(REVIEW) Teen Titans #6

Written by Scott Lobdell
Artwork by Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund

After five issues of their new origin story, the Teen Titans still aren't a coherent team and it's becoming a bit frustrating. Why did the first issue feature Superboy - front and center - when he isn't a part of the team and doesn't it look like he will be in the near future? And while Teen Titans may have coasted along on momentum for the first few months, the past few issues have been disappointing.

This trend continues with issue six. Now that Superboy has beat all of them down without breaking a sweat, it's time to move on to some awesome new storyline, right? No. Instead, we get more of a one-shot story about how Kid Flash was sped up too much by Superboy's telekinetic powers, so he's in danger of going so fast that he literally phases out of existence. SNORE! This exact story has been used in speedster stories more times than DC is willing to admit. It's a staple of speed-having superheroes, but in 2012, it's a total and unwarranted cliche that should have been avoided. Since they're not important enough for the Justice League to answer their call, the Titans call Virgil Hawkins, a.k.a. Static, though no one seems to know he's a superhero. After some scientific mumbo-jumbo, Virgil and Red Robin go to work trying to fix Bart Allen. And the payoff isn't even great! In the end, Virgil develops a suit to keep Bart's erratic speed in check. That's right comic fans: Kid Flash must wear his suit or he will die! It's such an annoying plot twist that I almost rather Lobdell had simply left Bart alone and let him keep wearing Red Robin's old costume.

Elsewhere in Titan world, we get some seriously awful dialogue between Wonder Girl and Brick Boy (alright fine, Bunker) wherein Miguel reveals that he is gay in the most blunt and unnatural way possible. It's honestly hard to read - like those moments in TV shows that are just simply too embarassing and you can't help but cover your eyes. Also, the villain for the issue was terribly unoriginal. I mean, Grymm? Seriously, it's not that hard to think up names.

So, in conclusion, we get an issue that basically revolves around getting Kid Flash a new costume and putting the kids up against a foe that isn't Superboy. Unfortunately, the issues persistent over the past few months have stuck with Teen Titans, making it more of a chore to read than fun.

GRADE:

C-