Writer: Al Ewing; Artist: Steve Lieber; Colourist: Lee Loughridge; Letterer: Ferran Delgado; Editors: Sabrina Futch, Katie Kubert
The second issue of this new series for DC’s most fabulous freak is as entertaining as the first, as Rex Mason’s girlfriend Sapphire Stagg has her thunder stolen by rival pop star Sugar Sweet. And behind it is vintage Teen Titans villain the Mad Mod. And behind him? You might be surprised.
With sizzling tongue-in-cheek dialogue, clever plotting, chemical cleverness aplenty, and even some whimsy perched on Sapphire’s shoulders, fantastic art that puts character to the fore, and a delightfully wonky opponent in Yesterday Woman, this is a feast of fun.
The question as to whether this very retro-vibe book is set in the past is settled when current Gotham police commissioner Vandal Savage pops up. You’ll find social observation with lines like: ‘There’s power in reactionary nostalgia’. And defrosted Neanderthal Java, with his world weary semi-sophistication, continues to be my favourite character.
The only negative is the hair and face of Mad Mod – the old Teen Titans baddie here looks like a British broadcaster revealed after his death to be a truly vile man. Steve Lieber being North American, it has to be an unfortunate coincidence, as I can’t see British writer Al Ewing giving him picture reference.
A very groovy cover is the bow on a first-rate second issue. Don’t miss it.
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
Good review, Martin. Seeing the Mad Mod was a bit of a shock after all this time. He was one villain I thought we’d never see again! As a lot of current titles (Marvel and DC) rejig the same plots for a new audience, I’m finding all these retro-titles like World’s Finest and some of the last incarnation of JSA a guilty pleasure.
It make me wonder if DC has realised that it’s only us OG fans who can afford todays comic prices?
Cheers, Rob
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You’re probably right, Rob. As for the Mad Mod, I’m sure he was in a modern day comic within the last year as an aide to superheroes, probably the Titans.
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I liked this issue way more than the last for sure. Ewing toned down the mocking tone of the outdated slang just enough for me. I still don’t like the style Lieber is using, something I don’t remember thinking seeing his work before. It reminds me of some of the Marvel rush jobs from the Deadline Doom Era TBH. Luckily, writing is king for me and unless the art turns me off like Ditko and Liefeld I can enjoy a book overall. I still don’t think the book has legs though.
And if this is set in continuity per what you said about Vandal Savage, shouldn’t Mad Mod be an exposed costumed villain at this time? Stagg is back being more than a parody or an evil mastermind so he should never have hired a career villain like this ever-annoying twit.
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I was honestly sure the Mad Mod had reformed, he seems to have done a Major Disaster. Maybe he just follows the money.
I honestly don’t see any downgrade in Lieber’s artwork.
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I picture his work closer to Samnee than this.
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I liked the first issue enough to come back, and this issue, I seriously loved! And like you, I think Java is my favorite character! HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN??
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Isn’t it wonderfully weird? Sapphire could do worse.
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Loved this issue as much as the first. Easily my favourite dc title right now. Such a great updating of the concept while still staying true to the essence of the characters.
I enjoyed the spotlight on Sapphire. To me, she is the character that is most different from her Silver Age portrayal. That’s not a criticism as there’s enough of the original character there that the updates aren’t jarring.
Mad Mod has certainly been redeemed in the pages of Titans – but might also have reverted back to his old ways in Titans Academy (was that the name of the comic?). Maybe? I think? Either way, the character is fluid enough that he reads self-interested regardless of which side of the law he’s on.
I’m giving kudos to Leiber for finding fresh takes on traditional 60s panel layouts. And more kudos to Ewing for packing a lot of text into the story without it seeming wordy.
Can’t wait for the next issue.
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Sapphire is a bit of a wet blanket compared to the original, though she’s at least closer to the classic than the Legends of Tomorrow version.
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I’m hoping that as the series progresses we get to see more and more of her 60s personality come back. She was ditzy and stuff… but also was fun to read.
Completely agree about the Lopresti Legends of tomorrow version. Man, the dude is a great artist, but any of the stories he’s written that I’ve read have been… not what I’m looking for. His take on characters differs greatly from mine.
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I think I liked it for what it was, but honestly, Metamorpho had a classic set-up, Sapphire wasn’t ‘lesser’ in the Sixties because she wasn’t a scientist. She was pretty awesome!
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