I want Fabian Nicieza to take over Teen Titans on a full time basis. Make it happen, DC Comics. He just has a much better handle on these characters and what it takes to tell a good story than regular writer Scott Lobdell. The best issues of Teen Titans have all been penned by Nicieza, even if Lobdell was providing the plot. This issue is a perfect example. Lobdell has been writing a couple crummy additions to the Death of the Family story in both Teen Titans and Red Hood and the Outlaws. But this issue is a wonderful tie-in, pitting Red Robin and Red Hood against each other in an particularly devious plot by the Joker. And it was made even better by Nicieza’s firm grasp on Tim Drake’s inner monologue.

Teen Titans #16

This is a very good tie-in to Death of the Family, giving the two Reds a story that seems tailor-made to their places in the Bat-family. Tim Drake’s inner monologue is fantastic as he assesses and handles the threat. It really lets him shine as the series star.

Comic Rating: 4/5: Good!

I really like the friendship that has been building between Red Robin and Red Hood since the DCnU reboot. They’re really the odd men out in the Bat-family. Tim Drake, especially, hasn’t had much of a place in the world since Damian came in and stole his position as Robin. So the two of them teaming up definitely works, as does the idea that they get a more action-oriented battle with the Joker. There isn’t much psychology to mess with either of them, so the idea that the Joker pits them against each other in fisticuffs fits the characters. Their scenes are the best in the issue, and Tim Drake’s inner monologue is a real standout.

Sadly, though, Lobdell once again hits us with his ridiculous notion for foreshadowing. Twice in this issue, we cut away to a single scene focusing on an upcoming villain. Out of nowhere with little to no build-up. It just happens in the middle of the story. It’s a stupid way to introduce these villains, especially since he utterly ruins the mystery of Trigon! It’s infuriating! I loved how Lobdell and Nicieza started to lay the groundwork for Trigon a few issues ago, when they had his name mentioned in some ancient carvings. I thought that was wonderfully subtle and mysterious, and might just grow as the series progresses.

Nope. We get a full scene of a the fully demonic Tigon sitting on his throne in Hell surrounded by demons, and a scene of him just introducing Raven in all her glory. No mystery, no subtlety, no build-up. He just throws Trigon and Raven right in our faces. What a waste.

Anyway, join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!

Red Robin and Red Hood are unconscious on the floor of whatever hideout the Joker has them trapped. Red Robin wakes up and pretends to still be out of it so that he can assess his situation. He figures out the Red Hood is with him due to the smell of gunpowder and the labored breathing behind the helmet. He also starts to piece together the Joker’s trap.

It should also be noted that Red Robin has somehow been changed back into his Teen Titans costume, rather than his original sidekick costume. Remember how Tim was wearing his old costume in the last issue of Teen Titans? Yeah, looks like somebody messed up .

The Joker has no concept of personal space

Joker taunts the two of them while he thinks they’re unconscious, making fun of the fact that Red Hood has modeled himself after the Joker’s first criminal identity. He also taunts Red Robin for being the serious, rigid one. Joker’s dialogue isn’t as chilling as it has been in the other Death of the family stories, but Brett Booth is drawing a very good Joker. Not as good as some of the other artists, but a solidly evil-looking guy. Joker eventually climbs up into his control booth to wake up the two former sidekicks so he can begin his evil plot.

Joker reveals that he has their fathers tied up in the corner, with bags over their heads! And he demands that Red Robin and Red Hood fight each other. The father of the winner gets to live. For those who don’t know, Red Hood’s father died of a drug overdose years ago. And Red Robin’s father is in the witness protection program.

We cut away to the Teen Titans and the Outlaws thanking each other for the help. Wonder Girl doesn’t think the Titans could have handled Gotham City without Arsenal and Starfire. Solstice quietly realizes that they also had help from Lance, that stupid mercenary character who has been showing up a lot recently. He has the power to boost other super-powers, and he did so for Kid Flash. We cut over to Lance off doing whatever he was doing in Birds of Prey, completely unrelated to the story at hand. He comments to himself that Amanda Waller was right and that the Teen Titans are good assets.

Suddenly, he’s attacked by a random snake lady out of nowhere! For no reason!

