Post by David on May 31, 2009 20:58:28 GMT -5
Hi, and welcome back to The DC2 Pull List!
Check back every Monday for member reviews of each week's new issues! We will also spotlight one title every week to critique and discuss, interview the writer and artist and celebrate the talent and effort that goes into creating the #1 DCU fan fiction/art site on the web!
Few superhero teams inspire the kind of nostalgia or loyalty that fans have for the Teen Titans. But these sidekicks of Batman, Wonder Woman and the Flash have long since come out of their mentors' shadows, and have carved their own names and exploits in the annals of legend. And no writer at the DC2 is more closely associated with these characters than Jay McIntyre, who has had the defining run on Teen Titans, guiding beloved characters to a new era of greatness!
This week's Spotlight Title is Teen Titans #42, and joining me are Brian Burchette (writer New Outsiders, Green Arrow, Titans West), House Of Mystery (writers Detective Comics, DC2 Nemesis, The Question) and representing the creative team for this issue is Jay McIntyre (writer Teen Titans, Titans: Resistance, Elseworlds Editor-in-Chief),.
As always, beware of SPOILERS below!
(click on cover to go straight to the issue)
Written by Jay McIntyre
Art by Jamie Rimmer
CHARLIE: This issue reminded me, after a long period of not-reading, what is so good about Jay's run on Teen Titans. This wasn't meandering, or slow, it was punchy, expressive, and every word counted in every single vibrant sentence! Bravo, Jay, for pulling me back in!
JAY: Well, thank you Charlie. I did my best to tie in all the relevant goings on in the DC2 Universe, at least in how they relate to the Titans, and of course Nemesis is part of that.
Circe didn't want to act "normally" for her here, she wanted to throw down with Wonder Girl, and I felt that odd; it was definitely a case of the character not doing what the writer wanted. But Nemesis was the perfect explanation why.
It's no secret to say that this is a pivotal story and a pivotal time for Donna Troy, both in Wonder Woman and in this title. Circe's challenge is part of that, and symbolic of it also. At least, that's what I hoped to achieve.
Anybody have a problem keeping track of all the players in big fights like this one?
CHARLIE: I thought the fight scene was succinct and simple, in that you could keep track of everyone, and everyone had their moment to shine-- I'm always weary of fight scenes, I fear they can become repetitive, "punch-block-kick-block-snappy banter, rinse, repeat", but this was snappy and immediate.
DAVID: I had no problems following the fight scene. In fact, I think that Jay writes some of the best fight scenes out there!
Team books like Teen Titans are notoriously difficult to write, because the writer has an obligation to each and every character on a roster. Action Comics can get by as long as Superman is done well, same with Detective Comics and Batman--- but with a book like Teen Titans, you've got to please fans of Starfire, Beast Boy, Kid Flash, etc. So what's your trick, Jay? You've been writing Teen Titans longer than anybody else, how do you continue to make these characters compelling month after month?
JAY: Well, it's probably because I'm a Titans fan. Not just a Terra fan; I mean hey, everybody knows that much about me. But all of them, at least all of them on the two Titans books (one regular continuity and one Elseworlds) that I write.
It also helps to have a lot of story ideas, which I do.
And thank you, but I don't think my fight scenes are quite as good as, say, the ones I see in JSA. I keep envisioning these epic hollywood movie fights in my head...and what comes out is more like a play-by-play announcer describing a pay-per-view event to the reader, heh. But I'm glad you enjoy it!
The "split" cover effect is something I've used a couple times over on Titans: The Resistance; it was done once previously on this title. Jamie Rimmer improves each month as an artist, and it takes my breath away.
DAVID: Jamie is one of those artists that always gives you way more than you expected. While we're on the cover--- at first I thought the split screen effect was showing Donna (beautifully rendered in full Amazonian panoply) on the top, and someone I thought at first was Circe in mystical regalia on the bottom... But then I looked closer and that could almost be a second picture of Donna, as the hair could be seen to be purple or black and when you pull back, and look at the energy trails from her hands, they look like wings (hinting at her Dark Angel status, perhaps?), again illustrating the genius of this artist... Can you shed some light on that for us, Jay?
