It’s the end of the line for Crush, Roundhouse, Red Arrow and Kid Flash. But how will the team go out? Your Major Spoilers review of Teen Titans #47 from DC Comics awaits!
TEEN TITANS #47
Writer: Robbie Thompson
Artist: Javi Fernandez
Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Editor: Mike Cotton
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 17, 2020
Previously in Teen Titans: Robin betrayed them. Superboy abandoned them. Now the only Teen Titans left are Crush, Kid Flash, Red Arrow, and Roundhouse. As the teen heroes wrap up what may be their final mission, they’re going to get some unexpected encouragement from a group that knows a little about how hard it is to be heroes.
FAREWELL, DAMIEN WAYNE
After working for Robin for so long and mind-wiping/imprisoning a large number of criminals, the remaining Teen Titans have taken up a mission to redeem themselves by finding them and bringing them to real justice. Problem is, Joystick has taken over the minds of Kid Flash and Red Arrow, forcing them to use their powers against their teammates. Crush’s strength proves barely up to hundreds of super-speed punches, but she keeps her wits, and manages to break Red Arrow free of the villain’s mental control. Of course, that still leaves them at the mercy of the impossibly fast Kid Flash, leading them to bring down the entire building to negate his speed edge. When they find him, it seems like he’s not breathing, but Wallace awakens just in time to point out that he’s breathing too fast for them to register… followed by a long, LONG kiss of relief from Red Arrow. (The best part? Roundhouse and Crush sighing, “FINALLY”, as their teammates finally admit their mutual attraction.) They deliver Joystick to the police, only to find one final clue from Robin, that leads them to unexpected places…
WHEN IS A LAST ISSUE NOT A LAST ISSUE?
I didn’t realize going in that this was the final issue of Teen Titans, but from the final pages (Nightwing and the founding New Teen Titans, minus the other Kid Flash) offering to let our quartet live at Titans Tower), it’s actually looking like a relaunch, rather than an ending. This issue features a lot of interpersonal moments with the team, with the supervillain serving mostly as a McGuffin to get Wally and Emiko close enough to lock lips. And that’s actually fine, as the best Teen Titans stories are about the members of the team being regular kids, or trying, while having to save the world. Fernandez’ art is strange, in an interesting way, with the mind-controlled titans looking misshapen and bulbous, but also making sure that there’s a grounded reality to the settings and proportions. There’s a scratchiness to the finished art, but it actually makes for a pleasant, unique visual style, and the final page splash of the old-school Titans looks great.
BOTTOM LINE: WHEN IT’S A PRELUDE TO A FRESH START
In the final analysis, Teen Titans #47 works as a transitional chapter, rather than a final one, with interesting art and an engaging group of characters interacting, making me hope there’s more coming, earning 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. This team deserves more adventures, if you ask me, and the creative team clearly has a lot of potential for excellence. Plus, Roundhouse is one of my favorite characters in recent DC history, so I’m glad he’ll be sticking around.
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TEEN TITANS #47
It's a nice wrap-up to the Robin era, with the promise of a new Nightwing-led incarnation after the Endless Winter event, and it's a good issue.
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Writing6
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Art7
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Coloring7
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