Titans #4 Review

Creative Team
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Joe Benitez
Inkers: Victor Llamas and Oliver Nome
Colorist: Edgar Delgado

Issue Rating
Story: 2/10
Art: 5/10
Overall: 3.5/10

Issue Developments
Continueing from last issue the Titans fight Trigon's three kids, Wrath, Envy, and Lust. After each one of Trigon's kids uses there powers against the Titans a portal opens to Trigon's world. But before Trigon could pass through the portal Wrath, Envy, and Lust take Trigon's powers, close the portal and disappear with all that power. Ironically Raven caused Wrath, Envy, and Lust to take Trigon's power by manipulating there emotions. After talking, and Raven throwing up in the restroom, everyone decides to reform the Titans. End of issue

Highlights of the Issue

"Not everyone can handle The Flash's speed"

"Titans Together"

Review
Titans #4 was just an awful read. Both Winnick and EIC Dan Didio, who also edits the two Titans books, have been succesful in hating a book with my favorite team in comics. I know I am not alone when I say that Wolfman/Perez's Titans run was the best run in comics and that Dick, Wally, Donna, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy are the definitive Titans team that all other teams are based upon. I just can't believe who ill-concieved a relaunch of the best Titans team be.

I usually try and take something of a positive of any comic that I read and review but issue, and comic, just does not seem to have anything positive story or character wise. This whole plot of Trigon's three children trying to bring back there father is just not a very compelling plot to me and this whole story just felt so rushed from the very first issue back in the Titans East Special. And as you can tell from my summary for this issue not much at all happend at all in this issue. All this issue amounted to was one big brawl between Trigon's kids and the Titans.

Not even the art could help this title. Nothing against Benitez art but the art for this issue was just not very good. There were a lot of inconsistencies throughout this issue with the art. For everything that DC has said about how important this book is I would think they could get a higher profile artist drawing this title.

Now while I could continue to rant about how bad the charactarization and plot and question why DC continues to get Winnick high profile books but I think that other reviews will do that enough. So I have decided to instead talk about the reforming of the Wolfman/Perez Titans. I know that many people have been dying for a title with this Titans team back together but I just don't like the idea of bringing this team back together, even if Winnick wasn't writting this title. I think with how the current DC Universe is strutured and the storylines each of these characters have been in since the last time these guys were Titans together is just a step back for them as characters.

If I were DC I would have Dick join the JSA and have him act as there Batman. In Tomasi previous arc that took place before "Batman RIP" Nightwing and some of the JSA members, especiallt Dr. Midnight, got along really well. It is obvious that Nightwing will never be a full-time JLA member and even when he is a member it is only a matter of time Batman would return to the JLA. But with the JSA most Nightwing and JSA fans would not have to worry about Nightwing losing membership because he has Batman to take his spot and give him a more important role in the DC Universe. Also with the JSA always being a team that also trains the next generation of heroes Dick would make a good fit with the team with his leadership, trainning from Batman, and how many young heroes look up to him. And I know that in interviews I have read with Waid and Johns its been said that Johns has been asking to write Dick Grayson character for a long time and this would give him the oppurtunity to

Then with Wally and Roy they have already taken the place of their mentors spot in the JLA and have shown that they can handle that responsability. The one thing I would do is also have Cyborg join the JLA as well. For a while before the JLA relaunch a lot of fans thought Cyborg would finally join the JLA and I think that many people would not mind seeing Cyborg be the JLA tech guy instead of Red Tornado who continues to get destroyed in every story.

Also if DC wants Countdown to mean anything with all the money people spent on the 52 issues then make a title with Donna, and even Starfire, and the group she formed to "protect" the multiverse and make them some outer space team ala Guardians of the Galaxy. I know some of my friends feel that they just wasted money on Countdown which lead to nothing new for the DC Universe. But having Donna form her own group may actually put some importance on Countdown other than a waste of time and money. Also considering that since Infinite Crisis Starfire has also spent more time in outer space than on Earth it would make sense for her join Donna's new team.

Now with Beast Boy I have been hoping that DC would relaunch a Doom Patrol book with Beast Boy as the new leader and the team Johns used in his One Year Later story in the Teen Titans. And with Raven if she doesn't re-join the Teen Titans than she could easily join the Doom Patrol along with Beast Boy and further that relationship in that book.

So while I love the Wolfman/Perez era Titans I just wish DC would leave this group of Titans alone and let the readers appreciate that run for how great it was and allow not only the readers but also the characters to move on and grow up to take there own places in the DC Universe outside the Titans.

Wow I was able to keep my Winnick bashing to a minimum I think I deserve a little credit for that. DC you owe me one, so please get Winnick of this title and give it to some one else with much more talent and actually deserves the oppurtunity to write a high profile book like the Titans. Please.