| Convergence: New Teen Titans #1 |
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| Wednesday, 29 April 2015 23:46 |
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Marv Wolfman’s New Teen Titans is one of the most beloved and respected runs in comics. Admittedly the series shows its age at times, but Wolfman transformed the Titans from a fad-chasing joke into one of DC’s biggest sellers, crafting some of their most beloved characters in the process. Hearing that he would return to write his classic characters in the era he knows best was definitely exciting, but, as we have seen, even well-loved runs can be derailed by the necessities of “Convergence”. There’s plenty of reason to worry about a thirty-year old series being revived amidst a controversial modern crossover event.Thankfully it seems that Wolfman’s magic still works after all these years. Yes, he’s a little expository, though less than many of his “Convergence” peers, and yes, occasionally the dialogue feels a little out of date, but ultimately the attention to character that made NTT such a hit in the first place proves timeless.I’m very impressed that Wolfman manages to give each of the seven Titans, except Jericho, a distinct challenge. Admittedly Kole’s oblivious pining is decidedly less interesting than Donna’s heartfelt pains of separation and Starfire’s plight leaves me a little cold, but it’s really impressive to see so many different struggles so naturally worked into a two issue arc. Even more impressive, Wolfman writes in an entirely modern style, eschewing the compressed storytelling and narrative captions that helped convey the story in the team’s heyday, and still makes it look easy.The friendships and voices fans remember are still in place. Cyborg and Beast Boy remain a great pair and the delicate balance between Dick Grayson and his two beautiful best friends is captured in masterful brevity. Of course, we don’t get to go very deep into many of the Titan’s personalities, but there is an illusion of depth and a continuity with the original stories that should make the issue accessible and pleasant for new readers and old fans alike.Up until this point I think the best handling of the “Convergence” structure probably belongs to the otherwise flawed Convergence: Shadow of the Bat, which basically decided to segregate the pre and post-dome elements into two separate issues. So far that’s the best we’ve really managed at tackling the overcrowded scenario. I have to say that Wolfman is the first to almost make a strength out of it.Perhaps it says something about the era of comics heroism that we’re in that Wolfman explores the need for hard sacrifice and for taking a third option more complexly than most of his peers. Whatever the reason, there’s an enjoyable balance that feels natural and helps this feel like a meeting of different heroes.The issue is also very lucky for its artist. Many of the “Convergence” titles have featured middling artwork, but this issue joins Convergence: The Question as one of the few that features and genuine A-lister. Nicola Scott is a logical choice for this special, her idealized realism capturing something of the same quality that George Perez brought to the New Teen Titans. Admittedly if you look too closely at individual panels there are jaunts into the uncanny valley, but overall things look great. The action shots are especially effective, communicating not only the motion depicted but a little bit of what precedes and follows as well. The emotions of the issue are a little bigger than what modern readers might be used to but Scott manages to bring them through without fully descending into melodrama.Some Thoughts:It’s a shame that Wolfman/DC picked up the story at a point where Raven wasn’t a part of the team, it would have been nice to see classic Raven again.As I mentioned, Starfire and Nightwing’s troubles don’t entirely sit right with me. The two are my favorite Titans and they’re actually quite well written, however one of the things that makes Starfire so interesting to me is the delicate balance she strikes between vengeance and joy. Too often writers overplay Kory’s enthusiasm, sensuality, or bloodlust, allowing one to dominate her personality and simplify her significantly. Ultimately Starfire is in character, but to have her growing blood-thirsty in captivity undermines her willingness to fight normally and the love of life that defines the character. It seems a waste to have Wolfman steer Kory this way when other writers so often do the same and do so worse.The post Convergence: New Teen Titans #1 appeared first on Weekly Comic Book Review. Read more: http://weeklycomicbookreview.com/2015/04/30/convergence-new-teen-titans-1/ |
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