Gail Simone's writing has the sort of energy and emotional resonance that's perfect for a group of young characters such as the title team. The dialogue is snappy, and the writer explores a friendship in the team that's not really been spotlighted before. Unfortunately, this issue is hindered by a couple of elements. The Hawk and Dove elements feel shoehorned in, and the exposition included to enlighten the readership doesn't really incorporate into the story all that well. But the greatest liability to this story -- no surprise -- is Rob Liefeld's art, which often fails to correspond to the script. The characters are inconsistently rendered, and the backgrounds are often sorely lacking.
Titans leader Cyborg has organized a day of fun -- bowling, no less -- for him and his teamates, but the timing of the activities is no coincidence. He figures his team -- and Robin in particular -- will be in need of some cheering up. Of course, the strikes and spares will have to wait until some superhuman threats are dealt with. A group of angry, rich teens with super-powers decide to cause some deadly trouble, and the Titans rush to the rescue. Little to do they know that they'll face these foes again, only at the side of a much deadlier threat -- one with a connection to the new Hawk and Dove.
Sometimes, Robin's cape only extends down to his butt; at others, it's long and flowing and enough envelop him completely. Arms vary in length. The designs for the new characters are uninspired, and how the main bad guy's powers work (and when) isn't clear at all. There are times when the script indicates one event in a specific panel when something else is unfolding in the art. And maybe it's interchangeable, but Cyborg's sonic blaster moves from one arm to the other over the course of the issue. Liefeld definitely has a strong and dedicated fan base, but I am definitely not among its numbers.
Simone seems to treat the new Hawk and Dove like they're established Titans, and as far as I know, they've appeared only briefly over the course of this series. Simone provides plenty of exposition for readers who were unfamiliar with the incarnation of the property put forth by Barbara and Karl Kesel years ago (upon which this new one is based), but it's pure information. It's not incorporated well into the context of the story. All of the Titans come off as being intimately familiar with the Lords of Chaos, the villain of this piece and his modus operandi, and it just doesn't ring true.
What does ring true is Robin's internal monologue about his lingering grief and his relief at having Cyborg's friendship at his disposal. Geoff Johns has focused on the friendship between Robin and Superboy over the course of this series -- makes sense, given the World's Finest connection there -- but Simone taps into the notion that a strong bond between these two intellectuals is natural as well. Robin is a wise-beyond-his-years sort of guy, so a connection with someone a bit older than him works well. 3/10
