Book Review: Teen Titans vol #4

Book: Teen Titans volume #4: The Future is Now (issues #15-23 and Teen Titans/Legion of Super-Heroes Special)

Superboy and The Legion by Geoff Johns and Mark Waid, illustrations by Mike McKone, Ivan Reis and Joe Prado, inks by Marlo Alquiza and Mark Campos, color by Jeromy Cox and Sno-Cone and letters by Comicraft and Rob Leigh

Titans Tomorrow by Geoff Johns, illustrations by Mike McKone, inks by Marlo Alquiza, color by Jeromy Cox and letters by Comicraft

Hiding by Geoff Johns, illustrations by Tom Grummett, inks by Nelson DeCastro, color by Jeromy Cox and letters by Comicraft

Lights Out by Geoff Johns, illustrations by Mike McKone, inks by Marlo Alquiza, color by Jeromy Cox and letters by Comicraft


Edition: Trade Paperback

Description:

THE PAST AND THE FUTURE DEMAND ATTENTION

The Titans' weekends are usually a chance to get away from it all, but this time they're really gone...to the 31st century. There, they must help the Legion of Super-Heroes stop a threat known as the Fatal Five Hundred.

Their return trip drops them off a mere ten years into the future, but it's not a place they want to stay. Most of the team are horrified at what they grown up to become and what these adult Titans do to accomplish their goals.

The final story brings them back home to welcome their newest member - Speedy - who arrives just in time to oppose Dr. Light. His memory restored, Dr. Light comes looking for retribution for the humiliating defeats the Titans have handed him over the years. The dark times of the future appear to be starting about now...



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Teen Titans vol #4 is jam-packed with stories, with the first starting with Superboy and Wonder Girl on a date when a portal opens up and draws in Superboy. He returned seconds later wearing a new costume. Returning to Titans Tower, Wonder Girl carried an unconscious Superboy and before the Titans (Cyborg, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, Robin and Kid Flash) could figure out what was going on, they were attacked by the Persuader who was trying to destroy Superboy.

The Persuader escaped through a portal but the Titans using Legion Flight Rings were able to follow. They landed in the 31st century where the Legion of Super-Heroes were in a fight against the Persuader and the Fatal Five Hundred. 

After helping the Legion in the first story, the Titans accidentally landed in the not so distant future where they met their future selves who are not the heroes they once were. This is a horrible world the Titans are in and their future selves are evil and violent. In trying to figure out a way to get back to the present, the Titans received some unlikely help.

In the third story, Tim Drake (Robin) still continues to be secretive with the Titans, they only know the bare minimum about him. And one thing they don't know is that his father was recently murdered (for more information read Identity Crisis) and he was trying to bottle his emotions and feelings so no one would notice how much pain he was in. While this was going on, the Titans were requested by the Justice League to go to Opal City and deal with a problem. Turns out the villain, the Electrocutioner was hired to retrieve a cybernetic suit that was stolen by a pair of thieves. This probably wasn't the best time for Robin to be out there because he let the Electrocutioner's stupid remark really get to him.

In the last story, Mia Dearden (Speedy) became the newest member of the Teen Titans just when the villain Dr. Light had a score to settle with them. Usually it would be easy for the Titans to stop Dr. Light but there's something different about him, he's not the bumbling villain he has been in the past. A startling secret was revealed by Dr. Light about what the Justice League did to him but the thing is Dr. Light did some absolutely horrible things (again you need to read Identity Crisis) and deserved the treatment he received from the JL.     

This was a good read, the stories were each well-written and I thought the artwork was also good. In these issues the Teen Titans, who are lead by Cyborg, is still a fairly new team. Although they know how to work together there is still a little bit of secrecy within the group especially in regards to Robin and Superboy who are holding on to secrets. I also noticed that Raven was dealing with internal struggles with having to keep her emotions in check so her demon side doesn't take over.

The future Titans were the worse, they definitely tarnished the superhero names of their former mentors. It's hard to imagine how their principles could have changed to the point they thought they had to take such an awful approach to fighting crime.

The Teen Titans continue to be one of my favorite series and it's great finding old comics that I haven't read.