TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: TEEN TITANS (AMAZING HEROES #2)

 

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: THE NEW TEEN TITANS

 

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: TEEN TITANS/WONDER GIRL REBORN

 

Return of the Titans...

I was enthralled by DC Universe's "Titans", at least until its season finale, and then several things happened to upset me. I felt betrayed enough not to watch again, even if what I witnessed was part of a terrible, Trigon (Seamus Patrick Deaver) embrace-the-dark-side trick. Still, how can I turn my back on anything DC based (unless it's that blasphemous "Lego Batman")?

Besides, there are hints that things may swing in a more positive way for the Titans in Season 2, with new faces on board to fortify the optimism. Batman (Iain "Game of Thrones" Glen) and Deathstroke (Esai Morales) enter the plot. Even Superboy/Connor Kent (Joshua Orpin) and Aqualad (Drew Van Aker) say hello, along with other bold faces. (It would be cool if we got another "Doom Patrol" detour, but maybe that's expecting too much.)

Brenton Thwaites returns at the troubled Dick Grayson, aka Robin (though he's much more Nightwing). His titans include Teagan Croft as Raven; Anna Diop as Starfire; Beast Boy (Ryan Potter); Wonder Girl (Conor Leslie); Hawk (Alan Ritchson); and Dove (Minka Kelly). Jason Todd's Robin (Curran Walters) will not only guest star, but be a full-fledged member this time out. 

For most of Season 1, the members formed a tight fit; let's hope that doesn't slip for the sake of trendy contention (i.e, more Dick-hates-Bruce motifs or variants).

This saga's ongoing theme requires our young superheroes to halt the spread of Hell on Earth: a daunting premise, to say the least, but then fighting any form of super-powered evil would be. "Titans" has invested a steely realism to the war at hand, which isn't likely to cease anytime soon.

The series' real success will spring from how well the intent plays over Season 2's run. "Titans" is DC Universe's founding, live-action series: an original that, if it prevails, should amass an enduring, faithful following. Here's hoping that it stays on track (skips those annoying misleads and out-of-character experimentation), serving its purpose with focus and respect. 

Weekly episodes of "Titans" begin September 6. 

The Teen Titans Meet DC's Live-Action Universe...

I decided there wasn't a way to get around this pay-per-view stuff, let alone not shell out for an entire, online channel. It's the only way I could hope to see DC Universe's "Titans", produced/developed by Akiva Goldsmith, Geoff Johns, Greg Berlanit, among other DC masterminds. 

The series's Titans are, of course, young (duh), but act like adults, with great sensibility, responsibility and if ever there's gonna be a time for tears, it'll be (I should hope) for good reason. Guess that might make "Titans" an adult program... (Rumor says it'll be violent, as well, and as such, not conducive to the timid of any age.)

Brenton "Gods of Egypt" Thwaites fills the lead as Dick Grayson, a grown-up Robin. Why not call him Nightwing, then? No matter. In comic-book lore, Robin has long been the Titan leader. It would only be a matter of time, anyway, before he'd switch suits and labels, and even then, the change wouldn't be radical. A Robin by any other name, after all... (For this incarnation, Grayson also acts as a Detroit detective, which is interesting, if only in how it alludes to "Dark Knight Rises" lore.) 

The show's premise, at this point, is really one of construction, with Grayson crossing paths with Rachel Roth/Raven, played by Teagan Croft, who has nightly visions of him, while she's tracked by the curious Koriand'r/Starfire, played by Dana Diop. A bond will form among them. From there, once a week for the following eleven (starting Oct 12), more members will enter, until the concept looks as it should.

Ryan Potter will appear regularly as Garfield Logan/Beast Boy (expect lots of CGI). However, on the sporadic, look-forward-to roster, we'll have Dawn Granger/Dove, played by Minka Kelly and Hank Hall/Hawk, played by Alan Ritchson. (Ditko fans will appreciate the significance.) Other heroes will act as special guest stars, like April Bowlby's Elasti-Woman (va-va-voom!!!); Jake Michaels' Robotman; Dwain Murph's Negative Man; Bruno Bichir's Chief; and then there's (hold on to your seat, and let that dramatic drum roll...), Curran Walters' Jason Todd (Robin II for our purposes here) and Conor Leslie's Donna Troy/Wonder Girl. Holy Smokes and Hot Damn!!!

