New Teen Titans: Games HC
by William Hood
Written by: Marv Wolfman
Illustrated by: George Perez
Inks: Al Vey
Colors: Hi-Fi
Publisher: DC Comics
Who says you can't go home? Wolfman and Perez certainly bring us back to a time when New Teen Titans was consistently a top DC seller, when Robin was Tim just learning to be Robin, and visibly starstruck by Nightwing, and when Starfire was a warrior to be reckoned with, carrying both power and a caring heart, and not some alien barbie doll that DC has turned her into.
Although I have read and followed the Titans in all of their varied forms, Original, New, Teen, Team, Titans, and all incarnations surrounding them. THIS IS THE TITANS THAT I LOVE. Vic, Gar, Kori, Dick, Raven, Wally, and even that Chase kid. Like a visit with old friends you haven't seen in years.
Only to discover that you have nothing in common anymore.
Don't misunderstand that. New Teen Titans: Games is a perfectly constructed trip down a nostalgic road of a time past. The problem is, that is exactly what it feels like.
It's best points are also it's weakest, inasmuch that you know these characters, and you know they will go on to face life, death, heartache and "crisis" of all kinds, so any imminent danger to life and limb in this story is reduced by the fact we, as readers, know what happens already.
Marv Wolfman gives pitch perfect voice to the characters within, and it is good to see him revisit his old stomping grounds...but, there is something a little off about Cyborg.After an orchestrated event, Cyborg loses someone he cared about, and sort of laps himself. Becoming nearly irrationally angry. Admittedly, it has been a while since I have read my back issues, but, I remember Vic being more passionate than short fused. Angry? Sure, makes perfect sense, but not as angry as he had gotten.
It did provide for a nice moment between Raven and Cyborg, however. Oddly enough, odd because I know no one that is hard of hearing so there was no real reason for it to stand out to me, but there was also a beautiful sequence of panels wherein Joey signs T.I.T.A.N.S. to his girlfriend...I don't know if credit goes to Marv or Mr. Perez for that, but it was great. Nice touch.
George Perez is...well, George Perez. A master of the craft, and he looks like he truly enjoyed playing in the Titans playground again, I can't say more about him, it's George freaking Perez!
The story itself, a life or death "chess game" involving loved ones in danger was not all that original...but, it was engrossing and introduced Holox to the DCU, and, yeah, he is pretty cool. A fantastic visual and at least one character I would like to see again.
120 pages plus a foreword explaining the wait, process, and rewrites...and an afterword with the original plot/story.
All in all, good stuff, and a good visit with old friends. Both the creative team and the Titans team.
Just makes me miss the old school, classic comics that much more.
Art: A+
Writing: B+
Colors: A+
Overall: A
Agree? Disagree? Share your thoughts below.
Bill Hood is Creative Director for Dream In Color Entertainment. He can be reached at wjh1170@gmail.com
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