DCU Comic Book Reviews

BLACKEST NIGHT:  Titans #3

When Doves Cry

December 2009

Written by J. T. Krul

Pencils by Ed Benes

Inks by Rob Hunter, Jon Sibal, JP Mayer

Covers by Ed Benes and Brian Haberlin

Synopsis

At Titans Tower, Donna Troy confronts Black Lanterns of her ex-husband and baby.  Elsewhere, the rest of the Titans confront Black Lanterns of former Titans.  Black Lantern Hawk reaches for her sister, Dove, but when she touches her it causes the connection to the black lantern power to be severed.  The other Black Lanterns then attack Dove, who fights back, severing the connection of everyone.  Dove then has a vision of the first Dove, Hank Hall, who tells her not to give up on her sister.  Later, the team gets the message of Black Lanterns rising up around the world.  The Titans agree to join in the fight.  Together.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

In my review of the previous issue, I wondered about the story that Krul was trying to tell.  After this issue, I am still not quite sure what it was supposed to be.  There were too many characters and very little focus on a particular central idea beyond Black Lanterns and plenty of fighting (and cheesecake art from Benes).  While there are three or so different plots meandering throughout the issue, none of these three really take center stage.  A lot of the characters function as background fodder, mainly there because they happen to be Titans.  But that becomes a crutch as Krul tries to make sure each gets a scene to highlight their own anguish at the hands of Black Lanterns.  Ultimately, this issue (and series) feels more like a series of somewhat related individual pieces rather than a cohesive whole.  Granted, all of the different plots come together when Dove arrives in San Francisco, but it wasn’t really clear what she did or how or what it is supposed to mean.  Each of the individual pieces work to some degree, but not completely to make an engaging story.  I think your enjoyment of this mini-series may depend on your attachment and knowledge of the characters that are spotlighted.  If you liked either Gar, Donna, or Holly then I am sure what they are going through. 

I really think the story should’ve focused on Dove.  It would seem her connection to whatever she is connected to (sorry, my knowledge of Hawk and Dove is sketchy) is somehow an important part of Blackest Night (or should be; if it is not, then using her in this way seems stupid).  They have built her and her predecessor as being unaffected by the Black Lanterns and when she visits his grave at the end, it seems to signal that there is some hope.  I think if the story had focused on her, then the ending might’ve driven home the importance of the White Light of Hope.   

The scene with Donna killing her husband and son was very powerful; the anguish she was feeling on page 9 was very palatable.  But as horrifying as what she had done was, it still doesn’t have the type of lasting impact it should’ve.  After a couple of pages, the moment had faded away.  In order for a scene like that to work, I think, is that her love and her memories of her loved ones needed to be more prominent before that moment, so that it is fresh in our minds.  When Donna talks about what she will remember about them, we should empathize with her and understand where she is coming from, even if only a little. However, unless you happen to be a big Titan fan and remember Terry and the wedding, it will have very little impact.  It still works, but not the way I think Krul might’ve wished. 

The scene with Cyborg and Beast Boy regarding Terra is a little bit of revisionist writing.  I am no expert on the entire Judas Contract story, but what I remember is that everyone liked Terra and that she fooled the entire team.  So when Krul writes that no one liked her and they were talking about her behind Gar’s back, it doesn’t jibe with the story (or my memory of it; it has been a long time since I read it). 

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