Anticipate friction between the Boy Wonders, though the crossover won't cover much of the season. Still, depending on how the encounter is handled, it could be good or bad from a dramatic/historical stance. In the same vein, keep in mind that "Titans" is a concoction reputedly influenced by certain members of CW's staff. That, too, could be good or bad depending on the creative command. Lord knows, we don't need another ethically challenged "Supergirl" or fact-distorted "Legends of Tomorrow". 

Despite the evident obstacles, I do hope "Titans" works. It's just a shame one has to sign up and shell out to see it, but if it's worthy of its DC roots, the $7.99 a month might be worth it. Besides, the DC Universe has other wonders in store for subscribers, including "Doom Patrol"; "Harley Quinn"; "Stargirl"; a new "Swamp Thing", and so it goes...

I saw Teen Titans Go! To the Movies...

When Cartoon Network's "Teen Titans" and its sequel series, "Teen Titans Go!" premiered some years back, I enjoyed their colorful concepts, but their screeching-mouth, Playschool anime often made me cringe. For the sake of DC teen superheroes, I prefer “Young Justice” and "Justice League vs Teen Titans", where the designs and stagings are much more orthodox. 

Still, I'm loyal to DC and therefore, Teen Titans on the whole, so despite my suffocating schedule, I felt obliged to squeeze in a theatrical view of "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies".

The film, directed by Aaron Horvath and Peter Rida Michail, and written by Horvath and Michael Jelenic, resembles the cartoon programs upon which it's based, but it’s leagues sillier, often to the point of crass self-parody. Now, don’t misunderstand: This film isn’t some sanctimonious, hate-the-hero "Lego Batman" claptrap. It (like its television foundations) at least respects its characters' backgrounds, even if the ball of wax is splashed with a ton of garish gall, which includes a tad of time travel and lots of song and dance.

The story deals with Robin, the Boy Wonder (I've always presumed Dick Grayson in these cutesy cliques, but take your pick), Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy hoping to mimic their mentors by starring in a big-budget, Hollywood production. They find the chance for cinematic prominence through the mind-manipulating Slade Wilson/Deathstroke and his shifty "sister" (shades of "Incredibles 2"), though it's hard to swallow why the teens fail to see the obvious charade? (Perhaps in this lies the tale's message and warning: If something looks to good to be true...)

To spice up the teens' ambitions, seasoned superheroes arbitrate. Among them, the stand-out cameo comes from Superman, voiced by Nicolas Cage: a versatile actor and comic-book connoisseur once chosen to portray the Man of Steel in a Tim Burton, live-action endeavor. (Thanks to this Teen Titans movie, how can one now say that Cage never officially played Kal-El in a full-fledged film?)  Unfortunately, Cage's vocal casting isn't enough to place the movie on a super-special, satirical plane.

The incredulous premise still gushes enough conflict to make it roll, albeit it slowly (unless one considers continuous gags a fast-paced catalyst), but this yet prompts the question: Why an all-out, feature-length lampoon? Wasn't the sequel series goofy enough? Was either Teen Titan show ever this zany in its tongue-in-cheek brio?

I can only assume that the filmmakers intended the package a means to enroll young viewers into the DC scene, but there are so many DC (and Marvel) in-jokes that it's doubtful most under-twenties will appreciate the effort. (Mind you, kids don’t attend superhero movies like they once did; I didn’t see one adolescent in the packed theaters of "Batman v Superman", "Captain America: Civil War" or the "Deadpool" set. (Granted, Deadpool's cinematic designation is R-rated, but dear mercy, in my teen years, my friends and I would have made it a priority to sneak into something so forbidden.) Also, for the record, I saw "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies" at a four o’clock, Thursday pre-premiere, and even then there wasn't one youngster present. The half dozen people in attendance were either middle age or senior.