Also, while we're on the topic, the one thing that bothers me about the DCU Donna Troy is that her origin and status is so confusing! Marv and George gave her a fantastic origin tale (New Teen Titans #38
, one of the greatest single issue stories of all time, I believe)--- which was then fiddled-with, tweaked and retconned into utter incomprehensibility! So I ask you straight-up: Who is the DC2 Donna Troy? Do we have a clear vision of this character?
JAY: Dave, the bottom picture is indeed meant to be Circe. Over in Wonder Woman, Charlie defined Donna's DC2 origin as being the daughter of Kronus, one of the more destructive Titans of Myth, and that she has all the good he doesn't have. Donna is still brooding over this and what it means, and indeed Circe's knowledge of this fact is part of why she has come after her. We now know who Donna is; a large part of this arc is to show where Donna is going, once she figures it out herself.
CHARLIE: I'm particularly enjoying the focus on Donna Troy--- a criminally underrated character, in my eyes. She sometimes just comes across as a pale Wonder Woman sidekick, and characterisation falls to the wayside, but you're really making her shine in this title, which is a given, considering she's the focus of the arc!
BRIAN: Jay, it's always an honor to edit this book for you. I've never been disappointed in anything I've had the privlidge of reading.
A lot of us know that you are a huge fan of Terra, but are there any characters you find easier to grasp and to write than others?
JAY: Brian, Beast Boy and Cyborg are fairly easy to do. Dagon, of course, is one of those forgotten Team Titans from the 90s I loved so well; Mark had brought him in during his run, and I asked if I could keep him. So I enjoy writing him as well. I do love Starfire, but I sometimes feel as if I've not paid her enough attention outside of being Dick's girflriend, which I mean to rectify. One of the things I hope to show in subsequent issues of this arc is a kind of Donna and Kory "sisters in combat" sort of thing. And eventually, of course, she'll get the miniseries treatment from Dave. Nightwing, of course, is another one of my heroes, though he isn't in this arc due to events in Gotham (and to give Donna the spoltlight). Getting back to Donna herself for a second, the last time I wrote an arc that focused on her (Wickersham Isle) it was about her being posessed and a tool of the enemy (this was loosely based on a 70s story of the same concept). I can assure you that will not happen this time.
I was worried about writing Raven, as my main thought on her was that the poor girl had suffered enough at the hands of her father. But once it was made clear to me that Kid Flash was staying around, I was able to do something Wolfman and Perez decided not to do; cement their relationship. It's coming along slowly, but it is coming along.
DAVID: How frustrating or rewarding is it to have to work around outside events? To me, Dick Grayson (or Nightwing or a Robin) is irrevocably tied-in with my concept of the Teen Titans, but given the current situation he's off the board, and that's like Star Trek without Captain Kirk!
JAY: Well Dick is usually around Titans, he just isn't for this storyline. That had more to do with giving Donna the spotlight than anything else.
DAVID: The Titans are a franchise that lends itself to a certain sort of evolution. Dick, Donna, Wally and Roy are young adults by now, even by the static timeline of the DC2 (hell, Dick is able to pull off being Batman, so he's definately no longer the kid in the pixie boots!), so how long before we drop the "Teen" in the title, and 3rd Gen characters like Tim, Connor and Bart make their entrance?
CHARLIE: Ooh, I wouldn't mind seeing Teen Titans be rendered Teen-less, and become Titans, a nice piece of character evolution for all those involved, and a declaration of separation from what could be construed as a derogatory title! Then again, I want my Kendra Saunders to be a Hawkwoman and my Karen Starr a Power Woman... but not only that, Beast Boy sounds so blasé...!
JAY: For the record I did want to change the "Beast Boy" name, but apparently that's not in the cards, as too many have known him as Beast Boy for too long. I have snuck in the occasional Changeling reference, though. And in the not too distant future I'll be getting him out of that cartoon costume. As for the next-gen kids, I think they'll be showing up....somewhere else, soon.
