DCU Comic Book Reviews

TEEN TITANS #24

The Insiders, Part 1

July 2005

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Matthew Clark

Inks by Art Thibert

Cover by Mike McKone & Marlo Alquiza

Synopsis

In San Francisco at the Titans Tower Superboy tries to reconcile his knowledge that half of his DNA belongs to Lex Luthor.  He has kept it a secret from the rest of the Titans, but he feels now is the time to tell them.  He asks Robin to assemble the team.  As he is leaving, a siren goes off on his computer and a voice intones:  “Aut Vincere Aut Mori.”  Under a spell, Superboy goes to the bathroom to shave off his hair and then cut a big “L” in the middle of his shirt.  He then goes downstairs where the Titans are waiting and attacks them.  Confused, the Titans don’t know why Superboy is attacking them.  After defeating the Titans, Superboy flies away.  In New York, the Outsiders have identified Shift as the potential traitor to the team.  No one believes it is him, especially his girl-friend Indigo, the android from the future.  Suddenly, a call comes in from Robin asking the Outsider for help.  Indigo starts to stutter something about the future and then lets out a siren blast that frees Shift form his prison.  Indigo then tells the Outsiders:   “I am Brainiac 8.  I am your destruction.”

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“Aut Vincere Aut Mori” = Conquer or Die

It is remarkable that the seeds for this story arc were planted over 2 years ago in the first issue for both this series and for the Outsiders.  This is not so much that we are finally getting the payoff, but rather because these seeds have grown steadily in the past two years, playing along with the threads of the other stories.  It was not as if Conner’s heritage was brought up and then dismissed; it has been a running conversation between Superboy and Robin throughout the series.  For long time readers, this issue will reward them for their loyalty. 

The idea that a hero has been controlled or gone rogue is not a new idea and I am sure has been done more often than it really should.  Yet, this issue easily captures the fear and the terror felt by the Titans has Conner rampages through the tower, calmly dismantling all of them.  The emotions boiling over are evident in the brief scene when Robin calls the Outsiders, and Nightwing in particular, for help.  He is in tears and not from his own physical pain or the fact that the rest of the Titans have beaten and are hurt, but from the knowledge that his best friend was the one responsible.  This is also echoed in Cassie’s plea that she does not want to hurt or fight Conner.  For long time readers, for those emotionally invested in these characters, Conner’s actions will garner a “Holy Shit!” at some point, not because a hero has gone rogue or is being mind-controlled, but because Johns has crafted a group of teammates, friends, and family in which we care what happens to them. 

I am also a little surprised that the revelation of the mole within the Outsiders actually occurred within the pages of Teen Titans.  I suppose this was done to hook those who may not be reading Outsiders, but for those who don’t read Teen Titans, I’m sure they will be pissed they missed the big reveal. 

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