New Titans #79 (September, 1991)
"Prelude..."
Writer - Marv Wolfman
Pencils - Tom Grummett, Paris Cullins & Curt Swan
Inks - Al Vey
Colors - Adrienne Roy
Letters - John Costanza
Editor - Jonathan Peterson
Cover Price: $1.75
Ready for another exciting chapter of Titans Hunt?
Well, I'm very sorry... because today is just an exercise in treading water. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read through this post!
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We open just as Donna Troy is being whisked away into War of the GodzZzzZzz. Our main man Terry is freaking out, naturally... but the rest are distracted by the fact that the invading Wildebeests simply vanished into thin air... and they took Nightwing with them! Suddenly a beam falls from the ceiling. Reacting quickly (perhaps a little too quickly, considering) Deathstroke tackles Terry Long, saving his life.
After the dust settles, Phantasm starts whisking the debris away. At this point, Arella finally decides to saunter on in. She's upset that Donna has been taken... though, not as upset as Terry. The poor dude is a wreck, saying they should have never come back from Greece... ya know what? He's right! That's what we in the biz call a "win-win", we never have to see Terry again... but, he's alive and safe somewhere.
We shift scenes back to Jericho's art studio. He is painting the city... something he feels is very important to do before the "transformation" begins (I thought it was the transference?). Anyhoo, another Wildebeest dares to question him... and is reduced to cinder for it.
Over on Titans Island, Captain Hall is talking to a City Worker named Twyne. Twyne is happy the gig is taking so long, as it means the city will have to charge back the Titans even more... also, it'll certainly bolster Elizabeth Alderman's political aspirations. Hall isn't pleased to hear any of this.
As the remaining Titans take the drive out to Steve Dayton's Long Island compound, we pop in on a meeting between Captain Hall and Elizabeth Alderman. It's here we get to take the "temperature" of the city. Liz claims that New Yorkers are at the point where they fear the Titans... which, isn't outside the realm of possibilities considering recent events. She also makes it clear that she has her eyes set on Gracie Mansion... that is to say, she wants to be Mayor of New York City.
We briefly shift out to the West Coast, where Victor Stone's family is hiding out in a Church. They wonder if their grandson is alright... and we can see that he's not. Though, it's worth mentioning that his expression does seem to change here. Not sure if that was intentional... but it does!
We rejoin Captain Hall (dude's getting a ton of panel-time today). He, and another officer, are checking out an apartment building that Raven was spotted entering at the start of the arc. A helpful editorial caption informs us that Titans Hunt has been going on for two weeks at this point. Anyhoo... they trudge up the stairs, and enter a rather stinky apartment... the apartment of creepy cannibal, Emil Sorda.
Sorda doesn't keep the tidiest of homes... and has actually left his next few weeks worth of "meals" out to rot. Hall and... man, I wish his partner's name was "Oates"... rush out of the place, and call it in to the Department.
They don't know it, but they're being watched by... a shadowy stranger (the likes we saw lurking around Titans Island two issues back). Just like then, they report their findings in to a "Jon". The stranger then sheds... her trenchcoat, revealing a pair of wings. Before taking off, she vows that they'll kill Troia. Hope that didn't give it all away!
Out at Dayton's place, Arella spouts off about some AzzZzzzZzzar stuff... which Slade overhears. They chat about their children... and how Deathstroke thought for a moment, Joe and Raven would wind up being lovers. Slade thinks Joey being "controlled" is a definite possibility, however cannot understand how he is now able to speak. Hey, I know... maybe he's using a lame-o voice modulator or something! Nah, they'd never do something that lazy. Hashtag-Rebirth.
They talk some more... Arella asks if he's told Addie about Joe's recent turn. He hasn't. After everything that happened with their other son, Grant... he isn't sure how to approach it.
Over at some government building, the bean counters are tabulating how much the Titans might owe in damages to the city... which, in perfect DC fashion is Fifty-Two million dollars. How 'bout that? All these years before their 52-Fetish even began!
Elizabeth Alderman excuses herself to powder her nose. In the restroom, she is confronted by... a shadowy stranger! Liz is tied up and tossed in a stall... however, is somehow still able to attend the rest of the meeting! Hmm... hope that didn't give it all away.