I can’t speak for those other adults (sorry, I was too darn drained from my work day to interview 'em once the credits rolled), but for me, the movie's climate was way too juvenile (even when compared to its television counterparts), with even more screeching and bug-eyed silliness than I could bear. At a padded ninety minutes, I found myself choking back the yawns during more than a few portions. Really, this “Teen Titans Go!” would have worked better in an hour format, and even then it may have been too long. There's only so far that sustained gaudiness can go, even when the intentions are good.

I think it’s great that DC/Warner Brothers would give one of its animated features a full-blown (more than a one-night stand), theatrical release. However, that kind of experimental dedication should have fallen upon "Killing Joke", "Gotham by Gaslight" and "Batman Ninja", not a superfluous, Teen Titans farce.

I got through this one well enough, but it’s not something I'm likely to watch again, and I don’t think there's much chance it'll win over the masses or add more fans (young or old) to DC/WB's Justice League plans. That makes "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies" a miscalculation. Too bad. If it had only been stacked in a more serious way, it may have done some good, as opposed to being just another destined footnote in the companies' hit-and-miss mergers.

I saw Teen Titans: The Judas Contract...

"Teen Titans: the Judas Contract" is a quasi followup to the animated crossover, "Teen Titans vs Justice League". Though I was lukewarm at best with the latter, I've found "Judas" (directed by trusty Sam Liu, and adapted by Ernie "Justice League Dark" Altbacker from the George Perez/Marv Wolfman miniseries) to be an edgier, more complex endeavor.

"Judas" deals with betrayal, as its subtitle implies, with its selling-out theme laced by a veritable, religious allegorical vibe. In this instance the devilish twist stems from established, teen member, Terra, an terrain-manipulating mutant, who isn't all she appears to be, as Damian Wayne, our current Robin, soon realizes. (Those who know Terra's history, however, will rapidly recognize what's in store, but then one could argue that the gal's persistent, smart-ass remarks signal the proverbial writing on the wall.)

The young Wayne, though abrasive in previous DC/WB animated movies, is more relaxed in this instance, but no less determined. I must say that at long last I've come to like this Robin, which is surprising, considering how much he rubbed me the wrong way in his previous "Son of Batman" outings. For what it's worth, though, Dick Grayson's Nightwing also makes an appearance, to ensure the youngster stays in check. 

Not to give too much away, it should suffice to say that Terra is linked to Sam Wilson/Deathstroke (vocalized by the late, great Miguel Ferrer, in his final animated feature), who's been recruited by the film's primary villain, a false-prophet named Brother Blood, in hopes of bringing the Titans down. We also learn that Blood and his partner, Mother Mayhem, are hoping to establish Hell on Earth by corralling the insidious minions of H.I.V.E., plus any vapid passerby they might mentally manipulate. Still, with this unholy allegiance riding high off its mad ambitions, why not shoot the works and go straight for the higher-echelon Justice League? Well, it's better to take baby steps, I guess...

That's not to say the Titans (at least in this presentation) are some throwaway, wannabe superhero league. Beyond the cool, calculating Wayne/Robin and the wayward Terra, its dynamic members include Beast Boy; Blue Beetle; Bumblebee; Kid Flash; Raven; Speedy; and Starfire (mostly referred to by her Koriand'r label in this adventure). Each participant is tougher and more focused than in previous incarnations (and yep, that includes the comic scene). 

Be warned: There's a smattering of romance in the proceedings (or is it more insinuated lust?) between Nightwing and Starfire, as well as Deathstroke and Terra, and then Beast Boy and Terra, but only to invigorate a few fleeting scenes. In fact, the amorous elements are restrained enough to make one desire more, proving that action-adventure mush works best when served in tease and never full form.

To lighten the tension (sexual or otherwise), there's a neat Kevin Smith cameo for the geeks, which adds just the right whimsical touch to cap things off. On the other hand, Blood's earlier placed, dry-humored take on the mainstream media is commendable to a fault. Should we be admiring any aspect of such an infuriating bad guy? The additive seems calculated to make a sly, political statement, but in the flow of the film, momentarily backfires, even if it otherwise blends with the character's "mixing truth with lies" agenda.

The climax is exciting (but has any DC/WB animated flick dropped the ball in that regard?), with considerable high-flying kicking and punching: never enough, though, to knock one's socks off, but it all serves its purpose and well flavors the character-developed build-up. The reveal of the film's betrayal, which turns out to be double-edged, is handled with care and consideration, making the film's finale bittersweet, and that's A-okay. 

