DC Comics reviews 8/25/20 – Batman: Three Jokers #1, Suicide Squad #8

Teen Titans Annual #2

I haven’t loved the whole idea of Damian being portrayed as such a wildcard psychopath in Teen Titans, but this annual does some interesting revisions to almost make it work.

Picking right up from the last Teen Titans issue, the Teen Titans are confronting Robin as Batman prepares to shut the team down while Deathstroke has a more permanent solution.

Writer Robbie Thompson retroactively explores the idea that Damian’s actions have been the result of his grief and guilt over the death of Alfred. I hate how Tom King’s Batman run left this cataclysmic mess for other Batman and Bat Family writers to handle.

Thompson’s idea is actively great as Damian should feel responsible to an extent for Alfred getting killed.

It’s a shame that Damian turning down this path has been such a focal point almost since the start of this title. Based on his heritage, Damian leaning harder to his League of Assassins’ roots ultimately would have worked, but the inconsistent and random approach has left it feeling flat.

That failure to properly tell that tale could be what led to the book’s cancellation.

This issue was a very good culmination of what’s happened from all sides —  Damian for feeling like his methods are justified, the Teen Titans are remorseful for their role yet feeling like Robin is their responsibility, Batman in thinking he failed his son and Slade for wanting payback on the team.

Thompson does a good job with the dialogue effectively capturing the various characters’ voices properly.

Artist Eduardo Pansica does excellent work bringing out all the emotion of this conflict and one of the better jobs overall of drawing this lineup of Titans.

While Teen Titans is ending, it’s at least going out on a roll. Too bad it’s too little too late.

Rating: 9 out of 10