REVIEW: Titans United: Bloodpact #5
There’s one more issue left and there’s no telling how the outcome will turn out. It’s really exciting to read something that feels familiar and have no idea what to expect next.
Titans United: Bloodpact #5 “Sacrifice” has arrived and continues to impress. The way this story takes seemingly predictable situations and uses them to do something completely unexpected makes for a very compelling read.
The covers this issue are also impressive, so let’s take a look at them first. The standard cover by Eddy Barrows and Marcelo Maiolo, entitled “Superboy Unchained”, is a take on Conner breaking the chains that bound him. With clenched fists and red in his eyes, Conner looks ready to deliver some punishment on those that captured him. The red toned pallet also adds to the menacing nature of Superboy’s intentions. The breaking of chains by an El is a classic image and an appropriate way to bring Conner into this story.
Robin gets the Derrick Chew variant treatment this issue. A smiling Tim swings in with that jovial Robin demeanor. The realistic nature of the cover coupled with Chew’s manga stylised work makes for a gorgeous work of art. The bats in the background also add a nice subtle atmospheric element that simply elevates the piece.
The variant by Travis Mercer and Andrew Dalhouse is Nightwing and Robin centric. Done in a more classic comic style, Dick and Tim are jumping off rooftops with Titans Tower in the background. The low positioning of the Sun in the sky leaves it to viewer interpretation weather it’s sunrise or sunset and a believable argument could be made for either.
Artist Lucas Meyer, with colorist Tony Avina, handle the interiors and keeps the action flowing. There’s a few scenes that feel like they’re in motion and it’s easy to read this issue too fast based on their panel pacing. That being said, it’s well worth it to slow down and enjoy everything Meyer and Avina offer as it’s just incredibly well done. Their page two work is unquestionably a tribute to Neal Adams and invokes all the same emotions as his classic Superman #233 cover does.
Cavan Scott, lettered by Carlos M. Mangual, keeps throwing twists and turns in this series that really keep you guessing. The same is true for Titans United: Bloodpact #5. Picking off where last issue’s cliffhanger left off. we discover Superboy doesn’t yet remember his former reality. We also get to see Beast Boy ended up as Raven’s personal bodyguard and that things aren’t what we’ve been led to believe concerning Raven. Conner and Tim get to team-up a bit which is always a treat.
Although they still manage to gain Conner as an ally, there’s a terrible turn of events that may have cost them the life of another one. There’s one more issue left and there’s no telling how the outcome will turn out. It’s really exciting to read something that feels familiar and have no idea what to expect next.
