This is what it's all been coming down to. The potential members of the Teen Titans are now together and will Superboy stand with or against them?
The Good
Things are cooking up here. We've been waiting for some crossover action since N.O.W.H.E.R.E. is present in both this title and SUPERBOY. Because Superboy has chosen to continue working for the mysterious organization, he is now continuing N.O.W.H.E.R.E.'s pursuit of Wonder Girl.
We also get to see how the rest of the gathered metahumans are getting along. Quickly we can see bonds are being formed and personalities are continuing to be developed. It has to be said that Bunker has an infectious and extremely likable personality. To him, just being with the others in an adventure. Contrasting this behavior, Skitter is on the other extreme. We don't often see characters completely despise the fact that they have powers. She didn't quite luck out when superpowers were being handed out.
Then there's Kid Flash. I always think back to the early IMPULSE days when I think how Bart should be written. Lobdell is capturing some of that essence and mix it up a little for 'The New 52.' Bunker makes the book fun and Bart adds a different kind of fun. I don't want to give anything way but it was great seeing the interaction between Bart and Tim. It might have been a tad out of character for Tim but I absolutely loved it.
Brett Booth's art continues to capture the detail of all the pretty people running around. I've always appreciated his style but have gone back and forth at times over the way some characters or scenes are depicted. But his art is really growing on me for this title. We're getting some big scenes with quite a bit of tiny detail added in that gives each panel a bigger feel. The body types of some of the teens, heck, pretty much all of them, is almost too muscular and fit but we are talking about superheroes and comics.
The Bad
Like many other books in 'The New 52,' it's almost hard to pinpoint how this title fits in with the others. This revamped universe is still filled with many unanswered questions. Part of the fun, especially with the members here, is discovering how they will interact with each other. But seeing Tim Drake operate and on the run without any assistance from Batman feels a little odd. Yes, he most likely has moved on, just as he did previously when he first took on the Red Robin guise. I would think either he would ask for help after having to blow up his former living area or Batman would step in and help (or at least watch from the shadows to make sure Tim doesn't need his help). And Tim not wearing a mask around some metahumans he just met is too much of a risk to Batman and everyone in the Bat-Family's identity.
Did Superboy really need to rip off his sweater before starting a fight?
The Verdict
This isn't the Teen Titans I'm used to. There have been a few different incarnations over the years and with this issue, Lobdell is really putting his mark on making the team his own. The first three issues have been building up to this one. The team is pretty much all gathered together and we're finally getting some big team action. We're also seeing the crossover between this title and SUPERBOY which makes perfect sense since Lobdell is writing both. Besides the gloomy feel of the teens being hunted and abused, there is plenty of humor and we're seeing the beginning of some great and fun relationships. I was on board with the title before but now I'm ready to buy a permanent ticket for this ride. I do have minor issues with how Red Robin is behaving and how separate he is from the Bat-universe but a lot of the 'New 52' books have been having a separate/isolated feel as each is working on finding their own way. Now that the team is together, we should be guaranteed to get plenty of action and fun. Lobdell and Booth are really coming together in making this book stand out.