Guest Author - Travis Belk

And the second part of the 8/30/2006 comic book review.

Teen Titans #38
The team has decided to hunt for Raven due to a message she left on Cyborg’s optics while he was incapacitated. They track her last known location to Russia and encounter their former teammate, Red Star. As a subtle jab at Marvel it is revealed that Russia is having its own superhero Civil War. Red Star then tells the team they fight too much and won’t last. The team moves on to Raven’s abandoned apartment. There they discover her journal which reveals one of the team members of the past year is a traitor. During all this, it is revealed that former Titan, Risk, has turned to crime after having his arm ripped off. He is then recruited by Deathstroke (revealed only as a shadowy figure) to join a new Titans team or die.

An interesting issue, it picks up a lot of the pieces after Superboy Prime decimated the team months ago. I am curious to see why Deathstroke is making his own team and what his plans are for current Titans. We also finally got a glimpse into the members of the Titans during the one year jump the title took. The art was good as well, though the artist seems to have a problem drawing long hair. And some of the body poses at the start of the issue seemed unnatural as well.

The Trials of Shazam #1
The first issue in a 12-issue series, we start to see how Captain Marvel is handling being the guardian of the Rock of Eternity. It has given him knowledge of the strange magics in this new age of magic. He has also developed new powers as well that he demonstrates on a band of black magic kidnappers. He overcomes the baddies and in the end when he tries to transform back to Billy, he instead becomes a white-costumed version of himself.

A good first issue, it deviates from the cornball roots that Captain Marvel has been known for. His new powers also make him more than a Superman clone as well. The ending is a great cliff-hanger and has me anxiously waiting to see why it happened. They art is interesting. This is a new style for Howard Porter and it works for him. I liked it a lot and it fit the mood of the series well.

Uncle Same and the Freedom Fighters #2
Father Time has sent the agents of S.H.A.D.E. to apprehend Uncle Sam. The team however is swayed to join Uncle Sam instead when he touches upon their histories and patriotism. The team under Sam’s leadership then goes to free Firebrand from S.H.A.D.E.’s captivity. Phantom Girl reveals there is more to her than her fortune and beauty and her father the senator is revealed to be a robot.

I’m enjoying this series a lot. It’s still coming together, but I love seeing the re-imagining of these classic characters. They are also revealing a greater depth of character and are providing for a lot of story potential. The art style is awesome. The heavy black line that Acuna uses is great and gives the book a unique look.

X-Factor #10
The issue starts with a flashback to Tryp’s past. Flashing back to the present, one of his scientists has not shown up to work. The scientist has had a crisis of conscious and decides to tell X-Factor everything about Singularity. Multiple Man awakens from a hangover to discover he made a dupe. The dupe ended up sleeping with two of his teammates who reveal now they know how he got the name “multiple”. Rictor goes to Quicksilver to see about getting his powers back. And the issue ends with Guido doing something extremely unexpected.

I love this series and this issue was just as good. The beginning flashback was a little confusing, but I’m sure that will be cleared up. The interaction with the team is great as always and provides for numerous laughs. I was floored by the ending and want to know what is going on there. The art continues to give the title its unique crime noir feel.

X-Men #190
Aurora and Northstar are still under the thrall of the Children of the Vault. They quickly incapacitate Iceman and Cannonball with their enhanced abilities. Aurora stays behind to battle the rest of the X-men while Northstar proceeds to the prison to kill Sabertooth. Aurora is taken out by Mystique and Iceman who is showing new abilities. Rogue battles Northstar who is eventually taken down by Cable. (He gets around) One of the Children decides to finish the job herself and zaps Cannonball to some weird limbo place with her.

I hate, hate, and hate this art. I am waiting for the inevitable break from Bachalo that follows any title he is the artist on. There are so many angles, that action scenes are hard to distinguish. The writing itself is falling short of expectations as well. Now 3 issues into the arc, I still don’t care about the Children of the Vault as threats. Their whole Spanish names and speech are annoying for those that don’t speak it. While I’m sure we are impressed that the writer can do research into other languages, it is annoying for the reader without translations. Carey is supposed to be a great writer; I’m hoping he starts to show it soon on this title.