Teen Titans Go! #10 (family Comic Friday)

Readers of all ages got an early Christmas present this year from DC Comics with a holiday issue of Teen Titans Go!

It's Christmas Eve and the Titans are on their way to Doom Patrol headquarters to spend the holidays with Beast Boy and his former teammates/family. While there, the Titans learn of a very strange Christmas Eve tradition that the Doom Patrol partakes in: the annual holiday attack of the shape shifting villain, Madame Rouge.

I apparently have a serious case of the Mandela Effect here because I was sure that Negative Man was a member of the TTG! version of the Doom Patrol. Yet upon checking things out, Negative GIRL is who's always been a member of this team. 

This was a fun holiday issue, written by J. Torres and illustrated by Dario Brizuela. It had a classic DC whodunnit where you, the reader, were to figure out who or what Madame Rouge was hiding in another form as. (I'm proud to say that I solved it before the Teen Titans did!) Everything felt so festive and fun. Plus with how the Chief's mustache and beard makes him look like Santa Claus, I'm wondering if there might be a sequel holiday story that floats around the possibility that the 2 are related. I'd totally be fine with that!

The only thing that I was unhappy with is something that you can't fault the artistic creative team for. It was the cover. Something is wrong with DC's printing process. The area where my thumb rested as I was reading the book bleached out all the colors. Now that one section of the cover looks like a faded postcard of some Christmastime of long, long ago. Too bad that the rest of the cover lacks this appeal. It kinda makes my brain itch, and sadly this has happened with other current DC book covers as well.

The cover says this read is for ages 8+. That's probably because of the fight scenes and a few gross humor one liners. But if you let a child younger than 8 was the long-running Cartoon Network series, then you will have no problem letting them read this hysterical Christmas read.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Showcase Presents The Doom Patrol, Volume 2

Look, the events of this book took place over 50 years ago. So if it's a spoiler for you, I'm sorry. But in order to fully capture my feelings, I'm going have to let some details slip.

Reading this, the second and final volume of Showcase Presents The Doom Patrol, was very bittersweet. Knowing that the main members of this team were slated for death by the very last page was like a sad little time bomb getting closer and closer to mortality with the completion of every page. 

There are some joyous times in the book. The marriage of Rita Farr and Mento. The adoption of Beast Boy. The Sam and Diane romance between the Professor and the evil Madame Rouge. Those were great moments in not only Doom Patrol but DC Comics history. 

I also rather enjoyed the origin back-story features of Robotman, Negative Man and Beastie. But where's Elasti-Girl's history? Where's Niles Caulder's story? Where's Mento's first days? Okay- Caulder's origins are explored some in the Robotman and Negative Man's 'miniseries'. But the leader of The Doom Patrol is too much of a mystery. 

Those of you who've read the later series of Doom Patrol know that yes, nobody ever really stays dead in the world of comics. And we'll one day see more of Caulder's backstory revealed. But it just wasn't explored here.

A great series that went in some pretty zany directions. It was classic DC and I loved it. 
Too bad this was just so darn sad of a collection!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DC Dog Days of Sumer Special #1

8 action packed adventures for all you DC Comics fans. 

A $9.99 price tag might be pretty steep for most of you. But I am a holiday themed comic addict and since I was going on vacation this week, I could not pass it up. 

There's quite a few of DC's best working on this book including Dan DiDio, G. Willow Wilson, Stjepan Sejic and a cool-looking cover by Francis Manpul. While there's an impressive list of talent on this book, the quality of the stories do vary. 

The best stories were:

• A Killer Croc tale of the crime lord's Miami origins, set in the Everglades.
• Beast Boy's feats of strength during his much needed summer vacay.
• Red Lantern Dex-starr teaches a milquetoast the benefits of rage when some Khund vacationers go on the war path.
• On a jungle safari, Animal Man must protect his family when an ancient menace targets them as his next meal. 

The worst:

• A Superman and Krypto team-up. The story of the duo facing an alien menace was good. But the art was really poor. 

In the middle was:

• A Justice League story involving a Minotaur named Ferdinand. His quest to find a suitable main course for the League's BBQ was admirable, especially since I am a professional chef. But I don't know this character and that made it hard to make a connection with the story.  
• Captain Carrot's cartoon world is undergoing a CRISIS. With Earth-23's Superman out of commission, the bunny must rely on the grim and gritty Atomic Batman of Earth-17 whose all about logic Yet, with the sun feeling unappreciated, the only way to save the day means relying on some hilarious cartoon physics! Again, the art wasn't all that great. But it seemed to match this Looney Tunes inspired tale.

