DC Comics 2016
Written by Dan Abnett
Penciled by Brett Booth
Inked by Norm Rapmund
Coloured by Andrew Dalhouse & Carrie Strachan
Lettered by Carlos M. Mangual
As the Titans prepare to do the unthinkable in order to defeat the intergalactic demon that stole time itself from the DC Universe, enter the Fearsome Five! But are the sinister quintet acting of their own accord...or are greater forces at work?
With all the changes that DC has been going through the original Titans are the ones that seemed to have suffered the most. Having their past lost and associations nonexistent that they’ve decided to let Dan helm their comeback has been the brightest spot of this year for me. From the mini-series using all, sans Wally, the original Titans up to Bumblebee to this current ongoing it’s nice to see that they are finally back taking place amidst the heroes of the DCU.
The original run was woefully short of unique villains and we’ve already seen Mister Twister and Mammoth so we know they are around as well as a seemingly updated Ding Dong Daddy and the Mad Mod being a member of a secret organisation. So it’s not surprising that with this being the Return of Wally West arc that we see one of his and Barry’s mainstay nemesis’.
The team’s six member core are drawn to Keystone City where a peculiar event is happening. I still feel like this is a building phase for the team as now that they are back together they have to learn to fight side by side all over again. More so if they are going to go after the big Cosmic bad that changed the world and caused them all to forget.
The fight this issue is a prime example of that as the team are up against magical creations of their younger selves. The ones that their puppet master remembers so very well and uses them to take on their current counterparts. There are a few interesting things about this fight that stress how unused to fighting as a team they are. They stick with their own counterpart instead of using teamwork and switching up opponents. For me this was a telltale sign they need to learn to work together more and not be distracted by whomever they face. It’s a good bit of writing from Dan to showcase that they have much to relearn here.
While it’s absolutely wonderful to see them in action again and see how they use their powers, most noticeably Omen, it’s really the dialogue that grabs the attention more. Caught between their past and present they need to find that voice that represents them wholly instead of who they were and are. You see that familiarity and distance here and there in how they speak and it’s an interesting way to go about their ongoing characterization.
I love the team of Brett, Norm, Andrew and Carrie here. Brett has a very distinctive style and they bring that to life behind his pencils very nicely. Also you see a growth or progression to his work here that blends their past and their present very nicely so it’s familiar but new. His eye for unique panel layouts and the use of backgrounds, angles and perspective really shine as well.
The evolution of these characters and this team from then and now is off to a magnificent start. As they learn to work and trust each other again and become the family they once were will be a fun road to travel with them. Along the way I can’t wait to see how their storied history is brought back in new and imaginative ways. I’m happy to say this is my team of Titans and I look forward to ALL of them making appearances as needed.