Teen Titans #39 (***SPOILERS***)

[Lonewolf36]

From marymarvel on the DC Forums

-The Titans track down Zatara who is not happy to see them.
-Zatara’s powers are the same as Zatanna as he is also her cousin.
-Zatara received his powers during the “whole mess with the Spectre”.
-Zatara is not the kindest of people.
-Titans leave Zatara.
-The Titans track down Miss Martian.
-Miss Martian left the group because all the Titans did was argue.
-Titans leave Miss Martian.
-The Titans track down Bombshell.
-Bombshell is a young female version of Captain Atom down to the armor and symbol.
-Bombshell accuses Ravager of being the traitor.
-Miss Martian uses her telepathy to read the minds of the Titans around the world and slowly starts to change when performing this task.
-When she comes across the traitor she changes forms from her green appearance to that of a White Martian.

[milly3cat]

thanks for the review, I hope miss martian becomes a regular of the cast, I think she is cool ... :cool:

[Cayman]

Boo to Miss Martian being a White Martian. Hope she ends up being good anyway. Otherwise it was a decent issue.

[Deus ex Chris]

I enjoyed this issue quite a lot. "Titans Tomorrow" was the last time I enjoyed an issue this much. These characters are finally starting to click. That's partly because the in-fighting was toned down a bit. It's still obvious that these kids don't all get along, but they're not trying beat each other down, and that was nice. Kid Devil seems to be turning into the heart of this team, much like Beast Boy, but unlike Beast Boy, he isn't incredibly annoying. I'm also enjoying the inclusion of Ravager, and Miss Martian had a nice introduction. Also, I've got to say that Tony Daniel just continues to make leaps and bounds. If he keeps growing in jumps, by this time next year, he'll be huge. Anyway, this book seems to be getting back on track. Let's hope the trend continues.

[Jack]

Heh. I liked how this and this week's 52 made it clear that Zatara has a thing for Raven.

I get the feeling that he and Miss Martian will end up rejoining the team.

Oh, and Flamebird is Batwoman's niece.

[sly_kat]

so the stolen item appears to be an encyclopedia for the letter "J....."
... does this perhaps mean Jericho's return? wasnt his brain demensions downloaded unto a disk?... kinda would explain why deathstroke formed a team altogether... to get that disk...

[Shellhead]

The story has been entertaining so far, but I'm a little uneasy with the way Geoff Johns has casually created a large population of new characters, all younger versions of existing heroes. Hopefully we won't see them all get slaughtered the next time DC has a big crossover storyline.

[Sean Walsh]

Boo to Miss Martian being a White Martian. Hope she ends up being good anyway. Otherwise it was a decent issue.

I didn't get the impression that she was evil at that moment. Just ticked off upon learning of the traitor.

Oh, and that she's a liar.....

[titanfan]

I love the idea of Miss Martian being a White Martian! Do all White Martians have to be evil?

So if the traitor isn't Miss Martian--and we know it's probably not Ravager. Does this mean it's Bombshell? Raven was chased by a group of people who looked like they could be some sort of military unit.

[Jack]

I didn't get the impression that she was evil at that moment. Just ticked off upon learning of the traitor.

Oh, and that she's a liar.....
Odds are she at least thinks that she's good, since she claims to still be after the bad guys. Though obviously she's keeping secrets, what with the transformation and the mind reading. My bet is that she's going to be made out to be the traitor, only for it to turn out to be someone else.

I think it could turn out to be Kid Devil. He's got his mysterious calls, after all.

[Sean Walsh]

I think it could turn out to be Kid Devil. He's got his mysterious calls, after all.

Well, we get a Kid Devil/Blue Devil team-up after this arc concludes, I believe (December's ish), so either that's fallout from him being revealed as the traitor......or he's safe and it's someone else.

I doubt it's Ravager, though. Seems too obvious.

[Jack]

Well, we get a Kid Devil/Blue Devil team-up after this arc concludes, I believe (December's ish), so either that's fallout from him being revealed as the traitor......or he's safe and it's someone else.

