Titans #16 (June, 2000)
"Survival, 2 of 2: Limbo"
Writer - Devin Grayson
Penciller - Mark Buckingham
Inkers - Marlo Alquiza & Richard Bonk
Colorist - Gregory Wright
Separations - Heroic Age
Lettering - Comicraft
Associate Editor - Maureen McTigue
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
I ever tell ya this place was originally going to be a Titans blog? Prob'ly...
Anyhoo, today we wrap up the two-part Survival "epic" from 2000 (Part 1 is right here). I'll go ahead and toss it up on the Collected Editions page in a bit.
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We open with a young Dick Grayson sitting out Haley's Circus with his elephant pal Zitka. He heads into the park proper and chats up his parents... and they have a bit of a quarrel about his "playing Gotham", and suggest perhaps "playing Metropolis" was more a more worthy game.
We then shift scenes to Paradise Island where Wonder Girl is diving from a waterfall. A friend asks about the whereabouts of Diana... to which Donna suggests she's on "Man's World". Hey, waitasec... wasn't Donna herself just there as well?
Next stop, Atlantis... where a young Garth is being comforted by his mother. I guess the Atlantean kids were making fun of his purple eyes... which I suppose was probably a thing that happened. Garth feels like something just ain't right.
Elsewhere, a young Wally West gets beaten up by his post-Crisis (and, perhaps... a Manhunter) father Rudy.
Finally, we meet up with Roy... who swings over to his Park Ranger father while in full American Indian garb (plus blue jeans). Things might begin to get a bit meta here... Roy asks about his mother, to which his father mentions that he doesn't have any particulars to share about her... she's was just "never referred to", and was never meant to play into Roy's story. Weird.
At this point, grown-up Roy walks into the scene... and it's revealed that his "father" is actually... the Gargoyle! That reaction you just felt was probably either yawning... or fighting off a yawn. Don't hold it in, it ain't good for ya.
Young Roy then (somehow) convinces his father/Gargoyle to escort him to Haley's Circus... where he meets young Dick Grayson... and where it's confirmed that they still have memories of their real lives.
Then... Wally, Garth and Donna also enter the tent (Donna escorted in by John Grayson)! They're still a bit salty toward one another, but come to realize that their anger is both (in part) caused by and strengthening the Gargoyle.
John Grayson is then revealed to be... the Gargoyle! He reveals that the kidlets are in Limbo, and explains that he was able to return to taunt them due to the recent "crisis in hell", which we've already discussed here at the blog during Day of Judgment. Worth noting that this fella had been locked away since Teen Titans #14 (March, 1968)... and is actually a transformed version of Brom Stikk... ya know, Mister Twister!
The Titans tussle with the Gargoyle for a while, but it's plainly clear that they can't do much to hurt the baddie in Limbo. Robin hurls a 'rang at him... which, actually looks to do the trick. Well, actually... it's pretty obvious that it is a trick. Gargoyle just wants the Titans to keep up with the in-fighting.
And so, the Titans begin to walk... through all of the bits of scenery we opened with... barring Atlantis of course, that would just be madness. During this walk, the Titans make nice... and actually decide to push their baggage aside and listen to what each other is saying. It'd be touching... if it weren't so contrived.
Then... then... Roy starts getting confrontational again. The rest of the Titans haven't the foggiest idea what he's on about. It gets so heated that he actually punches Robin in the jaw... which, uh... somehow wakes them all up in the present?
Okay... it's flimsy, but we'll let Dick explain. He claims that the Gargoyle was trying to "stagnation"... which is to say, doing things the same way. Roy's punch was "novel" and therefore made them "unstuck" in Limbo. I... guess?
We wrap up with the T-Jet being thawed out... and the Titans heading home. While in the air, Roy admits that his "saving the day" was purely accidental. Wonk wonk.
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There was that saying that went around the internet awhile back... hell, you still see it from time to time. What was it... "You never go full..." something or another. Ah, it must've been... "You never go full Twilight Zone"!
The second part of Survival goes full Twilight Zone... and, for the most part... it's a bore. Anytime we take a team and toss 'em in Limbo... or put them in their most "perfect world" or make them face their "worst fears", I kinda check out. It's overused... overdone... and, really not a whole lotta fun (rhyme!).
I'll admit... the way Roy busts'em out of Limbo was cute... and definitely a "zag", when I was expecting a "zig"... but, that doesn't really make up for the rest of the book. I get the feeling that maybe Grayson thought of the (admittedly clever) ending first... and wrote backwards?