If you are keeping count, I just mentioned 7 stories. That's because #8 is one that I couldn't decide whether I loved it or hated it. It involved a pair of drunks deciding to ride an untamed bull (wearing a pained on smiley face) at a county fair. To the rescue is Batcow! This was an absurd story that had some hi-highs and some groan-worthy lows. I'm sure that I don't feel okay with this story. I just don't know whether to hate it or love it. 

Overall, I enjoyed this special very much. For the most part, the stories were great. It was the artwork that wasn't, in my opinion, DC Comics quality. If you are going on a vacation anytime this summer, pick up the DC Dog Days of Summer Special. Almost perfect for reading on a breezy evening after a long day of fun in the sun.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go!, Volume 2: Welcome to the Pizza Dome

Time for more Teen Titans Go! Hijinks.

Featuring Beast Boy, Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven, this collection contains early issues of the monthly comic from DC and is based on the controversial cartoon series of the same. (Don’t worry- there’s nothing offensive or dirty with TTG. It’s just that some fans think the silliness of the show is unforgivable and wish the series was more like the more serious Teen Titans cartoon of the early 2000s.)

I for one love the show. But I admit, it’s gets a little off the wall. Especially when they sing. Nevertheless, Beast Boy is my spirit animal and I wish I was as chill as him.

In this volume, there are laughs aplenty as:

 The Titans learn the dangers of growing a moustache.

 Robin becomes a teen idol to impress Starfire.

Raven attends her family reunion in the deepest pits of Hades.

And the team fight to the death- for the last slice of pizza.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up’s Sholly Fisch crafts these stories. I have said it once and I will say it again- if Fisch was the writer on the show, it would not have so many haters. He’s that good and super talented when it comes to all-aged materials. Other stories are by Amy Wolfram and Merrill Hagan. Those are not bad but they tend to fall into the very silly trap that has cause some fans to no longer watch TTG.

The artwork was picture perfect. Ben Bates (Scribblenauts) and Lea Hernandez (Killer Princesses) do an amazing job of making the entire cast of characters look just like they do on the show. Plus, they seamlessly craft characters that have never been on before, like Wonder Woman, to look as they might if they ever were to guest star on Teen Titans Go.

Sometimes silly. Often hilarious and very entertaining, this volume was a great read for when you don’t want a serious comic. Kids will delight while older fans would be mixed about this. I for one enjoyed it quite a bit.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go! Volume 3: Mumbo Jumble (Family Comic Friday)

 

   A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed what I thought was a collection of Teen Titans Go! comics based on the cartoon of the same name. What it turned out to be were reprints of comics based on the original Teen Titans series. While the book was really good, it wasn't what I was hoping for. Well, this time I got my hands on the genuine article.

    From a run-in with the Tamaranean Flu to a not-so-friendly baseball game with the Titans East squad to a big-time Hollywood producer wanting to turn the Titans into reality stars, these were the type of adventures I had been looking for. 

    Yes, this current version of the show has a lot of haters. But I for one like both versions of the show. But I am a bigger fan of TTG! I love that the same voice actors are used. I adore how the Titans make fun of themselves. And Beast Boy is my spirit animal, Yo!

    Sholly Fisch is one of my favorite all-ages writers. He has such a love and devotion to the classic DC source material while keeping his pulse on the new trends as well. Fisch is incredible on Scooby-Doo Team-Up and he did an fantastic job on these Titans books as well. Maybe he should write for the show?

     With additional writing and art by talents such as Derek Fridolfs, Merrill Hagan, Lea Hernandez, and others, this volume was a delight. It captures the loony spirit of the show without being too goofy. Every page was funny and a joy to read. The young reader in your life will delight in these as well.

     Worth Consuming!

     Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go!/ Scooby-Doo Team-Up #1 (2015 Free Comic Book Day)

    The girls take over Titans Tower as they throw Starfire's first ever slumber party. Meanwhile, Beast Boy and Cyborg decide to go bowling. But is Vic using his targeting system to cheat? As long as there are bowling alley nachos, we'll never find out.
     On the flip side of this Free Comic Book Day offering, the Mystery Gang are asked to help the Super Friends with a ghost problem. A group of 7 ghosts of different colored ghosts are haunting the Hall of Justice and one has caused Superman to disappear. Featuring Supergirl, some mystery villains and the most legitimate answer to what ever happened to Wendy, Marvin, and Wonder Dog?! It has the makings of a great issue...
      I really enjoyed this comic but I kinda wish I hadn't read it. The Scooby-Doo Team-Up story was left as a cliff hanger and it's a an issue of my favorite team-up series that I don't have! I wanna know what happens now!!!
      Along with the two stories, there were some fun activities for kids: a pizza maker game for the Teen Titans and an art grid of Wonder Woman and Batman. I thought this was a neat addition. Though I always hated that grid thing as I never could get the artwork right.
       A neat sampler of DC's children comics in 2015. But I hate not having the full Scooby/ Super Friends tale.

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go!, Volume 6: Titans Together!

  The original series of Teen Titans Go! did something most cartoons still refuse to do- it aged and evolved with its audience. In season one, you meet the inexperienced group of young superheroes trying to make a difference in the superhero community while finding their place in the world. In season two, the team started adding new associate members and by the third (and final season) the team started to grow up and on at least one occasion, we trekked to the future and see the Titans drop the 'Teen' from their name, taking over after Batman, Superman, and the rest of the Justice League retired. 

    This volume was published after those future episodes were shown on Cartoon Network and the series' future rested in limbo. Here we encounter the group fighting their main enemy HIVE, associate members such as Aqualad & Speedy teaming up together, and the future is now when Nightwing travels to the present day to prevent his younger Robin self from becoming evil. It's a trippy time-traveling yarn that is full of mind-bending paradoxes. 

   Fans of the original Teen Titans Go! series will delight in this volume. It's a little bit anime, a little bit dramatic, with bits of activity and joke book thrown in and not at all like the new series that most TTG purists absolutely hate! A fun collection that's very much worth consuming. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go!: Thunder and Lightning Strike! ( A Family Comic Friday Extra!)

  

Reprinting Teen Titans Go! #6

In this library edition of Teen Titans Go!, a pair of brothers with the powers of thunder and lightning are reaking havoc over the city in which the Titans love so dear. The entire city will come crashing down if the Titans don't act quick enough. However, it seems that their interference in a domestic dispute is just making things worse. It's up to level-headed Raven to save the day and the city.

Another masterpiece from J. Torres covering the first animated incarnation of the Teen Titans on Cartoon Network. The story itself was pretty good and it would have been excellent if you had removed Thunder and Lightning from the story altogether. That right, I said it, the main villains of the story were NOT needed.

 First of all- they look rediculous. Lightning looks like a knock-off of fan favorite Firestorm (and mine too!) Whereas, Thunder looks like a gorilla in a samurai costume. This is really strange as their DC Universe comic book design look nothing like the actual characters in the DC Universe. Notice the image of the cover of Superman #303 below. Now compare it to the image of this hard cover edition of Teen Titans Go! #6. They look like 2 different sets of characters.  
  
  Another problem I had with these dueling siblings is how silly they are. Lightning mishears Thunder who is giving him sage advice to control his powers over an otherwise crowded city. Thinking it to be an insult, a clash ensues. How can you mishear thunder? It's like super loud! You can hear it three counties over without mistakes. Sheesh...
    
   Torres and the gang rarely drop the ball in this series. That was until this one. However, I put some of the blame on the animation staff at Cartoon Network. It's mentioned at least 3 times that this is the return of the weather-themed duo. So, the archetype for both the look and atittudes of Thunder and Lightning apparently were first established on the Teen Titans TV show. If Torres was bound to use that version of the villains in this comic, then he was severely handicapped before have even typed up the first page of the script.

    There's a website that publishes Garfield cartoons without Garfield in them. If that site could take this issue and remove the baddies from it, this book would make a great read. It might make for some awkward and confusiing moments but it would still be a better read without them in it.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

(Note: Like the other library editions in this series, a glossary of terms, discussion questions, and writing exercises are included in the back. However, this volume did not include an activity page as others have for some reason.)
    

Teen Titans Go! #7 (series 1)

 

 Starfire's sister Blackfire returns under the guise of spending some time together for some family bonding. Their time together involves Starfire trying to best her older sister at a series of physical challenges. These contests might look innocent to the naive Starfire but her teammates smell a rat and well they should as these tests of might and strength are a ruse for Blackfire who's secretly trying to sell her baby sister back into slavery in return for a pardon of her many intergalactic crimes.

