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.

Teen Titans, Vol. 1: A Kid's Game!

I don't know why I don't actively seek out the works of Geoff Johns. Everything of his that he writes has been something that I've enjoyed. I truly don't think he's ever written a bad sentence in his entire career. Maybe it's the subject matter. But that not entirely true. I'm a big fan of the Flash. He's one of my top 5 favorite superheroes. Yet, I think I've only read a fraction of The Flash books written by Geoff Johns.

I've owned this opening volume of Johns' Teen Titans for at least a decade I'd say. It was something my best friend owned that I inherited. While I added this book willingly to my collection, for the longest time I just couldn't bring myself to read it. Then my online database up and shutdown so as I rebuild a personal directory of my collection, I'm making decisions over whether to keep a lot of the unread pieces of my collection or not.

'A Kid's Game!' takes place almost immediately after the events of 'Graduation Day'. With the death of two Titans, both Young Justice and the Titans disbanded. In the aftermath there are two schools of thought: no more team-ups led by Nightwing or Cyborg's vision to train the next generation of superheroes. With the blessing more or less of Batman, Superman and Wally West, Cyborg along with Starfire and Beast Boy have agreed to act as mentors to the revitalized Teen Titans. With their tutelage on the weekends, Robin, Superboy and Impulse will finally see action not as sidekicks but full-fledged heroes.

Lurking in the background is a third party who intensely believes that children should not wear capes. Whomever this mystery player is, they'll be willing to maim and kill to keep the Teen Titans from reforming. Even if who they hurt is a teenaged hero.

Mike McKone's, artwork, among others, matches so well with this storyline. The first 3 issues of this version of the Teen Titans sold out and went into multiple prints and I can see why! That buddy cop humor between those 3 amigos, Tim Drake, Con-El, now Conner Kent, and Bart Allen has carried over from Young Justice. The art is almost as fanciful as the original art from that series. Only it's a tad more refined. The action was so fast paced and I was so engrossed in this new era of Teen Titans that as soon as I finished this volume I ran to where I keep my collection and pulled out volume 2! If it's only half as captivating as this volume, I am in for one heck of a treat!

Excellent covers by the late Michael Turner.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

DC's T'was the 'Mite Before Christmas #1

This year's annual holiday release from DC Comics is representative of the complaints many of the fans of the publisher have been grousing about all year. The story telling is pretty darn good; but could be better. The artwork has devolved collectively. And the DCU is just too full of lame characters in an attempt to diversify it's lineup in order to appease every demographic.

As with 80-page giants of year's past, there are 8 stories inside. Batwoman outsources some help when the Riddler terrorizes Gotham over the 8 nights of Hanukkah. Superman gives a dose of his signature hope and optimism to a young man in crisis on a lonely Christmas Eve. Batmite makes a holiday visit to the Batcave where he encounters Damian Wayne for the very first time to disastrous effects. Lex Luthor is visited by a trio of spirits while the Raven is left home alone at Titans Tower during an attack by members of the Fearsome Five. Harley Quinn and Princess Amethyst switch roles for the holidays as a techno-virus turns Booster Gold into a clone of Santa Claus. And then there's a D-level former member of the Teen Titans who feels sorry for himself and receives a dose of It's a Wonderful Life. 

All of the stories except for that last one were of a quality ranking for a 6 or higher. The Superman, Lex Luthor and Raven stories were 9s or better. Booster's tale, the Harley switcheroo and Batmite stories were decent. The Batwoman story could have been better. Yes, it is very heavy on LGBTQ+ themes. But that's not why I ranked it low. The solutions for the Riddler's puzzles were really confusing and that art of the last page looked like it was drawn by somebody else. It just didn't look right from the rest of the story.