I'll give a bit more credit where it's due... Grayson really did some digging here. The Gargoyle/Mister Twister isn't a villain we hear about all that much. I'd go as far as to suggest many current-day Titans comics fans only know about him from the semi-recent Titans Hunt limited series. And this was 2000... before Showcase Presents "phonebooks" and digital distribution made these stories easily and affordably accessible... so, there was definitely a little bit of homework done. The idea that she might've had some "help" does nag at me a bit... but for now, we'll just play it straight.
For the cliffhanger last issue... the Gargoyle doesn't even appear as much of a threat (also, how did Dick get out of the caved-in cave?). I really wish they'd have just played this one straight. Could've been a Titans Classic! We do at least get a bit of closure on Wally and Donna's drama... which was handled pretty well, if not wiped away a hair too conveniently.
The art here, while still nice... wasn't as nice as last issue. I did notice there was an extra inker listed on this one... which might've had something to do with it. Worth mentioning... ya know how sometimes we bag on artists for only having a handful of go-to "faces" in their arsenal? Gotta say... Mary Grayson just looked like a taller version of Wonder Girl here... and, ya know... vice versa.
Overall... Survival started out exceeding all expectations. Great interpersonal drama... fun conflict... rising tension... and then, freaking Limbo. If Twilight Zone riffs are your thing, you might dig this.
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Titans #15 (May, 2000)
"Survival"
Writer - Devin Grayson
Penciller - Mark Buckingham
Inker - Marlo Alquiza
Color - Gregory Wright
Separations - Heroic Age
Lettering - Comicraft
Associate Editor - Maureen McTigue
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
I ever tell ya that this blog was originally going to be all-Titans, all the time? I probably have... but I beg your indulgence, cuz I'm gonna say it one more time (today... I'm sure I'll repeat this eventually down the line).
Way back when we first started this... my first post was a look at Tales of the Teen Titans #55. One of my favorite single issues of all time. I figured, from there I'd just use my Showcase Presents: Teen Titans "phone book" and maybe do an issue a week.
Well, that's not exactly how it worked out is it? Maybe it's like when you change something like a half-degree... and it doesn't look like it's that far off the mark until it's hundreds of miles away. I dunno.
Anyhoo. I took a look at my index... and, found it actually quite humorous that there's so little Titans material covered here! So, I'm gonna try a little harder to rectify that.
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As we open, we come to find that things aren't so sweet with the recently-re-formed Titans. The Honeymoon is most definitely over, and all of their idiosyncrasies are no longer looked as as cute. When Donna suggested the founders maybe "get away" for a little bit and try to find themselves, the newbies felt that was a capital idea... and from the looks of it, even volunteered to help them pack for the trip!
And so, the founding five (or four-plus-Speedy) have gone off for a Titans retreat on a deserted island. This isn't the first time we've seen a little Titans camp-out... and it won't be the last. Donna plays "den mother" and tries to keep the peace among the gang... but it's to no avail. She stomps off to unload the T-Jet, leaving the boys to bicker among themselves.
The razzing grows more and more personal until Donna just can't take it anymore. She hurls their baggage... their literal baggage, that is... into their campfire. Ay yai yai. It's probably worth noting that Donna's not exactly herself around this time... ya see, there was this Dark Angel... and Donna lost her memory... and everything Donna knows about herself is based on Wally West's memories of her. It's a whole "thing".
Just then... it starts to rain. Ain't that always the way? Then, as we know... rain can only do two things to a situation 1) make it romantic... or, 2) make it a whole lot worse. Well... let's explore that second thread first. The fellas continue to squabble, with Roy going to stomp away into the woods/jungle/place on the island covered with trees. Dick lambastes him for "walking away", and Aqualad calls him (Roy, that is) a junkie and... a racist. Well, Roy ain't havin' none'a that. He reminds the gang (and us) that he was raised by the Navajo, which rules out any sort of "-ist" allegations. I'm not sure that's how it works, but his heart's in the right place. Then Garth doubles-down with the junkie talk. Feels like we might be reaching a point-of-no-return, don't it?
As Roy disappears into the trees, Dick spills the beans that Roy and Donna are currently knockin' boots. Speaking of which, we next join Roy and Donna... who look to be getting ready to... knock boots.
While Dick, Wally and Garth try and build a quickie shelter... and argue some more... we shift back over to Titans Tower, where Vic and Kori are trying to get some New Tamaran information from a... cold and very distant Oracle. Ya see, they don't know Oracle's true identity... but Oracle knows that Kori might still have eyes for one Dick Grayson.
Back on the islands, the rainstorm has advanced into a full-on monsoon. Roy loses his grip on his bow (and no, that's not a euphemism)... Donna flies off to grab it (again... not a euphemism). Then... they start arguing! Donna brings (Roy's daughter) Lian up... which really gets under his skin. Donna then tells him that she's afraid what will happen to Lian after she and Roy eventually break up. That's probably not the kinda conversation you wanna have with the woman you love, right? Anyhoo... Roy splits... because, evidently... that's what Roy does?
