Stop it, you're Culling me.

Teen Titans (volume 2364) Annual #1

I just read "The Culling" storyline that ran through the recent issues of Teen Titans, Superboy, and Legion Lost (although I didn't read the Legion Lost issues because I don't normally read that comic).  At one point, I had to flip back to the cover of the comic I was reading to check out the credits and make sure it wasn't Felicia Henderson writing Teen Titans again.  (We all know how that turned out the last time.)   It felt rudimentary and written by a beginner who didn't care a whit about character development.  It was like reading a script for a porn movie vs. reading the script for Schindler's List.  That's how awful the story and dialogue was.

The concept of "The Culling" itself might have been better if it wasn't already so prevalent in everyone's minds as a little story called The Hunger Games.  Worse, this story has already been done before in the last volume of Teen Titans, when it was called the Dark Side Club, pitting Titan against Titan in the ring for others' enjoyment.  Only this time, instead of getting the Terror Titans series out of the story, we get The Ravagers. Worst, the name "The Culling" itself only brings to mind Edward Cullen from the God-awful Twilight series.  They're trying to capitalize on the popularity of both Twilight and The Hunger Games in one fell swoop.  [Insert barf here.]

Superboy and Bunker

The best part of the story came after all was said and done and the team was bathing half-naked in some spa pools in a mystical dinosaur-laden land.  Here, we finally get some real character interaction that doesn't feel forced (or poorly written).  We also get a bit of comedy as we see Bunker calling out Superboy's hotness, something we don't get to see anymore now that he's no longer in a tight-fitting T-shirt and jeans.  

And speaking of costumes, where did the Teen Titans get theirs?  At the estate sale for the latest Tron movie?

Now on to The Ravagers, their name taken from the former Ravager herself, Rose Wilson, daughter of Deathstroke, leaving the new Rose Wilson in DC's New 52 without a codename.  She's just known as Rose Wilson.  Not Rose, but Rose Wilson.  This Rose Wilson still has both her eyes, though, having never lost one of them to her father's madness.  In fact, I don't think we even know if she's related to the new Deathstroke.  Who knows in the New 52?  And, seriously, at this point, who cares?  Please, please, please let this all just be happening on Earth-52 and eventually get back to Earth-1 where all of my favorite characters still reside pre-Flashpoint. 

Ravagers #1

In The Ravagers, the team consists of Caitlin Fairchild, Terra, Beast Boy, Thunder and Lightning, Rose Wilson, Warblade, and Ridge.  Fairchild has the ability to pump up her boobs.  Terra, Beast Boy, Thunder, and Lightning aren't the characters we know (and love!) from Teen Titans past.  Rose Wilson is...well, Rose Wilson.  Or some cheap white-haired knock-off of her.  Warblade is a character that might have (and did) come out of the 1990s when comic stories started to get as lame as the generic codenames that came along with them.  (See: any 1990s X-title.)  Ridge, a new character to DC Comics, seems to be the only decent character, and maybe that's because there is no former character or past history of his to fuck up. 

Young Justice #0

To summarize, Marv Wolfman and George Perez's New Teen Titans is what made me seriously start reading and collecting comics in 1981.  Geoff Johns' Teen Titans is what made me start reading comics again in 2007 after a 15-year absence.  Unfortunately, DC's New 52 version of Teen Titans might make me stop reading comics again all together.   Young Justice, the cartoon series and related comic from DC's kid-friendly all-ages line, does a better job of treating the legacy of Teen Titans (and its long-time readers) with respect. 

Let's Get Animated

Although this blog is about comic books, I'd like to take some time to comment on some of the animated series that have spawned from comic books.   

Teen Titans animated series

The New Teen Titans was my favorite comic book series back in the 80s.  So when the Teen Titans cartoon was announced, I was so excited for its 2003 debut.  Then I watched the first episode.  These weren't the teens I knew and loved.  This show was geared toward the Teletubbies market.  It was literally one of the worst shows I've ever watched, and I was personally insulted by its lack of substance.  How could they do this to such beloved characters?  I never watched another episode.

Young Justice comic book series

Cut to: 2007.  I start reading comic books again after 15 years of being comic book-free, thanks to Geoff Johns' work on the new Teen Titans series.  I pick up all the back issues.  This also prompts me to check out the Young Justice series from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.  I buy and read a few issues.  I discover it's just as bad as the Teen Titans animated TV show. I stick to the Teen Titans comic and forget about any of their history that I missed. 

Batman: The Brave and the Bold
animated series

Batman: The Brave and the Bold debuted in 2008 on the Cartoon Network.  At first, I was disappointed in the format, hoping for something more along the lines of Batman: The Animated Series or Justice League Unlimited.  Now, though, I've really grown to appreciate the campiness of the series, reminiscent of the 1960s Batman show and 1970s Saturday morning cartoons.  I also love seeing appearances by lesser known DC Comics characters in each episode. 

Avengers animated series

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes cartoon debuted this past fall on Disney XD.  It's been okay, but nothing spectacular, story-wise.  I guess that's to be expected since the many new Avengers comic book series that were started or re-started in the fall have been mediocre themselves.  I continue to half-watch it while doing other things around the house, though. 

Young Justice animated series

So when I hear about the new Young Justice animated series on the Cartoon Network, I'm a bit hesitant.  I'm quickly reminded of the Teen Titans animated series and the Young Justice comic book, both of which were too juvenile for even teenagers.  After watching the first episode, though, I know it's going to be one of my favorite shows on TV.  It's mature enough for adults to watch, yet not too complicated for kids to understand.  And while the series doesn't resemble the current Teen Titans comic book, it doesn't resemble the Young Justice comic book either. And that's a good thing.  Young Justice is about the sidekicks of members of the Justice League of America being inducted into the JLA.  To their surprise, though, it's not as full-fledged members.  They're still viewed as just sidekicks.  This prompts them to prove their worth.  

Young Justice animated series

I'm excited about the show's prospects and the promise of additional Teen Titans Young Justice members to come.  Awww...yeah!