The one story that stunk was indeed a part of DC's Pride line-up. But again, that's not why I gave that story a 2 out of 10. It was a lame story about an even lamer superhero named Bunker, who I've never heard of in 40 plus years of reading comic books. That being said, I refuse to believe that someone as virtually unknown as Bunker would really be the catalyst to saving the DC Universe from Dominators. I could think of dozens of low-level characters who would have more of a direct impact over the DC Universe if they weren't born than Bunker. Ragman. Obsidian. Crazy Quilt. CALENDAR MAN!

I'm also shocked that of these 8 stories there's not 1 tale starring a black or Asian character. 

Another thing missing has to do with something I applaud DC for at least making a small effort to include. As I mentioned, the Superman story involves a young man who is about to commit suicide on Christmas Eve until the Man of Steel stops him. Inside the back cover of this book there are a couple of phone numbers and other contacts for suicide prevention including the Jed Foundation for teens and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). As one who experienced a best friend killing themselves (and was a huge DC fan), I appreciate DC Comics including those contacts. But why didn't they include 988, the new, easier to remember phone number of the National Suicide and Crisis hotline??? I asked my wife about this omission and her being a social worker was appalled at 988's absence. 

I liked a majority of this book. The Ben Caldwell cover and the clever pun to A Visit From St. Nicolas with the book's title were awesome. It's just that there was too much focus on characters that aren't big names in DC Comics. I can't believe I am gonna say this but I think it would be best if DC killed off 50% of it's cast of characters. And not for a brief snap like with The Infinity Gauntlet. Kill off all of the C and D list characters. Get rid of all of the legacy characters. Keep it to one Flash, one Robin, one Superman for 5 years. (Multiple Green Lanterns would be allowed. Just not as many as usual.) Write good stories that focus on quality instead of quantity. You can still have black, Asian, gay/queer, and Latino characters. Just make the field of players smaller for a little while in order to appeal to readers who want to be entertained. I understand that people need to feel represented in the media they enjoy. But just because I have a pair of adopted goats, I don't need DC to create a superhero who has a Nigerian Dwarf for a sidekick to feel like I have a place in this world. 

T'was the Bat Mite Before Christmas had good storytelling. Now DC should get back to great storytelling instead of trying to check boxes to make everyone happy. And while you're at it, recruit some new art talent. This holiday special was definitely NOT a feast for the eyes. 

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Are You Afraid of Darkseid? #1 (One-Shot)

It's time for DC's annual Halloween offering. Though not officially billed as a horror holiday title, DC consistently produces a yearly 80-pager filled with chills, thrills and giggles.

The framing story for this special has the Damian Wayne led Teen Titans bonding around a campfire. To pass the time, the team tell an assortment of ghostly tales.

The first story is a team-up between title character and New God Darkseid and that DC darlin',  Harley Quinn. Together, this unlikely pair take on a perverse version of the legend of Bloody Mary. With a great twist scare ending, the first was definitely the best of the bunch.

Don't think for a minute that it's all downhill from the very beginning. The continued bantering between the Teen Titans is just pure brilliance. And I took quite a bit of delight with just about every tale offered.

Other stories of note include Aqualad and Aquaman investigating the legend of Ogopogo, Clark Kent and Lois Lane on the search for a pair of missing twins, a Wonder Woman/Vixen team-up that had me wishing for a regular series between the two and a Batman-styled urban legend. 

There was only 1 story that I wasn't very big on. It's an epic starring the Phantom Stranger and that poignant pathway from life to death. Wasn't a bad story. It just was very deep and one of those prose tales that if you don't understand all the references and Easter eggs buried within, you miss out on most of the plot. Beautifully illustrated. But for a Phantom Stranger fan who loves his eerie exploits, this romanticized piece was a bit of a disappointment.

The cover was illustrated by Dan Hipp. I'm familiar with his work on the most recent incarnation of Teen Titans Go! Considering how much the Damian Wayne Robin is like the spastic Robin on the Cartoon Network farce, I'm wondering if I've been missing out by not following the most current comic version of the DCU's Teen Titans... It's definitely worth further exploration!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars. 

