Written by Art Baltazar and Franco
Illustrated by Art BaltazarIn this awesome 50th issue, questions are answered! Mysteries are solved! The Tiny Titans may be one step closer to becoming Super Heroes! This issue may change your life! Plus, it’s highly recommended by Franco’s mom!
This is the final issue! THE. FINAL. ISSUE. It’s a book that has delighted kids and adults since its inception and we’ve gone on about its brilliance. Brandon talks about it regularly on 4 Color, it was recommended in our Friday Rec series, and Matt reviewed it recently as well. But it’s coming to an end so the creators can move on to other projects. What’s the sendoff like?
Follow the cut for more!
There are also some spoilers, if you want to call them that.
There is only one way to say it, this book is darn near perfect. The book has always been a light hearted, fluffy, and perfect for kids. Meanwhile, it had clever in jokes for older fans that made the book an awesome read across generations. As Brandon said, it’s a perfect book for reading with your kids, and he and his son were both sad to see it go. To be blunt, with a closer like this, I am too.
This book is easily the best book DC puts out in terms of the fun you have while reading it. You don’t take it seriously, and you’re not supposed to. It’s the DC Universe, distilled into its purest form, told from the perspective one of the most popular teams DC ever had, the Teen Titans, Muppet Babies-Style.
Baltazar and Franco, who have been doing this for just about 4 years, are clearly experts in the DC Mythos. There is not a single unlikable character in here, and even their relationships and actions mirror their DCnU counterparts, merely in the context of being students in school or friends in a clubhouse.
In some ways, it’s difficult to review this book, because there isn’t much in the way or a “story.” The book is set up with several little vignettes, showing the interpersonal relationships between, say, Cyborg and Robin (of the Dick Grayson variety), or the Superkids and the holographic Jor-El. Speaking from a purely biased point of view, this was the highlight of the book, and it served as a bridge to Baltazar and Franco’s upcoming joint, “Superman Family.” The entire book essentially closed this chapter in the Johnny DC Universe and opened another with the Superman family. Superman was actually featured prominently in the latter half of the book and it actually comes off really sweetly. All the kids love Clark, and he’s basically everyone’s cool uncle.
Another highlight of the book is the arc between Beast Boy and his paramour from the DC comic, Terra. He tries so hard to impress her, going so far as to dress up like Superman to launch himself into the air. This works out to disastrous, and hilarious results, as he gets the girl and is told by Superman that he doesn’t need to “relaunch himself” in a clever nod to the New 52.
The art, which is provided by co-writer Art Baltazar, is some of the most fun you can have in a title like this. It could never be compared to the likes of say Jim Lee or Gary Frank, who are both amazing artists who can make realistic battles and make beefy men and beautiful women with ease; instead it’s a simpler, more cartoonish style you might find on Cartoon Network in the morning, or within the DC Nation block of cartoons. With the return of the Teen Titans in shorts during episodes of Green Lantern and Young Justice, it only makes sense that this book carry on in a similar fashion. And Baltazar’s art would translate perfectly to another medium.
One of the things that pushes this book over the edge is the inclusion of a six page preview to the new “Superman Family.” Once again, Franco and Baltazar work their magic and craft a story that perfectly encapsulates the universe of which it’s representing. It seems that everyone will be involved, but the Superkids who had their bridge during the main story, did not appear. If there weren’t that vignette, I might have been annoyed, but instead, this gives the creators a chance to flex their prowess with the other character who belong in the Superman family, from the natural choice of Superman to the civilians: Lois Lane, Perry White and Jimmy Olsen, to those robots that are constantly attacking the city, the preview makes the book worth the price of admission alone, even if you didn’t already pick it up regularly.
Once again, I say pick this book up. It’s a lot of fun; you will not be disappointed by it. I know I wasn’t. Make sure to check out the FCBD issue of Superman Family and pick up their first issue of that as well. If its half as fun as the preview, it’ll be a new favorite from the company.
Final Verdict: 9.6 – AW YEAH TITANS!
