Multiversity: Teen Justice #1
Recap
Kid Quick—the Future State Flash—and their fellow heroes Supergirl, Robin, Aquagirl, Klarienne the Witch Girl, and Troy take center stage in a miniseries that rocks Earth-11 to its core! Co-writers Ivan Cohen (The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries) and Danny Lore (DC Pride, Champions) join rising-star artist Marco Failla (DCeased: Hope at World’s End) for the incredible debut issue, which begins with an attack by the H.I.V.E. and ends in the Church of Blood! What is Sister Blood’s true mission among the lost souls of New York City? Can Teen Justice get through their growing pains fast enough to learn the answer in time to stop it? And what role will the mysterious Raven—the brooding hero who has refused to join the team in the past—play in the ultimate battle? The secrets of Earth-11’s newest heroes and villains unfold in DC’s most exciting new team title!
Review
The issue hits the floor running – pun intended – when a dejected girl works into a battle between H.I.V.E and Teen Justice. The tone is set immediately. The action is clean and easy to follow but isn’t necessarily the focus. The characters shine through, proving to be a driving force through the issue.
Ivan Cohen and Danny Lore create a balance of emotion throughout the story. There’s mystery regarding the Church of Blood, humor through the interactions of the characters, especially Robin, and tension and romance amongst the whole cast. The plot that Cohen and Lore deliver is engaging (especially with the last page), and the dynamics of the cast demand attention.
The characters are written to be familiar but also distinct. The archetypes that are being filled are not too different from the main universe version of this team, but the fresh take goes beyond the gender swap of Earth-11. It creates a story that feels like the Young Justice or Teen Titans stories I have liked in the past and leaves me eager for more.
The art by Marco Faila and colors by Enrica Eren Angiolini deliver the visuals of that same balance. When Robin pauses mid-battle to work on her phone, the action maintains its trajectory in the background. The boredom on Klarirnne’s face, the unnecessarily extra maneuvers by Robin during a sports game, the surprise when Raven or Troy appear when they are unexpected- it all serves to deliver the firmly defined characters written by Cohen and Lore.
Final Thoughts
Multiversity: Teen Justice #1 is the perfect superhero story to kick off Pride Month. It captures the fun of the team and characters that inspired it but deliver them with a refreshing and engaging spin.
MULTIVERISTY: TEEN JUSTICE #1: Making a New Lane
- Writing - 10/1010/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 8.5/108.5/10
