Story by Scott Lobdell
Pencils by Brett Booth
Inks by Norm Rasmund
The Solicitation
In the aftermath of their battle with Superboy, the Teen Titans make a horrifying discovery: Kid Flash has been knocked out of synch! If they are going to save their teammate, the badly beaten and battered teens need to sneak into the New York branch of S.T.A.R. Labs – which means that this issue guest-stars none other than Virgil Hawkins, a.k.a. Static! But if the team was hoping to use the lab for some downtime, they are going to be disappointed, because now they must battle a new, young team of supervillains known only as 2.0! All this and the debut of Kid Flash's new costume!
Preview
The Story
The Titans are caught in the lights of a bunch of cops. They are weary and look like they just got beat up, which is true considering that last issue was the one were Superboy kicked all their butts. There are a couple of things to note with this police confrontation. The first is that Red Robin and Batman are apparently well known enough for Red Robin to be recognized as coming from Gotham. Interesting bit of information. Apparently Skitter is just like a child when she is in her Skitter form. Kid Flash, who was seen in a solid, weary form before, apparently started to freak out and is now a huge blur. More on Kid Flash in a minute.
Guest character time! Static gets a friendly visit from the Titans. Static did the work for Red Robin's wings, and Red Robin thinks that Static could help out with getting Kid Flash calmed down. Static, who I am just learning about, works for S.T.A.R. labs as an intern and is very smart. He is an inventor type. He also happens to be teenage. And since Red Robin couldn't reach the Flash to help Kid Flash out, Static happens to be the next best guy to help out.
We then get our introduction to the random villain of the issue. His name is Grymm. Apparently he has some sort of mind control power, which is awesome for those wanting to hear more about mind control of people in comics. Apparently all the good comic book stories have it. I am sick of it.
Now is the perfect time to bring up something about Bart Allen that was slightly referenced before. That cop that they beat up in the beginning of the issue, isn't really a cop! Turns out she is only pretending, as she knows who Bart Allan is and where he comes from! She is some sort of alien and is wondering if any for the Titans realize who Bart Allen is. Apparently he has some sort of rap sheet, although Bart is still claiming amnesia.
We get Wonder Girl wanting to leave the team, AGAIN, and Bunker trying to tell her not to go. She interprets as him hitting on her, he tells her that he is gay. Then we realize that Skitter has become mind controlled by Grymm. Apparently Grymm has no problem telling the Titans how the US government put some genetic implants in him to enhance his metahuman abilities. He can mind control bodies. Which means that Bunker's psionic powers are not controlled by him. Bunker uses that fact to defeat him, and our villain of the issue is defeated.
Go to Kid Flash getting a new costume from Static that is supposed to help stabilize his powers. The Titans now want a round two with Superboy. End Issue.
While I appreciate the name checks in the issue that Scott Lobdell does each issue with the characters, there has to be a better way to present it. The dialogue is just awkward sometimes when characters have to remind each other of their powers and they have to say it out loud. It makes for some hilarious lines of dialogue. Add that to the villain of the issue thing that is going on and Teen Titans is just going down hill for me. The book is introducing character after character and there doesn't seem to be much established character wise besides mystery, mystery, mystery. Maybe less time should be focused on introducing a new villain each week and more time should be spent developing the characters.
I am not liking the direction that the origin of Kid Flash is headed to. I thought the relaunch would give the perfect chance to tell a less complicated origin story, but this seems to be headed in the opposite direction. In the old universe, Kid Flash was the grandson of the original Flash, Barry Allen. He was age accelerated in a virtual reality program that sought to speed up his control of the speed force. He got sent back to present day times and brought his powers under control with the help of Wally West. They became partners. He had a photographic memory. Now it seems to be more complicated and the opposite of what he was before. Sigh.
The Art
It has been pretty consistent since the first issue. A few thoughts did occur to me. First off, why is everything that everyone wears, including the guy in a lab coat and a cop,. have to have skin tight clothing? Is that a law or something?
And second, when you have your big reveal of the new costume for Kid Flash, could you at least try to make his waist seem like a realistic pose? The way it twists reminds me of those broke-backs poses that females have had. Specifically i was thinking of the ones that Rob Leifeld characters would have. If you need reference, there is an awesome site here with some more information.
The Cover
This could have happened in the comic. but it didn't. Red Robin was never in that much of a costume. Grymm and Red Robin never met. Static was never giving CPR to Kid Flash considering the fact that Kid Flash was conscience the whole time. I also wonder why there is no mention of Static's guest appearance. I think the cover would have worked better featuring Static and having the Titans in the background wondering if Kid Flash was going to make it. Have Static pear over Kid Flash's body. Put the words "Fall out from the battle with Superboy" or something like that on there.
Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: From what I can see here, this is a mostly skippable issue. You'll get to see the costume next issue, and that was the whole point of this issue.
Buy Next Issue: I wanted a big bad last issue, but I would like them to stay around for longer than one issue. I'd even ask for Superboy back again this issue. I will be around, but my interest is fading quick.
Previous Issues
Teen Titans #5
Teen Titans #4
Three Issue Trial
No comments:
Post a Comment