Blood and Brains: Teen Titans vol 4 - When Titans Fall

 

Review:

Our beloved teens grow up fast in this somber conclusion to the 2014-2016 ongoing series. Fugitives no more, they continue to struggle to find their place in the world, and in their relationships. Things turn even darker and more fragile in the Annual #2 story, a battle with Sister Blood that leaves the group wrestling with whether or not to break up and go their separate ways. Then the foreboding and sense of doom reaches its climax with the death of Tim Drake / Red Robin. The events around his death are not in these stories, but the wake following the funeral is full of emotional swings, memories and grieving.

Writer Tony Bedard gave us the main story arc, with Ian Churchill and Miguel Mendonca alternating chapters on the art side. With Monsieur Mallah and the Brain using mind control in a two-parter, followed by a battle of wits with the H.I.V.E. Queen and her mind-control takeover of New Orleans, their battles demand team-wide mental protection from Raven, a taxing ask. The bromance between the Brain and Monsieur Mallah adds lightness to this book, but Bedard moves us quickly into the darker chapters. Despite its potential, I found the facile resolution of the battle with the H.I.V.E. Queen to be a letdown of a promising direction.

The alternating art duties works well, with each of Churchill and Mendonca showing a distinct enough style to keep their own work distinct, while overlapping enough that nothing is lost. Churchill's work in the series finale especially stands out, with the tough emotions of grief that the characters must wrestle with throughout. Most amazing is his fashion-work, with Raven's gorgeous Gothic outfit.

As much as Brains take center stage in the final issues of the series, Blood is central in the Annual. Sister Blood uses a synthetic modification of Beast Boy's blood and distributes it as illicit drugs at a night club. The result is the beautiful dancing couples are quickly replaced by chaotic green animals panicking. Cory Smith handles the art duties for the Annual and gives it a hot, sexy, crowded club feel. The tale suffers from inconsistent behaviors and choices from Red Robin, although it is surely setting up the series conclusion.

As dark and gritty as is the wind-down of this fifth Teen Titans series, the Rebirth tale at the end starts the swing back toward fun. Damian Wayne / Robin gathers together a new team, in fun, clever and unique ways. While this is a downer conclusion to this edition, the Rebirth looks very promising!

Description:

The Teen Titans should be keeping a low profile. After all, a misunderstanding has left them wanted criminals, on the run from the law. But when Red Robin, Beast Boy, Wonder Girl, Raven, Power Girl and Bunker see people that need saving—whether it’s from a rampaging French gorilla or a designer drug that turns them into mindless beasts—they spring into action. That’s what being a Teen Titan is all about.

Unfortunately, if you’re a metahuman who’s a wanted criminal, you’re going to find yourself in Amanda Waller’s crosshairs! The master manipulator wants the Teen Titans for her Suicide Squad, and she’s determined to prove that the Titans are just as dangerous as her hardened criminals.

But if the only thing keeping these heroes from becoming outlaws is when the Titans stand together, what happens when one of their own pays the ultimate price? Is this the end of the Teen Titans as we know them?

Writers Tony Bedard (SUPERGIRL) and Scott Lobdell (RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS) and artists Ian Churchill (THE RAVAGERS) and Miguel Mendonça (WONDER WOMAN) set the stage for the rebirth of the Teen Titans…by tearing the team apart!

Collects: TEEN TITANS #20-24, TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #2 and a special preview of TEEN TITANS: REBIRTH #1

Authors: Tony Bedard, Scott Lobdell
Artists: Ian Churchill, Miguel Mendonca
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Feb. 7, 2017
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401269777