DCU Comic Book Reviews

TITANS #15

Through Thine Eyes

September 2009

Written by J. T. Krul

Pencils by Jose Luis

Inks by JP Mayer

Cover by Angel Unzueta

Synopsis

Long ago, Arthur Curry (aka Aquaman) was the king of Atlantis.  However, Atlantis feel during a crisis and the king was killed.  Also in the Crisis, Garth (aka Tempest) lost his wife and son.  Garth mourns the loss of his family and his king.  As he stands over their graves, he encounters Slizzath, who taunts Garth by claiming he can hear Garth’s family.  Garth attacks.  Slizzath, however, seems to welcome the attack and welcome death at Garth’s hands.  Afterwards, Garth returns to Atlantis, unsure what he should do.  Garth then visits the batcave to talk to his old friend and new Batman, Dick Grayson.  The two discuss the loss of the mentors and how to deal with their loss.  Garth decides he knows what to do.  He returns to Atlantis, to take his mentor’s place, and become the King of Atlantis. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This is the kind of issue that provides answers without, you know, actually providing answers.  The last time Tempest had been seen, he had lost his powers and, indeed, his ability to even breathe underwater.  Now, he is back, with very little mention of what happened to him.  Granted, one can assume that wherever he went or whatever he did, he got his powers back, but we are not given any details.  Moreover, we don’t learn what happened to Dolphin and Ceridian, other to note they died at some point off panel.  So, essentially, a lot of information has been bypassed in order to the get othe point in the story that we need to get to.  It is a little frustrating. 

Yet, I don’t think these bits of information are all that important to enjoying this issue.  This is less about what Tempest has done and more about who he is and the loss he has suffered over the years.  It is very introspective and while there are bits of continuity to explain events, Krul manages to make us understand how Garth feels about what has happened.  We get a sense of the pain and loss Garth has felt over the years, as well as the determination to do what’s right.  The conversation with Dick was easily the best scene of the issue, with the two former sidekicks discussing their feelings over the loss of their mentors.  It is touching and revealing, showing the two of them reacting in different ways, but coming to the same conclusion. 

This is (as the cover) states, a prelude to Blackest Night, so the goal with this issue is to set up Garth for the attack of his loved ones as Black Lanterns.  We learn a lot of Garth’s history, and his relationship with Aquaman and his own family.  We also encounter Slizzath, a character I am completely unfamiliar with, but Krul does a good job to introduce him and set-up the character as a strong player in the upcoming Blackest Night. 

That is a misleading cover.  Not only does Tempest not fight his teammates, but those depicted on the cover are not even in the book.  Plus, the cover is weird with Starfire and Raven appearing only partially, their bodies on the edge.  And even though (I am guessing) Flash is supposed to be hurt or dead, the positioning of his body looks like he is swimming the breast stroke. 

In the “this interests only me” department:  there are two artists on the book who have initials for their first name.  Writer Krul is listed with dots between the letters (J. T.) while Inker Mayer is listed without initials (JP). 

Comic Connection

There was a mention of a Crisis twice.  The first mention (on page 2) I thought was a reference to Infinite Crisis, when Atlantis was destroyed.  As for the second mention (on page 8), I thought it was a reference to Final Crisis, but Tula was lost in Crisis On Infinite Earths, so I am not sure what it is supposed to mean.   

The new Aquaman (whose name was also Arthur Curry) that is referred to on page 15 first appeared in Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis, issue #40 and was created by Kurt Busiek. 

After the attack on Atlantis in Infinite Crisis, Tempest was presumed dead.  He was found by the people of Sub Diego in Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis, issue #51.  Tempest had been last seen in issue #56, going to a different dimension to regain the powers he lost.

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