Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Tony S. Daniel; Todd Nauck; Mario Alquiza; Richard Bonk; Tanya Horie; Richard Horie; & Comicraft
Cover Art by Tony S. Daniel & Mario Alquiza
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Lost and Found: Part 2 of 2” DC Comics released this Infinite Crisis precursor for 2006. The Teen Titans (Raven; Beast Boy; Bart Allen’s Kid Flash; Cassie Sandsmark’s Wonder Girl; & Mia Dearden’s Speedy) are attacked by the new Brother Blood’s (Sebastian Blood) legion of zombie Titans. His hell-raising horde includes Tula (the original Aquagirl), Kole, Phantasm, and the original Hawk & Dove, along with an army of demonic flying demons. Also present is Blood’s vampiric mother, Omen.
In desperation, Raven & Beast Boy seek help at the mystical Crossroads between life and death where a captive Kid Eternity awaits them. From another dimension, Superboy-Prime resentfully spies upon Conner Kent/Superboy’s life in Smallville, as he deems it time for a decisive showdown.
Interspersed throughout the story, in an alternate reality, the downtrodden Zoo Crew tries to provoke Captain Carrot back into action to solve a murder-mystery. It’s revealed that multiple Zoo Crew members are now dead.
Note: In the Page 2-3 double-page spread, the background includes a comic book store with a sale on Captain Carrot back issues – apparently, it’s meant as an in-joke.
REVIEW:
Most notably, the art squad’s visuals are outstanding in their Titans segments, including the cover image. Predating DC’s Blackest Night by several years, these zombie Titans are an intriguing threat vs. Wonder Girl’s understaffed squad. In that sense, DC reflects its Crisis on Infinite Earths-era continuity well by featuring three Titans killed off in that epic series, as well as a few other Titans that long-time readers will likely recognize.
With Tim Drake’s absence (and only a cameo by Superboy), franchise players Beast Boy & Raven’s chemistry carries much of the load this time. This creative choice mostly satisfies, in terms of Geoff Johns’ storytelling. Updating Kid Eternity, for instance, is a neat idea, let alone bringing back this obscure character back from oblivion.
A weak counter-balance is Johns’ sequel to Captain Carrot’s comedy adventures; what exactly he meant to accomplish is debatable. Resembling a bleak cross-blend parody of Identity Crisis and Watchmen, there’s nothing amusing about this dark reboot. Corrupting a lighthearted, mid-80’s DC kiddie franchise for kicks isn’t the mark of creative genius; it merely foretells DC’s efforts years later ‘adapting’ classic Hanna-Barbera characters for adult consumption. Ultimately, sleazing down The Zoo Crew and calling it adult humor is a recipe for creative disappointment, not to mention an awkward reading experience.
Johns’ primary storyline, especially with its high-caliber art, is a keeper. His grim re-imagining of Captain Carrot and friends, however, is best left to collect dust.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
In the full-page “DC in Demand” column, their so-called ‘mole’ includes thumbnail covers for Justice # 3; Adventures of Superman # 647; and Teen Titans # 32.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6½ Stars
