Titans #15 (May, 2000)
"Survival"
Writer - Devin Grayson
Penciller - Mark Buckingham
Inker - Marlo Alquiza
Color - Gregory Wright
Separations - Heroic Age
Lettering - Comicraft
Associate Editor - Maureen McTigue
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
I ever tell ya that this blog was originally going to be all-Titans, all the time? I probably have... but I beg your indulgence, cuz I'm gonna say it one more time (today... I'm sure I'll repeat this eventually down the line).
Way back when we first started this... my first post was a look at Tales of the Teen Titans #55. One of my favorite single issues of all time. I figured, from there I'd just use my Showcase Presents: Teen Titans "phone book" and maybe do an issue a week.
Well, that's not exactly how it worked out is it? Maybe it's like when you change something like a half-degree... and it doesn't look like it's that far off the mark until it's hundreds of miles away. I dunno.
Anyhoo. I took a look at my index... and, found it actually quite humorous that there's so little Titans material covered here! So, I'm gonna try a little harder to rectify that.
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As we open, we come to find that things aren't so sweet with the recently-re-formed Titans. The Honeymoon is most definitely over, and all of their idiosyncrasies are no longer looked as as cute. When Donna suggested the founders maybe "get away" for a little bit and try to find themselves, the newbies felt that was a capital idea... and from the looks of it, even volunteered to help them pack for the trip!
And so, the founding five (or four-plus-Speedy) have gone off for a Titans retreat on a deserted island. This isn't the first time we've seen a little Titans camp-out... and it won't be the last. Donna plays "den mother" and tries to keep the peace among the gang... but it's to no avail. She stomps off to unload the T-Jet, leaving the boys to bicker among themselves.
The razzing grows more and more personal until Donna just can't take it anymore. She hurls their baggage... their literal baggage, that is... into their campfire. Ay yai yai. It's probably worth noting that Donna's not exactly herself around this time... ya see, there was this Dark Angel... and Donna lost her memory... and everything Donna knows about herself is based on Wally West's memories of her. It's a whole "thing".
Just then... it starts to rain. Ain't that always the way? Then, as we know... rain can only do two things to a situation 1) make it romantic... or, 2) make it a whole lot worse. Well... let's explore that second thread first. The fellas continue to squabble, with Roy going to stomp away into the woods/jungle/place on the island covered with trees. Dick lambastes him for "walking away", and Aqualad calls him (Roy, that is) a junkie and... a racist. Well, Roy ain't havin' none'a that. He reminds the gang (and us) that he was raised by the Navajo, which rules out any sort of "-ist" allegations. I'm not sure that's how it works, but his heart's in the right place. Then Garth doubles-down with the junkie talk. Feels like we might be reaching a point-of-no-return, don't it?
As Roy disappears into the trees, Dick spills the beans that Roy and Donna are currently knockin' boots. Speaking of which, we next join Roy and Donna... who look to be getting ready to... knock boots.
While Dick, Wally and Garth try and build a quickie shelter... and argue some more... we shift back over to Titans Tower, where Vic and Kori are trying to get some New Tamaran information from a... cold and very distant Oracle. Ya see, they don't know Oracle's true identity... but Oracle knows that Kori might still have eyes for one Dick Grayson.
Back on the islands, the rainstorm has advanced into a full-on monsoon. Roy loses his grip on his bow (and no, that's not a euphemism)... Donna flies off to grab it (again... not a euphemism). Then... they start arguing! Donna brings (Roy's daughter) Lian up... which really gets under his skin. Donna then tells him that she's afraid what will happen to Lian after she and Roy eventually break up. That's probably not the kinda conversation you wanna have with the woman you love, right? Anyhoo... Roy splits... because, evidently... that's what Roy does?
Back at the beach, Tempest... fearful of the rising tides... has encased the T-Jet in ice, which... I dunno, sounds so much worse than having the tide come in? I'm not sure jets work after being thawed out... then again, I'm no engineer. Roy approaches to resume their earlier quarrel... and the fellas realize that this time Dick's disappeared. At this point, Wally really lets loose with some anti-Dick sentiment. And again, that's not a euphemism either.