If more Titan movies can expand upon this basic formula, the series may finally find itself on an ideal course. After all, our young heroes aren't run-of-the-mill millennials and shouldn't be plagued by moments of pretentious, prolonged bonding (like the insipid dance contest we witnessed in their last outing). Our revered Titans merely need conviction, purpose and plan, and as long as films like "Judas" keep surfacing, the team's adventures should be welcomed and long lived.

I saw the Justice League vs Teen Titans...

The season is upon us when all good heroes turn adversarial toward one another, whether it's "Batman v Superman", "Daredevil: Season 2"  or the upcoming "Captain America: Civil War", where two avenging teams will slug it out for dominance. In DC animation, the trend also prevails, with such tensions apparent in the recent "Batman: Bad Blood" (see Feb '16) and now in director Sam Liu's "Justice League vs Teen Titans".

As in the case of "Bad Blood", Damian Wayne becomes the hub of the proceedings, which wouldn't be so bad, except that Alan Burnett and Bryan Q. Miller's script resumes the lad as a stubborn, little bastard. It's hard to root for this Robin or any of his causes, when he never learns his lessons and puts others in peril. 

He's especially petulant in the wake of JL's victory over the dreaded Legion of Doom, when a slimy, shadow-casting demon named Trigon (voiced by Jon Bernthal, "Daredevil'"s Punisher) appears, possessing the body of the fleeing Weather Wizard. Robin's interference in this strange event leads the demonic Trigon to escape and later seize control of Superman: a confounding complication if ever there was one. 

As punishment for his recklessness, Batman dispatches his son to the Teen Titans, in hopes its members will teach him the value of teamwork. The Titans, in this instance, include the mystical Raven; the otherworldly (and older) Starfire; the shape-shifting Beast Boy; and the scarab-sparked Blue Beetle. Unfortunately, the arrangement only leads to more tensions and a terrible melee between the Boy Wonder and Blue Beetle. Robin is burned in the process, forcing Raven to heal him. One would think this would at least appease Robin's rage, but instead it just further fuels his snobbery toward the group. 

As the Titans try to fine-tune their purpose, Batman and Wonder Woman jaunt forth to halt the mind-warped Superman, while Cyborg, Flash and Nightwing delve deeper into the action. It's the JL, however, that tackles Kal-El's rescue (with Batman ultimately resolving the situation, with a neat, Bane tie-in). This leaves the youngsters to devour time with a corny, carnival trip, culminated by an excruciatingly long dance number. Soon thereafter, our original champions are transformed into possessed, four-eyed demons (a plot turn that's almost as troubling as Marvel's sadistic heroes-as-flesh-eating-zombie phase). Too bad JL doesn't receive the essential, early assistance the youths could otherwise provide. 

As circumstances darken, the wary kids wind up battling the satanically altered JL, but why? One gets the impression that the conflict could have been averted if the kids had only suppressed their selfish lament and focused on the horrors flanking them. Also, Damian has the chance to redeem himself during the confusion, and what a glorious turning point that would have been, but we just get more of the same quarrelsome turmoil, not only from Robin, but Raven, who's second only to the Boy Wonder in screen time. Yes, the animation is slick and the action sequences epic, but what good are these if the young leads remain muddied and misguided.  

The opposition finally gets squashed, but to get there feels forced and mean, making the recent, live-action, testy team-ups (including the advance "Civil War" footage) seem breezy (and a lot more logical) in comparison. 

I would have preferred another standard JL movie over this crossover, or even a solo Teen Titan story, with Robin and/or Raven leading a succinct charge against a few young baddies, or even some of our older standards, like Braniac, Riddler and Gorilla Grodd. I mean, if something ain't broke, why fix it?

Perhaps we must wait for a more direct "Bad Blood" sequel to see a sensible, streamlined Robin adventure, but even then, it's hard to conjure the faith that such will hit the mark. To remedy the awkwardness, it's either a matter of changing Damian's attitude or purging him from animated sequels all together, but neither seems likely any time soon.