Teen Titans 8 - 12 Family Lost / First Blood / Raven Rising
For me, the latest incarnation of the Teen Titians represents everything that's good about comics at this point. Bold statement? Probably, but I'm willing to back it up by looking at the recent story arc featuring the unveiling of a new Brother Blood and the reintroduction of Raven. Why do I think it's so good? Let's look at the elements...
The art: In terms of what I'm looking for from a comic series, the art of Tom Grummett more than satisfies. For me, this is the way a comic should look. It's clean, well detailed and doesn't try and overshadow the story with a given style or approach. The art within this story arc runs the range of playful to dark and gothic without missing a beat. It harkens back to George Perez's work in the initial series that made such a sales splash back in the early 80's. Perez always delivered a laser crisp vision to the New Teen Titans and Grummett more than honors that legacy with his current work. Each month it proves a visual treat.
The story: For all the compliments I can rain on the art, the story here is outstanding. Writer Geoff Johns does a perfect job of welcoming a new reader and rewarding those who have been with the series for some time. He knows the history of this team (going back to the classic Marv Wolfman days), knows the players involved and weaves it all together in a way that maintains the style of the new team (hip, fresh, irreverent ... "teen"), welcomes the new reader by weaving in looks at the back story (in the form of school lessons for the new kids) and honors the long time reader by bringing three classic Titan villains together for one story. Deathstroke... Trigon... Brother Blood... Just knowing what's waiting in the wings (Gar's history) for an upcoming story pretty much covers a lot of Titan history in a single blow.
Deathstroke's interaction with the team has always been interesting and the deal making and breaking that takes place during the story is very much in character. Bringing Trigon back into the mythos brings much of the horror element of Raven's past into sharp focus (something her character has been lacking for some time).
There can be no doubt in my book. If you want to see what's good about comics in 2004, pick up a current issue of Teen Titans.
For me, the latest incarnation of the Teen Titians represents everything that's good about comics at this point. Bold statement? Probably, but I'm willing to back it up by looking at the recent story arc featuring the unveiling of a new Brother Blood and the reintroduction of Raven. Why do I think it's so good? Let's look at the elements...
The art: In terms of what I'm looking for from a comic series, the art of Tom Grummett more than satisfies. For me, this is the way a comic should look. It's clean, well detailed and doesn't try and overshadow the story with a given style or approach. The art within this story arc runs the range of playful to dark and gothic without missing a beat. It harkens back to George Perez's work in the initial series that made such a sales splash back in the early 80's. Perez always delivered a 
laser crisp vision to the New Teen Titans and Grummett more than honors that legacy with his current work. Each month it proves a visual treat.
rewarding those who have been with the series for some time. He knows the history of this team (going back to the classic Marv Wolfman days), knows the players involved and weaves it all together in a way that maintains the style of the new team (hip, fresh, irreverent ... "teen"), welcomes the new reader by weaving in looks at the back story (in the form of school lessons for the new kids) and honors the long time reader by bringing three classic Titan 
villains together for one story. Deathstroke... Trigon... Brother Blood... Just knowing what's waiting in the wings (Gar's history) for an upcoming story pretty much covers a lot of Titan history in a single blow.