Teen Titans Go!: Roll With It!

The Teen Titans take on the genre of role playing games, more precisely, skewering the most popular game of them all: Dungeons & Dragons. 

After endless rounds of nagging, the Titans finally agreed to play a round of 'Basements and Basilisks' with Robin as the game master. Their quest is to locate an enchanted piece of jewelry and then discover a way to destroy it. In the real world, the relic is an anklet that Robin symbolically wears around his leg. But what the Titans are unaware of is that the anklet is really cursed by one of the team's most dangerous foes in a plot to take over the world.

From 2020, this is of a rough series of graphic novels in which the Teen Titans tackle a subject and parody the heck out of it. I call it rough not because of the art or the story itself. Mostly it's because DC has been releasing these theme heavy books without labeling them with volume numbers or organizing them as a set. However, I did feel that the story ran about 50 pages too long. Maybe a bit more.

About halfway into the story, everyone finds out who the mystery villain really is in the real world. Then back into the game world, which has been bewitched by the anklet, they all forget. This happens over and over. And it just started to get boring. It was like being stuck in a time loop only this story had nothing to do with quantum mechanics. 

I also thought that the artist behind the design of the villain didn't do such a great job disguising them. In their secret identity form, they look like a normal human being. However if you examine the outline of their body, and if you have a pretty good knowledge of Teen Titans Go!, then you've figured out who this baddie is. Considering that the mystery villain appears on the very first page, I was not anywhere near surprised during the big surprise reveal of the antagonist. 

I would say that my biggest complaint with TTG is how they'll beat something to death. It's like that song of theirs, The Night Begins to Shine. The first time they used it was great. Then they did a 5-night miniseries about the song and then another special episode and another. The folks behind Teen Titans Go! just can't let a brilliant idea stay fresh. They have to keep milking it and milking it until they kill the poor cow. I thought it was only with the TV show that this kind of overuse occurred. Turns out that the folks behind the comics are forced to reuse material until the point of annoyance as well.

A great start to a story that should have ended needed at least 2 chapters sooner than it did.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go! Undead (Family Comic Friday)

Get a crash course on how to survive a zombie apocalypse, Teen Titans Go! style.

When the skies over Jump City turn an eerie purple color, the Teen Titans investigate... by going to the mall. There, they discover that the population has all turned into zombies. Only there's no virus going around making everyone sick. It turns out that the shopping outlet has a big online sale today that is turning the citizens of Jump City, both alive and dead, into the dreaded 'Undead.' Oh, and that asteroid that came crashing down last night in the town square might also have something to do with it...

This 2022 graphic novel, while not a Halloween themed read, was a fun way to get into the spirit of the holiday. Teen Titans Go! is a Cartoon Network series that thrives on absurd humor, catchy oddball tunes, and being about as gross and irreverent as allowed for viewers aged 8-12, which is also the recommended reading ages for Teen Titans Go! Undead according to Amazon. Pretty much if parents and guardians let their wards watch the cartoon, then you'll have no issue with this graphic novel. But if your expecting this book to be an innocuous as Super Friends or Batman: The Animated Series, you've got another thing coming. Instead, Teen Titans Go! is like the DC Universe if crafted by the creator of Ren & Stimpy.

The book was perfect Teen Titans Go!, as long as you don't like the songs. The musical episodes have always been my least favorite and thankfully, there's only 1 song and it's mercifully short. There's not very much of the rest of the DC Universe in this book. There's like maybe 1 reference to Batman and a second to Darkseid and that's about it. But there's a whole slew of references to other supporting characters created for just the series. Oh, and a great gag involving Robin's rival over Starfire's affections, Speedy, as well as their arch-enemies, the dreaded teens of H.I.V.E..

I don't think that this book is an adaptation of a full-length episode or special. If it isn't, then this graphic novel should be adapted into a 5 day event for fans of the animated series. It's got the feel and pace of such a thing and it would make a fantastic entry in Cartoon Network's annual Halloween programming. I know it's too late to do for this year. But 2024??? Fingers crossed!

Lots of fun. Not scary. In fact, if anything, it pays tribute to the zombie horror genre while mocking it and making it seem about the most silly idea to end the world ever! But that's mostly due to the Teen Titans! For a fun-filled Halloween read that won't keep you up at night, Go!- to your local book store and demand a copy today!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go! to Camp! (Family Comic Friday)

It's Summer time and the Teen Titans are going to camp- on Apokolips! But the heroes of Jump City won't be going alone. The twisted teens of the H.I.V.E. Five and the ideal junior heroes of Titans East will also be spending their Summer vacation with the Teen Titans on Darkseid's home world.