The Serpent Society is Marvel

What the hell does this have to do with anything!? Who is that snake woman? Why is she attacking Lance!? Gah! It’s just so random.

Anyway, Lance says he also has the power to shut down other super-powers, which he does to the snake woman. But he doesn’t get long to gloat over his victory before he’s shot by someone off-panel. Though I’m sure this won’t be the last time we see this stupid character.

Oh and hey, while we’re cutting away from the regular action, how about that stupid Trigon page I mentioned. Here it is in all its glory. I realize that everybody is already familiar with Trigon from the earlier continuity, but this is a reboot. A lot of mystery and dread could be pumped into Teen Titans leading towards Trigon, really make his arrival a menacing threat. But nope. Let’s just throw him out there for all to see.

At least I like Raven’s new costume.

But I still hate everything else

Back at the real fight, Red Robin scoffs at the Joker’s idea that the two of them would fight each other, but Red Hood puts a gun to the teen’s head. He knows his father is dead, but he thinks the Joker might just be crazy enough to bring his father back to life! So the two former sidekicks duke it out in exciting fashion. The fight scene with very well done, with Booth’s frantic pencils easily keeping the action exciting.

It’s a manly ballet

Red Robin and Red Hood are fairly evenly matched, with each one getting in some good hits. In the end, though, it’s Red Robin who gets the advantage (yes!) and holds Jason Todd at his mercy. Red Robin wonders if he has what it takes to become a killer if it means saving a life…Nope, he doesn’t. The two enact a last second plan, using the near-killing to distract the Joker so that Jason Todd can open fire on the Clown Prince of Crime.

If only…

So hooray! The two heroes are victorious! They didn’t play the Joker’s game and they defeated him in the end, filling him full of lead! The Joker is finally dead ! Oh no wait, that can’t happen. There was no way the two of them could have won because they’re necessary for the finale over in Batman. So they quickly find out that the Joker they shot was an impressively detailed and lifelike dummy, which suddenly starts pumping knockout gas into the air. Because the Joker was able to predict that Jason Todd would shoot him and was able to take the time to swap himself out for the dummy.

That is what’s wrong with this entire Death of the Family storyline. Joker is just too damn omnipresent. Plus, since the two heroes are needed for the finale, there was no point in actually having them win the fight. They were going to get knocked out and captured no matter what happened. They get kidnapped and dragged away to the same banquet, only now Joker seems to have two serving dishes covered in blood. Has he chopped up Alfred into little tiny bits and each member of the Bat-family gets a piece?

Probably. See my previous thoughts on killing Alfred.

Also, Red Robin points out that the Joker didn’t have their respective fathers in a trap. He noticed a scar on his supposed dad’s wrist and he knows his dad never had such a scar. Though we never do find out who the men are under the hoods.

The stuff between Red Robin and Red Hood was very good. The fight was exciting and believable, illustrated with some fantastic art. Red Robin’s inner monologue was a real treat. He definitely felt like the Tim Drake of old, like a really solid character. This is the kind of guy that inspires a very loyal fanbase and a solo series that lasted more than 100 issues before the reboot. Using him to drive the narrative, written by Nicieza, made for a really good comic. Even the Red Hood was very cool. Though what genius thought it would be a good idea to give Red Hood’s helmet a set of lips? Did DC learn nothing from that stupid Snake Eyes mask in the first G.I.Joe film? Don’t give your heroes carved lips in their masks or helmets! It looks freakin’ stupid!

Everything other than the Red Robin vs. Red Hood stuff was garbage. The Teen Titans/Outlaws cameo amounted to nothing, and the appearance by Lance was less than nothing. If his story is going to be told completely in Birds of Prey, then he doesn’t need to show up in Teen Titans for no good reason! It doesn’t add anything to the character and takes focus away from the Titans. His scene was the height of stupid.

And I’ve already ranted about that Trigon scene. It’s just so frustrating that Lobdell and Nicieza would set up the villain so well with those earlier mentions and then just draw the curtain back in one fell swoop, revealing everything at once. What a horrible waste.

But yeah, DC, get on that hiring of Nicieza thing right away.