   I really enjoyed this issue as I've finally figured out this series formula. Along with an original story, every issue features at least one brain teaser by Raven, a Beast Boy/ Starfire knock-knock joke, a few factoids by Robin and/ or some other visual gags that are drawn like a Manga. I really didn't give the first Teen Titans cartoon a fair chance so I don't know if that series also had jokes and gags sprinkled throughout the action like this comic. But I'm suspecting that it did.

    I'm very glad that my library has started to carry some of these back issues (in library binding form. This format includes a glossary of terms and some thought provoking questions that are great exercises for up-and-coming writers and cartoonists.) Also, these books are really peaking my interest in watching the show as well collecting this series.

    Lots of potential fun for the entire family.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Superman Family Adventures #7

   

   I went a little bonkers at the library last week. They had several issues of Superman Family Adventures in library binding and I couldn't resist. I love the work of Baltazar and Franco and anytime I can get my hands on some new stuff, I jump.

   As I have mentioned before, these comics are intended for kids. But that's okay because Baltazar and Franco realize this. They also understand that parents will be reading these to their kids and so they include really great Easter eggs that only the adults enjoy.

  For starters, I read issue #7. In this issue, the Toyman sets his sights on the younger members of the Superman Family who've invited their friends Beat Boy and Starfire to the Fortress of Solitude for a Kryptonian Tooth Fairy party. Toyman is up to his usual bag of tricks decking out some sweet Justice League action figures to attack the superheroes. There are some really cool cameos, but I would have to say my favorite was udders down, Batcow!

This is another gem in the DC Kids treasury. Lots of fun for parents and kids to both enjoy. There's also a fun "What's Robot Bug Saying?" deciphering game through the book, plus a glossary, and some review questions that are great exercises for kids who might be interested in creative writing.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go! #1 (Free Comic Book Day Reprint Edition) (Family Comic Friday)

Today’s review is not only about a great comic book but one of my all-time favorite cartoon series. Teen Titans Go! started out as a Cartoon Network series that ran from 2003-2008. The series was designed to be like a Manga with experimental angles, mind blowing animation, and a range of genres and themes used to underline themes. But the show at the time was more serious and aimed at teens.

  When the series ended in ‘08, that seemed to be the end to the Titans on TV. Then in 2012, Cartoon Network started a new block of shows based on DC Comics properties called DC Nation. In between half hour shows, the network aired 3-5 minute vignettes the started some of the lesser known stars of the DC Universe. One set of minisodes featured the Teen Titans original line-up of Robin, Beast Boy, Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire. The voices were also by the actors in the first series. Only this time, the adventures of the Teen Titans were funny and revolved around the everyday mundane events of the team.

   The reboot proved so popular, Cartoon Network brought the show back. It now airs in 15-minute segments multiple times a week. New Episodes usually air first run on Thursday nights but with this week next being Thanksgiving, I don’t see it on the schedule. So I don’t know if it’s on hiatus and only airs in reruns right now.

    The show and this comic in which it’s based is a hoot. My favorite character is Beast Boy. His childish antics mixed with a Zen-like laziness is both absurd and thought-provoking. The normally dark character, Raven, still has her literal demons but it’s offset with her secret love of My Little Ponies. Cyborg is a master mechanic and he’s the perfect partner  to go on off-beat adventures with his best bud, Beastie. Starfire is an alien whose grasp of English colloquialisms is in serious need of work. But it makes for some great lines.

 Perhaps my least favorite character is the most well known of the bunch: Robin. The Boy Wonder is so uptight, he brings everyone and everything down. He’s such a drag, except when he’s near Starfire, whom he secretly pines for. When he’s near her, he’s a tongue-tied goof ball.

The comic captures this formula perfectly. The only thing missing is the soundtrack. Both the show and comic are all-age friendly. However, sometimes Raven can get a little intense and it may scare little kids. Her father is the demon Trigon, you know.

The show is top notch. Not only will kids love this show but so will fans of the Titans and the DC Universe. There’s so many great easter eggs and guest appearances by superheroes from other teams and comics that makes this show offer just a little bit of everything for everyone. I highly recommend, even if things too get a little silly from time to time.

But as a wise Doctor once said, “What’s the point of being a grown-up if you can’t be childish from time to time.”

Worth Consuming

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.