DCU Comic Book Reviews

TEEN TITANS #43

Titans East, Part 1

March 2007

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Tony S. Daniel

Inks by Jonathon Glipon

Cover by Tony S. Daniel

Synopsis

In New York, Nightwing welcomes Jericho back.  In the Titans Tower, Robin and Wonder Girl try to convince Raven to bring Superboy, but she tells them without his soul.  Suddenly, an explosion rocks the building heralding the arrival of Inertia and Match.  At Belle Reve prison in Louisiana, Cyborg and Miss Martian visit Bombshell, hoping to learn the identity of her employer.  She refuses to talk.  Suddenly, an explosion rocks the building heralding the arrival of Risk and Batgirl, who seemingly kills Bombshell.  Also joining in the fray are the daughters of the Joker and Two-Face, as well as Sunfire, who prepares to burn Miss Martian.  In California, Kid Devil is attacked by Kid Crusader.  Elsewhere, Deathstroke and Batgirl has Robin tied up.  Deathstroke tells the Boy Wonder he wants his family back.  In New York, Jericho and Ravager stand on the grounds of the former Titan Tower, which has been rebuilt.     

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Roll call!  This issue was crafted to introduce all of the members of Titans East by placing all of the characters against their opposite.  So we get Sunfire attacking Miss Martian, Kid Crusader attacking Kid Devil, Batgirl against Robin, etc.  We all also get to learn Deathstroke’s motives and what he hopes to accomplish.  So in terms of this issue setting up all of the proverbial ducks in a row, I think Johns does a good job.  The issue itself was a good a read, but more importantly, I am eager to see how the rest of the story will unfold.  You can’t ask much more than that.

I am curious to learn, and will have to troll the internet to find out, how people are going to react to the scene of Batgirl getting her “vitamin” shot.  Essentially, this one panel attempts to explain why Batgirl suddenly went evil.  Personally, my first reaction was that this was done after the fact and is a bit of a retcon.  However, I am not entirely convinced that this is the case; Johns has been hinting at the Titans East storyline for some time, so it is possible this explanation has bee in the works for some time. 

How did Batgirl get from Louisiana to California so quickly?  Was she with Deathstroke in both places or did she join Deathstroke later?  Or was Robin moved to another location?  Now that I think about it, that must be the answer.  Neither Wonder Girl or Raven are with Robin, nor do we see Inertia or Match.  So perhaps they are inside the Tower in New York?  

I actually like the irony that the hero is the devil and the villain is the religious figure.  I hope this is something that is explored a little bit.

Which Titans East character is missing from the cover, but shown inside this issue?

Comic Connection

Cassandra Cain (aka Batgirl) first appearance as a “villain” occurred in Robin, issue #148. 

 

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