Titans Tower is falling apart. The fridge is out, the elevator has stopped working, and worst of all?
No. TV.
::shudders::
What are the Titans who are also teens to do? Well, with their savings tapped dry (not worth it) and no actual discernible cash flow, they do what any of us normal chumps would: get jobs.
It goes… much better than you’d expect, actually.
Like a lot of installments, this is pretty much a one-joke concept, and Derek Fridolfs’ writing isn’t quite sharp enough to wring more than a few chuckles out of it. Most of that is due to the pacing, which is all over the place: there’s a ton of build up to the team getting jobs, then they roll in the dough and jet off for a vacation in just a few pages. The story ends before it even begins, which is a shame because it had the potential to be a solid installment.
Not to say there aren’t a few laughs otherwise. There’s a great gag where the elevator is broken…
…so Beast Boy has to take the stairs.
Not gonna lie, the “with the bridge out” gag got a big laugh out of me.
Robin also gets a good scene when he writes a truly atrocious jingle.
It works, though, so maybe I shouldn’t knock it too hard.
Fridolfs’ illustrative prowess is more refined than his writing, but even then there’s a lot to be desired here. He tackles several different styles (traditional TTG designs, cartoony/chibi or what have you looks) yet doesn’t excel at either. His work is fine, very workmanlike, but not really memorable or outstanding.
He does throw in a few more sight gags than I expected, though, which was a welcome surprise. There’s more than one cameo that made me think “really? Them?” and Pamela Lovas’ vibrant colors make the images pop off the page.
For what it is, it’s fine. It’s a buck, it’s good for kids, and it has a few laughs. It won’t change your life, but there are worse comics out there.
Recommended if:
- You like Teen Titans Go!
- You have kids and want to get them into comics.
- You’re a hardcore Monsieur Mallah fan.
Overall: With iffy pacing and a concept that doesn’t go far enough, this is still a fairly enjoyable chapter of TTG. Despite a script that’s just “ok” and pencils that are about the same, it’s still harmless and funny enough on its own merits. I wouldn’t say it’s a must read, but if you do end up getting it there’s enough to enjoy.
SCORE: 5.5/10
