Review: Teen Titans #24

Writer: Adam Glass

Artist: Bernard Chang

Colors: Marcelo Maiolo

Letters: Rob Leigh

Review by Steve J. Ray

Summary

“And They All Fell Down.” Robin, Roundhouse, Kid-Flash, Red Arrow and D’Jinn have been ambushed and left for dead in the rubble of a building set to explode with them in it. Lured into finding the body of assassin Lady Vic, we find the Teen Titans facing the aftermath of an explosion meant to kill them.

Positives

I would LOVE to see the script for this issue. If it was a full panel by panel breakdown I’m sure that writer Adam Glass didn’t ask artist Bernard Chang to lay out the panels like shards of shattered windows, or pieces of rubble… but I could be wrong. If it’s a plot script, with the writer just giving the artist guidelines as to roughly what should be on each page, then Mr. Chang has outdone himself. Either way, this issue is brilliant.

I’m not giving anything away by asking you, dear reader, to look at the art kindly given to us by DC Comics. The strewn rubble, broken girders and falling dust sneaking in from beyond the page borders. The panels that look like a window that a brick’s been chucked through… all of it is brilliant. It’s not just the visual effect of all this, but the deeper hint of us looking at a team that’s fragmented, and broken. This may be one of the most fun comics out there, but ladies and gentlemen, there’s some real subtle storytelling going on here. Make no mistake, this is comics art at its finest.

I honestly believe that Bernard Chang is one of the most underappreciated artists around, and I’d love for all students of the game to pick this issue up. Mr. Chang handled both pencils and inks in this issue solo, and has done so masterfully.

Color artist Marcelo Maiolo has excelled too. The shafts of sunlight breaking in, the glare of Robin’s flashlight on Crush, and the effects of magic, flames, smoke and dust, all add immeasurable texture and depth to the pages.

Negatives

Nope… not even one single, solitary gripe. Letterer Rob Leigh has laid out his work perfectly and writer Adam Glass is slowly divulging more clues and details, unraveling the mysteries that surround D’Jinn. The relationship between her and Damian is deepening, and the effects of this developing dynamic is being felt by the whole team. I’m not only in love with the artistry of this series, I’m falling in love with the characters too.

Verdict

Before this run began I was of an “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. I loved the team that was the Teen Titans, and I was enjoying the work of the previous creative team, too. I have to say, though, that a team that’s fixed and always working could easily become boring. The new characters and the new creative team are bringing us new stories, new relationships and, yes, a New Teen Titans. Old time comics fans will remember what we got the last time that happened. I’m invested now.

I feel sorry for The Other when Robin and the crew finally catches up with them… can’t wait.

Images Courtesy Of DC Entertainment

(This review was originally published on the DC Comics News website on November 21st 2018)