Back at the beach, Tempest... fearful of the rising tides... has encased the T-Jet in ice, which... I dunno, sounds so much worse than having the tide come in? I'm not sure jets work after being thawed out... then again, I'm no engineer. Roy approaches to resume their earlier quarrel... and the fellas realize that this time Dick's disappeared. At this point, Wally really lets loose with some anti-Dick sentiment. And again, that's not a euphemism either.
Elsewhere on the beach, Dick is (unsuccessfully) trying to build a lean-to while Donna rattles his cage about her recent encounter with Roy. They are soon joined by the rest of the team. Wally and Garth mock Dick's carpentry skills... claiming that Batman would've already figured it out.
The argument intensifies... again. This time Wally and Donna split off from the group. Donna reveals how weird it feels to be "built" from Wally's own memories of her. She doesn't know what's real... or what's Wally's "Pollyanna Fantasy" version of "Donna Troy".
Just then... a tree falls! Like right on top of Wally! Donna tells him to vibrate through it... and he does. Once the dust (and wood chips) settle, she lambastes him for endangering her with his out of control vibration. I mean, wha--? You gotta be more clear with your demands, Donna... vibrate or don't. Er, not a euphemism? Worth noting that our monsoon has been upgraded to "hurricane" at this point.
As we approach our conclusion, the Titans reconnoiter and notice that Nightwing found a cave!
As they go to enter it, however... Dick triggers an explosion which closes off entry. I dunno... if given the choice between being out in a hurricane, or sitting in a caved-in cave... I'm gonna brave the rain!
We close out with the "big" reveal. The Titans have been acting so terrible toward one another because of... the Gargoyle? Oh, c'mon.
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Okay... we've got quite a bit to unpack here.
Devin Grayson seems to get a lotta flack online for how she handled the Titans. Gotta say... I'm not so sure I agree with some of the levels of vitriol I've seen.
Let's get it out of the way... the ending sucks. That said, the only reason why I feel that way is because of how strong I felt the rest of the issue was. The Gargoyle reveal feels like such a cop out. It's like when you're watching a really good episode of Twilight Zone or something... and you're just riveted to the set, and the climax is... aliens (or something just as cop-outty). The "easy out" almost never results in a satisfying story... and sometimes is even bad enough to spoil what came before.
Let's look at the Titans... and what brought them here. These are young people who have been friends forever. They didn't have a shot at a "normal" life... and so, not only are the Titans friends... they're also their own support structure. Nobody in the world can educatedly-empathize (which totally isn't a word that exists) with them better than other members of the team.
Look at friends you've had since you were little... or if you're still little, look at the friends you have now. You can't tell me you've never gotten on each others' nerves. Maybe even threw (and/or received) a punch or two. That's just something that happens. It's human... which is my whole point. We have a team of young people who didn't have the opportunity at a "normal" life... who are acting in a completely normal way!
The Honeymoon is over. They've reunited... the hoopla has passed... and now it's time to move forward without the novelty of "how cool is this?". I mean, if we wanna be complete wannabe literary savages... we could compare this to the readership. The novelty of "how cool is it that the Titans are back?" has, at this point, passed. We're in our second year of stories... so, what's next?
It also might be worth pointing out that the Titans are all at different points in their lives... which, is a very new dynamic for them. This is just another "human" thing they must face. Wally's on the Justice League... so he can't give the Titans all of his time. Roy and Garth both have children. I think, as we've all gotten older (those of us who are "older"), we've seen friendships... well, maybe notsomuch "end", but "go cold" as people have moved on with their lives. Gotten married... started families and careers... stuff like that. It can be hard to swallow... which, makes the Titans' reactions here so damn good.
For all I know, this might've originally been intended as a fight-free/villain-free arc, as the founding five (or four plus Speedy) re-learn why they've been a "family" for so long. The Gargoyle might've been a last minute addition. I hope that's the case anyway... because this could have (and perhaps should have) been a Titans Classic. Grayson's definitely got the chops to make this feel like "real" interactions.
I remember absolutely loving this the first time I read it half a lifetime ago. Though, when the jibes started to go "over the line", I was just waiting for that other shoe to drop... and unfortunately, it did.
Overall... despite not caring for the ending (at all), I'd still recommend checking this out. This Titans volume isn't perfect (and it becomes pretty much unreadable toward the end)... but I'd say this bit is worth a look. Mustn't forget we've got Mark Buckingham on art... and he really does a great job here as well.
