Story: Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini, David Wohl Writer: Joe Brusha Art: Jordi Tarragona Color: Walter Pereyra Letterer: Taylor Esposito Cover A: Al Barrionuevo / Ivan Nunes Cover B: Igor Vitorino / Ceci de la Cruz COver C: Riveiro / Ula Mos
The world’s greatest monster fighting team is back! Man Goat and Bunnyman are ready to save the world again…if they don’t kill each other first.
Heroes training the next generation in a school is nothing new. The X-Men was built on the concept. The Avengers have done it. There have been numerous mentor programs within the DC Universe. Now, the Teen Titans put their spin on the concept with Teen Titans Academy #1. It’s an interesting debut that sets up some of the key players while hinting at the conflict to come.
That conflict was show in DC’s Future State where we found out about the academy and the death of its students. A concept that’s also not really knew. But, that “future story” harkened back to Titans history, specially Nightwing and Red X. And that’s where a lot of the debut issue revolves around.
Writer Tim Sheridan ties what’s possibly to come with the present as the students gather to the island for the start of the school year. Beyond introducing the cast and getting the teachers some overdue interaction, the issue mainly focuses on Nightwing and Red X. This is a part of DC history I don’t know so much of the concern or interesting aspects went over my head. But, you get a sense that this wasn’t a good time and it’s an ominous thing. Sheridan gives just enough for new readers, like me, won’t feel lost or scratching their heads as to the big deal.
The story really is an introduction laying out key characters, their personalities, and powers. The original Teen Titans get time to interact and remind us of their dynamic as well. In many ways it all feels like “coming home”. It also feels familiar. There’s very much an X-Men quality to it all with the original members training the next generation. That’s not a bad thing as the formula worked very well and was a lot of fun. Teen Titans Academy #1 sets things up with a playful charm about it all also nailing down that “fun” aspect to it all.
Rafa Sandoval does an impressive job of keeping things clean on the page. There’s a lot packed in at times but the pages and panels never feel like there’s too much there. Jordie Tarragona handles the ink, with Alejandro Sanchez on color, and lettering by Rob Leigh. Together, the visuals of the comic have a bit of a light (not a bad thing) style to it all. There’s nothing dark or brooding about the art. But, there’s also something ominous about it all as well. There’s something underlying the story and the art style helps enhance that in some ways. This is the light before the dark.
Teen Titans Academy #1 is a solid start to the series. While it doesn’t go off in a bold original direction, it does deliver a solid take on the concept it uses. The new characters are interesting and the original team is great together. It’s a comic that you know there are hard times ahead but in the present, things are fun, enjoyable, and positive. There’s a charm and innocence about it, which also makes it a superhero comic that’s unique for the stands.
Dark Knights: Death Metal is over and we’ve seen a possible future timeline in “Future State”. Now, DC begins to chart its path with the first crumbs teased in Infinite Frontier #0. The issue serves as a guide as to the various series and status-quo that awaits them. With a new omniverse to explore, anything is possible and the comic does its job to remind us of that.
The comic’s story is delivered in a narrative driven by two characters as our guide. It’s a spin on the classic Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life. Wonder Woman believes a threat is looming and wants to witness the state of things before making a major decision about her role in the DC Universe.
With Wonder Woman and Spectre as our guide, we’re taken on a tour of the characters highlighting the comics to come. The Justice League, Batman, Wonder Girl, Alan Scott, Teen Titans Academy, Superman, Green Arrow and Black Canary, Star Girl, Green Lanterns, and the Flash all get a moment to show off where things stand. All of it is good and interesting though few of what’s presented really excites. It feels like an extended teaser and preview. It takes its concept as a guidebook almost too seriously. The comic feels a bit more like the extension of the ending of Dark Knights: Death Metal where we saw many of these ideas initially teased.
But, what’s intriguing is what’s presented and doesn’t have a comic attached to them. Infinite Frontier #0 teases more than what’s already announced giving hope as to what we’ll see in July and beyond. There’s also teases through artwork of the various series DC teased at the recent ComicsPro. It’s interesting in that way that the stories feel less like the exciting first 15 minutes before the credits to get you pumped. Instead, the stories are a bit dry and more to lay out where things stand with the concepts thrown out being the hooks. The action isn’t the hook, the ideas are.
The art of the comic is solid. Each segment flows into the next and with a few exceptions, the styles work well together. There are some fantastic spreads with Wonder Woman as she talks to Spectre about what she’s witnessing. There’s a few panels and pages that’ll leave you lingering to stare at. The colors really pop on pages delivering a sense of energy that really fits the new status of the DC Universe.
Infinite Frontier #0 isn’t bad but it doesn’t quite excite. By the end of the issue I found myself more excited about concepts than the comics themselves. Very few of the segments left me wanting to immediately find out what happens next. Instead, it the comic feels like a short ashcan, teasing what’s to come with a few pages and back material to fill things out. It shows what’s to come but it never quite puts things over. Instead, it nails its role as a guide, a way to browse what DC has to offer.
