Comic Book Review: Teen Titans #54

The Teen Titans under Geoff Johns underwent a renaissance, and McKeever has, to date continued the writing duties on the comic quite well and the Titans of Tomorrow Today is his chance to really show us his stuff. How does he far? Read on.
Creative TeamWriter: Sean McKeever
Penciler: Eddy Barrows, Joe Prado, Greg Tocchini
Inker: Rob Hunter, Julio Ferreira, Oclair Albert, Joe Prado Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis:Part 4 and Conclusion of the Titans of Tomorrow:Today storyline. As we rejoin the story in progress Miss Martian is ferrying Robin to the original Titans Lair in Gotham City. It is surrounded by the Starro controlled Titans Army, Titans of the future that have come back to make sure their future occurs just how they want it. Just inside the lair is Blue Beetle, wanting to free the captured Flash(Impulse) from the future. As the future Titans make it through to the lair, Flash agrees to help Blue Beetle, but just drags him out of the lair and runs away. Blue Beetle fights the Sinestro Corp’ed Starro, and starts to complain when Flash comes back with Capt. Cold’s Cold Gun. He shoots Starro, and then runs right through him, shattering him into a million pieces, and freeing the Titans Army from their Starro control.

Wonder Girl is speaking with her future counterpart. Future Wonder Girl not to trust Kara, that she will come between Wonder Girl and Superboy..er Connor (sorry DC) in the future. the future Superb.. I mean Superman (sorry again) chimes in to agree. Wonder Girl tells him he has nothing to worry about after that night in Smallville, which Connor (got it right this time) seems to not remember. Wonder Girl flies off in a huff.

Everyone frees themselves of their dead Starro things, and Luthor gets back to the task at hand. Eliminating the (he reveals) three thorns in his side in the future, Blue Beetle, Ravager, and Supergirl. Not having much luck, we switch our POV to Batman (future Robin) and Robin. Batman still tries to convince Robin, who seems to bend a little when Wonder Girl shows up and tells him that Connor and Bart Allen (future Flash) were clones. She kisses Robin, and Connor (future you-know-who) comes screaming in, feeling betrayed and ready to do a little Superman Prime action on him when Future Robin/Batman steps in front of him and shoots SuperConnor with a kryptonite bullet. Luthor and company get mad, but quickly fade away, showing that the future has been changed.
Eight years from now, Robin is talked into taking over as Batman and starting a similar plot again by Miss Martian (in her “evil” guise) and a Lex Luthor from the past. “Not the End”

Comments The Good: Like most multiple part storylines, the conclusion to this storyline is quite satisfying. The characters, past and future, are presented truly, and the plot unfolds in a logical and clever manner. As the Titans are full of newer characters and still finding a post Infinite Crisis status quo, this story does a lot to set up future story lines, putting a lot of ideas from their future selves in their heads, and even the Titans not knowing what might have been true and what isn’t. The art tells the story effectively, dramatically, and most importantly, emotionally. The action is meaningful and clever and the story makes sense without having to have read the other issues in this storyline.
The Bad: The art is a little rough (sketch lines and such) but that is a nitpick over style. The epilogue does provide a twist ending, certainly, but knowing that the Titans of Tomorrow may try this again with a modern day Luthor robs the climax of the story of some of its strength.

Overall: Fans of the Titans, and of the DCU in general should enjoy this issue. Not a good jumping on point, but for previous Titans readers, not a bad place to catch up.