CHARLIE: I've always been a fan of the name "Menagerie" or "Changeling", simply because they make more sense-- and hint at a hidden potential for the character.
DAVID: It's no secret that you are perhaps the biggest Titans fan on-site, Jay, as writer of two ongoings featuring a large and varied roster of these characters. What is it about this team that keeps you coming back?
JAY: Well, again, I certainly love the Titans concept in general and most of the characters, certainly all the ones I'm writing. I've got ideas for both titles for some time to come, especially the in-continuity book. (Don't know how far in advance I should speak here....) Anyway, earlier, Dave, you talked about how team books are harder to write. That may be so, but they are also, to my mind, more interesting to write, because you've got more inter-character dynamics between characters. Which makes things more interesting. Solo-character books echo this dimly with their supporting casts around the main character, but even then it's not the same thing, as the focus is on just one of them. When I got the Teen Titans monthly--a dream job for me to be sure--I had a lot of fun writing up summaries of how I thought each character would react to the others. Brian remembers that, I'm sure, heheh. So to be able to bounce, say, Dagon off of Wonder Girl, or Nightwing off Terra, or Raven off Cyborg, helps to keep things interesting.
BRIAN: I knew Titans was going to be in great hands from the very beginning when Jay spent the first few week just discussing the relationships between everyone. I'm really proud of what Jay has accomplished.
DAVID: Jay, do you see yourself with a mission or obligation to do right-er by these characters than has been done in recent years?
JAY: Oooh boy, I could go on and on about that subject all day. Suffice it to say that doing right by the characters, at least as I define that concept, is my mission statement, not just for the Titans books, but for Suicide Squad as well, and anything else I turn my hand to here at DC2 in the future.
BRIAN: Jay, are you happy with the way the book has gone since you took over? What do you feel are some of your best moments and arcs?
JAY: I was quite pleased with the opening of the Rose Wilson arc, when we had inner monologues for both Dick Grayson and Tara Markov. I liked how both of those turned out.
Of course, I love the "Choices" arc, where Terra was faced with the same situation as her original comic book predecessor, and took the opposite path.
I enjoyed exploring the criminal subculture and society as a concept in the "Mission to Zandia" arc, which also gave me the opprtunity to write Tim Drake, another character I'm fond of.
The previously referenced "Wickersham Isle" arc was an homage to a Silver Age story, and I was pleased with the way that came out.
I enjoy the general direction of my run so far, yes, Brian; and that is due in no small part to your continued support. I think perhaps what I enjoy most is planning what comes next; the next two stories after Donna vs Circe are very clear in my mind.
DAVID: On that note, Jay, want to tease us with some things to look out for in this title? Why should people be reading DC2's Teen Titans?
JAY: Well we've got the rest of Donna versus Circe to look forward to, then a story about the nature of heroism; after that, the fate of reality as we know it will rest on the shoulders of a girl who is not from our reality...
CHARLIE: I'm looking forward to seeing where Teen Titans goes next, regardless. Jay knows which characters demand the spotlight, and I don't think he's letting anyone suffer for the sheer size of his cast!
JAY: Thanks for the vote of confidence, Charlie.
BRIAN: But still no death for Terra, huh?
And now for our reviews of this week's new issues:
(click on cover to go straight to the issue)
Written by Don Walsh
Cover by James Stubbs
Reviewed by Susan Hillwig
It's been well over eight months (our time, that is) since we last saw our heroes, and they've been sorely missed. Though I was barely familiar with the majority of the characters when I first started reading this title, the way Don writes them has endeared most of them to me, and that's what keeps me coming back. These are normal people who find themselves in most extraordinary circumstances (and in the case of Speed Saunders, actively seeking out those circumstances!) and you can't help but root for them.
