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Teen Titans #93: (Late) March comic review #2 (of about 3)
Something else that I've been meaning to do (apart from fic and icons) is to write monthly reviews of the comics that I read (when I buy monthly or, alternatively, when I finish a trade). Here's one review for a comic that came out in March - the second of three I read that month. The first review was for the new revival of the CrossGen title Sigil (link goes to LJ, where the post includes a lengthy plot synopsis (and therefore spoilers)) and it is something I wrote before 3WFDW started.
But for today, I've got a review of DC Comics' Teen Titans #93 (subtitled "Step into the Light") by J. T. Krul [writer], Nicola Scott [penciller], Doug Hazlewood [inker], Sal Cipriano [letterer], and Jason Wright [colourist]. The cover was by Scott and Hazlewood with Wright.
I decided to start reading this title from this issue (and possibly stick with it at least for the first arc) for two reasons: the introduction of a new teen heroine who happens to be from India (like me, although that's where our similarities end, beyond the fact that she has powers and I don't) and because this seemed like a good place to jump in to the Teen Titans title, which I've been meaning to check out for a while anyway.
I like Tim's two-page "introduction" of sorts to the current team of Teen Titans - himself (as Red Robin), Cassie Sandsmark (Wonder Girl), Kon-El/Conner Kent (Superboy), Bart Allen (Kid Flash), Gar Logan (who is Beast Boy here, although he's been called "Changeling" in the past), Rachel Roth (Raven, addressed by her code name more often than her other ("real"?) name IIRC), and Rose Wilson (Ravager).
Interesting that Cassie, Conner (whom I may address as Kon as well, during the course of this post and others), and Bart are only referred to by their hero names in the intro, although I guess it's fairly obvious who their mentors/JLA counterparts are, given their costumes and code names. Gar, Raven, and Rose aren't given their full names, though - they're just referred to as "Gar, Raven, and Rose". I guess that - and brief summary that Tim gives you about them - is really all you need to know about them to read the issue/arc.
The Teen Titans (hereafter TT) are on their way to meet Cassie's archeologist mother, Helena Sandsmark, because she'd asked for help to locate some missing friends. Those friends are two Indian colleagues of hers, Vijay and Rani, whom readers were introduced to in TT #89 (something I only realized today; I've got to go pick it up) and met again briefly in a recent Wonder Girl One-Shot.
When the TT land in Mohenjo-Daro (which is in Pakistan) they meet up with Helena and Kiran, Vijay and Rani's daughter, who is also the heroine Solstice. She's pleased to see Cassie - whom she met in London in the Wonder Girl issue - again, and equally pleased to meet the others. Both Bart and Raven are affected by her, although for very different reasons.
Bart's developed the beginnings of a crush on her, falling easily for a jibe from Rose about letting the "Dark Squire" "steal the limelight". He takes a picture that Kiran was just about to show Tim - a recent photograph of her parents, so that the TT know what Vijay and Rani look like - and does a speedy search of area. When he gets back, Tim breaks up the group into pairs and one trio (Helena, Cassie, Raven) for a slower - and more focused - search. Rose continues to poke fun at Bart (Bart: "Didn't you hear me? I found nothing." Rose: "Breezed through here in seconds. Can't imagine you overlooked anything, Sherlock. Time you learn how the professionals work."). I have to admit I shook my head a little at that whole thing. Oh dear, Bart. :P
Raven, however, is intrigued by Solstice's light powers and her general aura. "To me, emotions are like lighthouses - broadcasting through the fog. Mostly, I see shadows - fear, rage, anxiety. But even given her dilemma, Solstice's spirit remains strong. She beams not with dark - but with light," Raven 'thinks' via text box. Later she determines that Kiran's "positive energy is infectious - carrying over to the others around her. The emotion is bright and hopeful. But nonetheless for me - it's dangerous."
Conner and Tim come across a hunched figure, and when they address the person they find out it's not a person at all - it's a female demon. She sends Kon flying through a wall, which gets Rose and Bart's attention. She manages to dispatch the two of them - and Gar, who comes charging in in a nicely-done scene where he changes from bird to rhino quickly - easily.
But when Kiran flies in from above and blasts the demon with a beam of light(?) from her hands, the latter retreats. She grabs Helena and Cassie, who grabs on to Helena's arm to try to pull her away, and they vanish into what Tim says must be "some kind of dimensional portal". Raven tries to stop the demon from getting away but is overpowered by the darkness and evil she feels in her enemy.
When Kon asks what "that creature" was, Kiran answers - "Tataka. A demon." That means - as Tim points out - that Cassie's in trouble.
And we see that she is! The issue ends an a cliffhanger, with Cassie and Helena confronted by the demon that kidnapped them...and a bigger, nastier-looking one.
The next issue is, apparently, "Wonder Girl's last stand!". Thanks, comic book hyperbole. :P
My thoughts:
It looks good so far! I like Kiran, and I'm glad to be reading a book where I can get a regular dose of Rose (a character I'm intrigued about) as well as the other TT whom I'm not very familiar with, Bart and Kon. I've read quite a bit about Cassie, Raven, and Gar already, so I feel I know more about them and Tim, who is often in the Bat-stories that I read.
I wonder, though, if Kiran's costume's shirt should be a belly-revealing one with rather short sleeves - particularly given that her "poncho" (I'm not really sure what else to call it) seems utterly transparent - while she's in Pakistan. After all, her parents and Helena all take care to wear long sleeves. Cassie's clothing situation is somewhat similar but possibly more easily fixed, given that all she has to do is put on a jacket to cover her sleeveless shirt.
