Teen Titans Go! #14 Talkback (Spoilers)

[Slane]

Teen Titans Go! #14


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Written by: J. Torres
Art by: Todd Nauck and Lary Stucker
Cover by: Dave Bullock

Speedy joins the Titans as Plasmus returns to menace the city

Comments?

Edited By Amazing Spidey.

 

[Slane]

[First reading critique.]

Another good issue, though not a lot of substance to it; it's an extended, character-driven fight against a villain without a motive. "If You Can't Beast 'Em..." (nice title, BTW) is like the Thunder and Lightning issue (only without a moral) in that the Titans need to re-think their usual strategy, or the Plasmus fight in "Transformation" (Plasmus just happens to be some place, just happens to be ingesting toxic waste, and just happens to fight against the Titans).

The story also continues the Robin/Speedy parallel from "Winner Take All," so there isn't too much different in their relationship, except that they are not quite as competitive as before (save for the cute chibi ending). The two derive at the same conclusions (using the same ice tools, realizing they need to contain rather than separate Plasmus) and use the same dialogue (with Speedy even taking over Robin's battle call duties).

Since the Robin/Speedy dynamic is the same, Speedy has not yet assumed the more gruff personality he will assume in his "Titans East" appearance; he instead remains a copy of Robin's teenage, heroic, fun-loving, slightly competitive, and highly athletic personality. He's not a cliché personality, but he's not too dynamic either. Overall, he's just there, not really offering anything new; he's not Green Lantern in JLU's "Initiation" with the “little guy” shtick or the bow to go with the dues ex machina poles that need to be shot into Brimstone’s intake. Instead, he acts as Robin would have (freeze Plasmus) and determines the plan that any other character could have derived (instead of separating Plasmus, scoop him back together).

Other than that, Speedy was great. The design is still good, his dialogue is funny early on ("Plasmus go boom" and his hair problem) and him taking over the battle cry was a good moment.

The Titans remain in character; Beast Boy's thinking about his stomach and bickering with Cyborg, and Raven is her usual droll self ("And over there...and there...and there..."). Cyborg and Starfire seemed to be in the background more so for this issue, though I liked their "flying" dialogue towards the end; too bad Cyborg didn't have an exaggerated angry face to match Beast Boy's panicked face (as well as the nice stomping action in which he was engaging).

The artwork is still great. The first page has a great layout, with the off-screen Titans appearing in the cast bubbles with different reactions to Speedy’s standoff; Beast Boy’s panic, Starfire’s fascination, Robin’s analytical look, and the intensity of Cyborg and Raven’s stares are all appropriate. Also, good design on Plasmus and his gloop, and the shadow silhouettes throughout just appealed to me for some reason. Other good moments include Cyborg’s befuddled look alongside Beast Boy, Robin and Speedy’s panic, and Raven’s passive look while sitting in her protective bubble.

The chibis are also great, but it’s difficult to see the Mad Mod cameo. [And, I’m sad to say, I didn’t anticipate the answer to the Cyborg + bull – borg joke. ]

Bullock's cover...sigh, how I wish that there was a nighttime scene outside the Tower like in this cover. It just looks so good when that bright arrow aim at the viewer is added. So...Is that how an archer is supposed to hold an arrow? Also, while I like the stylized character models, Speedy looks emaciated. Facial hair is a nice touch, though, and the entire cover looks good.

Also, although the toxic waste allows Plasmus to assume his split-up form, I wonder what that does to his human form; just like “Transformation” and “Aftershock 2” didn’t let the viewer know what mutating the monster did to the human, this issue doesn’t let us know how this new power will affect Mr. Slack…er, the human. I wonder if the ice will actually keep him frozen long enough, however. [EDIT: Nevermind; I forgot Plasmus split up in "Divide and Conquer" as well with no problems to his human self.]

Finally, the letter page mentions Red X will make an appearance (something J. Torres already mentioned in the previous talkback).

 

[MultiMEDEA]

Gotta say I was a bit disappointed with this issue. The art was fine but the story went nowhere. 20 pages of the the Titans fighting Plasmus (one of their lamer villains). Wow. No reason given (except that he was there, I guess). And as an intro to Speedy as a new Titan it especially falls flat. If you don't already know the character, you'd probably be scratching your head over why he's there. No reference at all to the Tournament of Heroes ep. And since he really didn't do anything that Robin couldn't have done, he was sorta superfluous. Him being a Robin personality clone didn't help matters either. At least Terra had whole different skill sets and her own agenda. And did it really need to take the whole issue for them to figure out how to defeat Plasmus? Don't the Titans keep case files of previous villain encounters to study? Robin sure had plenty of data on their run-ins with Slade.

Sorry, had to give this issue two *. Teen Titans Go! might be a 'kiddie' mag, but the storylines shouldn't be dumbed-down so.

 

[Slane]

[Thanks Spidey. ]

"Extended fight" over 20 pages is an appropriate description.

I also wish "Winner Take All" was referenced since Starfire and Raven likely don't know much about Speedy (except what the boys told them and also whatever they knew about his solo exploits, similar to how Robin was slightly familar with him when they first met). Too bad Torres didn't take the "Titans East" direction with him.

Concerning Plasmus's division abilities: It seems even stranger that the Titans didn't think of containing him when that was their problem in the first episode of the series. The toxic waste perhaps made his division skills stronger, but it is the same problem they encountered earlier. Plus, he broke out of the ice early on in the story, so what’s to stop him from breaking out again?

And, evidently, Raven is now the Titans' resident Green Lantern: Using her powers to make a funnel grinder.

I also groan looking at Cyborg's dialogue with Speedy: "Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Speedy?" Uh...

Anyway, I still like it for what it is: An extended fight. 3 stars.

 

[MultiMEDEA]

And, evidently, Raven is now the Titans' resident Green Lantern: Using her powers to make a funnel grinder.

I'm now getting images of Raven as an 'anti-Lantern'! She's certainly more formidable than Sinestro.

 

[Pyro]

Well, I'm glad I picked this up, if only for Todd Nauck's art. His rendition of Speedy was great and so was the rest of the issue. But the story, as MultiMEDEA said, went nowhere. It was pretty unfulfilling.

 

[J. Torres]

Hey, everyone. Thanks for the feedback (positive and negative). And of course thanks for picking up the issue! And Happy New Year!

 

[Pyro]

Hi, I'd just like to say, please don't take my previous comment too negatively because I only mentioned what I didn't like and not what I did like. The characterization and pacing was great, I thought you handled the relationship between Speedy and Robin really well. My only negative point was the plot. It was good as a self-contained battle, though. Todd Nauck is one of my favorites, so that is the only reason I picked it up, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the writing.

 

[J. Torres]

Hi, I'd just like to say, please don't take my previous comment too negatively because I only mentioned what I didn't like and not what I did like...

No worries! You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have...