Elsewhere on the beach, Dick is (unsuccessfully) trying to build a lean-to while Donna rattles his cage about her recent encounter with Roy. They are soon joined by the rest of the team. Wally and Garth mock Dick's carpentry skills... claiming that Batman would've already figured it out.
The argument intensifies... again. This time Wally and Donna split off from the group. Donna reveals how weird it feels to be "built" from Wally's own memories of her. She doesn't know what's real... or what's Wally's "Pollyanna Fantasy" version of "Donna Troy".
Just then... a tree falls! Like right on top of Wally! Donna tells him to vibrate through it... and he does. Once the dust (and wood chips) settle, she lambastes him for endangering her with his out of control vibration. I mean, wha--? You gotta be more clear with your demands, Donna... vibrate or don't. Er, not a euphemism? Worth noting that our monsoon has been upgraded to "hurricane" at this point.
As we approach our conclusion, the Titans reconnoiter and notice that Nightwing found a cave!
As they go to enter it, however... Dick triggers an explosion which closes off entry. I dunno... if given the choice between being out in a hurricane, or sitting in a caved-in cave... I'm gonna brave the rain!
We close out with the "big" reveal. The Titans have been acting so terrible toward one another because of... the Gargoyle? Oh, c'mon.
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Okay... we've got quite a bit to unpack here.
Devin Grayson seems to get a lotta flack online for how she handled the Titans. Gotta say... I'm not so sure I agree with some of the levels of vitriol I've seen.
Let's get it out of the way... the ending sucks. That said, the only reason why I feel that way is because of how strong I felt the rest of the issue was. The Gargoyle reveal feels like such a cop out. It's like when you're watching a really good episode of Twilight Zone or something... and you're just riveted to the set, and the climax is... aliens (or something just as cop-outty). The "easy out" almost never results in a satisfying story... and sometimes is even bad enough to spoil what came before.
Let's look at the Titans... and what brought them here. These are young people who have been friends forever. They didn't have a shot at a "normal" life... and so, not only are the Titans friends... they're also their own support structure. Nobody in the world can educatedly-empathize (which totally isn't a word that exists) with them better than other members of the team.
Look at friends you've had since you were little... or if you're still little, look at the friends you have now. You can't tell me you've never gotten on each others' nerves. Maybe even threw (and/or received) a punch or two. That's just something that happens. It's human... which is my whole point. We have a team of young people who didn't have the opportunity at a "normal" life... who are acting in a completely normal way!
The Honeymoon is over. They've reunited... the hoopla has passed... and now it's time to move forward without the novelty of "how cool is this?". I mean, if we wanna be complete wannabe literary savages... we could compare this to the readership. The novelty of "how cool is it that the Titans are back?" has, at this point, passed. We're in our second year of stories... so, what's next?
It also might be worth pointing out that the Titans are all at different points in their lives... which, is a very new dynamic for them. This is just another "human" thing they must face. Wally's on the Justice League... so he can't give the Titans all of his time. Roy and Garth both have children. I think, as we've all gotten older (those of us who are "older"), we've seen friendships... well, maybe notsomuch "end", but "go cold" as people have moved on with their lives. Gotten married... started families and careers... stuff like that. It can be hard to swallow... which, makes the Titans' reactions here so damn good.
For all I know, this might've originally been intended as a fight-free/villain-free arc, as the founding five (or four plus Speedy) re-learn why they've been a "family" for so long. The Gargoyle might've been a last minute addition. I hope that's the case anyway... because this could have (and perhaps should have) been a Titans Classic. Grayson's definitely got the chops to make this feel like "real" interactions.
I remember absolutely loving this the first time I read it half a lifetime ago. Though, when the jibes started to go "over the line", I was just waiting for that other shoe to drop... and unfortunately, it did.
Overall... despite not caring for the ending (at all), I'd still recommend checking this out. This Titans volume isn't perfect (and it becomes pretty much unreadable toward the end)... but I'd say this bit is worth a look. Mustn't forget we've got Mark Buckingham on art... and he really does a great job here as well.