Dark Nights: Metal: The Resistance

In general, when a publisher has a major crossover event, the tie-in issues offer very little to the completion of the story. That's not the case here. In fact, after reading these tie-ins from Teen Titans, Nightwing, Suicide Squad, Green Arrow, Justice League of America, The Flash and Green Lantern Corps, I actually understand the wildly popular Dark Nights: Metal even more!

From just reading Dark Nights: Metal only, I didn't understand how the evil Batmen had managed to capture so many heroes and villains. I also didn't understand Dick Grayson's supposed draw to the mysterious metals. Those elements are cleared up thanks to these issues. Plus, if you are a fan of Harley Quinn, she's done to perfection here!

This volume was a great teaming of the talents of Joshua Williamson, Jeff Lemire, Ethan Van Sciver, Liam Sharp and Tyler Kirkham. I am a big fan of their work on their individual titles. It's Scott Snyder, Geoff Johns and Bendis who are getting the chance to create the all-encompassing stories. But I would like the earlier group, who worked on this volume, to get a chance to tackle a multi-title crossover event. I think that they'd be amazing at it. This collection is proof they've got the chops!

One tends to over look the tie-in issues in a company wide event. That would be the wrong way to go with this awesome volume!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Showcase Presents: Teen Titans, Vol. 1

I will read anything in comic book form. But if you had to make me choose between

Marvel and DC, I'd have to side with the Distinguished Competition. That being said,

DC has never been perfect. It's had just as many hits as it has had misses. One thing that Marvel destroyed DC on was how it published the generation gap of the late 1960s.

The very book that I am reviewing today is an excellent case in point in how the elder

statesmen writers of DC had trouble relating to the teens of the Vietnam era.

This book collects the first 18 issues of the original Teen Titans series along with the team's very first appearances in The Brave and the Bold and Showcase. From the first story, the main theme was that when it comes to teens, adults just

don't understand. When the teens of a small coastal town go on strike, the sidekicks

of Batman, Aquaman and the Flash agree to intervene.

The Teen Titans were created to help troubled teenagers have a voice when the old

folks won't listen. Even the Caped Crusader shows his age in the earliest adventures

calling Robin a wild and rebellious teen. Yet the Titans are anything but. Along with late addition Wonder Girl, these heroes would go undercover as regular teens. Yet, they're so clean cut that anyone else with street smarts would finger these kids as narcs.

Bob Haney does manage to create some pretty awesome villains for the Titans to combat. There's the British fop, the Mad Mod, who rivals the Joker in level of criminal

genius. Then there's the grotesquely costumed Gargoyle. He's got a vendetta against

one of the Teen Titans. But unfortunately, we never find out why in this volume. Plus who can forget Ebenezer Scrounge in the classic Christmas caper?!

Yes, Teen Titans did villains well. But in terms of the teens themselves, I think

someone did their research on kids from the 1940s. All of the teens in this book are

squares- except for the guest stars! Speedy, Beast Boy and a Russian lad named

Starfire are all welcome visitors to this massive collection. But as for Robin and his

cohorts, they might as well be speaking Japanese with their ridiculous attempts at

young adult slang!

Things do seem to be changing for the better in the last 3-4 stories. We get different writers contributing including an early stint by New Teen Titanslegend, Marv Wolfman.

I found myself disappointed that this volume came to a close when it did. Things

started getting good!

At least there's a volume 2. However it's getting increasingly difficult to find Showcasecollected volumes for a good price, much less at all.

A mixed bag of teen angst from a time when DC's best and brightest just couldn't

relate.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

DC Holiday Special 2017 #1

DC Comics made 2017 a holiday season to remember yet again! In a massive holiday special, a team of legendary writers and illustrators put together 10 amazing stories including a Neal Adams Batman classic from the 70s.

Highlights of this holiday special include:

• A World War II tale recounted by Sgt. Rock spans a frosty week in the life of a wounded Allied solider and his Nazi captive.
• The Teen Titans take on the Ghost of Christmas Past and the nasty memories of holiday horrors from yesteryear.
• The Flash struggles to find time for his nephew Wally on Christmas Eve.
• Batman Icon Denny O'Neil returns to Gotham with a Solstice story starring the Dark Knight and Wonder Woman.
• And much more...

