "out of order"? Anyhoo, it's time to, in the words of Battalion, "kick some Chaos butt".
Chaos' army looks kinda weird... some of them look like they're wearing a spiked version of Lashina's helmet. Speaking of weird, Redwing suddenly has a huge gun! Not sure where she was carrying it, but whattayagonnado?
We then take a look at Donna... and she's starting to get a bit of clarity. She thinks back to the events of "Who is Wonder Girl?" and considers what being given all of her Godly powers all at once might do to her mind... like, ya know... drive her mad f'rinstance. She thinks about what her future might be like... and the divergence she currently stands at. In one strand, she and Terry raise the child... the other, he becomes Lord Chaos.
She then makes the ultimate decision... she embraces Lord Chaos, and sends him to be "with the Gods" before relinquishing her own Godly powers.
And everything is suddenly... all right.
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All's well that ends... well?!
Gotta say, you guys... this wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. Actually, strike that... this wasn't bad, period. Sure, Total Chaos dragged in parts (like ya know, nearly every comic book crossovent) and there were some silly moments (again... like most every event), but there's actually a pretty decent story here.
I mentioned during our senses-shattering finger-cramping deep-dive into Team Titans #1 that I am a sucker for "world building"... and it feels like the creative team put a lot of effort into building the "Chaos Future"... and gave us plenty of reason to root against it coming to pass.
Upon first glance, the Teamers look... generic, ya know? Like what you'd see in a brand-ecch "Heroes" RPG sourcebook in the late 1980's. But, I gotta say... Marv and the gang made them their "own" people here. It's almost enough to bum you out when you realize what they're fated to become. Having them stand alongside the actual Titans here was a pretty good coronation... and maybe even, endorsement? I know I'm not totally against following up with their own book now. I'm not exactly chomping at the bit... but, it beats my previous mix of indifference and disdain.
I've been saving this for a bit... but, how in all hells do people willingly follow someone named "Lord Chaos"? Like, people are lining up to join his side... and actually view him as a sorta benevolent force. I mean, dude's name. is. CHAOS. I think we can get away with a "Doctor Doom" created in the early 1960's... but, a Lord Chaos in the early 1990's? That might be a hair too silly.
Let's get some of the issue-centric stuff outta the way before taking a look at Total Chaos as on great big thing. This issue feels... kinda disjointed. I pointed out some things like the book having two titles... the Josh scene just "happening" when the Titans were supposed to be in the midst of being swept away... hell, even things like Redwing having a great big rifle and Battalion somehow jumping from the middle of a desolate road to Titans Island in no time flat.
It's as though, at the last moment... Marv and the gang realized "oh crap, we've gotta lotta loose ends to tie off here... and only one issue to do it!" Also, I feel like their attention might be focused on the next Titans event (Titans $ell-Out, which starts eeeeeeemmediately after this issue) and this might've been an afterthought/"going through the motions".
So... as a single chapter... it's kinda weak and clunky, but gets us where we need to be.
Which is to say, it gets us to a depowered new mommy in Donna Troy. Was this intended to be Donna Troy's swansong in the long-term sense? Hard to say. Seems to tie off her loose ends, however, at the end of the day... this is still comics. For the short-term, it works as a way to parlay her (and the fam) over to New Jersey so she can be something of a "den mother" to the time-lost Teamers... which, if I were a betting man (and it's probably a good thing I'm not), I'd suggest that was likely the ultimate goal here.
So... where do we go from here? Well, as mentioned Titans $ell-Out begins literally seconds after this... so, that might be in our future. I actually just reread it yesterday... and it's... something.
As for Total Chaos... if you're a Titans fan (or even Titans-curious), trust me when I say... it's not as bad as you think/not as bad as you might've heard. I'd give this a pretty solid recommendation due to the world building, strong first "Act", and decisive (actually status-quo shaking) ending. Just understand that the Deathstroke chapters will drag (and be barely relevant) and the third Act feels a bit like spaghetti being thrown at the wall. This entire magilla is available digitally... and, has been collected in trade.
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New Titans #92 (November, 1992)
"Total Chaos, Part 8: My Enemy -- My Mother?!"
Writer - Marv Wolfman
Penciller - Tom Grummett
Inker - Al Vey
Letterer - Bob Pinaha
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Assistant Editor - Frank Pittarese
Editor - Jon Peterson
Cover Price: $1.75
Welcome my friends to the... penultimate chapter of Total Chaos. After yesterday's "chapter-in-name-only", I'm excited to be getting back into the meat (and cheese) of this "crossovent"!
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We open with the new-look Troia bursting into Dayton's estate to attack Lord Chaos. If you recall, the last "proper" chapter ended with the roof of the place being torn off like the lid of a can of tuna fish. We didn't see Donna, but, c'mon... who else was it gonna be? Worth noting, Terry is holding Baby Chaos... I don't remember seeing a scene where he nabs the tot. This leads to a whole lotta Fitan-Titans... with even the Teamers hopping in to help the woman they came back in time to kill!
