The problem about Abnett's Titans fir me was how it turned its back on its own themes/long standing history. The Titans were built on their close relationships. This was even brought up for the first half of the run with Wally being saved mote then once by his love for his friends amd Donna overcoming her dark past/future because of her Titans friends. The 1st annual even shows the Titans being close friends makes for a more stable group compared to the more distant JL. But then the -
2 hyporcrotical JL breaks them up and suddenly the themes of friendship is reversed. Suddenly its a bad thing for a team to be a family like the Titans. Again, even though all the issues before that (heck all the runs before that) supported the opposite. I have no idea why editorial/Abnett needed to trash the fab5 even when the JL are on the wrong (or why Bruce helicopters Dick’s team while ignores Damian’s). It feels like DC only wants JL to be impressive above all. =/
That is what irks me THE MOST is that he went back on what was supposed to be the most important thing, which was the theme of friendship and family. It’s what was supposed to have made the Titans stronger than the Justice League but of course he goes back on that completely and makes Dick and his Titans look like fools.
I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt but let me just unpack this special.
Dick goes to inform the JL of a team that he wants to create. Then…
Past mistakes? Where? Because they succeeded in their last few missions and it was the Justice League that caused the Titans to break up and didn’t allow the Titans to stay together and solve their problems together. It’s their isolation from each other that is what’s causing the problems between them right now, not the fact that they were friends. That’s just so extremely condescending.
I liked that Dick could tell of course. It would have been horrible if Dick couldn’t tell because Dick and Clark are close enough for him to be able to tell that was J’onn instead. But I hate that J’onn doesn’t even trust Dick to begin with. And this is just a small peeve because sure I get he’s not as trustworthy or well known in this world compared to pre52 so sure. Sure. But this moment again reminds me of that fact and I get annoyed again.
Again condescending. Again the Titans were not the problem and Bruce implies that they weren’t a good team, they weren’t equipped, they were just a club of friends. I hate this so much.
Moving on…
Oh like Lilith? You know, the one that was on your last team?
And I don’t believe Dick needed an empath/telepath at all. He should’ve been able to handle it. You don’t need to make a tragedy to make him feel more guilty, he already wants to help these people.
Then we come back to this one ‘saving grace’ quote in which Dick is saying he’s ‘telling’ them what he’s doing and not asking ‘permission’.
Yeah right, even if that were the case then it would be more believable if it wasn’t said right after Bruce and the JL had said they approve of his team and they’ll let him choose it’s members.
He recruits Raven and Gar. Again who knows what history they really have together but that part was generally fine. Then he goes to talk with Donna and for the most part it’s fine as well. Just a few ticks like…
Me: who cares?????? Batman doesn’t need to approve!
Donna knows that Roy has an alcohol and drug problem and now she’s falling into the same pattern?
Why just ask her? Wally was your best friend???? Who was the one who walked you down the isle pre52? Again that doesn’t count but still!
It was not the problem.
Again STOP.
Why do you look so proud of that fact? I thought you didn’t want your team to be part of the JL?
Again….
Ah nothing more condescending than sending a babysitter from the JL to top it all off.
Let’s just end this with a generic villian that wants to take over, not only the world, but all worlds. Completely Original Content.