For the second year in a row, DC asked a cover price of $9.99 and I willingly shelled it out. Last year, the entertained the hell out of me! And they did it again this year!

The 2016 special had Harley Quinn as host and a superhero hero holiday party as the centralizing element of the special. That stabilizer was the only thing missing from this edition. 

Worth every penny, if you only buy one holiday special this season (well, it's Christmas Eve, so what's left of it,) this is the one to get! Shame on you Marvel for being a Scrooge this year!

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.


 

Limited Collectors Edition C-34 (Christmas With the Super-Heroes)

   If there really is a holy grail of Christmas comics, this book would be one of the two most sought after by long-time collectors (The Marvel Holiday Grab-Bag would be the other!) This tabloid sized collection of Christmas themed reprints and all-new material is a perennial favorite. On Facebook groups like Unite the DCU Project, this book pops up a lot during the holiday season. Either someone just received the book or another is desperate to add it to their collection before Christmas comes. 
   Well this spring, I was pretty lucky to stumble across a fairly decent copy for a pretty sweet price. And then like with all the other holiday comics I find over the year, I waited until the season finally arrived. (Hey, I waited over 30 years for my copy, so what's with a couple more months...) So was it worth the long wait?
   Limited Collectors Edition C-34 (AKA Christmas With the Super-Heroes) starts off with a Denny O'Neil Batman classic in which the Dark Knight races through the snow to stop a mad who seeks vengeance on the man who laid him off before the holidays. Up next is a 1940's Captain Marvel tale in which the Big Red Cheese helps a store Santa get his job back after being wrongly accused of setting a fire. 
      The third adventure was a never before published yarn starring that wacky detective duo: Angel and the Ape. Here, the pair are involved in an international caper involving stolen gems, spooky monsters, and even old St. Nick. 
      A reprint of the classic Nick Cardy Teen Titans version of the Christmas Carol and a 1947 Superman adventure round out the stories in this collection. The Titans story was groovy fun but I really had issues with the Man of Steel story. I dunno which was worse: the ridiculous premise of Superman putting on a holiday pageant during a major flood event or having Superman/ Clark Kent and Lois Lane's 1940s faces superimposed with their more modern 1974 looks. 
     Throughout this collection are nifty Christmas trivia challenges, a 1975 super hero themed wall calendar, an activity for making your own DC Comics themed Christmas cards, and a math brain teaser that really is magic. Lastly, is a look at how some of your favorite DC villains celebrate Christmas. 
     This was a really fun comic book collection. It was so worth the wait. There's at least 1 sister piece to this book and oddly enough, even though it's not as sought after as this book, it's actually the harder of the pair to find. If you can find either one- it's worth obtaining. But don't break the bank for them either.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 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

Legends of the DC Universe #18

This issue is a prequel to the groundbreaking New Teen Titans 
#1 by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. Once again, we get the original series writer crafting an ‘untold tale’ but for some reason Legends just can’t seem to capture the services of the original artists. I’m not sure why the editors of these series just couldn’t achieve this feat. Yet if there ever was an issue that demanded the original artist’s touch- it’s this one!

In this issue we learn more about the mysterious Raven’s heritage and life before arriving on earth. Determined to defeat her father, the Demon Trigon, she makes the first attempt to create the New Teen Titans. Meanwhile, Wally West is experiencing growing pains of sorts. He’s coming of age, but as Kid Flash, he’s not quite his own person and still very much in the shadow of his Flash predecessors. Having trouble balancing personal life with heroic duty, it seems like everything is falling apart for the junior speedster.

Thus, we learn why Raven and Kid Flash have such a bond in the pages of New Teen Titans. I must admit, it’s weird seeing Wally and Raven as lovers. I’m more used to Beast Boy pining for the demoness. I don’t mind this, it’s just weird like watching your divorced parents kiss or something that odd.

