Teen Titans: Scott Lobdell, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse, Dezi Sienty

We get a bit of a peek into Cassie’s origin, which is great. I’ve been wondering this whole time what she’s all about. Why she’s now considered a thief, and why she doesn’t want to be called “Wonder Girl.” Apparently it’s all to do with this silent armor thingy she wears. It takes her over, and changes her somehow. She becomes more violent and, basically, is unstoppable. I’m wondering exactly how strong she is with this armor, as half-Kryptonian Superboy can’t even scratch the stuff.

At the end of last issue, she begged the boys to help her. Tim and Conner take her out to the woods to Alfred’s cabin to try and get her to see reason. Apparently, when it takes control, she calls herself Wonder Girl…which would explain why Cassie hates being called that, because she hates being that person it makes her.

They form a plan to get through her armor with Superboy’s telekinesis, and they tear the armor from her body. That’s when we finally see the HUGE spikes that were driven into her, connecting the armor to her flesh. It’s pretty crazy. I suddenly feel a lot of sympathy for Cassie and her struggle. I’m also wondering what this means for the character later on.

So she’s disconnected from it now. Does this mean she’s powerless? Doesn’t have super-strength? Can’t fly? It’s not explained exactly where her powers come from. After this whole thing is resolved, will she still have the bracers for reflecting bullets and stuff? How about the electric lasso of electricity pain?

We suddenly meet Diesel…this dude who apparently loved Cassie before she spurned his advances and made him hate her guts. Here’s where we get more of that “teen” stuff. I dig that there’s that undertone. In this issue, we also get a small glimpse of the budding romance between Bart and Kiran. It’s funny because they can’t seem to help showing it. Last issue, Kiran calls Bart her sweetie or honey or something, and in this one it’s Bart’s turn to accidentally refer to her that way.

Diesel, however, wants Cassie’s silent armor powers for himself. He has his own version, sure, but he wants MOAR! It’s said that having the silent armor means you’re the “harbinger of the end of the world.” Cassie agrees with this, as she then says that if she’s not the one to wear it, a world dies. A world. Not the world. This is interesting. Is there another world in danger? Part of me wonders how invested I’ll be if it’s not Earth facing the threat.

Brett’s still pulling out great artwork in this book. I like how Tim looks more and more each issue. Cassie even looks sexy in this issue. We finally get to see her buff side, thanks to her pajamas. Love the coloring work by Dalhouse too. That last page is really spectacular. 

Teen Titans #12, the verdict: This issue had less of those tacky dialog issues that made everything feel really old-fashioned, so that’s always a plus. Though I still think the villain went on and on too much. This issue, however, does have me excited to see what comes next. But we’ll have to wait. The Zero Issue is still to come, where we learn the origin of Tim Drake! The not-Robin!

(Photo Source: iFanBoy)

Teen Titans: Scott Lobdell, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse, Dezi Sienty, Cliff Chiang

When Dinosaurs Walked the Earth: Fabian Nicieza, Jorge Jimenez, Dezi Sienty, Brad Anderson

Great cover!! I included Cliff Chiang’s name there in the credits because his name appears on the cover with the others, even though he’s not actually listed on the title page inside. Isn’t that weird? That always bugs me, even if Cliff asked not to be credited, because I feel like someone’s not doing their job or something. Like someone should’ve remembered to put his name in the credits, and didn’t.

This is an issue full of great art by Booth and Rapmund, and excellent collors from Dalhouse. Although, I should point out, with this team, when is it not good? That first page tells us a lot. Cassie’s in pain because of the silent armor (I guess that’s what it’s called) that’s breaking through her skin. The mirror’s cracked and broken and she lies on the floor. I can just see the previous page being full of her writhing around, slamming her body against the walls.

Right in the other room, Solstice, Bunker, and Kid Flash are fighting against this blue-skinned monster of a dude. This is Loose Cannon, apparently, and he was part of a failed recruitment process Bunker decided to try out. Unfortunately, this makes me think that the Titans won’t be looking forward to any new team members in the near future.

Now, with Loose Cannon and the Titans making all this noise, it’s a wonder Cassie doesn’t hear it or come do something about it. But, then, I cannot assume that she’s not aware of the fighting. Maybe some action words at the bottom of that first page, like, “Wham! Crash! Bonk!” or something would tell us the noise of their fight is permeating through the walls. Perhaps she was hiding in the bathroom because she didn’t want her armor to come out and take over, or something.

Cassie does come out and fights Loose Cannon, letting the armor take over. He displays a suddenly different ability when he lets out these energy ropes that can suck power from other people. This doesn’t seem to fit his character type of big, hulking, strong, breaking-things. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that combination. I can’t tell whether I like the innovation or if it’s just too ridiculous.

Next we get a hint of things to come - someone hunting Cassie, followed by Bunker and KF sitting among the rubble of their penthouse watching TV. I still can’t believe Bunker wears shirts like he has on here. If he’s supposed to be gay, you’d think he’d have better style. Speaking of style, looks like Superboy is getting closer to his preboot look with the sleeveless version of his NOWHERE suit and jeans (even sunglasses! At night!). Though why sunglasses and a sleeveless shirt equal being into Miley Cyrus, I’ll never understand. This is the comment some bimbo makes to Superboy about his style.

