Teen Titans, Vol. 2: Family Lost!

The second volume of Geoff John's Teen Titans continues with that same level greatness, just with a hardy dose of evil. Demons and devils are not my thing. In this book, the Teen Titans' major villain Brother Blood and his Church of Blood rear their ugly heads. Since these guys are more on the level of Temple of Doom cultists, they're tolerable. However, when you add the character of Raven and her complex parentage with the demon Trigon, it does verge very close to territory that I am not comfortable with.

Brother Blood isn't the only baddie giving the Teen Titans fits. Deathstroke the Terminator is seeking revenge on the Titans, especially Raven, as she had something to do with the disposal of the corporal form of Slade Wilson's son Jericho. To assist in getting answers along with revenge is his daughter Rose, who seems brainwashed and now going by the name Ravager. 

There's a ton of stuff going on in this volume. Too much to cover without getting mired in details. I'll just say that there are elements of Rosemary's Baby, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and just about any movie where an evil son commits patricide in order to become the new ruler.

A great read. But I prefer the last volume more as the level of occult activity was near zero in that book.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract

 
   With the animated version of the Judas Contract recently coming out on DVD, I wanted to read the original source material before I gave the film a view. I just happened to be sitting on a vintage copy of the complete story and so I gave it a read (Note: my review of The New Teen Titans: Terra Incognito comes before this volume.)
     The Titans have recently added a new member to their ranks for the first time since reforming. But it's their downfall, as newcomer Terra, is actually in league with their arch-enemy, the deadly Deathstroke the Terminator. But before the teens can come to blows with the combined forces of Deathstroke, Terra, and HIVE, they must taken on the equally lethal Brother Blood who just happens to have brainwashed one of the Titans into becoming his newest follower.
      An exciting collection that introduces the character Jericho to the mix along with revealing Dick Grayson's metamorphosis from Robin into Nightwing, and the secret origin of Slade Wilson. Plus, more hints about the forthcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths are contained within. Masterful stories by Marv Wolfman with just as equally amazing artwork by George Perez.
       A true classic that is a must have for fans of Crisis, the Teen Titans, or just darn fine comic books.

    Worth Consuming!

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.