Later on, during the same meeting... "Alderman" learns that Donna Troy has returned from her second honeymoon (she doesn't know that she's vanished again though). She says that "Jon" will love hearing this.
Over at Daytons, the good guys put their heads together to plan their next move. Phantasm looks on from outside... and is pretty down that Grayson ain't there. He gives a run down on our current "team"... and wonders if any of them could be trusted. The only one he feels he could've trusted... is the one who was just snatched away by the Beests.
We hop over to S.T.A.R. Labs, where Aqualad is beginning to squirm in his aqua-pod. His squirming leads to full-blown panicking... and he bashes his way through the glass. He isn't well or anything... once free, he just slumps to the ground.
Next, we head over to Jericho's apartment... just as the police are taping it off. Inside, another shadowy stranger pops in. This one we actually get to see... and wouldn'tcha know it... it's Morbius the Living Vampire! Well, okay... it's not... but, if you're familiar with the Titans of this era, this scene will almost certainly give it away. Anyhoo, he finds one of Joey's paintings... with a very recent date on it. He reports his findings to "Jon...ny boy".
Hey, remember how last issue ended with Jericho and Nightwing... and all that talk about transference? Well, here's another look at it. Dick tries to reason with Joey... which, ya know... doesn't go all that well. Joey finally pulls the switch... signalling the start of... whatever it is he's planning! New Titans readers of the day would have to wait four months for this to pay off! Ay yai yai.
That's not the end of the issue, however... that, my friends, is the "big reveal". Just who are all of these shadowy strangers? Well, c'mon, as if you hadn't put the pieces together yet... these are the Team Titans... and they're here to kill Donna Troy!
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Okay, stop me if you heard this one... the pacing... my lord, the pacing. This is almost as if Marv just became bored with the Titans Hunt storyline... or editorial stepped in to really gum up the works. This issue barely moved us forward. Seriously... last issue ended with Jericho about to pull a switch... this one ended with him actually pulling the switch!
Indeed, this issue seemed preoccupied with rushing to introduce the kiddos we'll soon know as the Team Titans. Looking at where we're headed from here... it's a complete mess. The next Titans book to hit the shelves is New Titans Annual #7 (an Armageddon 2001 tie-in, featuring the Teamsters)... then New Titans #80 (that Team Titans origin issue we've already discussed)... then New Titans #81 (a War of the Gods tie-in featuring, Pariah of all people). It won't be until New Titans #82 that we rejoin Titans Hunt proper!
Taking a look at Mike's Amazing World (which, I believe is pretty accurate)... take a look at these release dates:
Look at that column on the far right. That's 119 days from the time Jericho pulls the switch... to finding out just what the damn thing does! That's a long damn time. Of course, none of that matters in 2018... but, I still feel like it's worth mentioning.
So, whatta we get here? Well, a jam-issue, featuring three pencillers with distinct styles, and an inker (Al Vey) doing his damnedest to make it all flow. For the most part, he does a really good job... sure, it's easy to see where one artist ends and another begins, but it's certainly not as jarring as one might imagine.
This issue is frustrating on many levels. Even discounting the delays... just not enough happens here. This feels like an issue crammed full of single-page subplots... the kinda stuff that would be peppered through a dozen or so issues of the book. Considering we're in the midst of several "events" here, I don't think it's fair to lay this all at Marv's feet... I'd guess editorial had something to do with this.
Overall... this issue would read perfectly well if you were binging on Titans Hunt... so, if this arc ever gets collected, it's a no-brainer to include it. If you're reading these, say, daily... it's gonna grind on ya. If you were (heaven forbid) reading these "monthly"... I'm not sure how enjoyable this would be.
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Letters Page:
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New Titans #78 (August, 1991)
"Mind Over Machine"
Writer - Marv Wolfman
Pencils - Tom Grummett
Inks - Al Vey, Steve Montano & Bob Lewis
Letters - John Costanza
Colors - Adrienne Roy
Editor - Jonathan Peterson
Cover Price: $1.75
Now, I've seen some... unfortunate comic book covers in my time... but, eesh, this one... no bueno.
On the other hand, I guess the cat is "totally" out of the bag now... and I can stop being cagey about the reveal on social media!
