Tim Sheridan

A sad and downbeat adventure of the Golden Age Green Lantern has a closeted Alan Scott struggling with his sexuality and homophobia in the 1930s and 1940s. Meanwhile all his exes are dying, and the Soviets are up to some international power move.

Plot developments vary between predictable, abrupt, or really dumb. The climactic battle is especially silly and pointless. Overall it was too long and melodramatic for me, with the heavy LGBTQ+ themes interrupted or clashing too often with the comic show more book socko-blammo stuff.

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Past Prologue [DC Pride: Through the Years #1] -- Into the Fire [Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1] -- Conversion [Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #2] -- A Spectre Calls [Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #3] -- Resurrection [Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #4] -- Red Scare [Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #5] -- All That May Become a Man [Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #6] show less

Trying to Do Some Good

Teen Titian’s Academy #1 written by Tim Sheridan, with art by Rafa Sandoval, is a modern take on super-powered teenagers trying to find their identity in the wake of the age of superheroes. After many events, that are not covered in this comic, the New Titians recruit a group of special teens to learn the basics about being a superhero. The Teen Titian’s Academy is run by the classic New Titian’s characters, who take on the role of teacher and mentor. From the show more beginning, things start to go wrong as the mysterious Red X causes confusion, and trouble within the Titian’s Tower. Everyone has secrets, and being a teenager is tough, but learning teamwork may not be enough to help the academy’s students.

There are a lot of new characters in addition to characters introduced in previous comics, the New Titans, and the current Teen Titians. Which is a lot of characters to introduce, and keep track of in this new comic run. This comic does feature a nice range of diversity, and mixed backgrounds. Including the awesome character Alinta aka. Bolt, a speedster struggling to hide her difficult past. Stitch the relatable “magically animated, gender-nonconforming rag doll”, who brings some humor to this comic. Also including an interval with the Bat Pack’s reiteration of events, and origin story. As well as other students, who do not get a lot of story building.

Red X seems to use this mixture of ambiguous characterization, and secret pasts to hide a very vague purpose. Or Nightwing’s word “stalks”, might be accurate. With the surprise appearance of the Suicide Squad, trying to re-pick their own teen candidate. Which is not a great moment for anyone involved. This comic is full of growing pains, and cynical views about identity, relationships, and judging other people. The New Titians moments, including jokes about Nightwing being old, and Cyborg teaching Home Ec., just seemed to fall flat. Between active missions, other commitments, relationships, planning curriculum, family stuff, and dealing with interpersonal student issues the New Titians may be way over their heads.

Over all this comic has a great comic layout, and Rafa Sandoval’s style is dynamic, and visually fun from panel to panel. Alejandro Sanchez does a wonderful job adding rich color to an otherwise darker themed comic. Though, some of the font size, and styles were a bit hard to read digitally. The mystery of the story relies on what the comic doesn’t show the reader, which is a lot. Readers will have to wait until Teen Titian’s Academy #2 to get any story resolution. Despite its rough beginning, it is great to see a new generation of superheroes. There are boundless new story directions, about growing up in a superhero world, to look forward too. show less

Some fun ideas here, but I found the execution to be boring. I would like to get to know more of the kid characters since there are so many.

Issues #13-15: I especially enjoyed Tendi's response to T'Lyn's sudden popularity among a different species.