Titans #9 Review

Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Brett Booth

Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse

Publisher: DC Comics
 

Titans #9 continues the “Made In Manhattan” story arc with the “rehabilitation” of some villainous favorites from Teen Titans past, as Wally and Nightwing take their investigative skills to Meta Corporation itself.
 

This current “Made In Manhattan” arc involving Mal and Karen isn't my favorite thing that the current run of Titans has offered. The series relaunched with a strong story involving Wally's return to the team, followed by a weaker, yet still entertaining arc with Abra Kadabra. This arc involving the Five and Meta has been a bit muddled so far, and somewhat predictable. Dan Abnett seems to want have a slow burn leading to a big, shocking reveal, but does that really work if the reader can pretty much guess what's going to happen?
 

While the story may not have hit all the right notes, the art is on point in this issue. Brett Booth has had his fair share of criticism, but I found his work in this issue to be quite good. There were quite a few dynamic team shots that were just beautifully drawn, and despite complaints that his art resembles early 90s Image material a bit too much, I find that Booth's style works very well for Titans. I particularly enjoy his take on Wally, Arsenal, and Donna Troy (who really benefits from Booth's more muscular female figures). In fact, Wally's new costume is one of my favorite things in all of Rebirth, and even nine issues in, I'm still gushing over how great it looks.
 

I'm holding my breath to see how “Made In Manhattan” wraps up, but if the remainder of the story continues in the same manner as what we've read so far, then I'm more than ready to put it behind us and look to the future to see what The Button story arc has in store for the Titans. In the meantime, despite this arc being somewhat mundane, I'm just glad to have a Titans team with Wally back in the mix. It's amazing how much adding him back changes the dynamic of the entire series.
 

As with all the Rebirth titles, Titans #9 comes with two covers. The regular cover is fine, but it doesn't grab at me like a good cover should. It has Bumblebee front and center with the remainder of the team in the background, and a strangely huge Nightwing. Cover B on the other hand, is a far more interesting cover, with both the Titans and The Fearsome Five represented front and center. Obviously art is subjective, but between the two, Cover B has more going on and presents more characters, giving the issue more of a “big event” feel.