Robin

February 1, 2023

Gr 7-10-Having helped Gar and Raven escape from the H.I.V.E. testing facility in the previous volume, Damian remains with them and Raven's foster sister Max as each works to develop control of their respective superhuman abilities. Damian tries to balance his desire to help-and his attraction to Max-with his competitive, standoffish nature and his lack of social skills. But these unfortunate characteristics bubble to the surface even more when his adopted brother Dick tracks them down to offer assistance. As the fourth part of Garcia and Picolo's soap-operatic alternative origin of the teen superhero team, the book continues emphasizing relatable characters while also establishing a superheroic world that's not over-the-top. Max and Gar are textually presented as multiracial, and Damian presents visually as such (as befitting his canonical Middle Eastern parentage), but it remains implicit. The heart of this volume is establishing Damian as egotistical but not unlikable, a challenge even the character recognizes when measured against charismatic Dick Grayson. Its secondary task is moving the characters closer to competency before the larger plot slowly ratchets up. The assembled family doesn't feel remotely close to titanic status, and the stakes feel anemic, but the illustrated body language and the characters' relationships grow stronger with each chapter. VERDICT For collections where the series is already circulating, this transitional segment teases what might kick into higher gear next volume.-Benjamin Russell

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 17, 2023
Grades 8-11 The fourth installment in Garcia's popular Teen Titans series picks up right where the previous book left off. Garfield and Raven have been rescued from H.I.V.E. by Damian Wayne and Max Navarro, after Raven unleashed her demonic father, Trigon. H.I.V.E. sends the mercenary known as Slade to track the kids down. Meanwhile, Dick Grayson, aka Robin, is concerned that Damian's tracking beacon has stopped working. Dick goes in search of the kids and finds them in Georgia. However, he is met with an unfriendly welcome from his brother. The team uncovers H.I.V.E. has its eye on another target, a girl named Kori Anders in Los Angeles, and decides to get to her before H.I.V.E. can. This series has done a great job of refreshing the origin stories of the Teen Titans for younger readers, and this entry is no different. Piccolo's moody and cinematic artwork really brings the characters to life and establishes a strong sense of place with varied panel layouts, dynamic points of view, and a muted color palette. A great entry point to superhero comics for teens.

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