I doubt it's Ravager, though. Seems too obvious.
Yeah, that's just Johns loving cliffhangers.

[Dr.Geekibus]

My money's on Red Star. He's the one no one suspects. Maybe he stole something from the Titans that he used to defeat the aliens in russia and become the big State Hero. I am certain its not Ravager or Miss M. Doubt that it's Bombshell or Kid Devil.

Speaking of which, will we get any info on how bombshell got her powers, since Capt Atom had to be shunted 20 years in the quantum field to get his nifty skeels.

[Go Go]

Hello! I'm someone who's read various incarnations of the Titans and am someone who has started reading the title again regularly b/c of this traitor storyline. First of all, I do like where this story is going. I do like the inclusion of Titans of old (Red Star, who I too believe is going to be the one revealed to be the traitor) to the Titans of new (Miss Martian, Zatara, etc.) I do have a couple of questions though.

Is this pretty much the first time we're seeing characters like Power Boy, Miss Martian, Little Barda, Aqua Girl (the new version), and Zatara? Or have some of these characters been around before?

I know an older version of Zatara appeared in Kingdom Come. Is this his introduction to regular continuity?

Did Big Barda become Little Barda? And where's Mr. Miracle then?

Sorry for all the questions. I just figured there'd be some things I'm out of the loop on since I haven't been a regular reader. Thanks in advance for helping out!

[skally19]

isn't it Risk...? this seems to be the obvious one everybody is forgetting. seeing how he's on titans east. i dunno. i haven't followed it at all, and maybe the already know he's kinda not good anymore

[Shellhead]

Hello! I'm someone who's read various incarnations of the Titans and am someone who has started reading the title again regularly b/c of this traitor storyline. First of all, I do like where this story is going. I do like the inclusion of Titans of old (Red Star, who I too believe is going to be the one revealed to be the traitor) to the Titans of new (Miss Martian, Zatara, etc.) I do have a couple of questions though.

Is this pretty much the first time we're seeing characters like Power Boy, Miss Martian, Little Barda, Aqua Girl (the new version), and Zatara? Or have some of these characters been around before?

I know an older version of Zatara appeared in Kingdom Come. Is this his introduction to regular continuity?

Did Big Barda become Little Barda? And where's Mr. Miracle then?

Sorry for all the questions. I just figured there'd be some things I'm out of the loop on since I haven't been a regular reader. Thanks in advance for helping out!

With the exception of Aqua Girl (a future version of her appeared in Titans Tomorrow), your questions are all about new characters that appeared sometime during the One Year Later gap that is gradually being covered in the pages of 52. In other words, we don't know yet. The older Zatara from Kingdom Come is probably the original Zatara, who is also the father of Zatanna.

Although it seems premature to guess the traitor, I'm betting that we have already met the traitor, and the other Titans that we meet in upcoming issues are just smokescreen. From a storytelling perspective, it just makes more sense than if the traitor were to show up just before the reveal. I like titanfan's theory that the traitor is Bombshell, it makes a lot of sense, especially given her questionable origin that Dr. Geekibus mentioned in this thread.

[Jack Zodiac]

I think it could turn out to be Kid Devil. He's got his mysterious calls, after all.

I'm pretty sure his "mysterious calls" were all just fake, silent calls to nobody while he pretended to talk to Danny. I doubt he's the traitor.

I like how this week's 52 and Teen Titans were definitely planned out for simultaneous release. Helps flesh out Zatara a good bit. When this arc's over, I'd love to see him on the team, along with Miss Martian. After seeing what Grant did with the White Martians in JLA, she'd be an effin' powerhouse for the Titans. Plus, I'd really like to see the motivation behind her coming to Earth and masquerading as a hero.

Another plus for this issue was the lack of squabbling between Cassie and Rose. That crap was getting ridiculously annoying, though I expect it won't be as toned down next month...

[Jack Zodiac]

I know an older version of Zatara appeared in Kingdom Come. Is this his introduction to regular continuity?