The penthouse is under attack again, and KF and Bunker are quickly downed. There’s this ridiculous moment where Solstice shouts, “My love!” when Bart passes out and she confesses their feelings for each other to Bunker. It’s one of those moments where the dialog just doesn’t sound natural. There are a few others in this ish, which is a disappointment. Solstice has this REALLY cool moment that, honestly, I’ve been waiting for since the Culling. Then Superboy and Red Robin arrive at the penthouse to check out what’s going on, and we find out Solstice’s really cool moment apparently meant nothing. Bummer.

The back-story introduces us to the dino characters we see in DC Universe Presents #12, with Kid Flash. Teryx, Steg, and Dac infiltrate Chinatown and run among the people in the streets…while also worrying about “getting lost in the crowd.” Dac is flying above, and Teryx is wanting her to keep them in her sight. ….Is it hard to see dino-people with tails, weird-colored skin, and anime hair? Jimenez’s art is fantastic, but Nicieza’s writing is uncharacteristically bad.

Teen Titans #11, the verdict: With the refreshing success of last issue, I was hoping this one would continue to deliver on that…but it’s just plain “meh.” Aside from the great artwork by Booth, Rapmund, Dalhouse, Jimenez, and Anderson, it’s just really bland. And that’s odd because you think with an issue where Cassie’s armor takes her over and has her hurting the teammates, it’d be more exciting or feel more dangerous. Also, who cares? Why are all of my comic books doing the in-fighting thing? WHAT HAPPENED TO GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED VILLAINS?!

(Photo Source: Comic Vine)

DC Universe Presents: Fabian Nicieza, Jorge Jimenez, Guy Major, Dezi Sienty, Ryan Sook, Scott Lobdell

Not since Flashpoint’s “Kid Flash: Lost” mini-series has Bart had his very own title. It’s a shame that this DC Universe Presents arc is only one issue long. Could neither Nicieza nor DC Comics be persuaded to keep us fans excited for a couple issues more? Savage got 3 issues. Hell, that awful Challengers arc had 3 terrible issues. Bart only gets one? Anyway, being the “go-to” Bart Allen fan on the internet (self-appointed), there were things about this issue I liked, and things I didn’t. But, overall, it was a good issue, and I’m glad Kid Flash got his moment to shine — and shine he did.

The story picks up from the end of Teen Titans 11, where Bart’s discovered dino-people in Chinatown. He gives chase and makes friends with on named Dac. They decide to find her friends, Teryx and Steg. What I think was interesting about this whole thing was how Bart didn’t seem to have any trouble turning Dac and Teryx from foes into friends. I suppose that’s attributable to Bart’s likability, but when it came to Teryx, it seemed too easy.

Then again, Bart did really overpower him. A couple of my favorite parts come from that — where Bart says he was holding back, and then unleashes — and where Bart tries to convince Dac that he doesn’t do everything fast. This is hilarious because of the constant jokes I’ve heard over the years about superspeedsters in the sack. Another of the best parts come from Bart’s interaction with the police on the scene. Nothing but honestly funny stuff here.

At the end, it feels like the book is trying to introduce us to Teryx as a new on-going character. While it might be interesting to have him on the team as a Teen Titan, I really don’t think they’re going in that direction. So it makes me think more that he’s going to be one of those back-stories at the end of the next issue or few of Teen Titans. That’s not something I’m interested in or looking forward to. I would have rather the story continue on into the next DC Universe Presents issue, really. With or without Bart (preferably with, come on).

The only other thing that caught me off-guard with this issue was how Bart was thinking so romantically at the beginning. Now, I have no clue what the relaunch has done to Bart’s aging process and all that (though we do know he’s still from the future). But I guess even preboot they had Bart in romantic relationships - just not a lot. What Lobdell’s been doing with Bart and Kiran is good, because it’s believable, after all they’ve done together…which reminds me of Bart and Carol from the Impulse book. That ALL having been said…Nicieza does add a disclaimer at the beginning by having Bart say, “Continuity doesn’t really matter! Clarity is overrated!” So he kind of wrote himself an “out,” as it were.

Finally, the last thing I liked about this issue, is the art. And I mean the interiors, not the cover. I loved the tease cover issue Sook did and released prior, but this cover makes Bart look WEIRD. Maybe it’d be better without the red mask eyes (I always hated that design decision). Jimenez does a great job of capturing — as I’ve said before — Bart’s ever-emotive face. The expressions we see in this issue are classic Bart. Everything else is done very well, too, I say. Major does a great job on colors too. One thing I didn’t understand was why Dac appeared to be wearing a dino suit. Her wings are stitched together, and her face is in the middle of beak, instead of actually being the head. Weird.

DC Universe Presents #12, the verdict: It’s a well put-together issue, I’ll say that much. I did enjoy it, and I did find myself laughing at Bart’s rambunctious behavior. Nicieza did a great job in capturing his spirit. I would definitely like to see him tackle an ongoing Bart arc or something. He talks a lot, he’s all over the place, and he’s referential as crazy. It makes me want to read Impulse again, so that’s good. Jimenez’s art is a god-send when you think about some of the artists that could have been assigned here. Just look at that first splash page where Bart’s air-tackling Dac. His face is perfect. I know I’m going to continue to enjoy this issue in the months to come.

(Photo Source: iFanBoy)