Before moving on, let's zoom in on that little caption in the bottom right corner. Yup... that says exactly what I thought it said.
Lord Chaos, after taking on so much Titan-fire, begins to overload... Dayton's place starts burning up. Terry hands Baby Chaos over to Redwing so he can try and get some face-time with the Titan God Troy.
Unfortunately, she's busy crafting a tidal wave in a nearby body of water... perhaps the Long Island Sound? I dunno, are the Dayton Estates on the North Shore? Can't recall. Anyhoo... using this tidal wave, she soaks the joint... putting out the fire, naturally... but also, nearly drowning everyone!
Chaos decides he's had enough for now... and so, nyoinks the baby back and vanishes. Our mad Troia is about as pleased with this as one might imagine. Steve Dayton seems pretty down in the dumps, considering that this is the second one of his properties that the Titans have destroyed in as many issues.
Nightwing then decides that it's time to try talkin' to Troia. She's, ya know, power-mad... and hell, maybe all-around mad... so, she's not keen to hear what he's got to say. She reminds them all that she is... a God before flying away.
She then goes full-on "Dark Troia"... though, she doesn't incinerate a planet full of Asparagus-lookin' aliens... instead, she heads right into New York City and raises some hell there... including apparently incinerating the offices of New York City Mayoral Hopeful... Elizabeth Alderman. I'd suggest that, sometimes... things just work themselves out, however I'm fairly certain that's not the last we'll see of her.
Back at Dayton's the Teams of Titans decide it's high time they put their differences aside... and maybe do the whole "proper introduction" thing. It leads to some handshakes and hugs... with perhaps some sexual tension as a kicker. It's during this "meeting of the minds" where Dick posits that Lord Chaos isn't exactly Donna and Terry's son... but a "version" of him. Different timelines... different histories... all'at jazz.
At the very same time, Lord Chaos has also come to that conclusion. Well, actually... he just overheard Dick, but I'm not about to argue with the guy. He figures, may as well make the best of his current situation... and just take over the world anyway.
Back at Dayton's, T. Arthur Long laments the fact that he couldn't get through to Donna. Phantasm tells him to settle his tea kettle, because Donna knows how Terry feels... after all, she's already returned! Also, she's huge again.
Troia strikes a Phoenix-like pose before scooping up the remains of Dayton's Estate. She then carries the Titans off so, together, they might save her son.
They fly off toward Titans Island... and when Troia realizes how close she is to her boy... she, uh... drops the Titans into the drink. Good lookin' out, Troy.
To keep our classic X-Men imagery going... someone then bursts from the water! No, it ain't Phoenix... or even Troia, it's... uh, Aqualad. Hooray?
We wrap up on the inside of Lord Chaos' pyramid... and the seemingly never-ending arrival of his personal army.
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It's been ages since I've last read the Dark Phoenix Saga... but, I'm kinda getting some Phoenixy vibes from this... ya know, minus the Shi'ar Empire, the Asparagus people... and, all of the mutants. Still, though! Feeling pangs of deja vu... though, I suppose it might just be me projectin'... you know how I be.
Everything from familiar poses, a husband/significant other trying to get through to his power-mad lover... hell, even Aqualad poppin' outta the drink while the Titans bobbed in the surf. Definite Phoenix/Dark Phoenix pangs here.
So, is it any good? Well, I feel like this is definitely a "your mileage may vary" sorta story (though, really... aren't they all?). Personally... I am surprised... shocked... bamboozled, even, by how much I'm not hating this! In fact... if we were to trim off all of the blubber (the Deathstroke bits, the build to Battalion's reveal and the extended Titan-Fitan scenes), this would be a... pretty good story! Maybe even a really good one! If we could cut this sucker down to a 4-6 parter... then we'd be talkin'!
Speaking of Battalion... just where in all hells is he? I mean, dude gets a cover blurb two-chapters ago... and I think he's appeared in a total of two panels up to this point. Not that I'm waiting with baited breath or anything... just seems weird that he'd get a fair amount of pomp... and more or less, no-show the event.
The Titans teams finally "come together" here... and, ya know... it's about time. For a hot second there, I really thought we were about to start "Round 3" there. It's been so long since I'd read (or tried to read) this arc... I wasn't sure where the truce happened.
Overall... I'm still "on board". It's definitely declined in quality from its strong opening "Act", but it hasn't sunk to the depths that I... could'a sworn remembering it did! There's another check in the "softening in my age" box. Tomorrow we'll put this one to bed!
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Deathstroke the Terminator #16 (November, 1992)
"Total Chaos, Part 7: Terminated: The Death of Slade Wilson"
Writer - Marv Wolfman
Penciller - Art Nichols
Inker - Will Blyberg
Letterer - John Costanza
Colorist - Tom McCraw
Assistant Editor - Frank Pittarese
Editor - Jon Peterson
Cover Price: $1.75
Onto Act III of Total Chaos!