After coming off a massive battle against Vandal Savage, our heroes are split up once more, off on separate assignments: King Faraday with the Secret Service, and Speed, Argent St. Cloud, and Michael Gallant off ghost-hunting in England. The story starts off small and innocuous, but as with all of Don's Danger Trial exploits, I'm sure it'll explode into something huge and possibly world-ending before we know it.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the art. James Stubbs provides us with a unique cover, evoking the pulps that are an obvious influence for this title. I hope that future issues take advantage of his style, bacuse it works well here.
(click the cover to go straight to the issue)
Written by Kevin Feeney
Cover by Trevor Yarmovich
Reviewed by House Of Mystery
It's been a wild ride so far, and it doesn't look to stop any time soon! Kevin is doing wonderful things with this title, I cannot say enough about how he's reinvigorated the character! Unlike Geoff Johns, he doesn't need to break down Barry Allen's personality and rebuild it into something "cool" and "grim & gritty", Kevin instead distills what we all know about Barry, that he's a good man, and that's all that matters when push comes to shove! We have lots of threads touched upon in this issue, The New Rogues, The Old Rogues, Candyman (who, with a name like that, is showing a tendency for terrifying bad-assery!) , Wolfe, the Flash Family and all their sub-groups... and so much more. I don't want to ruin that final scene either-- if you're not reading this title, I would be in my right mind to fight you! Read this book!
(click on cover to go straight to the issue)
Story and Art by Chaltab
Reviewed by Jay McIntyre
Chaltab's own personal Earth, as depicted here, is a sort of cross between the 90s animated DC Universe, and the pre-Infinite Crisis comic book universe. We've all seen his fan comics before, but here we get into the deep narrative of his own personal version of the Crisis, and it is told to chilling effect.
In this particular issue, the highlights are the Anti-Life Equation reaching out zombie-like to attack and attempt to consume the New Gods, and the duel of the Flashes versus the Reverse Flashes. The Anti-Life Equation is chilling at a fundamental level which few other things can reach; while super=speed combat is a joy to read. when done well, and it is most certainly done well here. There is also some amusing Titans banter.
Chaltab grasps fully the idea that Elseworlds projects are supposed to be truly different, and not just the established DCU with minor tweaks. As Elseworlds Editor, this certainly pleases me.
(click on cover to go straight to the issue)
Written by: Brian Burchette
Cover by: Roy Flinchum
Reviewed by: Aaron Martel
The spotlight shines on Batwoman in the latest issue of New Outsiders as Barbara Gordon gets her own solo adventure. Blending great characterization and thrilling action, Brian Burchette gives our heroine a possible romance, an exciting rescue attempt from a burning building, and a rematch with a long-lost foe- all sure to please any Batwoman fan. Plus, the search for T.O. Morrow is on! Roy Flinchum provides another masterful cover as usual for this long-running, stellar DC2 title.
(click on cover to go straight to the issue)
Writer: Batkid
Cover: Knightreaver Studios
Reviewer: Pat Owens
Nightwing #38 continued the mystery that had been set up in last month's issue and had it unfold beautifully. The last two issues have shown that mysteries these days can still be just as interesting as they were back in the good 'ol days. Accompanied by another great cover by Steven Howard, Nightwing #38 is a must read for anyone looking for a good Batman mystery or if you want to see someone who's good at fighting because of ballet...and I am not kidding!
Ultimate Teen Titans #4
Written by Samantha Chapman and James Stubbs
Cover by TBD
Reviewed by Don Walsh
The writing team and the super-teen team both continue to develop in this latest installment of the newest Earth-Five series. The mysterious new Red Hood continues to insinuate himself into Titans business, and despite some wariness by more veteran members like Canary and Beast Boy, proves his worth to them. It's great to see the development in Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, and the focus on the personal story makes for a great plot from the antagonist of the story. A tight little done-in-one story that sets up a quest for Cass and continuing ties between the Titans, it's very easy to jump in and follow along, and Sam Chapman and James Steel continue to improve their collaborative process, and despite the relative quiet and simplicity of the tale, you can see the seeds being laid out for bigger things to come. So now's a great time to jump in and get up to speed.