The Zatara from Kingdom Come was the son of Zatanna and John Constantine. This Zatara is Zatanna's cousin, which would make him the child of one of the original Zatara's siblings.

[Jack Zodiac]

isn't it Risk...? this seems to be the obvious one everybody is forgetting. seeing how he's on titans east. i dunno. i haven't followed it at all, and maybe the already know he's kinda not good anymore

The traitor was a member of the team during the missing year, so it can't be Risk.

[Peter M.]

In other words, we don't know yet. The older Zatara from Kingdom Come is probably the original Zatara, who is also the father of Zatanna.
Not really according to Waid and Ross, that Zatara is the son of John Constantine and Zatanna.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Lemme see, Martian Manhunter, but a teenaged girl.

Zatanna, but a teenaged boy.

Captain Atom, but a teenaged girl.

I hope Johns isn't getting a creator's credit for thinking up some of these new teen heroes. I mean, how difficult is it to take an established hero, reverse their gender and make them a teenager?

[DonC]

The story has been entertaining so far, but I'm a little uneasy with the way Geoff Johns has casually created a large population of new characters, all younger versions of existing heroes. Hopefully we won't see them all get slaughtered the next time DC has a big crossover storyline.


I agree. I hope they're all slaughtered much, much sooner than that. I was reading this issue thinking about how much I hated the rehashes of existing characters. It worked with Robin, Speedy (Arsenal), Wonder Girl and Kid Flash, but was there really a demand for Zatanna's cousin or young, female Captain Atom?

[Jack]

Hello! I'm someone who's read various incarnations of the Titans and am someone who has started reading the title again regularly b/c of this traitor storyline. First of all, I do like where this story is going. I do like the inclusion of Titans of old (Red Star, who I too believe is going to be the one revealed to be the traitor) to the Titans of new (Miss Martian, Zatara, etc.) I do have a couple of questions though.

Is this pretty much the first time we're seeing characters like Power Boy, Miss Martian, Little Barda, Aqua Girl (the new version), and Zatara? Or have some of these characters been around before?

I know an older version of Zatara appeared in Kingdom Come. Is this his introduction to regular continuity?

Did Big Barda become Little Barda? And where's Mr. Miracle then?

Sorry for all the questions. I just figured there'd be some things I'm out of the loop on since I haven't been a regular reader. Thanks in advance for helping out!Little Barda is someone who idolises Big Barda and who is apparently from Apokalips. Power Boy shares her origin, and apparently has nothing to do with Power Girl whatsoever.

This Zatara is the cousin of Zatanna who received his powers thanks to the Tenth Age of Magic beginning, which happened during the one of the IC minis.

Aquagirl I believe was introduced in the Sub Diego storyline in Aquaman, in which San Diego was sunk and the survivors gained the ability to breathe underwater.

[Shellhead]

I agree. I hope they're all slaughtered much, much sooner than that. I was reading this issue thinking about how much I hated the rehashes of existing characters. It worked with Robin, Speedy (Arsenal), Wonder Girl and Kid Flash, but was there really a demand for Zatanna's cousin or young, female Captain Atom?

I think that this is part of the smokescreen for this traitor story. One (or more) of these heroes appears to be nothing more than a young version of an existing hero, but is in fact something more sinister, possibly with additional powers not implied by the identification with the older hero. For example, Zatara is probably just what he seems, but he could also be Trigon in disguise, using backward words to cover his more potent magicks.

Other thoughts about the traitor: there could be more than one. Also, given that the Titans were so dysfunctional during that lost year between IC and OYL, it suggests that somebody who belonged to that line-up for most of that year could be the traitor, undermining the team from within.

[Jack]

Also, given that the Titans were so dysfunctional during that lost year between IC and OYL, it suggests that somebody who belonged to that line-up for most of that year could be the traitor, undermining the team from within.Which is one of the reasons why I suggested Kid Devil. He's apparently been around for quite a while. In week 21 of 52, Zatara is a member, and given that we know he and Eddie were on one iteration together, it can't be that long before he's supposed to join, which would mean he'd be a Titan for roughly half of the year. That's probably the longest.

