Teen Titans #26

Soul Searching

Written by Geoff Johns
Pencilled by Tony S. Daniel
Inks Marlo Alquiza
Colors Jeromy Cox
Letters Comicraft
Assistant Editor Jeanine Schaefer
Editor Eddie Berganza

Our cover is by the new penciller of the series, Tony S. Daniel. On a whole, I'd say Daniel is superior to Mike McKone. But I know realize that a large part of my problems with McKone's art can be attributed to Marlo Alquiza's inks. I've seen Daniel's work with different inkers, and it usually looks better than this. Anyway, this cover is pretty straightforward, showing us that Raven is going to help Superboy recover and confront all his previous versions.

Our story begins one month after Superboy was brainwashed. Conner's hair has mostly grown back, and he's taking a peaceful stroll through the Kents' cornfield. But he's still haunted by the images of him attacking Tim and Cassie. This brings back his worries about being a clone and not having a soul, and once the Kents leave to go shopping, Conner slumps down on the front porch and wonders aloud why he exists. Raven suddenly shows up, apologizes to Conner, and engulfs him in her darkness.

Conner then begins bouncing around through a series of visions. First up is Lex Luthor programming Superboy, while he's still in the tube at Cadmus. Next is Batman and Superman in the Batcave, arguing about how dangerous Superboy is. When Conner tries to talk to them, he's confronted by his future self, who says that he'll be proud to be a Luthor. This vision shatters away to show the brainwashed Superboy attacking Wonder Girl. Conner tries to stop his past self, but he's punched into Titans Tower and met by the lifeless forms of his teammates.

Conner is most worried about Tim. But his grieving is interrupted by his bald self attacking him again. Conner eventually defeats this version of himself, shouting, "I'm not a monster!" Everything fades away after this, and Raven talks to him directly. She says that when Conner asked if he had a soul, she didn't answer because she couldn't see it — it was buried so deep. But when Conner broke free from Luthor, his soul rose to the top. Raven says Conner made his own soul — it wasn't created by scientists or doctors.

Raven tells Conner that she's sorry he has the same feelings of being cursed that she has. But Conner is more worried about how his teammates are doing right now. Raven tells him Robin's arm is nearly healed now, and Cyborg has been repaired. Conner asks how Cassie is doing, but that's a bit more complicated. Raven assures Conner no one blames him for what he did, and Cassie's feelings for him haven't changed. She urges him to rejoin the Titans and allow the whole team to help him get through this, but Conner says he's not ready to come back yet. Raven accepts this answer, hands Conner a Titans communicator and delivers a message from Bart: "You'll always be a Titan."

Elsewhere, in a land of smoke and carnage, Brother Blood feels the mystic realms being threatened and the barrier back to the real world weakening. He still believes Raven will love him and the world will be unified in the faith of Trigon. So he begins making preparations with his new mother.



It was necessary to have an introspective issue after that crossover. And Raven definitely is the right person for this kind of assignment (even if I still don't fully understand the extent of her powers). I like the idea that Superboy has a soul because he chooses to have one, because he has fought to have one. And it is also refreshing and realistic to have him still need some more time to process all this. Sadly, this issue does reinforce the fact that Conner's best friends are now Cassie and Tim. Bart has been relegated to a mere afterthought.

I am excited to see what Tony S. Daniel does with this title. But I'm not too excited for the return of Brother Blood. He's just too abstract for me. I mean, we don't even know where he is right now. It's just "Elsewhere." Oh well. At least he doesn't have that stupid skull thing on his head anymore.

Next time, we're going to take a look at the long, convoluted process of resurrecting Donna Troy.