DCU Comic Book Reviews

TEEN TITANS #65

Pawns & Kings, Part 3:  Breaking Rank

January 2009

Written by Sean McKeever

Pencils by Eddy Barrows

Inks by Ruy Jose

Cover by Eddy Barrows and Ruy Jose

Synopsis

In Washington DC, Lycus attacks Wonder Girl with the intent of killing her so he can take her place as the champion of Ares.  The rest of the Teen Titans arrive to help her, but Lycus’ hellhound is in their way.  Meanwhile, Lycus continues to punish Wonder Girl, even using her lasso against her.  Suddenly, an explosion rocks the area.  Wonder Girl reappears with renewed strength.  She no longer needs to the power of Ares; all of her power comes from her and with that power she defeats Lycus and sends him away.  At the same time, the Titans are able to work together and defeat the hellhound.  Later, Wonder Girl informs her mother that she will staying at the Titans Tower full time.  In California, when told that Colonel Allen is not talking despite the torture, his wife is insistent the torture techniques are increased.  They need to find her daughter so she can be tested, killed, and dissect for the benefit of Project Quantum. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I liked this issue, I like the Wonder Girl and her powers were finally addressed and we don’t have to deal with, but frankly I though the issue was incomplete.  I think there is missing pieces of the story that would make the battle between Lycus and Wonder Girl a little bit epic, instead of the weak fight we got.  It ends too quickly, almost rushed.  I think there needed to be more time between Lycus’ first victory, when he claims he has all of Wonder Girl’s power, to when she appears in the new costume claiming power of her own.  Essentially, Wonder GIrl goes from getting beaten to powerful in the span of a panel.  The transformation gets lost, the importance of that moment is minimized.  I would think that realizing that power is within you should have some significance, but McKeever just blows right past it.  On the flip side, we also don’t get to see Lycus with his full power.  I think seeing him terrorize the Titans and unleashing all of his power would make Wonder Girl’s reappearance even more powerful. 

As for the rest of the issue, it was good stuff.  I really liked the battle against the hellhound.  It was the right mixture of humor and action with a solution that was ingenious, humorous, and a little bit of character-building on top of it.  And the ending was creepy, with the identity of the ultimate evil being Bombshell’s mother.  All of this works; I just wish McKeever had spent more time on Wonder Girl and her transformation. 

Thinking about it, the entire plot of Wonder Girl losing her powers seems to be almost an afterthought, a plot point to finish and get over.  I’ve got to wonder, was this something that Geoff Johns began when he was writing the story and McKeever was kinda forced to finish on his own.  I mean, the story idea is strong enough on its own that it didn’t have to be shuttled into the background as a sub-plot to the Project Quantum.  Maybe the fact that it was Johns’ idea explains why the story ends as quickly as it does. 

Water boarding is a form of torture where water is repeatedly poured over someone's face and into the breathing passages so that one could drown or lead to oxygen deprivation.  It induces the gag reflex, forcing the person to cough, causing damage to lungs. 

 

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