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We open with Jericho playing the piano. Ya see, he's really just a peaceful fella. Worth noting, and it's a wonderful little detail... the ruins of Titans Island are visible through his window. His play-time is interrupted by one of the Wildebeests who informs him that he's needed in the lab. Once there, we can see that the Hunted-Titans are still there in those tubes. So... they were never even rocketed off to begin with! More on that in a bit.
While admiring the captives, Jericho is chatted up by our old friend Wildebeest Number Eight. He's a bit dubious about all of the recent changes... ya see, the Beests used to be all about stealing money and whatnot. He even mentions that in their earliest dust-ups with the Titans... Jericho stood alongside the good guys! He wants answers... which Joey ain't keen on givin'. He just vaporizes him instead. Fine by me, I always hate a tattletale.
Then... Joe senses something... Donna Troy has returned to New York (from a sorta "second honeymoon" with T-Bag). He sends out an astral... something or another, to check her out. On the ride home from the airport, Donna and Terry discuss their trip, which led to an adventure in the pages of Wonder Woman (vol.2). As they cross the bridge, they can see that Titans Tower is no more!
The cabbie tells them a bit of what went down. Titan's Island was attacked... half of the East Side was burned... the people hate the Titans... yadda yadda yadda. It's taxing my suspension of disbelief here to really believe that a major attack on New York City wasn't global news... Donna and Terry really should have known about this. I mean, people on their plane must've been talking about it, right? Anyhoo... Donna flies over to check out the damage. She's pretty certain it's the work of Deathstroke.
We rejoin the Longs a bit later at the Police Station. They are approached by Captain Hall, who lays it all out for them. He also informs them that professional pain-in-the-neck Elizabeth Alderman is petitioning New York City to file suit against the Titans for damages... which, gotta say, isn't the most jerky thing she's done. The subject then changes to... the killings.
But first... back over to the Soviet Science City. We get to relive the final scene of the last issue in its entirety (and then some). We learn (again) that Cyborg was repaired by the Soviets... with Soviet technology, and that it left him an emotionless robot. Dick wants to bring Vic back with them so the folks at S.T.A.R. Labs might take a crack at him... but are told that ain't gonna happen. Cyborg then "activates". There's a great expenditure of three pages... that, plus the two extra inkers on this issue makes me wonder if they were pushing up against that Dreaded Deadline Doom here.
Anyhoo, from here we get several pages of fighting... Cyborg is unemotionally just pummeling the team, until Red Star pipes up to call him off. Leonid then suggests that Cyborg be able to return to the United States... so long as he can accompany him. After a bit of wheeling and dealing, it looks like we got us a new New Titan!
On the flight home, Nightwing deduces that Vic was the only Titan to actually be rocketed off. The others were simply "view screen" simulacrums. He thinks about everything Pantha said about the Beests being big on bio-experiments... which, would make Victor Stone rather useless to them. The only reason for the subterfuge was to send the good guys on a trip to the U.S.S.R. to keep them out of Jericho's buttered-popcorn hair. Deathstroke almost seems (privately) proud that his boy was so shrewd in his planning.
Back in the States we rejoin the Longs. They're checking out Vic's apartment, and comment that it's been trashed... just like Dick's and Kory's (I guess it's "Kory" with a "Y" this month). Terry gives Donna the idea to call in the Justice League or Superman... which... okay, suspension of disbelief time (again). Half of New York City's East Side has been burninated along with Titans Tower... and the gee-dee Justice League hasn't checked in yet?! Ya kiddin' me? Oh, also... Jericho's astral-whateverthehell is observing this exchange.
Donna tries using her Titans Communicator (about damn time) and manages to get a hold of Nightwing. They're happy to find out that some of their pals are still alive. At this point, Jericho's astral-whateverthehell returns to his body.
Joey reports what he'd found to his Beests... and mentions that Donna looks different than he remembers. Has he really not seen her since she got the bad haircut? Anyhoo... he commands the Beests to eliminate as many Titans as possible... except for Nightwing. Joey needs Dick alive.
Back at Vic's, Pantha pops her head into the window to... antagonize the Longs. When Donna reacts in kind, Pantha's all "hey, hey, hey... we're on the same side". Ya figure if you're going to approach a "god", you might wanna lead with that... and not an insult.
