Written by Adam Glass, Bernard Chang
Art by Bernard Chang, Scott Hanna
Published by DC Comics
“Hell yeah. We’ve made a difference.”
“Doesn’t make us good.”
“But it makes us better than our parents.”
Well, well.
It’s been over a year now since we first heard tell of the Other, the nefarious, shadowy criminal kingpin that has been dogging the Teen Titans since Damian first pulled together his new team.
After all of the twists and turns it took to get here, some more satisfying than others, there remained a danger that the big reveal of who, precisely, is the face behind the Other’s sinister mask, might well fall a little short, or at least fall into predictable tropes.
But, once again, author Adam Glass does not disappoint.
I won’t spoil anything here – it is well worth pulling this issue to read it for yourself – but I will say that the set-up Glass has been working towards all this time, and the reveal of the Other’s long-game masterplan, manages to be both genuinely surprising… while also making a lot of sense.
Comic book-logic wise, of course.
But that’s OK. In fact, it’s a big win.
Not for the team perhaps. Indeed, as we discover very quickly, the implacable ruthlessness of the Other means that the team is quite probably, (and quite literally) in well over their heads.
But that’s just the start. Because the true danger of the Other lies in a wholly unexpected direction – one that plays directly into the narrative Glass has been laying down from the very first issue. And that could mean big trouble for Robin.
At the same time, we are treated once again to the sort of magic that brings this team alive when they’re under pressure. And a testament to the sort of strength that we can all find within ourselves, when we’ve been truly humbled, and all the chips are down.
That doesn’t mean that the kids of the Teen Titans don’t have some work to do to redeem themselves. But it does pave the way for a far stronger team. If only they can take their cues… and help each other to get there.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean things are going to get easier any time soon. Because there’s one member of the team who has yet to be truly humbled.
Which isn’t a particularly good thing, when Damian Wayne is suddenly faced with the temptation of a lifetime.
Next Issue: Be careful what you wish for.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login