Teen Titans #9 Review

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Reviewer: Mathan “Red Star” Erhardt
Story Title: First Blood

Written by: Geoff Johns
Penciled by: Mike McKone
Inked by: Marlo Alquiza & Norm Rapmund
Colored by: Jeromy Cox
Lettered by: Comicraft
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Publisher: DC Comics

Ah, the Teen Titans, where the teen heroes kick back on the weekends. But you know when you get Superboy, Kid Flash, Robin, Wonder Girl and Beast Boy together something wacky is going to happen.

This issue opens with Raven and Brother Blood sharing a tender moment. You know what they say; “The family that bathes in blood together…”

We then find Kid Flash, Robin, Wonder Girl and Beast Boy on a mission in San Francisco. Kid Flash still has A.D.D. X 1,000, and Robin is still Batman Jr. It appears that some psychics fell into a coma, and there may be a link to Raven. Wonder Girl suggests that Kid Flash run them to the hospital, but Robin wants them to go as a team, in a Batmobile, that he smuggled to the West Coast. Somehow Kid Flash gets behind the wheel and hilarity ensues.

Where is Superboy? Well he has homework to do at the Titans Tower, while he contemplates on how to cheat on a paper, he allows himself to be distracted by Krypto, that lovable Kryptonian canine. Unfortunately Krypto completely disrespects Starfire’s garden. Hilarity ensues.

We get a glimpse at Deathstroke and his daughter sharing a tender moment. You know what they say; “The family that interrogates together…” Slade is really such a good father; I’m surprised that he only has one child left.

Back to Krypto and Superboy. Krypto runs into Cyborg’s quarters and Superboy discovers a shocking secret about Vic. Y’know how when you stumble into the bathroom and catch someone naked? Well it’s like that, sort of.

Back at the hospital the Titans check out the comatose and find them levitating. Then our heroes are attacked by a weird black energy similar to Raven’s signature.

John’s has done a really good job with this book thus far. Some of the great points about this issue are the revelations about Cyborg and Superboy’s plot to cheat. I thought that Superboy sounded just like a kid, trying to find the easiest way to do something. The Deathstroke scene was also very cool. I didn’t care for the Batmobile/hospital story. It just seemed like it was trying too hard to be funny. Still there is much more good than bad in this issue.

The art is great. While some folks really liked Tom Grummett’s guest pencils last issue, I couldn’t wait for McKone to return. McKone has the ability to capture action and facial expression in a very natural way. This book is a treat to look at.