Eddie Bloomberg R.I.P.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #74
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Joe Bennet
Co-Feature by Sean McKeever
Art by Yildiray Cinar

Yes Kid Devil (or Red Devil but I have always preferred Kid Devil) dies saving San Francisco from nuclear destruction in this issue. He died a true hero. The only problem I have with this is that it seems completely unnecessary. Why kill Kid Devil after McKeever built up such a good friendship between him and Blue Beetle? Was this only to sell books? I could be wrong but I have a feeling that this is why McKeever left the book over creative differences. An editor wanted to kill him and McKeever disagreed. Ignoring the death, this was a really good issue and Miller has shown he can write the Teen Titans well. Let’s just hope Felecia D. Henderson does as well. The Ravager back-up was basically Rose Wilson kicking ass and taking names, which is a good thing.

Bad Fashion Choices

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #73
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Joe Bennett
Co-Feature by Sean McKeever
Art by Yildiray Cinar

 

First of all, I am sure I mentioned it last time, but the outfits that Joe Bennett draws the female Titans wearing out on the town are so ridiculous and not at all what a real teenage girl would wear. Belly shirts are not that popular and are frankly slutty as all hell when they are that high up. And I am so sick of the Calculator I am not even kidding. Anyone who has been reading DC books since Identity Crisis knows that Calculator has been in every book. He was an interesting character at first, now he is just over used. This isn’t so bad writing-wise I still feel that Miller understands these characters and gives them each a unique voice and I liked the team work that they used in this issue. I enjoyed the Ravager Co-Feature more this time around although I was kinda hoping Will had good motives instead of bad. I hope that we see Rose build a supporting cast.

Miller Gets The Characters, Bennett Does Not

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #72
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Joe Bennett
Co-Feature by Sean McKeever
Art by Yildiray Cinar

 

Joe Bennett is not doing his best here at all. I mean Superboy and Wonder Girl never wore those outfits when they were together in that flashback and girls don’t wear belly shirts like that when they go out. I mean Miss Martian’s shirt was shorter every time he drew it. It was ridiculous. I am far from a prude, I don’t care that the characters are being sexualized, I care that they are realistic. And being 21 and so far off from my teen years, I can tell you that teenage girls don’t wear shirts like that. I have to say this though, Bennett does draw some amusing facial expressions in this issue. The story by fill-in writer Miller was actually pretty good. Miller definitely captures each Titan’s personality rather well and I liked the night on the town story’s Juxtaposition with Wonder Girl’s fight at Alcatraz. I just hope that funeral scene at the beginning doesn’t really mean one of these characters is going to die, cause we really DON’T need any more of that shit in this book. The Ravager back up was interesting and McKeever is always good with her character, but it hasn’t hooked me just yet.

McKeever Is Underrated

Teen Titans (Volume 3)#71
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Yildiray Cinar

Wow! After that entirely horrible trash of a cross over, Sean McKeever’s final issue on this series as main writer was actually really damn good! I mean this had action but also had the emotional Titans are family stuff that I loved about the Johns and Wolfman run. I didn’t care either way about the upcomign Ravager Cofeature before this issue, but now I can’t wait to read it! Ravager basically ruins her reputation with the team just so she can be sure that Bombshell will not betray them again. She sees the Teen Titans as her true family. That is good stuff and really shows how far she has come. If McKeever will be remembered for anything for his run it will be for moments like that and the work he did with Ravager and Red Devil, he really was great at writing those two characters and adding more depth to them. Kid Eternity has such a cool power – I was confused at first as to why Pantha was there and then I realized she must have been summoned by Kid Eternity!  McKeever also could have made Wonder Girl come off as a jerk here but he really didn’t – even after everything Cassie knew that Rose should be given another chance. Sean McKeever’s run I think will be remembered fondly – there were some blips (the first arc, Deathtrap, and the death of Marvin come to mine) but all in all he really made me care about these characters. That’s all that matters. Oh and by the way, I loved the art on this book too.

Worst Titans Storyline Ever?

