The Titans aren’t known for stealth. With an Amazonian powerhouse, an energy-blasting space princess and a half-man, half-robot whose biggest weapon is a white noise generator on the team, that’s not surprising. But they also have one of the world’s greatest detectives and a shapechanger to hand.
So it is that Beast Boy takes the form of a bat, then a swarm of wasps, a mouse and an army of ants and flies into the Church of Eternity, opening a window so Nightwing can sneak in too.
As it turns out, nefarious deeds do indeed look to be afoot, with acolytes of the Church of Eternity – nee the Church of Blood – about to sacrifice a nubile young lady to the demon Trigon, who happens to be the father of Titan in good standing Raven. The time for stealth is over, the entire Titans team enter the fray, including Tempest, whose surprising sympathies for the dubious cult is what brought his pals there in the first place.
The heroes stop the bloodied acolytes from killing anyone and are surprised to find their leader wasn’t the guy dangling the dagger over potential Trigon kibble.
Do we believe that? Do we believe the heir to Brother Blood’s empire is as pure as the clownish white suit he wears? Then do Tom Taylor and Nicola Scott have a final page for you.
Writer Taylor picks up the threads of the tale from last issue, which was delayed for a couple of months by the Knight Terrors summer event, and gives us his most entertaining script yet. Sure, Donna has to mouth some clunky social commentary…
… but otherwise the Titans are on top form in an intriguing mystery.
Especially Gar. Usually the joker in the pack, here he’s the voice of reason, a little more light-hearted than the rest, but asking all the right questions. He doesn’t even say anything creepily inappropriate to the almost sacrifice… if it turned out that he was possessed, and not Tempest – we’re supposed to believe he’s down with a plan to force humanity leave the world because we’re too rough on poor old Mother Earth – I’d not be surprised. If this is actual character growth, I’ll take it happily.
I do have a question regarding Gar and that opening sequence… since when can he transform into multiple creatures at once? That’s not a logical outgrowth of his metahuman ability.
Remember that business with a future Flash murdered, in the first issue? That’s back this time, but as none of the Titans seem fussed beyond advising Wally not to get killed, I’m finding it hard to care.
The artwork is flat-out fantastic. Nicola Scott gets better by the issue, with the Titans looking the best they have since days of yore/George Perez – their features are well defined but there’s also a softness that makes them seem very human. The storytelling is clear as a bell, and as for the action sequences, well, you’ve seen that hero shot. Lose the freckles from Wally West’s cheeks – he’s ginger but he’s not Jimmy Olsen – and we’d have perfection.
The finish to the art comes in the form of Annette Kwok’s colours, which are masterfully moody. The red of the blood dripping from the acolytes, the browns and purples informing the Church of Eternity… this is first-rate work and Kwok should get more plaudits.
Wes Abbott, meanwhile, delivers an unshowy, attractive job with the lettering – extra points for that in-balloon logo!
Top it all off with a cracker of a cover from Scott and Kwok – just look at the perspective on the Titans – and you have the best argument yet for this latest Titans book.
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
I think I would have liked the Church plot to simmer a little longer but apparently simmering won’t be a thing here. Flash’s future demise isn’t even really simmering. It’s just getting a few panels with no real impact, especially since none of how this is affecting Wally’s family seems to be on the table. I would have liked to see Linda reacting, especially since Spurrier changed her personality in the one Flash story of his I am ever going to read,
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was also surprised the Church business was so quickly dealt with… I think I find it refreshing. Mind, it would’ve been great if Beast Boy’s optimism proved correct.
LikeLike
Finally got to read this. I liked it! I especially liked Gar having an open mind about the church, but not so open that he’s letting the breeze blow through. He’s just rooting for second chances, while still acknowledging the church’s history, and I really like that.
And as for Donna, I’ve got zero problems with what she said. The Church of Blood isn’t the only one with a horrible track record. And I was surprised at Brother Eternity’s response, also. I love the false-transparency stance; this is the first time I’ve ever thought the Church of Blood could be the credible force in culture and politics that it was always portrayed as, so well done.
One thing I’m not a fan of, unfortunately, is Wes Abbott’s letters. The letterforms all seem a little too small, and it has the effect on me that I’m hearing the dialogue all muffled behind a thin sheet of plastic. Different strokes, I guess. I like big, John Workman-style lettering. Abbott’s closer to Bob Lappan or Tom Orzechowski — both of whom are fine letterers, but not generally to my taste. I wonder if Abbott is Nicola Scott’s pick? I seem to recall the lettering for Black Magick (provided by Jodi Wynne) also had a similar effect.
Ah, well — I’m picking nits. I really liked this issue overall, and MAN, that last page is creepy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting about the lettering, I went back for a look and I see there is a bit more white space in the bubbles than in others. How to you feel about showy letterers such as Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, who’s on the new Hawkgirl series which I’ve not reviewed since #1?
LikeLike
I haven’t read Hawkgirl yet, but I just paged through it and liked what I saw. He’s also lettering the new Flash series, correct? IIRC, I liked his expressive work there more than you did.
LikeLike