Teen Titans #89- Review

Teen Titans #89

I suspect this is going to be a somewhat divisive issue of Teen Titans. JT Krul is fleshing out his new line up, and has added the current Robin, Damian Wayne, to the team. Damian, himself, has mixed fans in the comic world- some love him and find him the best new character in years, others loathe him and are hoping he gets the Jason Todd treatment.

At a science expo, our gene-manipulating mad scientist is leading his new experiment around. The young boy has gained the ability to absorb knowledge by touch, so the huge science fair type setting is a feast for his mind.

Grayson, the best leader the Titans have ever had in any incarnation, has brought his young partner to Titans Tower to learn to deal with some people closer to his own age. Damian immediately leaps to the false conclusion he’s been brought here to lead the team, and tries to fire Beast Boy. Batman corrects him- he’s NOT here to lead. Showing once more he can dish it out but not take it, Damian first claims he is more accomplished that either Dick or Tim was as Robin, but then attacks Ravager and Kid Flash when they start teasing him. Dick persuades Cassie to take him on, although no one is happy about the arrangement.

There is a one page interlude with what looks like the introduction of a new character, who has been featured on the splash page ads in various DC titles of late- she’s apparently the daughter of an archeologist. That usually results in super powers, a horrible death, or both in the DCU.

Back at the Tower, most of the team relaxes, debating Damian’s joining. Cassie speaks with Dr. Midnight about curing the transformed kids they caught last issue, and Damian refuses to mix with his new teammates.

After Cass and Damian catch news of the disturbance at the Tech Expo, Cass tells the team Damian is staying and has Raven teleport the entire team there. Most of the team starts evacuating civilians, Robin charges the bad guy and is swatted aside with ease. The bad guy seems to be telekinetic as well as a brain tapper. He is combining his power with such fields as chemistry, engineering, and quantum mechanics, among others, to create new monsters to attack the team. Raven teleports the kid away to some kind of other dimension, where she talks with him and calms him. He’s ready to surrender, they go back to the Tech Expo, and Robin screws it all up by attacking him on sight.

The villain lashes out, destroying much of the building, and leaves. Everyone regroups, and the team compares notes, less than thrilled about Damian’s performance. Damian, for his part, is oblivious that he’s even done something wrong.

What I liked and what I didn’t:

Krul writes the team well over all. They have personalities, and come off more like experienced heroes than they have recently. The scene with Batman and Wonder Girl was very well done, and Raven talking the bad guy down was very much in character for her, showing her empathy and maturity. The villain absorbing knowledge to use his own powers better was a very nice touch.

What I didn’t can really be summed up in one word: Damian. I don’t like him, haven’t any time I’ve seen him, and this does nothing to help. He’s arrogant, hot headed, and IMHO has no business wearing the Robin costume. I am debating continuing to collect this title while he’s a member. The only other thing I didn’t really care for was Cass seeming very dictatorial, but it’s a nice change at least from ineffectual.

["good art, good scenes with Batman/Cassie, good take on Raven" cons=" Damian" score= 75]

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By Blogsdna1 CommentBobbyPosted on November 28, 2010 at 12:32 pm

For all of those who are not too keen about Young Damian, I say give it some time. When he was first introduced, I thought it would be short lived. I even thought that it would be proven that he was not the son of Bruce Wayne. However, once I realized Damian was here to stay, I just accepted the fact. I believe that this shot with the Teen Titans will be a great opportunity for Damian to grow up and understand that depending on others and having others depend on you actually builds strength, rather than foster weakness, as I believe Damian believes right now.
Of course Damian comes off as the little twerp now, but I think we should see how this arc develops.

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This post was added on 26 Nov 2010, 13:08 by Wayland who has contributed 189 posts to this blog.

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