Letters to Teen Titans #48

[starlord]

Let us know what you think.

Personally, I'm really intrigued on where this story is going. Also want to give Jay a huge apology for not having this up earlier. I got lax on checking my emails over the holiday.

Sorry about that, Sir.

[HoM]

I was taken out of the story within moments of starting to read-- Deathstroke came off as a failed Scooby Doo villain, wanting to finish a job because some pesky kids had stopped him time and again. It was disappointing, because I've read your Deathstroke before, and he always came off as a more than capable killer, but then to have him rendered into 2D Hanna Barbera terms was just... disappointing. HIVE failed to seem like a viable threat because they're HIVE, and they were just being really childish in their way of trying to lure Deathstroke out-- reverse psychology? Seriously? The fact that there was no real face to the villains made it just seem like they were fodder, and to be fair, yeah, they were.

I enjoyed Scarlet Wing's interaction with the Titans, and even though I didn't read the previous arc, the sharp writing in that early Titans scene brought me straight into the know, so that was cool. Nice to see you have a great handle on the voices of the team, even if you're slowly filling the ranks with Team Titans alumni... I'm on to you, Jay! So whilst I felt disappointed with the opening, the second scene was tight, and I enjoyed reading that.

The one thing, overall, that I felt let down about, is that I've flicked through issues of this title before, and the structure is almost always the exact same. Two scenes of exposition, and then the rest fighting. It's just something I've picked up on and it's getting a bit old when I've read your older stuff and it was much more involved. Obviously I've not read the past few issues, so I might be mistaken, but it's one of those writer tics of yours that I've picked up on.

So, great characterisation in this issue, great use of individual voices, but the threat didn't feel like a threat, and Deathstroke, to me, felt like he should have laughed maniacally after declaring his hatred of the Titans one... more... time...

[arcalian]

I really don't know what you mean, Charlie, as this is the most badass I've ever written Deathstroke. He was cool, calculating, and analytical, and methodically mowed down the HIVE until the cliffhanger, while at the same time showing that the HIVE have grown stronger and smarter. As for formula, well, every writer has one, yourself included. Hopefully you'll see that Deathstroke is on form as the story goes on.

I will say that this is a BIG story for Deathstroke and HIVE alike, and the last time I will do either for a while.

[HoM]

Dec 27, 2009 22:29:55 GMT -5 arcalian said:

I really don't know what you mean, Charlie, as this is the most badass I've ever written Deathstroke. He was cool, calculating, and analytical, and methodically mowed down the HIVE until the cliffhanger, while at the same time showing that the HIVE have grown stronger and smarter. As for formula, well, every writer has one, yourself included. Hopefully you'll see that Deathstroke is on form as the story goes on.

Yeah, I'm well aware that my creative tics, it's very hard to escape them after all! But as a reader coming into this issue, Deathstroke's motivation was very flimsy, and HIVE acted like cocky fodder. This is the impression I got as the reader. I know your intentions, but I don't think they came across as much as you wanted them to. Still, a strong issue and your guiding of the Titans on a monthly basis is second-to-none (and I won't even go near the regular DCU title, and I'm the one that loves and respects Didio ;D ).

[arcalian]

Well, Deathstroke's motivation is as it was in "official" DC before the end of Judas Contract; as here he has neither Terra's attempt to kill him, nor is he aware of Jericho's involvement, to cause him to view the Titans as anything other than a threat to be eliminated. Of course, he does not want revenge for Grant, either, as that didn't happen in this continuity; for him this is strictly a matter of not leaving a job unfinished. Does this make him like his cartoon counterpart? I would say no; he is neither out to take over the world nor after the Titans simply for the sake of so doing. It is my hope that by the end of the story, between his interactions with the HIVE and the Titans, things will become clear to you.

You are, of course, free to dislike the story even then; the number of times I've disliked a story myself whilst understanding it's structure are legion. It was rather the nature of your criticism that troubled me.