DC Comics reviews 6/22/21 – Infinite Frontier #1, Robin #3

Teen Titans Academy #4

Teen Titans Academy’s obsession with establishing this Red X mystery is not proving helpful in the short-run, but writer Tim Sheridan (Batman: The Long Halloween, Part 1) has some fun with it this time. This makes for easily the most pure fun read of the run so far.

Chupacabra, Bratgirl and Megabat conduct their own investigation as to who is hiding under the Red X mask. Sheridan uses this issues to showcase some members of the academy that have mainly been in the background. The Brat Pack prove to be a fun if highly dysfunctional trio. Sheridan might have made the case they’re entertaining enough to do their own thing in Gotham — maybe in a Batman anthology series — instead of just being part of the large Titans ensemble.

To help establish a lighter tone, Steve Lieber provides the art. Like he did with Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, Lieber finds the inherent humor in situations his characters face. That was especially well timed as Titans Academy was on the verge of getting too dark. Dave Stewart’s color work was also very sharp and noticeably cheerier.

The Red X storyline doesn’t seem like it can sustainable for much longer, but with lighter twists like this issue Sheridan could conceivably turn the tide and make Titans Academy a class worth sitting in for each month.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10