Titans #12 – Tom Taylor, Writer; Lucas Meyer, Artist; Adriano Lucas, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: This title has been subtly working itself into the buildup to Absolute Power, as the Titans go up against one of the vanguards of Amanda Waller’s plan—Vanadia, the powerful android with the brain patterns of a teenage Titans superfan—who, in a very affecting flashback, had a meaningful text conversation with Donna Troy years back. There’ just one problem—her creator, T.O. Morrow has given her vision a filter that makes her see the Titans as cyborg invaders in need of destruction, and all her powers are now going in the direction of destroying the very people she idolizes. Cyborg is eventually able to get into her systems and clear her vision, allowing her to switch sides—but not fast enough, as Raven enters the fray and dispenses with the threat in a very permanent manner, shocking and horrifying the Titans in on of the darkest scenes of the series.
Of course, we know what the Titans don’t—that this isn’t the Raven we know. She’s being controlled by her demon half, while Rachel Roth is merely along for the ride looking on in horror. The Titans confront her, but she’s able to play it off as merely thinking she needed to ask fast. And we know that only one person on the team knows anything—Dick Grayson, who has suspicious that he’ll only discuss in his own mind, in a move he copied from his father. And that’s impossible for Raven to know—or is it? This series has done a great job of balancing the many plots and jacking up the tension, with the Titans facing massive threats from without including current main villain Amanda Waller, and an even bigger threat from within the team itself. Taylor has set up easily the best version of this team in a long time, making them feel like a family with a new purpose rather than a generic retread team.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