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We open with New York City Mayoral Hopeful, Elizabeth Alderman celebrating the capture of Deathstroke the Terminator. If you recall, last issue/three Totally Chaotic chapters ago, Deathstroke was delivered into her waiting hands atop a roof via helicopter. Well.. she's pleased as punch, and is about to unmask the man to add insult to injury, when...
... it's totally not him. Slippery Slade somehow shimmied down to his scivvies... and set one of the chopper pilots up. New York's finest proceed to... ya know, open fire on the helicopter. What is gravity anyway, right? Best case scenario... the chopper crashes... either onto them, or into the potentially crowded streets below. Looks like somebody's lookin' out for old Deathstroke, because he's able to right the rig before long.
To remind us that this is still a chapter of Total Chaos, he flies right by Battalion, who we very briefly met last issue. As Slade flees, he finds himself chased over the streets of New York by yet another chopper... this one, fires missiles! Like... dude's flying between skyscrapers, and they're literally firing missiles at him. That can't be safe, right?
Slade maneuvers under a bridge (not sure exactly which one this might be), which... somehow causes the chopper on his tail to explode. The art isn't quite at all clear here. They do manage to hit him with one of the missiles first, just as he's flying over the new-look Titans Island.
The chopper (Deathstroke's, that is) crashes right into Lord Chaos' pyramid temple... thing.
Meanwhile, Wintergreen is dropped off at an airport by one of Sweet Lili's girls... not realizing that he's being watched. Well, maybe he does know he's being watched (if Deathstroke's your best pal, it might be best to assume you're always being watched). Anyhoo... it's not long before he gets confronted by some suit-jacket types. He fights his way through to the tarmac... but doesn't manage to actually board the private jet (as far as we know, anyway).
Meanwhile, the stutterin' Squirrel contacts yet-another Slade associate, Maurice, about diversifying all them funds. Not sure this needed an entire page... maybe they felt we needed to see the full... uh, power of Maurice.
Back on Titans Island, we learn that Deathstroke bailed out of the helicopter before it made impact with the Pyramid Temple. He crawls out of the drink... and finds himself stood before what appears to be somebody's personal army.
It's not long before Slade gets the upper hand in the situation, and reminds us what year we're in.
In case that image didn't make it clear enough... how 'bout this one?
Then... he suffers, what appears to be, a fatal heart attack?!
We close out with the... ugh, new look Brotherhood of Evil?! I mean, they get a blurb on the front cover... so, I knew they were coming... but... ugh, gag me.
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You remember the 1990's in comics? Surely you do... if you were a living, breathing human... who happened to read comics during that time. You remember how we all felt so bad for Peter David... because, it always seemed like... no matter what book he was writing, he'd keep getting drawn in to crossover events?
It would be clear that he didn't want to be part of them... but, did whatever he could to "play ball" with the rest of the team. I'd say that is how I feel about these Deathstroke the Terminator's Total Chaos chapters... but, I mean... this is all Marv Wolfman! It feels like he doesn't wanna "play ball" with his own damn story!
These Deathstroke chapters feel so detached from the main story... and really, kinda pull me out of it. I don't necessarily feel like every chapter of a "crossovent" needs to be "all in", but... this feels so far removed. This could have been labelled a "Total Chaos tie-in" rather than an actual numbered chapter... and I think it'd "work" better for me.
So... whattawegot? Well, as far as Total Chaos is concerned... Battalion shows up on a single panel... and Titans Island is home to Lord Chaos' pyramid. Dat's it.
Whatelsewegot? Deathstroke somehow swapping clothes with a helicopter pilot in less than a minute. Officers firing on Deathstroke in a helicopter... where the only place that a falling helicopter might go is... ya know, down. Deathstroke narrowly escaping... going all bad-ass on a personal army... then succumbing to a heart attack.
Let's talk about that daring escape. Flanked by a missile-toting (and firing) chopper, countless New Yorkers are endangered. Seems very poorly thought out. Scenes like this might work in an action movie where... ya know, credits roll at the end, and it's just "over". Deathstroke is a serial story... and part of a wider shared universe. There really ought to be ramifications for stuff like this.
Then... there's the art during this bit. The other chopper... just explodes? Does it hit the water? If so, why does it break in two? Does water do that? Did I miss something? Was there a page missing where Slade chucked a grenade at them or something? What the hell happened here?!
The "new-look" Brotherhood of Evil reveal? Prrrrrretty lame. Seems like Marv is trying to de-comic book this team to give 'em a proper run in the comparably "less" comic booky Deathstroke title... but, this just looks horrible. I mean... look at how all of Mammoth's women are posed. It's embarrassing. I have zero interest in following up with them.
Overall... if you ever decide to give Total Chaos a "go"... feel free to skip Chapter 7. It adds little more than nothing to the story... and what it does add, will very likely be recapped in the coming final chapters. No good.
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