REVIEW: Teen Titans - 60

So here's a bit of an oddity. I reviewed issue 58 of Teen Titans a little while back, and I seem to remember feeling a little uneasy about the book - worried about how it was floating along the 'middling to average' river. Not quite good, but not quite bad either.

And so here we are again with the same book a couple of months later, and I'm still not really feeling it.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Perhaps its just me, but the only thing that really resonated with me in this issue was Ravager's apparent departure from the team. I say apparent, because I get a feeling that she might be back before we know it.

The rest of the issue, alas, fell on deaf ears and blind eyes. It just didn't perform.

But anyway - Sean McKeever's script and Eddy Barrow's pencils are both again, perfectly competent - but neither give you the 'wow' factor that you should be looking for in a Titans book. Maybe they could do with having a read of Titans issue 3...

Pete's Score: 3 out of 5
(could have been better - decidedly average)

REVIEW: Titans - 3

Well crikey. I didn't see that one coming.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Isn't it interesting, how easily some heroes can give in to temptation, despite numerous encounters that should have educated them otherwise. Although, to be fair - sometimes... Sometimes I completely understand why heroes give in. Just like I completely understood why Nightwing (or 'Dick') did what he did with Starfire on page 13.

Lucky bugger. Bet Animal Man is a little jealous right about now.

Now - that aside, this issue is a nice return to form for Judd Winick and Joe Benitez after the slightly limp-wristed affair that was Titans issue two. The nice reveal of Trigon's three children (which I'll nickname Rage, Envy and Lust) at the end of the book gives a nice lead in to another episode of what might be one of those 'classic Titans' storylines.

Happily - this issue is very much worth picking up.

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5
(thoroughly enjoyable - recommended all the way)

REVIEW: Titans - 2

The first issue of Titans was a fantastic surprise for me. I was expecting a flimsy book (based on my experience with Countdown to Final Snorefest), but instead I got a fast paced beautifully drawn masterpiece.

But how does this book compare to the first amazing issue?

***SPOILER ALERT***

Issue 2 carries on from the cliffhanger reveal of the first book that Trigon is back, and after anyone who may have beaten him in the past, or be able to beat him in the future. A group of individuals more well known as 'Titans'.

Raven does her best to communicate with Trigon to understand the reasons behind his attacks, but instead finds out that she isn't his only child on earth...

Well - I hate to say it, but I can't say that this issue had the same impact for me as the first book did.

Within the book, the artwork from Joe Benitez is wonderfully stylised, filled full of over emphasised bodies contorted into various actions, wonderfully splashed across pages with amazing colours from Edgar Delgado. Scriptwork from Judd Winick is ample, carrying on well from where the story was left in the previous issue, but despite all of this - the book felt a little lacking in some areas.

It's hard to place my finger on the exact reason why this book didn't hit the mark, but thinking about it as I write, I'm wondering if it's not because of how the script was pulled together, or how the artwork was drawn, but rather how it both didn't blend in as well as they could have.

So - beautiful script and beautiful artwork. Just not quite as beautiful when you put them both together...

Pete's Score: 3 out of 5
(perfectly competent - a good continuation of the storyline, but you'll want to pickup issue 1 before it)

REVIEW: Titans - 1

Thank heavens above - I was starting to get pretty worried.

The last comic I reviewed from DC was the 'wonderful' Countdown To Final Crisis 1. Truly, one of the worst books I'd read in quite some time.

***SPOILER ALERT***

I'm so pleased to tell you - Titans issue 1 - is worth buying. And it's not worth buying because it might be worth something one day - it's worth getting because it's a damn good read.

So - why is it so good?

Those of you who will have read the recent Titans East Special will have caught the first part of 'The Fickle Hand', and will be up to speed with the backstory to this issue (part 2).

Luckily, this is one of those rare, well written part 2s - where a reader can jump on without being penalised for missing the start of the story. Judd Winick catches everyone up to speed when the time is right (towards the end of the issue), and asks an interesting question - "who is targeting current and ex-Titans, and why?"

Now - the writing aside - the artwork within this issue is for the most part - utterly fantastic. I would truly be surprised if Ian Churchill's pencils for the Starfire pages don't arrive in poster form sometime soon.

Thank you Judd and Ian. You've singlehandedly restored my faith in DC's ability to write and draw good comics. I salute you sirs.

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5
(truly - the best DC book I've read in months)