Check back every Monday for member reviews of each week's new issues! We will also spotlight one title every week to critique and discuss, interview the writer and artist and celebrate the talent and effort that goes into creating the #1 DCU fan fiction/art site on the web!
Few superhero teams inspire the kind of nostalgia or loyalty that fans have for the Teen Titans. But these sidekicks of Batman, Wonder Woman and the Flash have long since come out of their mentors' shadows, and have carved their own names and exploits in the annals of legend. And no writer at the DC2 is more closely associated with these characters than Jay McIntyre, who has had the defining run on Teen Titans, guiding beloved characters to a new era of greatness!
This week's Spotlight Title is Teen Titans #42, and joining me are Brian Burchette (writer New Outsiders, Green Arrow, Titans West), House Of Mystery (writers Detective Comics, DC2 Nemesis, The Question) and representing the creative team for this issue is Jay McIntyre (writer Teen Titans, Titans: Resistance, Elseworlds Editor-in-Chief),.
As always, beware of SPOILERS below!
(click on cover to go straight to the issue)
Written by Jay McIntyre
Art by Jamie Rimmer
CHARLIE: This issue reminded me, after a long period of not-reading, what is so good about Jay's run on Teen Titans. This wasn't meandering, or slow, it was punchy, expressive, and every word counted in every single vibrant sentence! Bravo, Jay, for pulling me back in!
JAY: Well, thank you Charlie. I did my best to tie in all the relevant goings on in the DC2 Universe, at least in how they relate to the Titans, and of course Nemesis is part of that.
Circe didn't want to act "normally" for her here, she wanted to throw down with Wonder Girl, and I felt that odd; it was definitely a case of the character not doing what the writer wanted. But Nemesis was the perfect explanation why.
It's no secret to say that this is a pivotal story and a pivotal time for Donna Troy, both in Wonder Woman and in this title. Circe's challenge is part of that, and symbolic of it also. At least, that's what I hoped to achieve.
Anybody have a problem keeping track of all the players in big fights like this one?
CHARLIE: I thought the fight scene was succinct and simple, in that you could keep track of everyone, and everyone had their moment to shine-- I'm always weary of fight scenes, I fear they can become repetitive, "punch-block-kick-block-snappy banter, rinse, repeat", but this was snappy and immediate.
DAVID: I had no problems following the fight scene. In fact, I think that Jay writes some of the best fight scenes out there!
Team books like Teen Titans are notoriously difficult to write, because the writer has an obligation to each and every character on a roster. Action Comics can get by as long as Superman is done well, same with Detective Comics and Batman--- but with a book like Teen Titans, you've got to please fans of Starfire, Beast Boy, Kid Flash, etc. So what's your trick, Jay? You've been writing Teen Titans longer than anybody else, how do you continue to make these characters compelling month after month?
JAY: Well, it's probably because I'm a Titans fan. Not just a Terra fan; I mean hey, everybody knows that much about me. But all of them, at least all of them on the two Titans books (one regular continuity and one Elseworlds) that I write.
It also helps to have a lot of story ideas, which I do.
And thank you, but I don't think my fight scenes are quite as good as, say, the ones I see in JSA. I keep envisioning these epic hollywood movie fights in my head...and what comes out is more like a play-by-play announcer describing a pay-per-view event to the reader, heh. But I'm glad you enjoy it!
The "split" cover effect is something I've used a couple times over on Titans: The Resistance; it was done once previously on this title. Jamie Rimmer improves each month as an artist, and it takes my breath away.
DAVID: Jamie is one of those artists that always gives you way more than you expected. While we're on the cover--- at first I thought the split screen effect was showing Donna (beautifully rendered in full Amazonian panoply) on the top, and someone I thought at first was Circe in mystical regalia on the bottom... But then I looked closer and that could almost be a second picture of Donna, as the hair could be seen to be purple or black and when you pull back, and look at the energy trails from her hands, they look like wings (hinting at her Dark Angel status, perhaps?), again illustrating the genius of this artist... Can you shed some light on that for us, Jay?