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Flash (vol.5) #47 (July, 2018)
"Flash War, Part 1"
Writer - Joshua Williamson
Artist - Howard Porter
Colors - Hi-Fi
Letterer - Steve Wands
Assistant Editor - Andrew Marino
Editor - Rebecca Taylor
Group Editor - Marie Javins
Cover Price: $2.99
Heyyy, #BrightestMay is behind us... and you know what that means...
It's safe to read Chris is on Infinite Earths again... tell a friend!
Today's piece is covering a very new book... in fact, it's the latest issue of Flash (vol.5). At the risk of burying the lead... this might just be my favorite book of 2018 (so far).
That said, I'm going to endeavor to be a little "lighter" on the spoilery synopsis... hate to fully spill the beans on a brand new book!
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We open with Barry and Wally standing in a barren wasteland as a lightning storm rages in the background. They're in a heated argument about saving "them". We then hop into a very recent flashback... like 47 minutes and 18 seconds earlier sort of flashback, and check in with Iris and the other Wally... guess we can call him "Wallace". Hopefully I remember that. Anyhoo, Iris is repairing a motorcycle as they chat about the Flashes... then, speak of the devil, the Flashes arrive.
Barry and Wally razz each other about their speed... Barry's always keen on taking the scenic route, while Wally is always zeroed in on the fastest. Worth noting, in case you haven't been following this run (ha!) of Flash, Wally's memory is coming back, and he's finally come clean about who he really is to his Aunt Iris. Speaking of memories... Wally is suddenly hit by a flood of 'em, including... get this, the "Magnificent Seven" incarnation of the JLA! As if my socks hadn't been rocked already!
Just then, the Renegades from the 25th Century arrive in the present to arrest Iris West for the murder of Eobard Thawne! Heyyy, we know these folks! Barry however, doesn't recognize them... which is something that doesn't surprise Commander Cold all that much.
Wally refuses to listen to the Renegades and instead scoops Iris into his arms and skedaddles. Barry and Wallace give chase... as do the Future Cops. Iris insists Wally put her down so they can face whatever this is head-on.
Just then, the Golden Guardian recites a familiar Oath... revealing herself to be a... Yellow Lantern?!
After several pages of fighting Yellow Light Constructs and Inter-Flash-Family arguing, Wally goes down to another memory jolt. Commander Cold notices this, and orders his team stand-down. He recognizes Wally's malady as a "temporal seizure"... and says he can help him, so long as Iris comes back to the 25th Century willingly.
The whole Flash Family agrees that this is the best course of action... and they decide to accompany her... to the Temporal Courts! Lookit, lookit... it's Impulse! And Max Mercury! Jesse Quick! Barring one giant omission, it's the entire Flash Family!
Also, Wally doesn't appear to have made it! He somehow winds up at the ruins of the Flash Museum... where he sees a whole lotta delicious pre-Flashpoint stuff... including he and Linda... holding a pair of babies?!
We wrap up this chapter with Wally stood before the man who seems to have brought him here... Hunter Zolomon... ZOOM. Behind him are the costumes of Wally and Linda's children, Iris and Jai West!
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Ho-lee cow.
Um, by now y'all know that I'm a pretty soft touch when it comes to comics... particularly, for some reason, Flash comics. I still can't get through that scene in Rebirth... hell, I can't get through Geoff Johns describing that scene in Rebirth!
This gave me a very similar feeling... a true testament to the talents of this creative team. Just... man... just great stuff.
And... ya know, I'm not just gushing because they're telling the story I've wanted to read. It's more than that. It's that Williamson is using the past to craft the future. This is the way comics should be done! You play the ball where it lays... and you don't just flush away everything that came before... or anything you find inconvenient.
I love that we're getting bits and pieces from just about every run (ha!) of the Flash here. Iris' 25th Century origins... the Renegades... even Jai and Iris (who I really didn't care for when they were introduced). So many questions we had from Rebirth-on are finally getting answered. At this point, I'm on board for just about anything. Even if this somehow wipes certain things out... at least it's being addressed and done in-story... rather than in a boardroom.
I mentioned a giant speedster omission during the synopsis... and that is, of course... Jay Garrick (who we haven't seen since The Button)! Gotta assume he's either going to be a big reveal... or they're waiting on some Doomsday Clock-related thing to reintroduce him. Either way... I'm on board... and cannot wait to see how this unfolds!
