The Good
It's almost hard to keep up with the Green Team, because they're constantly on-the-move (New York! Miami! Monaco! The Batmobile!), but it's a fun ride, since they're also constantly in near-disastrous situations. I like seeing the team come together -- now that Mo is officially part of it, it feels like the book can move forward even faster, and his promise to Deathstroke is sure to set up a future challenge for the group (and Mo's father).
Riot is a formidable foe...or, foes. The damage-transfer technique that keeps individual members of the group strong and ready to fight is brilliant and difficult, and based on that last panel, we're in for a great reveal about who's behind those masks next month.
Speaking of masks, this month's cameo is nothing short of splendid. It's rare to see Deathstroke in a comedic cameo (though Art and Franco have done it before in TINY TITANS!), and it's an extra treat to see the comedy of his role as a hired gun for a bunch of kids balanced out with some serious discussions and Slade's signature ruthlessness and powerful hits. It's a bit like seeing Schwarzenegger in a funny movie, and a great, fun use of a character from elsewhere in the DCU.
The humor in this book is spot on, and just enough that it doesn't take away from the story itself. It's deliciously satirical when it needs to be (see Cecelia's paparazzi battle) and self-referential at times; of course "Green Team" is a cheesy name, so the team might as well get to poke a bit of fun at themselves.
The Bad
The text-speak feels authentic to the characters, by it's difficult to look at if you're over the age of...whatever age it is that doesn't use punctuation or vowels correctly. I'm secretly hoping that the kids will decide it's trendy to start texting full sentences.
The Verdict
GREEN TEAM continues to bring heavy-duty action balanced with strong character development and light humor. It's a tough sell for new readers since the main cast isn't your typical DCU fare -- which is a shame, since the creative team is splendid at making these kids interesting -- but cameos by Deathstroke & co. might help keep the title rolling in green. I'm still curious about that robot arm, and still loving all of the fantastic excess...and I want to know what kind of favors a man like Deathstroke asks for!