The youngsters' activities will be planned by the director of Camp Apokolips, Granny Goodness. Their camp counselors are Kalibak and Mad Harriet! Their lunch consists of several dishes made of various bugs. Their swimming hole is a lava pit. And the rumor around the ol' campfire is that unlucky campers will be eaten by the Terrifying Beast of the Pit!

As usual, Raven, Beast Boy, Starfire and Cyborg are trying to make the best of a bad situation. As for Robin, he's got it in his head that the title of Camper of the Year is his to win. Only, there's no such award at Camp Apokolips. Instead, those campers who survive this 6 week ordeal will find themselves as the newest troopers in Darkseid's army!

This 2020 graphic novel was hilarious! It felt like it should have been a movie! In fact, if DC ever decides to bring TTG back to the silver screen, this is the plot that they should use for inspiration! Mixing the zany members of the Teen Titans, H.I.V.E. 5 and the straight-laced Titans East with the residents of Kirby's Fourth World was just so fun to someone like myself who is a huge fan of the New Gods! 

The great Sholly Fisch (Scooby-Doo Team-Up) pens this awesome script. I didn't know that he was a child psychologist until I read the'About the Author' section in the back of this book. But that fact explains why it feels like Fisch can write from children while not dumbing things down for the enjoyment of adults. 

The main illustrator of this book is DC Super Hero Girl's Marcelo DiChiara. The artist does a fantastic job making every main panel look like it was ripped straight from my TV set- set to Cartoon Network, of course! 

Each chapter ends with one of the main characters writing a loved one back home. The artwork for those segments are by a host of great talent including Franco, Jamal Igle, and 3rd generation member of the Kubert art clan, Emma! Each artist adds their own deft touch to the story. You see their art style and a little bit of tribute to both Jack Kirby and Teen Titans legends Nick Cardy and George Perez.

I did not want this book to end. I had a great time reading it. It combined my love for Jack Kirby, comic book nostalgia and zany comedy. Kids who are fans of TTG will love this book because it captures the spirit of the animated series perfectly. Adults will love it because it reminds them of classic DC lore. But also because it's a wholesome read that stimulates that imagination of young readers everywhere!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go! #25 (Family Comic Friday)

I was never behind on my holiday comic reading this year. But as always, when trying to stay on top of an Advent, I got behind on my reviews. But that's okay as I was needing a book to review for Family Comic Friday this week anyways.

This issue is from a couple of years ago. But it wasn't until sometime this year that it officially became a part of my collection! As with just about any and all ultra-serious comic collector, I am really behind in adding books to my database. So yes, for almost 2 years this comic languished in my to-add pile. But that changed this year!

I was set to read this during the first week of December. But after about 3 pages into the opening feature, I decided to wait until December 22nd, the first night of Hanukkah, 2019! 

In the first story, Colossal Boy of the Legion of Superheroes travels from the year 3000 to observe the first Hanukkah. But an error in calculations has the time travelling teen winding up at Titans Tower in 2017 instead of Second Century BC Jerusalem. Fearful that Colossal Boy could stomp them flat with his enormous feet, the Teen Titans decide to play along and recreate the first miracle of lights. In typical Teen Titans Go! fashion, the results are hilariously flawed!

In the back-up story, the Teen Titans are convinced that Batman is secretly Santa Claus! Not even Robin can refute the evidence that points to the Dark Knight and Kris Kringle being one and the same! So it's off to the Bat Cave for a Christmas Eve investigation. 

If you are a fan of the 'TV Knight' episodes of TTG, then you're going to love this caper. But my favorite was the Hanukkah story. Scooby-Doo Team-Up living legend Sholly Fisch crafts both tales and I got a lot of laughs out of both. But I favored the story that featured the Chosen People. Being married to a Jewish Princess, maybe I'm biased. But there's no denying how hilarious that first story was.

I also loved the cover! So much that I made it my FB icon for the first couple of evenings of the Festival of Lights. 

Overall, this was a great issue that covered 2 of the 3 most important holidays of the season!

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!, Volume 4: Ready For Action

   I got in on the original Teen Titans cartoon boat really late. I started towards the very end, yet was excited by all the cool extra characters like Jericho, Aqualad, and such. As a result, when Teen Titans Go! hit airwaves, I was front on center for the first episode. 
   