The art is also fantastic! I mean, we actually get a panel of Howard Porter drawing the JLA... his JLA. I had to blink a few times... couldn't believe I was seeing the hook-handed Aquaman! Just so cool.
Overall... I haven't been this happy reading a comic book in a lonnnnnnng time. Highest possible recommendation.
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Brightest Day #7 (Early October, 2010)
"The Secret of Life"
Writers - Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi
Artists - Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark & Joe Prado
Inkers - Vicente Cifuentes, David Beaty & Mark Irwin
Colors - Aspen MLT's Peter Steigerwald w/John Starr
Letterer - Rob Clark, Jr.
Assistant Editor - Rex Ogle
Associate Editor - Adam Schlagman
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.99
And so, we wrap up #BrightestMay... with, kind of a bang?
I wanna thank the folks who stuck around for this weird themed month... judging from the numbers, not all that many people really cared to read about this strange time in DC Comics.
Oh well, if I wanted a bigger audience... I'd probably have just become a famous actor or professional athlete or something. Ya live, ya learn.
Speaking of living (and learning), Boston Brand's about to have quite the day!
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We open with some hot cheeseburger eatin' action. I mean, this stuff is intense... just look at ol' Boston's face! He sinks his teeth into that mass o' meat... and, well, he likes it. Better than he remembers to boot! He and Dawn then proceed to get to know each other a little better. She seems to be really interesting in what makes... or made, Boston Brand tick.
Their chat is cut short by the return of Hank Hall, who just took out some of his aggression on a Dixie Chicks-playin' jukebox. Were people still talking about them in 2010? Never let it be said that comics are behind the times!
Suddenly... the White Lantern Entity speaks! Asks the gang if they enjoyed their meal (seriously) then teleports them to the White Lantern Battery in Silver City, New Mexico... all without paying for their food! Hawk tries giving the battery a tug, and it won't even budge. Then, it's Boston's turn... and wouldn'tcha know it, he's able to lift it! Worth mentioning that a nearby Aqualad-to-be feels a bit... weird.
In a pretty great full-page splash, Boston is transformed back into Deadman, though with a White Lantern twist.
The Lantern tells Brand that it (the entity) is dying, and he must find a replacement. Then, Hawk gets a White Lantern makeover...
We pop over to the Tanami Desert in Australia, where we last left the Martian Manhunter happening across the badly beaten body of Miss Martian. The White Lantern Entity tells him to "burn it down". Suddenly, he's surrounded with fire... and M'Gann appears to have made one heckuva recovery!
Next stop Pittsburgh University, where Professor Stein tells the Firestorms that everything that is going on is... his fault. As he goes to "show them something" the White Entity speaks! It tells Ronnie to study more, and Jason to study less. Okay, mom.
As this happens... that third member of the Matrix creeps up... holding a Black Lantern.
Off to Hawkworld, where Hawkman is reconnoitering with the beast men who tried to kill him not too long ago. He is suddenly bathed in white... and given a White Lantern upgrade. He is instructed to "stop the Queen". Hmm... couldn't be, right? Nah, probably not.
Meanwhile, in the Nth City... Hawkgirl gets Whited-up as well.
She is warned that if Hath-Set happens to kill them here, there will be no more resurrection. Wouldn'tcha know it... Hath-Set just so happens to be her captor.
Back on Earth, Mera continues to apologize to Aquaman... and I really just want this story thread to end. Arthur is then summoned by the White Entity... and advised to "find him" (Aqualad). Just then, the waters go clean... and all of the fish start flopping around alive!
Then we kick the vignette-a-palooza into overdrive... with a single-panel look at everything else going on in the Brightest Day crossovent! Captain Boomerang is told to throw a boomerang, which we saw in the pages of Flash. Jade is told to "balance the darkness", which... unfortunately we saw in the never ending "The Dark Things". Osiris must free his sister, which we saw a bit of in Titans. Max Lord is told to stop a Magog-led World War... which, happens in Justice League: Generation Lost... we just didn't get there this time around. Also, Eobard Thawne is back... and Hawk is told to "catch" Digger's boomerang.