The art is nice - bright (mostly around Kiran and the depiction of teleportation) and grotesque (the demons) as appropriate.
Overall? Interesting stuff. I'm willing to keep reading this title to see where this story goes and to see more of Kiran, her parents, and Helena.
But for today, I've got a review of DC Comics' Teen Titans #93 (subtitled "Step into the Light") by J. T. Krul [writer], Nicola Scott [penciller], Doug Hazlewood [inker], Sal Cipriano [letterer], and Jason Wright [colourist]. The cover was by Scott and Hazlewood with Wright.
I decided to start reading this title from this issue (and possibly stick with it at least for the first arc) for two reasons: the introduction of a new teen heroine who happens to be from India (like me, although that's where our similarities end, beyond the fact that she has powers and I don't) and because this seemed like a good place to jump in to the Teen Titans title, which I've been meaning to check out for a while anyway.
I like Tim's two-page "introduction" of sorts to the current team of Teen Titans - himself (as Red Robin), Cassie Sandsmark (Wonder Girl), Kon-El/Conner Kent (Superboy), Bart Allen (Kid Flash), Gar Logan (who is Beast Boy here, although he's been called "Changeling" in the past), Rachel Roth (Raven, addressed by her code name more often than her other ("real"?) name IIRC), and Rose Wilson (Ravager).
Interesting that Cassie, Conner (whom I may address as Kon as well, during the course of this post and others), and Bart are only referred to by their hero names in the intro, although I guess it's fairly obvious who their mentors/JLA counterparts are, given their costumes and code names. Gar, Raven, and Rose aren't given their full names, though - they're just referred to as "Gar, Raven, and Rose". I guess that - and brief summary that Tim gives you about them - is really all you need to know about them to read the issue/arc.
The Teen Titans (hereafter TT) are on their way to meet Cassie's archeologist mother, Helena Sandsmark, because she'd asked for help to locate some missing friends. Those friends are two Indian colleagues of hers, Vijay and Rani, whom readers were introduced to in TT #89 (something I only realized today; I've got to go pick it up) and met again briefly in a recent Wonder Girl One-Shot.
When the TT land in Mohenjo-Daro (which is in Pakistan) they meet up with Helena and Kiran, Vijay and Rani's daughter, who is also the heroine Solstice. She's pleased to see Cassie - whom she met in London in the Wonder Girl issue - again, and equally pleased to meet the others. Both Bart and Raven are affected by her, although for very different reasons.
Bart's developed the beginnings of a crush on her, falling easily for a jibe from Rose about letting the "Dark Squire" "steal the limelight". He takes a picture that Kiran was just about to show Tim - a recent photograph of her parents, so that the TT know what Vijay and Rani look like - and does a speedy search of area. When he gets back, Tim breaks up the group into pairs and one trio (Helena, Cassie, Raven) for a slower - and more focused - search. Rose continues to poke fun at Bart (Bart: "Didn't you hear me? I found nothing." Rose: "Breezed through here in seconds. Can't imagine you overlooked anything, Sherlock. Time you learn how the professionals work."). I have to admit I shook my head a little at that whole thing. Oh dear, Bart. :P
Raven, however, is intrigued by Solstice's light powers and her general aura. "To me, emotions are like lighthouses - broadcasting through the fog. Mostly, I see shadows - fear, rage, anxiety. But even given her dilemma, Solstice's spirit remains strong. She beams not with dark - but with light," Raven 'thinks' via text box. Later she determines that Kiran's "positive energy is infectious - carrying over to the others around her. The emotion is bright and hopeful. But nonetheless for me - it's dangerous."
Conner and Tim come across a hunched figure, and when they address the person they find out it's not a person at all - it's a female demon. She sends Kon flying through a wall, which gets Rose and Bart's attention. She manages to dispatch the two of them - and Gar, who comes charging in in a nicely-done scene where he changes from bird to rhino quickly - easily.
But when Kiran flies in from above and blasts the demon with a beam of light(?) from her hands, the latter retreats. She grabs Helena and Cassie, who grabs on to Helena's arm to try to pull her away, and they vanish into what Tim says must be "some kind of dimensional portal". Raven tries to stop the demon from getting away but is overpowered by the darkness and evil she feels in her enemy.
When Kon asks what "that creature" was, Kiran answers - "Tataka. A demon." That means - as Tim points out - that Cassie's in trouble.
And we see that she is! The issue ends an a cliffhanger, with Cassie and Helena confronted by the demon that kidnapped them...and a bigger, nastier-looking one.
The next issue is, apparently, "Wonder Girl's last stand!". Thanks, comic book hyperbole. :P
My thoughts:
It looks good so far! I like Kiran, and I'm glad to be reading a book where I can get a regular dose of Rose (a character I'm intrigued about) as well as the other TT whom I'm not very familiar with, Bart and Kon. I've read quite a bit about Cassie, Raven, and Gar already, so I feel I know more about them and Tim, who is often in the Bat-stories that I read.
I wonder, though, if Kiran's costume's shirt should be a belly-revealing one with rather short sleeves - particularly given that her "poncho" (I'm not really sure what else to call it) seems utterly transparent - while she's in Pakistan. After all, her parents and Helena all take care to wear long sleeves. Cassie's clothing situation is somewhat similar but possibly more easily fixed, given that all she has to do is put on a jacket to cover her sleeveless shirt.
The art is nice - bright (mostly around Kiran and the depiction of teleportation) and grotesque (the demons) as appropriate.
Overall? Interesting stuff. I'm willing to keep reading this title to see where this story goes and to see more of Kiran, her parents, and Helena.