Also, while we're on the topic, the one thing that bothers me about the DCU Donna Troy is that her origin and status is so confusing! Marv and George gave her a fantastic origin tale (New Teen Titans #38
, one of the greatest single issue stories of all time, I believe)--- which was then fiddled-with, tweaked and retconned into utter incomprehensibility! So I ask you straight-up: Who is the DC2 Donna Troy? Do we have a clear vision of this character?JAY: Dave, the bottom picture is indeed meant to be Circe. Over in Wonder Woman, Charlie defined Donna's DC2 origin as being the daughter of Kronus, one of the more destructive Titans of Myth, and that she has all the good he doesn't have. Donna is still brooding over this and what it means, and indeed Circe's knowledge of this fact is part of why she has come after her. We now know who Donna is; a large part of this arc is to show where Donna is going, once she figures it out herself.
CHARLIE: I'm particularly enjoying the focus on Donna Troy--- a criminally underrated character, in my eyes. She sometimes just comes across as a pale Wonder Woman sidekick, and characterisation falls to the wayside, but you're really making her shine in this title, which is a given, considering she's the focus of the arc!
BRIAN: Jay, it's always an honor to edit this book for you. I've never been disappointed in anything I've had the privlidge of reading.
A lot of us know that you are a huge fan of Terra, but are there any characters you find easier to grasp and to write than others?
JAY: Brian, Beast Boy and Cyborg are fairly easy to do. Dagon, of course, is one of those forgotten Team Titans from the 90s I loved so well; Mark had brought him in during his run, and I asked if I could keep him. So I enjoy writing him as well. I do love Starfire, but I sometimes feel as if I've not paid her enough attention outside of being Dick's girflriend, which I mean to rectify. One of the things I hope to show in subsequent issues of this arc is a kind of Donna and Kory "sisters in combat" sort of thing. And eventually, of course, she'll get the miniseries treatment from Dave. Nightwing, of course, is another one of my heroes, though he isn't in this arc due to events in Gotham (and to give Donna the spoltlight). Getting back to Donna herself for a second, the last time I wrote an arc that focused on her (Wickersham Isle) it was about her being posessed and a tool of the enemy (this was loosely based on a 70s story of the same concept). I can assure you that will not happen this time.
I was worried about writing Raven, as my main thought on her was that the poor girl had suffered enough at the hands of her father. But once it was made clear to me that Kid Flash was staying around, I was able to do something Wolfman and Perez decided not to do; cement their relationship. It's coming along slowly, but it is coming along.
DAVID: How frustrating or rewarding is it to have to work around outside events? To me, Dick Grayson (or Nightwing or a Robin) is irrevocably tied-in with my concept of the Teen Titans, but given the current situation he's off the board, and that's like Star Trek without Captain Kirk!
JAY: Well Dick is usually around Titans, he just isn't for this storyline. That had more to do with giving Donna the spotlight than anything else.
DAVID: The Titans are a franchise that lends itself to a certain sort of evolution. Dick, Donna, Wally and Roy are young adults by now, even by the static timeline of the DC2 (hell, Dick is able to pull off being Batman, so he's definately no longer the kid in the pixie boots!), so how long before we drop the "Teen" in the title, and 3rd Gen characters like Tim, Connor and Bart make their entrance?
CHARLIE: Ooh, I wouldn't mind seeing Teen Titans be rendered Teen-less, and become Titans, a nice piece of character evolution for all those involved, and a declaration of separation from what could be construed as a derogatory title! Then again, I want my Kendra Saunders to be a Hawkwoman and my Karen Starr a Power Woman... but not only that, Beast Boy sounds so blasé...!
JAY: For the record I did want to change the "Beast Boy" name, but apparently that's not in the cards, as too many have known him as Beast Boy for too long. I have snuck in the occasional Changeling reference, though. And in the not too distant future I'll be getting him out of that cartoon costume. As for the next-gen kids, I think they'll be showing up....somewhere else, soon.
CHARLIE: I've always been a fan of the name "Menagerie" or "Changeling", simply because they make more sense-- and hint at a hidden potential for the character.
