TITANS #34
"A Child's Laughter"
Neutral (4/10)
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DC Comics
Writer: Jay Faerber
Pencils: Peter Grau
Inks: Bud LaRosa
Colors: Gregory Wright & Heroic Age
Letters: John Costanza
Editor: Andrew Helfer
Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN |
The latest issue of Titans takes a beating from the intrusion of a crossover concept and some substandard fill-in pencil art. Unfortunately, the complexities of the various plotlines also catch up with this issue, which isn't the most accessible of Faerber's run either. Though this was not a strong issue, I see this as more of a bump on what's been an otherwise smooth ride.
While the Titans are out dealing with the Joker's handiwork -- a throng of super-villains just like him -- Titans Tower is left unprotected, allowing the recently escaped Cheshire to slip in and retrieve her daughter, Lian. However, Cheshire's been Joker-ized as well, making for an even greater threat to the metahuman kids and Rose, Lian's babysitter.
Grau's fill-in art conveys the action of the story clearly enough, but it never really grabs me either. In fact, his interpretation of a Joker-ized Cheshire didn't strike me as fearsome at all. Actually, she seemed silly, and that was in direct contrast with the tone the script tries to elicit. Given the darker intended tone of the story, I also expected less brightly colored art.
I've been following Titans for a while now, so I know who the super-powered kids at Titans Tower are. I know who Rose is. I know who most of the characters referred to in the script are. Still, exposition is minimal, and anyone new to the book -- and given this is a crossover tie-in, one might expect some new readers -- is bound to be confused.
Since the first issue, Lian has stood out as the strongest supporting character in the book, and the plotlines that have revolved around her and exceptional parents have always entertained. I would have expected the same from this plotline, had the Joker: Last Laugh concept not got in the way.
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