Raven herself, however, could possibly be the one responsible for the troubles. She does have emotional powers, which could account for the problems. We saw lots of scenes with people bickering.

[Damo]

I'd hate hate hate it to be my beloved Kid Devil, but I could see how it could be done.

Martian's last line "I think I know who the traitor is" or whatever could be evil villain sarcasm at the way the "good guys" trusted her and even thought she was a bit of a crybaby.

I don't think it's Bombshell. Too obvious to have it be either her or Ravager.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of the "people you least suspect", like Cyborg (he was "kinda" on the team the last year... sorta...) the Teen Janitors, Raven gone dual personality, or one of the Titans we haven't seen yet.

BTW, if Martian turns out to be a good girl... oh, I soooooooo want her to run into Son of Vulcan. Talk about awkward... Imagine him getting along with her, saying how much fun she is around, the two of them getting along, then he starts saying how much better Green Martians are compared to those White Martians his kinda has been killing for generations...

[Jack Zodiac]

Y'know, I don't know why, but I swear I remember someone saying something about Son of Vulcan dying. It was recently, too, and it must've happened off-panel. I wish I could remember where the hell I read that, though.

[Bloody Thumb]

I'll be disapointed if the Traitor turns out to be any of the "Created for this Story Line" characters. The Impact of a traitor in the midst is lessened if it turns out to be some one you know nothing about and havn't had any story time built up to learn to care about these people. I liked Zatara, but really, we barley know him or the Martian Chic, so would it really effect us if they are the traitor? Same with Captain Atom Girl. We know her for all of four pages.... Who cares if she turns out to be the traitor.

[Damo]

Y'know, I don't know why, but I swear I remember someone saying something about Son of Vulcan dying. It was recently, too, and it must've happened off-panel. I wish I could remember where the hell I read that, though.

Maye they were talking about the last Vulcan, an older guy that died at the start of the mini-series. The current Vulcan was one of the spellcasters in Crisis and made it out okay.

Although he was probably wondering why he was hanging with spellcasters, since he has no magic powers. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Sooo well thought out, IC...

[Jack]

I somewhat suspect that Red Star might be the traitor. Why? Well, while #39 introduces us to three different former Titans, Red Star got an issue all to himself.

[Jack Zodiac]

Although he was probably wondering why he was hanging with spellcasters, since he has no magic powers. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Sooo well thought out, IC...

Yeah, you can put that right up there on the list of screw ups, along with Empress magically becoming a white girl. :p

[protege]

Yeah, you can put that right up there on the list of screw ups, along with Empress magically becoming a white girl. :p
Wait- what?:confused:

[Jack Zodiac]

Empress was colored white in her last appearance in Infinite Crisis.

[Damo]

I somewhat suspect that Red Star might be the traitor. Why? Well, while #39 introduces us to three different former Titans, Red Star got an issue all to himself.

Yeah... but it would feel... I dunno, the guy just lost his whole family. The issue was about him all by himself, and the loss of his common law "wife and kid", two former Titans (who deserved better dammit. Pantha was the first to call Dick a slut, she shouldn't have been decapitated just to prove how "serious" IC was!.

[protege]

Empress was colored white in her last appearance in Infinite Crisis.
Where was that- in Young justice? Was this a deliberate thing?

[handOFfate]

This traitor storyline is pretty thrilling. I think its the best arc since the first one. I'm also warming up to Ravager and Kid Devil, especially the latter. Still wish Kid Flash was in the team, though. Without Bart and Gar, the Titans are seriously lacking in humor.

[Jack Zodiac]

Where was that- in Young justice? Was this a deliberate thing?

No, I think it was Infinite Crisis #5 or 4, whenever all of the former Titans and teen heroes were attacking Superboy Prime.

[Jack Zodiac]

This traitor storyline is pretty thrilling. I think its the best arc since the first one. I'm also warming up to Ravager and Kid Devil, especially the latter. Still wish Kid Flash was in the team, though. Without Bart and Gar, the Titans are seriously lacking in humor.