DAVID: It's no secret that you are perhaps the biggest Titans fan on-site, Jay, as writer of two ongoings featuring a large and varied roster of these characters. What is it about this team that keeps you coming back?
JAY: Well, again, I certainly love the Titans concept in general and most of the characters, certainly all the ones I'm writing. I've got ideas for both titles for some time to come, especially the in-continuity book. (Don't know how far in advance I should speak here....) Anyway, earlier, Dave, you talked about how team books are harder to write. That may be so, but they are also, to my mind, more interesting to write, because you've got more inter-character dynamics between characters. Which makes things more interesting. Solo-character books echo this dimly with their supporting casts around the main character, but even then it's not the same thing, as the focus is on just one of them. When I got the Teen Titans monthly--a dream job for me to be sure--I had a lot of fun writing up summaries of how I thought each character would react to the others. Brian remembers that, I'm sure, heheh. So to be able to bounce, say, Dagon off of Wonder Girl, or Nightwing off Terra, or Raven off Cyborg, helps to keep things interesting.
BRIAN: I knew Titans was going to be in great hands from the very beginning when Jay spent the first few week just discussing the relationships between everyone. I'm really proud of what Jay has accomplished.
DAVID: Jay, do you see yourself with a mission or obligation to do right-er by these characters than has been done in recent years?
JAY: Oooh boy, I could go on and on about that subject all day. Suffice it to say that doing right by the characters, at least as I define that concept, is my mission statement, not just for the Titans books, but for Suicide Squad as well, and anything else I turn my hand to here at DC2 in the future.
BRIAN: Jay, are you happy with the way the book has gone since you took over? What do you feel are some of your best moments and arcs?
JAY: I was quite pleased with the opening of the Rose Wilson arc, when we had inner monologues for both Dick Grayson and Tara Markov. I liked how both of those turned out.
Of course, I love the "Choices" arc, where Terra was faced with the same situation as her original comic book predecessor, and took the opposite path.
I enjoyed exploring the criminal subculture and society as a concept in the "Mission to Zandia" arc, which also gave me the opprtunity to write Tim Drake, another character I'm fond of.
The previously referenced "Wickersham Isle" arc was an homage to a Silver Age story, and I was pleased with the way that came out.
I enjoy the general direction of my run so far, yes, Brian; and that is due in no small part to your continued support. I think perhaps what I enjoy most is planning what comes next; the next two stories after Donna vs Circe are very clear in my mind.
DAVID: On that note, Jay, want to tease us with some things to look out for in this title? Why should people be reading DC2's Teen Titans?
JAY: Well we've got the rest of Donna versus Circe to look forward to, then a story about the nature of heroism; after that, the fate of reality as we know it will rest on the shoulders of a girl who is not from our reality...
CHARLIE: I'm looking forward to seeing where Teen Titans goes next, regardless. Jay knows which characters demand the spotlight, and I don't think he's letting anyone suffer for the sheer size of his cast!
JAY: Thanks for the vote of confidence, Charlie.
BRIAN: But still no death for Terra, huh?
And now for our reviews of this week's new issues:
(click on cover to go straight to the issue)
Written by Don Walsh
Cover by James Stubbs
Reviewed by Susan Hillwig
It's been well over eight months (our time, that is) since we last saw our heroes, and they've been sorely missed. Though I was barely familiar with the majority of the characters when I first started reading this title, the way Don writes them has endeared most of them to me, and that's what keeps me coming back. These are normal people who find themselves in most extraordinary circumstances (and in the case of Speed Saunders, actively seeking out those circumstances!) and you can't help but root for them.
After coming off a massive battle against Vandal Savage, our heroes are split up once more, off on separate assignments: King Faraday with the Secret Service, and Speed, Argent St. Cloud, and Michael Gallant off ghost-hunting in England. The story starts off small and innocuous, but as with all of Don's Danger Trial exploits, I'm sure it'll explode into something huge and possibly world-ending before we know it.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the art. James Stubbs provides us with a unique cover, evoking the pulps that are an obvious influence for this title. I hope that future issues take advantage of his style, bacuse it works well here.
