Teen Titans Issue 89
T-E-E-N, T-I-T-A-N-S, Teen Titans, Let's GOOOOO! Sorry, I really didn't know how else to start this review off. I mean, the theme is just so darn catchy and as I read this issue it kept popping into my head. This is a good sign though, because it means that as I read this comic it feels right. It feels like Teen Titans should feel. Lots of energy, lots of clashing characters, lots of fun. And if nothing else, J.T. Krul is making the Teen Titans fun again.
The issue opens with Barney, the boy who was experimented on last issue, attacking a technology convention and absorbing the intellect of an engineer as Dr. Calligan proudly watches on. We then cut to Damian Wayne meeting the team for the first time. Immediately he says he's going to be leader and his first action will be to get rid of Beast Boy. He then winds up fighting Ravager before Kid Flash breaks up the fight and Dick says that things went better than he expected. After agreeing to keep Robin on the team (But not as leader), we have a brief cutaway to a girl named Kiran who is in with her parents on an archeological expedition in Mohenjo-Daro. Back to the team, everybody discusses the inclusion of Damian as Wonder Girl is informed of the events going on at the convention by Damian, who was observing the screens. The team goes to the convention, gets their butts handed to them, only for Raven to calm Barney down and nearly subdue him, however a last minute brash action costs the team everything as the issue closes with a very disgruntled team defeated.
Once again, J.T. Krul impresses me with his take on the Teen Titans. My favorite move of this entire issue is the inclusion of Damian Wayne as the teams new Robin, a great beat that changes things up and gives them a new bad boy (Replacing Ravager?). I'm particularly pleased to see that his characterization is in line with what we've seen before and that Dick was equally well handled. Going back to Blackest Night: Titans, I was very unimpressed and it seemed like much of what was proposed and what was done there was just decent, not great. Krul is proving that his writing here is much better though, and that he is well deserving of the top role in the Teen Titans talent pool.
Art by Nicole Scott is top notch. Her interpretations of all the Teen Titans are strong and she manages to distinctly draw each with their own body and show the different ages of the team through body type and language. Damian looks particularly young and apparently "bully-ish" as my friend described, which suits the character and the ways he's been drawn in the past. Motion is clear and the action is tight, looking kinetic and fresh, perfect for the book. Plus, can we talk about that variant cover by Frank Quietly? That thing is a work of art. I mean really, that cover makes me wish Quietly did all the covers for this book, since his style is close enough to Scott's that it could easily work. Will it happen? No, but I can dream and hope he finds time to draw the Teen Titans at some point in time, particularly Raven (My favorite part of the cover).
Overall, Teen Titans continues to be top form and show massive signs of improvement compared to where it has been the last couple of years. I'm really excited that Krul and Scott are here to stay and I hope they have a good long run on this title. 4 out of 5. Now if only we had a better threat...
