Teen Titans #4

By Will Pfeifer, Kennteh Rocafort and Dan Brown

It’s been hard to get a consistently good Teen Titans series. Ever since Geoff Johns left the 2003 team, the book has had trouble juggling team members and sales. The New 52 version suffered from much of the same and was met with a lot of criticism as well. The book has since been re-launched with Will Pfeifer at the helm and has been a breath of fresh air for a struggling team.

It’s nice when writers utilize characters right. In Teen Titans #4 Will Pfeifer allows Red Robin to use his brain as he takes on Algorithm. Outsmarting a human and robot hybrid is not easy, but Pfeifer shows us why Red Robin is the most dangerous member on the team. It’s not just his fight with Algorithm that shows Red Robin at his best, but his meeting with Manchester Black also showcases his talents. If there was a flaw with the issue it’s that the rest of the Titans weren’t needed in the issue. While they were in it, they felt forced and unnecessary.

The art this issue is handled by Kenneth Rocafort with colors by Dan Brown, Blond and Hi-Fi. Rocafort has a great deal of experience drawing these characters and it clearly shows. This is a Red Robin centric issue and Rocafort draws him wonderfully. Even a more difficult character to draw like Algorithm is handled well. There is a level of detail that Kenneth Rocafort puts forth on every panel that just grabs the reader and sucks them in. Whether it’s the soles on Red Robin’s shoes or the wires connecting to Algorithm’s jaw, Rocafort does a great job.

This has been the most exciting version of the Teen Titans in quite a while and all praise should go to the writer and artist. Pfeifer and Rocafort really are turning in excellent work in this series and it’s only four issues in (five if you count the Futures End issue). If you’re looking to read a good teen book, Teen Titans is worth a try.