Sometimes I despair of DC, I really do.

The Titans are not, frankly, one of the more intrinsically interesting concept in comics.  They started off as a junior version of the Justice League, a team composed entirely of kid sidekicks.  In practice, over time, they've settled into being a slightly older team, still junior to the Justice League, but relying mainly on their accumulated continuity and lore to make them distinctive. 

I approach books that are largely defined by their history with a little scepticism at the best of times.  But hey, it's a new title.  What the heck.  I'll give it a chance.

As I picked it up, I couldn't help thinking: Oh god, it's a DC book.  It's bound to be some sort of hideous multi-part crossover mess.  But then I stopped, and I reminded myself not to be so cynical.  After all, it isn't labelled as a crossover.  And even DC couldn't be so stupid as to launch a new series in mid-storyline.

So, after buying it and opening it up, what do I find on page 2?

"The Fickle Hand, part two."

Part two!  Two!  In issue #1!

And do you want to know the best bit?  It doesn't even tell you where part one appeared.  I had to Google it.  Part one was in Titans East Special #1, which came out last November.  You couldn't make it up.  Shower of bloody amateurs.

So, what's in the issue?  Why, it's a series of scenes in which former members of the Titans briefly go about their business before being attacked by demons.  One at a time.  In fairness, you could say this fulfils the basic requirement of "introducing the cast" - although I'd question whether the scene for Donna Troy actually does that job.

And then at the end, all of the group stand around and discuss what's happening, and then they mention a villain whose name would presumably strike terror into my heart if I'd heard of him.  But hey, it's issue #1, so it's totally reasonable to write a cliffhanger that assumes prior knowledge of the villain.

Oh, hold on.  The team all get together at the end?  Didn't we leave each of them being attacked by demons?  Did I miss a scene where they, you know, escaped the demons?  Flick, flick, flick... no, apparently not.  They... just did.  Wonderful.

Seriously, now, what is this nonsense?  It has the veneer of a professional product, but the more you look at it, the more of a mess it seems.  Existing fans of the Titans will probably get more out of it than I did, to be fair, but the rest of you should run to the hills.

Rating: D+

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