Me too, which is why I'm going to mail Johns a turd in an envelope if he gyps us by making Eddie the traitor.

[Bob-el]

I'm not saying he is the traitor but he seems like a reasonable candidate. Anyone have any thoughts on that possibility?

Also I found the dialog with Kid Devil interesting. A New Azareth with The Phatasm running around in it. Sounds like at some point we are in for new versions of familiar Titans items/characters.

[titanfan]

I'm not saying he is the traitor but he seems like a reasonable candidate. Anyone have any thoughts on that possibility?

If he is the traitor, I don't think he's leaving the team....as they seem to have invested a lot in him as a character. (And at least is mentioned in future solicits...)

[Brack360]

Oh, and Flamebird is Batwoman's niece.

But is she? The modern Batwoman is Kate, not Kathy, and has been referred to as "Katherine the younger," indicating that her mother is also named Katherine. What is Bette's "Aunt Kathy" is Kate's mother, which would mean she and Batwoman are cousins?

[Deathstroke]

I loved the multiple shots of Ravager in this issue. Just some very well done art there.

I thought the White Martians were just evil bastards and now we've got one masquerading as a Green Martian? That should be an interesting origin story.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The Traitor's could be Wendy & Marvin. How funny would that be ? I could so see them as traitors. Besides I like Rose as a Titan and how she could play into a possible Robin/Wonder Girl thing.

[Damo]

Oh please let Flamebird be the traitor... please please please please please...

[Deathstroke]

Oh please let Flamebird be the traitor... please please please please please...

No way, don't get rid of the hot blonde or platinum haired characters, that should be the rule!

Flamebird, Cassie, and Rose are now safe. :D

[Shellhead]

No way, don't get rid of the hot blonde or platinum haired characters, that should be the rule!

Flamebird, Cassie, and Rose are now safe. :D

Deathstroke thinks that Rose is hot? Eeewww! :eek:

[Paul Newell]

No, I think it was Infinite Crisis #5 or 4, whenever all of the former Titans and teen heroes were attacking Superboy Prime.
Y'know, I went to check to see if they corrected it in the HC, but I still can't find her anywhere in that scene....I thought it might have even been in Teen Titans 32, but still nothing. The only time I found her was when whe was standing with the magic users and she was wearing her mask.

So where exactly was it?

[milly3cat]

I thought the White Martians were just evil bastards and now we've got one masquerading as a Green Martian? That should be an interesting origin story.

I think that the white martian is a friendly one, and maybe a traitor to her people. I think it will be interesting story too.

I think the titan traitor is bombshell .....
She works for the government and has proof it is ravager... all fake ... ;)

[90'sCartoonMan]

But is she? The modern Batwoman is Kate, not Kathy, and has been referred to as "Katherine the younger," indicating that her mother is also named Katherine. What is Bette's "Aunt Kathy" is Kate's mother, which would mean she and Batwoman are cousins?

Hm, that'd be interesting. I wonder if Talon still somehow fits into the equation.

For some reason I almost expected Bombshell to be related to Bulleteer. I mean, with Zatara, Young Frankenstein, and some New Genesis people, it's almost like they're building the teen Seven Soldiers.

I liked Zatara, and his powers have limits unlike Zatanna's (I assume Zatara can't perform any mindwipes). That bit in 52 wasn't enough, I want to see more flashbacks from Titans of the missing year.

Looks like Offspring really is Plastic Man's son, most likely the kid that appeared in Kelly's JLA (and if not,that means Plastic Man's been the block more than I would've thought). Come to think of it, half of these Titans have made appearances before, so hopefully the traiter is an old character.

Y'know, I went to check to see if they corrected it in the HC, but I still can't find her anywhere in that scene....I thought it might have even been in Teen Titans 32, but still nothing. The only time I found her was when whe was standing with the magic users and she was wearing her mask.

Check the Day of Vengeance Special, I'm pretty sure Empress makes an appearance there.

[Paul Newell]

Check the Day of Vengeance Special, I'm pretty sure Empress makes an appearance there.
Aha! There she be...