I mentioned earlier that George Perez was sorely needed for the artwork. Well, that’s not 100% true. Yes, I would’ve liked to have seen his handiwork here. But I must give props to Butch Guice who does a superior job. Raven never looked more exotic and seductive while also showing an air of weakness as she’s not quite ready to face the real world. So, if I must have a substitute artist for the Titans, my money will now be on Guice from now on.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 9 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.

Legends of the DC Universe 80-Page Giant #1

The 80-page giant-sized comic- that was a thing of beauty and sheer joy! A 100-page comic was even better but regardless, when you got one of these you knew you were in for a treat. They were affordable anywhere from a buck to $1.25. You’d always get at least 4 stories, maybe more per issue. One or two stories would star a A-lister superhero (like Superman or Batman), one tale would be from a middle-tier character (maybe Green Arrow or Aquaman) and another tale would be from a more obscure character that was pretty weird but a cult favorite (like Metamorpho or Deadman.) I absolutely loved them and you usually could find these in bargain bins for dirt cheap.Since Legends of the DC Universe is trying to evoke some of the nostalgia with these untold tales of the DC superhero elite, it seemed natural that their first special would be a Giant. If you read the letters page in issue 3, the editors revealed that they had tons of responses for characters that fans wanted to see highlighted. Some were perfect for a multi-story arc while some just were A-list material to carry this series all by their lonesome. So, this special was created to give the people what they wanted without sending LOTDCU into the economic crapper.

The premise follows a time-travelling hero called Chronos. I am pretty sure, he’s not the yellow and green masked arch-villain of the Atom but I am not sure. A mysterious time-travelling alien approaches Chronos in hopes of keeping him from robbing a sacred tomb. To try to dissuade Chronos into doing the right thing and not sell the tomb’s artifacts to Vandal Savage, the pair goes through-out time and space viewing the adventures of some of the most classic DC characters around.

With Chronos, prepare to see the Spectre ease the conscious of a guilt-ridden survivor of the Titanic, thrill with Adam Strange as he teleports from earth to across the stars to save the planet Rann. Learn the secrets of Hawkman and Hawkgirl’s ability to speak with birds while discovering how Rip Hunter keeps surviving his dangerous trips through time. Lastly, grieve with Beast Boy over the loss of his teammates, the Doom Patrol while you experience the first ‘unofficial’ team-up of the New Teen Titans.

This issue is a who’s who of talent, including Steve Ditko, Dave Gibbons, Joe Kubert, and  Marv Wolfman, and George Perez. It’s loaded with some of the greats.

I really enjoyed this special. It’s a shame that DC didn’t make more of these but there’s always nostalgic comic collectors and hope. So, who knows, maybe it will come back again.

Oh, and the revelation as to who Chronos’ mystery traveler is- brilliant. Just absolutely bloody brilliant and it was the icing on the cake!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

DC Comics Presents Teen Titans 100-page Spectacular One-shot

 

Here’s one thing I have learned about the 100-page Spectaculars of DC’s, they’re reprints. So, despite this fact that I find these guys in bargain bins, the chances are that there’s something in these treasuries that I’ve read. That’s the case here as I’ve already read (and probably reviewed) the main attraction of this book: the Teen Titans Lost Annual.

 

Since I’ve already reviewed it, I won’t mince words again. But, if you want to read my review of the Lost Annual CLICK HERE.

 

The rest of this comic was devoted the epic DC works of Mike and Laura Allred (who crafted the Lost Annual) - perhaps my favorite pencils and inking duo in all of comicdom. Along the way, we get a visit from Bizarro, watch Hourman make the most out of an hour’s worth of Miraclo, see how the boys from New Genesis unwind, and catch an “unaired” episode of the 1960s Batman TV show. Rounding out the back-up features in a no holds barred house party held by the Teen Titans in Bruce Wayne’s bachelor pad. This romp is a Who’s Who of 60s super hero teams and teens, including the Doom Patrol,  the Legion of Super-heroes, as well as Supergirl and Batgirl. It’s hilarious and a little inappropriate- I LOVE IT!!!