They fight for a bit before Nightwing and the rest show up to straighten things out. Really just feels like another waste of a page. Donna is shocked to see Slade standing alongside Dick... and after a tearful reunion, Terry Long comes out of the closet.
Dick fills Donna in on their betrayal by Jericho... and is still open to the possibility that Joey's been possessed. Before the conversation gets too deep... the Beests attack! Outside, Steve Dayton and Arella notice the Wildebeest Hover Craft thingie... if only they used their Titans communicator to tip off the rest of the gang.
During the brouhaha, a white light fills the apartment... and Donna gets nyoinked into War of the Gods (poor thing). Guess we gotta take the "god-level" hero off the table for this story to remain effective.
Then... we're suddenly back at Wildebeest Headquarters... and Dick has already been taken captive?! What happened to the rest of the Titans? Why didn't we get a fight scene at Vic's place? Oh well. Jericho brings Nightwing over to his teammates and tells him the "transference" is about to begin.
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Alrighty... if you made it through the spoilery synopsis above, you're probably going to have already figured out my main "takeaway" from this issue... Suspension of Disbelief.
Let's break this down. A society of costumed terrorists blew up a building in Manhattan which caused a large portion of the East Side to burn.
Still with me?
And yet... the Justice League (who are also in Manhattan) hasn't thought to check in? Nobody is talking about the fact that New York City was burning despite it being all over the news? Maybe I'm just spoiled by our twenty-first century "always-on" internet... and overwhelming amount of information we get bombarded with, but... I mean, this really should be a bigger deal, right?
I get why they portrayed Donna (and Terry) as being "in the dark" about everything... it facilitates tension and emotion. But, I dunno... this really taxes my suspension of disbelief... almost to the point where I lose track of the story itself.
The scene at the Soviet Science City... was redundant. I mean, last issue's cliffhanger was Victor getting ready to attack the Titans... here, we get an extra couple of pages before... Victor gets ready to attack the Titans. Why? It's not like every issue of Titans Hunt is opening with a great-big recap... we're kinda just expected to follow along. Not sure why the Vic reveal needed to be retold.
What's more... those three pages of exposition in the U.S.S.R. might've been better served as three pages of fighting in Vic's apartment toward the end of the issue! We go from Wildebeest's attacking... to Nightwing standing next to Jericho. I'd almost guess we would've gotten zero pages of fighting, if it weren't for the War of the Gods cut-in to whisk Donna away.
At this point we're eight issues into the Titans Hunt arc... and it's all becoming rather "piecey" and redundant to me. I've said it before, but it's been ages since I last read this. Not really sure how I felt my first (or latest) time through. I'd say hopefully we'll be able to bring it back around... but, Marv and Co. are getting ready to take a little break from the arc. They're just about to introduce the Team Titans (issue #80)... and pop over to War of the GodzzzZZZzzzzZzzzZz (issue #81). Seems like really lousy timing.
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New Titans #77 (July, 1991)
"Red Star Rising"
Writer - Marv Wolfman
Pencils - Tom Grummett
Inks - Al Vey
Letters - John Costanza
Colors - Adrienne Roy
Editor - Jonathan Peterson
Cover Price: $1.75
Today we're going to find out just who was on that doomed rocket that exploded over the Soviet Union. I wonder who it could be?
Well, with cover-copy like "He's half-man--half-machine..." and "Robotic Russian Rebirth!", I haven't the foggiest idea!
Hey, New Titans... I know this is like thirty-years too late, but... c'mahhhhhn... quit spoiling your big reveals with goofy cover copy!
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We open in the U.S.S.R., right where that splody Titans rocket landed. A Russian man with gaudy boots kvetches about a man named Anatole as he scans the wreckage, before finally coming across... a hand?! Oh, this Russian is longtime Titans associate, Red Star... but we already kinda knew that. Back in New York, we can see that Nightwing and the rest did actually manage to escape the Tower before it went boom.
As the T-Jet pulls further away, it becomes clear that Titans Island wasn't the only thing to go up in flames... it looks like a whole lot of Manhattan's East Side is also in a really bad way! On the ground, a pair of plain clothes detectives quarrel about whether or not this is the Titans' fault.
In the air, Arella expresses shock that Nightwing would leave New York to burn. This leads to Dick... really kinda losing his cool! He tries to compare himself to Batman... which, ya know... never a good idea. He lashes out at Arella, telling her that New York's going to have to save themselves for once... but begins to apologize before the words even finish leaving his mouth.