We wrap up with Boston Brand being given the order to find "the chosen one" to be the White Entity's "replacement". Well, talk about a case of being "always the bridesmaid...".
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Lotsa loose threads coming together here... probably one of the (few) "must reads" of the Brightest Day crossovent (so far). So many of the things we've been reading about converge here... and kinda "get into place" to move into the middle-third of the story.
Off the top of my head... it's gotta suck to be Deadman, right? The White Ring won't leave ya alone... actually drops you in front of the freaking Anti-Monitor just to teach you a lesson... then you come to learn that you're not the chosen one?! Jerk move, Ring... jerk move. What's wrong with Boston? He not good enough for you?
One of the things I've taken this crossovent to task for is a bit of bait-and-switch cliffhangers... and this issue is no different. We closed out yesterday with Martian Manhunter's discovery of Miss Martian's body... and now? She's just a-okay? I suppose it'll be elaborated on as we proceed... but, still... kind of annoying.
I'm not sure I've mentioned it (or mentioned it enough), but the art all throughout this series... is really fantastic. Each art team has their own "segments", but it never looks jarring when we shift from one to another. The whole artistic end of this was really very well done.
About Brightest Day as a whole (or at least the first third of it). I'm not quite sure what I think of it. After immersing myself in it over the past 31 days... I just dunno. Ya know how Blackest Night was supposed to be "just" a Green Lantern event? DC felt it could support a line-wide crossover extravaganza... and let it completely dominate the shelves for the better part of a year.
This is kind of the inverse of that. This was intended as a line-wide extravaganza... but, if you ask me, could barely even support it's two "main" titles. If we look at the tie-ins... the non-Brightest Day or Justice League: Generation Lost books... the Brightest Day "bits" feel forced... and at the same time, kind of like an afterthought.
We had eight-issues of Justice League/Justice Society crossover... and had, I dunno... less than a half-dozen panels that showed Jade in her White Lantern gear? A six-issue Flash arc (which was fantastic, mind you) that Captain Boomerang (and poor Thawne) only get a smattering of appearances?
I'd call Brightest Day ambitious... if only it showed a little... ya know, ambition. I leave this crossovent (for now) disappointed. I recall being "all in" on this back in 2010-2011... it's only in reading it in a big "glop" and looking at what's come since that I can truly see what a middling event it really was.
Does this mean I feel like The New-52! was justified? Hell no. These are still great characters... and had this event not been so diluted throughout the line, we might've had something really special.
Oh well... tomorrow, the #BrightestMay "chains" are off... which means I'll have to actually put some thought into what I'm going to cover! Scary thought!
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Brightest Day #6 (Late September, 2010)
"Dead Zone"
Writers - Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi
Artists - Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Scott Clark & Joe Prado
Inkers - Vicente Cifuentes, David Beaty, Mark Irwin & Christian Alamy
Colorist - Aspen MLT's Peter Steigerwald w/John Starr
Letterer - Rob Clark, Jr.
Assistant Editor - Rex Ogle
Associate Editor - Adam Schlagman
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.99
Welcome to the... ahem, penultimate day of #BrightestMay!
I was hoping to organize this in such a way as we'd end up with a little bit of "closure"... but, planning ain't exactly my bag. Looks like we'll probably wrap up with "just another issue" from the Brightest Day box!
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We open in Big Hendy Park in California, where a couple are having a peaceful picnic... sounds like the start of just about every horror movie there is, doesn't it? Well... if you think this scene is about to get dark... you're right! A multi-mouthed martian-ish creature rises from the stream... and kills 'em up real good! This beastie is looking for J'onn... and has a little chat with itself (multi-mouths, donchaknow) to decide their next stop.
Speaking of J'onn, we next join him in Denver, Colorado as he visits the remains of Professor Erdel's Laboratory... which doesn't look like it's been touched in years. I suppose that's convenient. J'onn notices as he makes his approach that everything he comes into contact with... withers. Hmm...
