Teen Titans #96

Writer: J.T. Krul
Penciller: Jose Luis

Inker: Sandro Ribeiro & Jonad Trindade

Colorist: Jason Wright

Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual

Cover Art: Scott & Hazlewood with Wright

Assistant Editor: Ricky Purdin

Editor: Rachel Gluckstern

Beast of Legend

While overall a straight forward slugfest the issue shines a spotlight on an underrated character as Beast Boy takes center stage against demon king Rankor and his hoarde of demons.    Beast Boy demonstrates a level of power never before hinted at and manages to go to toe with a demon king and hold his own.

Beast Boy has help from newbie Solstice, whom Raven gets a bad reaction from, and manages to free his friends.  Solstice realizes it is her destiny to face Rankor the demon king.  I couldn't help but think of Return of the Jedi every time I read that name.

The issue leads up to the climactic battle between Solstice and Rankor and leaves us waiting to see who wins.

Overall it was an entertaining read and I really enjoyed seeing Beast Boy shine.  He has been an underrated character for a long time and its good to see him use his potential.  I'm looking forward to next issue.

Batgirl #22

Writer: Brian Q. Miller

Penciller: Pere Perez

Inker: Pere Perez

Colorist: Guy Major

Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual

Cover Art: Dustin Nguyen

Assistant Editor: Katie Kubert

Editor: Janelle Asselin

Five Minutes Fast

From an artistic standpoint I love the bookends made by the first and last pages of the story.

As Stephanie is sent abroad on a mission from Batman under an alias she encounters Beryl Hutchinson, better known as Squire.  The interplay between the two of them is great.  Stephanie is trying to be serious and focused and taking her mission from Batman very seriously, while squire prefers to hide in plain sight and not be so stuffy.

When innocents are threatened its time for Batgirl and Squire to save the day, and ultimately the world.  The Orphan, a villain of Knight and Squire's (who is a bad walking Charles Dickins joke) has opened a rift in time with the Greenwich Mean (its a thing apparently).  Orphan stops time in an attempt to kill Knight. Batgirl and Squire save the innocents, who were left with bombs strapped to them that only the pausing of time was preventing from blowing them to tiny bits.  They went on to defeat the bad guy and save Knight, and the world by closing the time rift and sealing the Greenwich Mean.

The girls share a bonding moment and its nice to see Stephanie enjoy herself after all the crap she's had to go through.  But then its back to business as Batman shows up to lead us to the crossover in Batman Incorporated #9.