(click the cover to go straight to the issue)
Written by Kevin Feeney
Cover by Trevor Yarmovich
Reviewed by House Of Mystery
It's been a wild ride so far, and it doesn't look to stop any time soon! Kevin is doing wonderful things with this title, I cannot say enough about how he's reinvigorated the character! Unlike Geoff Johns, he doesn't need to break down Barry Allen's personality and rebuild it into something "cool" and "grim & gritty", Kevin instead distills what we all know about Barry, that he's a good man, and that's all that matters when push comes to shove! We have lots of threads touched upon in this issue, The New Rogues, The Old Rogues, Candyman (who, with a name like that, is showing a tendency for terrifying bad-assery!) , Wolfe, the Flash Family and all their sub-groups... and so much more. I don't want to ruin that final scene either-- if you're not reading this title, I would be in my right mind to fight you! Read this book!
(click on cover to go straight to the issue)
Story and Art by Chaltab
Reviewed by Jay McIntyre
Chaltab's own personal Earth, as depicted here, is a sort of cross between the 90s animated DC Universe, and the pre-Infinite Crisis comic book universe. We've all seen his fan comics before, but here we get into the deep narrative of his own personal version of the Crisis, and it is told to chilling effect.
In this particular issue, the highlights are the Anti-Life Equation reaching out zombie-like to attack and attempt to consume the New Gods, and the duel of the Flashes versus the Reverse Flashes. The Anti-Life Equation is chilling at a fundamental level which few other things can reach; while super=speed combat is a joy to read. when done well, and it is most certainly done well here. There is also some amusing Titans banter.
Chaltab grasps fully the idea that Elseworlds projects are supposed to be truly different, and not just the established DCU with minor tweaks. As Elseworlds Editor, this certainly pleases me.
(click on cover to go straight to the issue)
Written by: Brian Burchette
Cover by: Roy Flinchum
Reviewed by: Aaron Martel
The spotlight shines on Batwoman in the latest issue of New Outsiders as Barbara Gordon gets her own solo adventure. Blending great characterization and thrilling action, Brian Burchette gives our heroine a possible romance, an exciting rescue attempt from a burning building, and a rematch with a long-lost foe- all sure to please any Batwoman fan. Plus, the search for T.O. Morrow is on! Roy Flinchum provides another masterful cover as usual for this long-running, stellar DC2 title.
(click on cover to go straight to the issue)
Writer: Batkid
Cover: Knightreaver Studios
Reviewer: Pat Owens
Nightwing #38 continued the mystery that had been set up in last month's issue and had it unfold beautifully. The last two issues have shown that mysteries these days can still be just as interesting as they were back in the good 'ol days. Accompanied by another great cover by Steven Howard, Nightwing #38 is a must read for anyone looking for a good Batman mystery or if you want to see someone who's good at fighting because of ballet...and I am not kidding!
Ultimate Teen Titans #4
Written by Samantha Chapman and James Stubbs
Cover by TBD
Reviewed by Don Walsh
The writing team and the super-teen team both continue to develop in this latest installment of the newest Earth-Five series. The mysterious new Red Hood continues to insinuate himself into Titans business, and despite some wariness by more veteran members like Canary and Beast Boy, proves his worth to them. It's great to see the development in Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, and the focus on the personal story makes for a great plot from the antagonist of the story. A tight little done-in-one story that sets up a quest for Cass and continuing ties between the Titans, it's very easy to jump in and follow along, and Sam Chapman and James Steel continue to improve their collaborative process, and despite the relative quiet and simplicity of the tale, you can see the seeds being laid out for bigger things to come. So now's a great time to jump in and get up to speed.
JOIN US NEXT WEEK HERE AT THE PULL LIST WHEN THE SPOTLIGHT TITLE WILL BE...
ULTIMATE GOTHAM GIRLS #18
ULTIMATE GOTHAM GIRLS #18
