I had no intentions to pick this book when I arrived to buy my comics this week. The only interactions with “Teen Titans” are the unread copy of the Judas Contract on my bookshelf and a conversation from Major Spoilers Podcast #344. But gee willikers am I happy I grabbed this issue!
Teenagers with Attitude
The story starts with news coverage of a mansion fire being contained by the local fire department. The broadcast is soon interrupted by a new teenage hero in town with the name of Kid Flash. Kid Flash is eager to show his apparent online fan base exactly what he is capable of, but falls quite short. While trying to save a man off the roof, Kid Flash carelessly causes a back draft that erupts the entire house and sends our young, unconscious hero flying off into a patch of grass.
The ending news coverage of the fire takes us into a penthouse with Tim Drake, aka Red Robin, scanning multiple news reports of teenage meta-humans appearing all over the world. While Drake is caught reminiscing about his time as the sidekick for Batman, in come members, and possible leader, for our new organization of baddies titled N.O.W.H.E.R.E. During the dialogue between Drake and the no-named leader we learn that it is N.O.W.H.E.R.E’s goal to snatch up these teenaged superheroes for an unknown reason. Drake evades his capture by starting the timer on the bomb he has rigged inside of his own apartment and gliding away.
We begin the third act by being introduced to Cassie Sandsmark. This lovely girl’s trouble starts when she is pulled over by a cop, who is actually an agent of N.O.W.H.E.R.E., for stealing the sports car she is driving. Luckily, Red Robin also has his eyes on her for a much different reason. After dispatching the cop, Tim tells Cassie that he knows she is Wonder Girl and is trying to get her to admit. Finally, in the midst of bullet fire, and possibly just from being pissed at Drake, we see Cassie turn on her Wonder Girl powers and take out the attacking helicopter.
On the last two pages of the issues we get our inevitable cliffhanger. The leader of N.O.W.H.E.R.E. is talking to one of the scientists about his desire to use their secret project. The boss declares that based on what happened today it is now time to release…the Superboy!
Somebody get me a frame!
Flipping to fist page and seeing the wall mounting worthy art is what made me walk out the store with this in hand. Brett Booth draws the reader in with the emotion that he puts on the characters faces. He also gives life like I have never seen to the fire at the start and the energy Wonder Girl puts out towards the end. Bottom line is I would keep reading this title as long as Booth kept drawing it.
Final Thoughts
I loved this issue! Everything from the characterization to the art struck a chord in my heart that I want plunked month after month. The only worry I have is the possibility of other books tying into Teen Titans. From reading the review at MajorSpoilers.com it seems that there are some definite similarities between this and Superboy #1, so we will have to see if these titles cross paths in the future. But with all that said, I put my stamp of approval on Teen Titans #1 and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
A New Geek 