Next, we return to Georgetown... where Deadman, Hawk and Dove are... still knelt before the graves of the fallen Don "Dove" Hall and Holly "Hawk" Granger. As Boston tries to raise Holly, the White Ring reminds him that he... er, loved cheeseburgers. Anyhoo, Holly does rise... as a Black Lantern. Before she can do much damage, a glowing white version of Dove (Don) interjects... and in a flash, everything goes back to "normal". After the dust settles, Boston and the birds decide to go out for burgers. It's as though they were bad enough dudes to rescue the President from ninjas.
We shift scenes to Pittsburgh University, where Jason Rusch is declining the advances of a pretty young thing who'd really like nothing more than to "study" with him. As he walks by a construction site, a crane's molecular structure changes to that of... bubble gum?!
Jason taps into the Firestorm Matrix and rouses Ronnie Raymond from his... er, hangover. Together they manage to save the day... but not without Ronnie puking on one of the construction workers... because, ya know... hangovers.
Jason lectures Ronnie on his irresponsibility... which Raymond kinda excuses away, because he's had so much on his mind... including what he did to Gehenna. Jason is surprised to learn that Ronnie remembers... but before they can dig any deeper, they're interrupted by that mysterious third voice in the Matrix. Ruh-roh.
We next rejoin Aquaman and Mera. If you recall, we ended last issue with Mera confessing that she was originally sent to kill Aquaman. Riveting stuff. Turns out, she didn't quite have the stomach for it... and instead, fell in love with Aquaman. It's then confirmed that the mysterious Mera-looking baddie is, in fact, Siren... Mera's sister.
We rejoin J'onn... who's still killing everything he touches. That is, until a squirrel runs up his arm... and doesn't die. Hmm...
After a brief stop at "the Still Zone" to check on his, uh, collection of White Martians... J'onn swings by the Batcave to have a chat with Oracle about the odd and brutal murder we witnessed a few issues back and J'onn used doggie-vision to "witness" an issue after that. Babs tells J'onn that these are the kind of killings that scare the Feds so much that they often "bury" them... covering them up as accidents.
Suddenly, J'onn is struck by a familiarity about the case... and asks Oracle to patch him over to the... Teen Titans?! Superboy answers the call... and J'onn asks to speak with M'gann M'orzz... Miss Martian! Kon tells him she ain't around... and to check her little dwelling in Tanami, Australia.
Which is exactly where we end this outing... and it looks like M'gann ain't having the best walkabout.
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Feels like things are going to get rolling here... but, it's starting to feel like... ya know when you "miss" a sneeze? Like, you're expecting it... you feel it coming on... you might even stare into a bright light to prompt it, then... nothing. It's kinda like when you're listening to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing"... and you feel like nearly every single line should be followed up with Steve Whatshisface belting out the chorus... then he doesn't! That's Brightest Day to me. Every time it feels like we're getting somewhere... the sneeze gets stifled.
Let's talk up some good points here.
Even though the scene at the gravesite felt a bit "off", I do appreciate the fact that Deadman has to relearn what it means to... ya know, not be dead. His stomach rumbles... and he has to be reminded by the Ring to eat something. I dig that... even if we took a roundabout way of getting there.
J'onn's walkabout was pretty neat, and is the first time we get the impression that Brightest Day and the Parliament of Trees might be crossing paths before all is said and done. I can't remember if I picked up on these clues my first time through... but this time around, it's definitely telegraphed. If you don't know what I'm alluding to... notice that J'onn's touch is killing things associated with "The Green" (plants and whatnot), but not "The Red" (the squirrel).
That was pretty cool... but, I still can't shake the feeling that we're wasting too many pages. From here, we get a page of J'onn checking in at "The Still Zone"... then for a multi-page chat with Oracle which amounts to... J'onn just remembering something on his own. Oh well... I guess it's always cool to see Oracle.
The Firestorm scene confused me a bit because... didn't we just spend a couple of issues prying Ronnie and Jason apart? Seems kinda soon to bring 'em back together, also a little anticlimactic... but, what do I know?
The requisite Didio-DC gore is here in spades. I mean, when we have a graphic decapitation on page 1... you'd assume that we can only go "up" from there. That's not the case though... because on the last page we get a look at a bloody and beaten Miss Martian. I dunno what it is, but it doesn't feel like such brutality should be used with M'gann. Just doesn't feel right... which is probably exactly why they did it.
Overall... ehh. Read it in trade.
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