Story: Brian Michael Bendis, James Tynion IV, Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, Joëlle Jones, Tim Sheridan, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Joshua Williamson, Geoff Johns, Geoffrey Thorne Art: David Marquez, Jorge Jimeez, Alitha Martinez, Mark Morales, Joëlle Jones, Stephen Byrne, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Jamal Igle, Alex Maleev, Todd Nauck, Dexter Soy, Howard Porter, John Romita, Jr., Klaus Janson Color: Tamra Bonvillain, Tomeu Morey, Emilio Lopez, Jordie Bellaire, Stephen Byrne, Alejandro Sanchez, Hi-Fi, Alex Sinclair, Brad Anderson Letterer: Troy Peteri Story: 7.0 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
There are three new releases on comiXology highlighted by the second issue of the DC Digital First series, Truth & Justice. You can get all three now for less than $5 or check out the individual issues below.
Dead Mount Death Play #60
Written by Ryohgo Narita Art by Shinta Fujimoto Purchase
Read the next chapter of Dead Mount Death Play the same day as Japan!
Goblin Slayer Side Story: Year One #50
Written by Kumo Kagyu Art by Shingo Adachi, Noboru Kannatuki, Kento Sakaeda Purchase
This series is rated Adults Only DISCLAIMER: graphic sexuality gore Read the next chapter of Goblin Slayer Side Story: Year One the same day as Japan!
Truth & Justice (2021-) #2
Written by Geoffrey Thorne Pencils ChrisCross Inks Jordi Tarragona Colored by Wil Quintana Purchase
With her totem shattered, Vixen will need to harness her natural abilties to channel the animal kingdom if she’s going to stop the mad god Nyame!
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Truth and justice are two words associated with one of DC‘s most iconic superheroes and this January it’s the foundation of an all-new anthology comic book series, Truth & Justice. The anthology will explore the length and breadth of DC’s rich character history. In addition, the series will serve as a platform for new, emerging storytellers to reveal their takes on popular DC characters.
Truth & Justice debuts digitally on January 8, 2021, with the first of three 99-cent weekly stories, which will be collected as a 40-page print issue available February 16, 2021. Vixen makes her Truth & Justice entrance in a story written by Geoffrey Thorne, with art by Chris Cross, and Jordi Tarragona.
Mari McCabe is many things: superhero, model, activist; but can she add god-killer to the list? Vixen teams up with Dr. Mist and Impala of the Global Guardians to face down an ancient deity that’s taken over the body of a scientist investigating powerful magical artifacts. Vixen will need to dig deep and use all the abilities in the animal kingdom to face down this powerful primeval threat!
Subsequent installments of Truth & Justice will showcase the heart and spirit of the wide-ranging characters featured across DC’s Multiverse. With an endless array of characters to choose from—heroes, villains, aliens, animals—you name it, we have it!
(W) Joshua Williamson (CA) Christian Duce, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona In Shops: Aug 25, 2020 SRP: $3.99
“Finish Line” part two of six! After years of manipulation, the Reverse-Flash has at last destroyed the Flash Family! But they aren’t going down without a fight as they race together to save the soul of Barry Allen! Can the return of allies from the Flash’s past be enough to stop the Reverse-Flash?
(W) Joshua Williamson (CA) Christian Duce, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona In Shops: Jun 24, 2020 SRP: $3.99
At last-the Flash is free of Paradox, but that freedom came at a great cost. For years, the Reverse-Flash has wanted Barry Allen to suffer, but he’s always been defeated by the Flash Family! Now the Reverse-Flash is going to build his own family to help him get the revenge he demands! This issue kicks off a new, epic story that will force the Flash into what may be his final race!
(W) Joshua Williamson (A/CA) Jordi Tarragona, Rafa Sandoval In Shops: Jun 10, 2020 SRP: $3.99
“The Flash Age” races to its stunning conclusion! Flash is forced to work side-by-side with his greatest foe as he teams up with the Reverse-Flash against his new foe, Paradox! But the damage Paradox did to the Flash legacy might be too much to undo!
(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Christian Duce (CA) Rafael Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona In Shops: May 27, 2020 SRP: $3.99
The Flash is on the run as “The Flash Age” continues! Paradox accomplished his mission to make everyone see the Flash as a monster-and now Flash and the Reverse-Flash are trapped in a 25th century Central City that hates the Flash family and legacy. Now a wanted man, Flash must turn to an unexpected place to get help to return to his own time!
(W) Francis Manapul, Geoff Johns, Michael Moreci, Marv Wolfman, Various Others, Joshua Williamson (A) Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Scott Kolins, Stephen Segovia, David Marquez, Bryan Hitch, Francis Manapul, Riley Rossmo, Various Others (CA) Howard Porter In Shops: Mar 04, 2020 SRP: $7.99
Beginning: “The Flash Age”! The story we’ve been building toward since issue #50 comes to a head! While a supercharged Speed Force wreaks havoc on Barry Allen’s life, a new threat appears on the horizon in the form of the deadly Paradox. Destined to destroy the Flash’s legacy, Paradox sends his herald, Godspeed, to trap the Flash family! Plus, in this special anniversary issue: tales from across the generations of super-speedsters by an all-star lineup of writers and artists!