   Needless to say, the more goofy take on the Teen Titans took a while to grow on me. But grow on me they did! Now I can't miss an episode. It's a permanent segment on my DVR. 
    
   However, I must point out some additional confusion between the original Teen Titans series and Teen Titans Go! When it comes to the comic book based on the original animated series, DC Comics issued the series as Teen Titans Go! See where I'm going with this???
  
    If you read my blog to any extent, you will know that my local library is one of my favorite places to pick up comics and graphic novels in order to save money. So when I saw this volume of Teen Titans Go! in the new release section last week, I went all Beast Boy over it. I'm pretty sure I exclaimed 'We got some Teen Titans Go! up in here, Yo!' 

     Anyways, so one night I grabbed this volume and began to read it.Almost immediately, I knew this is comic is not based on the goofy version of the Titans that currently airs on Cartoon Network. Nope, this series is based on the show that aired from 2003-2006 and was probably 80% serious.
    
   Confusing, huh? So to help- here's a chart:

   *If the Teen Titans GO! comic was originally published from 2003-2008, it's based on the first series.

   * If the comic Teen Titans Go! was published originally from 2014- the present, its based on the comedy series that came afterwards.

   Note: With DC reissuing the earlier collections with new covers, it's even more confusing. So double check original publication copyright dates.

Another Note: The reissues do not match up with the original trade paperback releases. Volume 4: Ready for Action (2005) reprints issues 16-20. This volume from 2017 reprints issues 19-25. So mix-and-matching volumes is not advised unless you like buying multiple copies of stories. 

   Now, don't misunderstand this clarification as a critique on my enjoyment of this book. These stories, that feature rock n' roll zombies, deadly video games, a Freaky-Friday like adventure and the heroes of Titans East, was a very laid-back read. Sometimes you just need the level of drama turned down a couple of notches and this volume did not disappoint. 
  
    Plus, there's a Christmas adventure which caused me great joy and consternation. I literally spent 15 minutes trying to decide whether to read it now or wait 6 more months. Can you guess which idea won out? To sum up the character of Cyborg:

IT'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY, PEOPLE!

   Worth Consuming!

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.


 

Scooby-Doo Team-Up, Volume 1

   I gave up on trying to find the individual issues of this series. I'm a bargain hunter and I couldn't find anything cheaper than cover price. So I went to Amazon where with the price of shipping included, I only spent $4 on a used but very good copy of Scooby-Doo Team-Up Volume 1. 
    The first several issues of this volume are Batman heavy. But that's okay as you always go with your heaviest hitters when doing a team-up series. If this was a Marvel title, the Mystery Gang would be having adventures either with Spider-Man or Deadpool. Plus, the 2 iconic team-up episodes from the 70s Scooby-Doo show with the Dynamic Duo were the inspiration for this series in the first place.
     I know that you, my dear readers, are probably sick to death with my praising SCTU. But I really love this series. I look forward to a new adventure every month thanks to the deft pen of Sholly Fisch and the awesome art talents of Dario Brizuela. 
       This is such a great series and there are lots of very good condition used copies of this volume that you can get for literal pennies on the dollar on Amazon.

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 10 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.

Teen Titans Go! #1 (First Series, Library Edition)

Before Teen Titans Go! was Teen Titans Go!? Before Cartoon Network revived the animated heroes with the 15-minute long minisode series Teen Titans Go!, Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and the rest had a number of adventures on the TV series Teen Titans. In order to not confuse young readers and fans of the cartoon with the older teen rated Teen Titans comic, DC titled their adaptation of the 2003 series Teen Titans Go!

    Now, I wasn't a big fan of the original show. I thought the art was too much like anime, of which I am not the hugest fan. But with the new series which I think is very funny and incredibly silly, I've decided to branch out and give the original series a go.

    Since I don't have access to any of the original episodes on DVD just yet, my next best option was to check out some library edition issues from my favorite source to get some free reads- the Orange County, NC library. In case you are wondering, a library edition is a hardbacked single copy of an original issue. It also contains a glossary of certain words as well as discussion questions for students and the occasional writing exercise.  In this, the premiere issue, the Titans are playing a new video game when they are attacked by the students of the HIVE Academy.

   Unlike a collection of Free Comic Book Day editions of this series, this comic features all-new artwork as well as an original story and not slides from a previously aired episode. I appreciate that as I think issuing a picto-comic of a repeat as a cop-out and a scam to get money for little to no work or effort. The tale was still a little too anime (or, in this case, manga) for my tastes but I still enjoyed this issue. Especially the twist ending.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 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.