DC Universe

A relative newcomer to the DC Universe, J.T. Krul steps right into one of the most challenged brands in the DC Universe and delivers a great read. Of course that great read is a direct tie-in to the well-orchestrated "Blackest Night" event currently highlighting DC's summer release lists. After writing one issue of Titans (the varsity squad book) Krul jumps in with both feet for the "Blackest Night: Titans" series. If you don't know the basic premise of "Blackest Night" yet, it's this: the dead shall rise. What franchise has more dead characters than the Titans? No one. Therefore, this series -– limited to three issues -- is going to be challenged by the sheer numbers of once-dead-but-revived-as-evil Titans, or so I thought.

Krul gives us just enough to really get involved in the story this issue. Hank Hall shows up as a Black Lantern Hawk and he's none too keen that there's a new bird in town. Terra comes to collect Gar's heart –- literally. Lilith makes an appearance, and Donna Troy's family is primed to show up next issue. The living characters are well-written and Krul finds the voices for the characters rather quickly, giving us one of the best "Hawk & Dove" stories since the double-Kesel-penned adventures of the late 1980s/early 1990s. As a matter of fact, this story has me wondering if Kestrel is around somewhere in this "Blackest Night."

Read the full review of BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS #1!