We shift back over to the Soviet Union. Red Star has taken the body to Science City Complex #3 (a helpful editorial caption informs us that Science City Complex #5 was destroyed in, of all things, an ancient issue of Night Force). Inside, Leonid is trying to convince a Doctor named Piotr to help his injured friend. It's made pretty clear here (if you ignore the cover copy, that is) just which Titan he's talking about.
Time passes, and the Titans land in Skorza... right around the coordinates for the fallen rocket. They are approached by a local... who Dick attempts to chat up. Unfortunately, Dick don't do Russian... so Slade has to take over.
They are guided over to the site of the crash... which has been picked completely clean. All that remains is a rash of shifted snow... and a few boot-prints. A security guard wanders over, but Arella tricks him into not seeing them. Their "tour guide" gets a bit handsy with Phantasm... which is kinda weird, but does illustrate (for the third issue in a row) that there's nothing under the sheet. Slade tells Dick that he's got some contacts in the area, and so they'll do some digging. Meanwhile, Pantha has disappeared.
Turns out... she's just hungry. Pantha bounds over to a nearby butcher shop, and swipes some assorted meats from the proprietor... there are some sausage links, and the kinda meats you'd find in the walls in Castlevania. Nightwing accuses her of starting an international incident, and setting U.S./Soviet relations back a quarter century.
Back in the states, Councilperson Alderman is being a cow on the news. Also, a shadowy fella searches through the wreckage of Titans Tower. He introduces himself as "Hal Greene" and reports his findings to someone named Jon.
Back in the U.S.S.R., the Titans are approached by some Soviet Officials... one of whom Slade happens to know (he really was the Wolverine of the DC Universe). He has some compromising information on the guy, and so... blackmails him. Before we know it, the Titans are headed toward the Science City.
Elsewhere, Jericho does some weird bloodletting ritual. Okay then.
Dick and the Gang finally arrive at the Science City and reconnoiter with Red Star. He's being pretty vague about which Titan it was who crashed there... and Dick grows more impatient by the step.
It's finally revealed that the troubled Titan was, in fact... Cyborg! Heyyy, I think we already figured that one out.
As you can see, Vic is more machine than ever at this point... his only "flesh" is part of his face. The scientists explain everything that went down. Vic was, by all rational thought... dead. They managed to find some very subtle and weak brain waves... and decided to try and put him back together again. Only problem... it left him, in the words of Dick Grayson, "a vegetable".
Dick's annoyed... but confident that the folks at S.T.A.R. Labs will be able to re-fix Vic, and make him the half-man/half-machine that he was before. The Soviets are all "nuh-uh", because... ya see, Victor is now mostly comprised of Soviet Tech... none of which will be leaving. This isn't what the Titans wanted to hear, and when Dick becomes adamant that Vic's coming home with them... Cyborg engages!
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The Titans just can't seem to catch a break, can they?
Let's start with my biggest takeaway from this issue... Dick Grayson coming around to the idea that that sometimes things aren't black and white... sometimes you gotta act in duplicitous ways to make things happen. We've got Dick lashing out at Arella on the T-Jet when she suggests they return to New York and help out. He realizes that he needs to take care of his own house... and literally, lets New York City... burn.
Later on, he's cool with Slade blackmailing that Soviet Official. It looks like he got his dander up a bit over it... but, when he realizes that Deathstroke's methods worked... he was a little more cool with it. Pre-Titans Hunt, I don't think Dick would have let any of this fly.
Then, of course... we've got the new-look Vic. It might've been an actual "reveal" if it hadn't been spoiled on the cover. Though, really... if they weren't going to actually "off" a Titan, it could only ever be Vic.
Shifting gears, I can't remember how long ago I last read this (early-to-mid aughts, I'd assume)... but I don't recall Jericho doing any weird bloodletting. I honestly don't remember where that's headed... or if it even is heading anywhere. I guess that's a good place to be for some "fresh" reactions.
Overall... it's weird to say, but this was a (relatively speaking) "quieter" chapter of Titans Hunt. I wouldn't accuse it of being a "filler" installment, but it's certainly a lull in the action in order to bridge us to the next beats.
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