Hey there, Bat-fans!
As many of you may know, I’m a huge fan of Mark Waid’s work. My first encounter with him was his Legion of Super-Heroes run when I was 11, during my initial period of obsession with the team, and I fell head over heels for his writing. Since then, I’ve read countless more of his runs on characters like the Flash, Justice League, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, the Fantastic Four, and so many more. Even his indie series Irredeemable and its spin-offs have absolutely captivated me. He was the first comic author I formed a genuine connection with, in a way that I’ve only really formed with a handful of authors since. He really got the characters, and that stuck with me.
Recently, I’ve been reading Waid’s World’s Finest run, and it’s just incredible. The world feels like the DCU I grew up with, the characters are all perfectly modernized, and the DESIGNS- Dan Mora is a genius. That’s all I’ll say, because I could be here all day gushing about him and Tamra Bonvillain both.
All this to say, when Waid announced he was going to be taking on the Teen Titans, who had already appeared to help the World’s Finest deal with Boy Thunder, I was ecstatic. I immediately jumped at the chance to talk about this book. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in.
When there’s trouble…
Waid’s Titans are a different take on the Fab Five (and Bumblebee!) we all know and love, but not one that ruins them by any means. In fact, I think that Waid has absolutely nailed the dynamic of a team of youngsters working together for the first time. A core cast of 6 characters isn’t nothing, and Waid juggles them all effortlessly. Each character in this book is well-written, interesting, and unique, and they all play off each other in fascinating ways. There’s a web of complex relationships that most comic book teams either lack or get bogged down in, but I think this book nails it.
This is definitely helped by the format of this week’s issue, which is your classic Nightmare episode!
Does anyone have their number?
Nightmare episodes are fantastic ways to get to know your cast, especially if they’re at odds with each other. You get to peer into what makes them tick, what they really think of each other, and even what they think of themselves. What’s not to love?
I’m sure Roy can think of a few things.
The emotional core of the issue, Aqualad, really shines here in a way I feel like he never gets to. No spoilers, of course, but he’s quickly becoming one of my favorites in this book, and I think a lot of you will feel the same. The bits with him and Wonder Girl are especially good, I’m excited to see how things develop and play out.
Of course, NONE of this would be possible without an incredible art team, and we have just that in Emanuela Lupacchino and Jordie Bellaire. Bellaire I already knew from a few things, and I really like her work, but Lupacchino was new to me, at least as far as I know. She absolutely SMASHED it in this book. All the happy scenes feel warm and bright, like a great hug or a sunny day with friends, but when it’s time for spooky? Boy does she BRING spooky. All of the horror scenes look trippy, haunting, and oppressive. You really get a sense that the house the Titans find themselves in is alive and changing, creeping in on them until there’s nowhere left to run. Splendid stuff.
Recommended if…
- You’re a fan of the Teen Titans!
- World’s Finest’s main book has you hooked and wanting more!
- It’s honestly just a good issue, what can I say?
Overall
I can’t wait for more of this book. The ending is super fun, and leaves a lot to look out for!
Score: 8/10
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DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.