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Flash (vol.5) #47 (July, 2018)
"Flash War, Part 1"
Writer - Joshua Williamson
Artist - Howard Porter
Colors - Hi-Fi
Letterer - Steve Wands
Assistant Editor - Andrew Marino
Editor - Rebecca Taylor
Group Editor - Marie Javins
Cover Price: $2.99
Heyyy, #BrightestMay is behind us... and you know what that means...
It's safe to read Chris is on Infinite Earths again... tell a friend!
Today's piece is covering a very new book... in fact, it's the latest issue of Flash (vol.5). At the risk of burying the lead... this might just be my favorite book of 2018 (so far).
That said, I'm going to endeavor to be a little "lighter" on the spoilery synopsis... hate to fully spill the beans on a brand new book!
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We open with Barry and Wally standing in a barren wasteland as a lightning storm rages in the background. They're in a heated argument about saving "them". We then hop into a very recent flashback... like 47 minutes and 18 seconds earlier sort of flashback, and check in with Iris and the other Wally... guess we can call him "Wallace". Hopefully I remember that. Anyhoo, Iris is repairing a motorcycle as they chat about the Flashes... then, speak of the devil, the Flashes arrive.
Barry and Wally razz each other about their speed... Barry's always keen on taking the scenic route, while Wally is always zeroed in on the fastest. Worth noting, in case you haven't been following this run (ha!) of Flash, Wally's memory is coming back, and he's finally come clean about who he really is to his Aunt Iris. Speaking of memories... Wally is suddenly hit by a flood of 'em, including... get this, the "Magnificent Seven" incarnation of the JLA! As if my socks hadn't been rocked already!
Just then, the Renegades from the 25th Century arrive in the present to arrest Iris West for the murder of Eobard Thawne! Heyyy, we know these folks! Barry however, doesn't recognize them... which is something that doesn't surprise Commander Cold all that much.
Wally refuses to listen to the Renegades and instead scoops Iris into his arms and skedaddles. Barry and Wallace give chase... as do the Future Cops. Iris insists Wally put her down so they can face whatever this is head-on.
Just then, the Golden Guardian recites a familiar Oath... revealing herself to be a... Yellow Lantern?!
After several pages of fighting Yellow Light Constructs and Inter-Flash-Family arguing, Wally goes down to another memory jolt. Commander Cold notices this, and orders his team stand-down. He recognizes Wally's malady as a "temporal seizure"... and says he can help him, so long as Iris comes back to the 25th Century willingly.
The whole Flash Family agrees that this is the best course of action... and they decide to accompany her... to the Temporal Courts! Lookit, lookit... it's Impulse! And Max Mercury! Jesse Quick! Barring one giant omission, it's the entire Flash Family!
Also, Wally doesn't appear to have made it! He somehow winds up at the ruins of the Flash Museum... where he sees a whole lotta delicious pre-Flashpoint stuff... including he and Linda... holding a pair of babies?!
We wrap up this chapter with Wally stood before the man who seems to have brought him here... Hunter Zolomon... ZOOM. Behind him are the costumes of Wally and Linda's children, Iris and Jai West!
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Ho-lee cow.
Um, by now y'all know that I'm a pretty soft touch when it comes to comics... particularly, for some reason, Flash comics. I still can't get through that scene in Rebirth... hell, I can't get through Geoff Johns describing that scene in Rebirth!
This gave me a very similar feeling... a true testament to the talents of this creative team. Just... man... just great stuff.
And... ya know, I'm not just gushing because they're telling the story I've wanted to read. It's more than that. It's that Williamson is using the past to craft the future. This is the way comics should be done! You play the ball where it lays... and you don't just flush away everything that came before... or anything you find inconvenient.
I love that we're getting bits and pieces from just about every run (ha!) of the Flash here. Iris' 25th Century origins... the Renegades... even Jai and Iris (who I really didn't care for when they were introduced). So many questions we had from Rebirth-on are finally getting answered. At this point, I'm on board for just about anything. Even if this somehow wipes certain things out... at least it's being addressed and done in-story... rather than in a boardroom.
I mentioned a giant speedster omission during the synopsis... and that is, of course... Jay Garrick (who we haven't seen since The Button)! Gotta assume he's either going to be a big reveal... or they're waiting on some Doomsday Clock-related thing to reintroduce him. Either way... I'm on board... and cannot wait to see how this unfolds!
The art is also fantastic! I mean, we actually get a panel of Howard Porter drawing the JLA... his JLA. I had to blink a few times... couldn't believe I was seeing the hook-handed Aquaman! Just so cool.
Overall... I haven't been this happy reading a comic book in a lonnnnnnng time. Highest possible recommendation.
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