Vigilante (Volume 3) #6
Written by Marv Wolfman
Art by Tom Lyle

This is the conclusion of the Deathrap Titans crossover that began here, and continued here, here, here, and here. Wow, this entire story arc plus its preludes could have been done in one issue. We could have had a fight with Jericho and then have Vigilante tear out his eyeballs in the end but no DC dragged this out for months, this has got to be one of the worst storylines if not the worst storyline the Titans have ever had. I can’t believe Wolfman took part in all this. No wonder McKeever quit because of creative differences after this. Anyways, we get some clue to Vigilante’s identity in that he has a jerk father-in-law somehow and Jericho is left with his eyes cut out of his head going insane so that was cool otherwise what a mess.

End This Already

Titans (Volume 2) #13
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Angel Unzueta

This is part 4 of the Deathtrap crossover that began here, and continued here, and here.Okay why the hell are the Titans letting Red Devil tag along with no powers. That’s just stupid. He should at least bring his original fighting suit or something. That is the least of this book’s problems though. This storyline is real mess with seemingly the same thing happening issue after issue. I feel like I have been reading stories of Jericho threatening the Titans for months. End this already. What a waste of paper and ink.

A Ravaging Return

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #70
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Joe Bennett

This is part 3 of the Deathrap Titans crossover that began here and continued here. This part is much better then the last part, I am not sure if the story has actually improved or just because McKeever has a better handle on the Teen Titans then the adult Titans. There were a lot of great character moments here and I am going to miss McKeever writing Red Devil when he leaves. Ravager shows up and makes a good point about Bombshell being on the team. Bennett is actually pretty good at drawing facial expressions. I never really noticed this before. There is something creepy about his art though, it showed in Terror Titans and it shows here, especially at the beginning where the women is torturing that guy. While I am still looking forward to see where this story is going, it is still far from a success. The Jericho as villain thing just isn’t exciting.

So Far So Bad

Vigilante (Volume 3) #5
Written by Marv Wolfman
Art by Tom Lyle and Scott Hana

This is Part 2 of the “Deathtrap” Crossover that began here. In this issue, the Titans and Vigilante fight and then Vigilante escapes way too easily and then Jericho takes over the Teen Titans Jet and starts using it to shoot at the Titans. Ya it isn’t really exciting. This whole crossover is a mess so far. Jericho as villain has been done so many times that I am still not convinced this story is bringing anything new to the table. He just isn’t a very scary villain, and it seems out of character. I had hoped there would be something more to this then Jericho fights the two teams and Vigilante but so far that is all this has amounted to. Wow. The Titans books are a mess right now. The coloring was off on people’s hair this issue as well.

New Roster

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #69
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Allan Goldman and Yildiray Cinar

Miss Martian returns from the Dark Side Club with a bunch of teen heroes this issue. And in the end, the new line up consists of Wonder Girl, Aquagirl, Bombshell, Static, Kid Eternity, Miss Martian, Blue Beetle and the powerless Red Devil. I am excited for this new line up. McKeever is leaving this book (He is only credited with the original story of this issue) and I hope they put a new writer on for long term who can really develop this team and keep them together for a while. No more roster changes for now! Aquagirl is drawn strange in this. She is looking less and less latino. I like the budding frienship between her and Static though.

Teen Titans 67 and 68

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #67
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Eddy Barrows

Kid Eternity and Brother Blood escape from hell, and end up right in front of Titans Tower. I really enjoyed this issue. I like seeing Wonder Girl lead the team, even though they aren’t really a team yet. Only Red Devil, Wonder Girl, and Blue Beetle are official members. Kid Eternity’s power is really cool for the Titans, because frankly there are a lot of dead Titans to bring back. This issue we got to see the original Aquagirl.

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #68
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Eddy Barrows

This issue was really good. I am a sucker for stories set in hell – and Red Devil and Kid Eternity’s trip was really interesting. I loved the way Barrows draws it. Eddie was pretty stupid to consider signing that contract though. I love how Kid Eternity is making use of dead Titans. This time around it is Kole. Bombshell officially rejoins this issue which puts the team membership at four. The origin and omens were interesting including a pregnant Titan and other stuff. I look forward to next issue where the new roster will be in tact finally.