 

I love the Allreds. Their style is retro (and colorful and ultra-clean) and they’ve got such an affinity for nostalgia. Plus, Michael is extremely witty and has a wicked sense of humor. These guys make this book worth reading and hopefully, one day, I’ll get to meet them at a Con.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out 10 stars.

Tiny Titans, Volume 6: the Tree House and Beyond

 

The duo of Art Baltazar and Franco prove once again that Tiny Titans is just for little kids. In this issue, Talon, an Earth-3 version of Robin unleashes a plethora of alternate universe versions of the Titans. Now, I must ask how many kids are going to understand the concept of the multiverse? Okay, maybe someone about ages 12 and up. But, Tiny Titans is supposedly for kids under 10. Maybe I’m just too naïve about today’s youth.

 

OKAY- now that I think about it, I was 6 or 7 when I read the first ever crossover of the JLA and JSA from the 1960s and I understood it. So, maybe I am an old fuddy duddy.

 

In this volume are Robin’s galore and I’m not talking about birds. Every version of Robin, including Cassie from The Dark Knight Returns teams up with every version of Batgirl for an all-out Batgirl/ Robin party. (How they added Damian to the mix was hilarious)

 

 Funny enough, the character of Stephanie dresses as both characters as she does in the adult version of Batman. If anything, Tiny Titans is a good primer for when young DC readers get ready to graduate to the grown-up books. I wish I had this as a kid.

 

I guess I’m trying to make excuses for loving a kid’s comic. Well, I’m done with that. Tiny Titans is an award winning series and I think it’s just a blast to read. I recommend this series highly and parents you can rest assured that this series is appropriate for your aspiring comic collector.

 

Worth Consuming.

 

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Tiny Titans, Volume 3: Sidekickin’ It

I love this series. Yes, it’s for kids. But, like any good Disney/ Pixar movie there’s stuff in this series that are clever Easter eggs just for the grown-ups. For example, (PE) Coach Lobo tells the Tiny Titans that life on his home planet was full of dolphins. Kids might think that’s funny. Adults in the know (like me) would understand that despite as tough as Lobo is, he’s got a soft spot for space dolphins.

Art Baltazar and Franco are comic geniuses that truly love the DC Universe. Their stories reflect the rich history of DC’s past and present. No wonder these guys have won tons of Eisner awards for this series.

It’s pure joy for everyone and I am so glad my library got 3 new volumes of this awesome series.

AWWWWWW, Yeah!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Teen Titans Go! #4 (2003-08 series)

Sure, the comic is titled Teen Titans Go, but the book is based on the original Teen Titans cartoon, not the most recent revival of the series that oddly has the same name as this comic. I’m not sure why DC did that except maybe to not cause confusion with the regular Teen Titans title which is rated for teens and is not all-age friendly as this book is.

In this issue, Cyborg and Beast Boy dare Robin to take Starfire out on a date after she discovers Valentine’s Day. Along the way, a villain that I’ve never heard of before has his sights set on turning the Titans into his very own squad of puppets.

I liked this comic. But, to be honest, I like the new Teen Titans Go series more than this one. The new series is funny and I like the art better.  The secondary story of Raven finding love with a Goth is very funny and reminds me of the current show. I will give this comic some props because the first comic based on the TV show was a “pictographic comic,” using stills taken directly from the cartoon and are not original stories. Marvel does this with the Ultimate Spider-man series and I hate it.

This original art and story Valentine’s Day special is a welcome addition to my collection. The cover does actually occur in the book and normally that is a huge pet peeve. However, I think Robin is being snogged by cupid and the Titans in the back ground are having a Valentine fight, so I think the cover is supposed to be more symbolic than a promise of dangerous love by an arrow welding vixen.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.