REVIEW: Titans United: Bloodpact #6
Titans United: Bloodpact may not have had the Conner Kent exposure we were hoping for, but each issue was still thoroughly enjoyable. Even though it concludes like one would expect a story like this should, this issue still delivers a few more twists and surprises before the final page.
Titans United: Bloodpact #6, “Final Reckoning” is upon us and wraps up this alternate reality miniseries. The series may not have had the Conner Kent exposure we were hoping for, but each issue was still thoroughly enjoyable. Even though it concludes like one would expect a story like this should, this issue still delivers a few more twists and surprises before the final page.
Let’s go ahead and take a look at this issue’s great covers. Eddy Barrows and Marcelo Maiolo’s standard cover is a hopeful team shot. The Titans heroically fly overhead as we look up on a bright sunny day. Bathing the cityscape in hues of yellow really allows the costumes of the Titans stick out. Even Donna and Raven’s all black attire seems to shine a bit brighter than usual. This book definitely pulls on the ties that bind these heroes together and this cover is a nice reflection of that.
The variant by Leirix pays tribute to Derrick Chew’s work on previous covers. Using Chew’s designs, Leirix does their own take on the three Titans women in action. The anime inspired look suits the Titans well and the flashy colorful background makes the whole thing just pop.
Derrick Chew’s variant features the last two remaining Titans to yet get their own cover. With it only being a six-issue miniseries and this particular roster of Titans equal seven, it’s simple math two would have to share Chew’s spotlight. Conner and Gar make an explosive entrance, ready for action. These two probably got the least play within the series so it’s nice to have them depicted in such a dramatic way for this cover.
The interior art is by Lucus Meyer with colorist Tony Avina. Their work sets the eerie mood of this alternate reality perfectly. The way Avina washes a scene with a particular light source adds a horror movie feel to the book. There’s a real sense of uncertainty and uneasiness that elevates the suspense of this climatic issue. Although these types of stories tend to end with everything back-to-normal, this art team goes far to have you question that outcome.
Writer Cavan Scott, lettered by Carlos M. Mangual, doesn’t cheapen the ending to Titans United: Bloodpact #6. As the team goes on the run from their botched attempt to rescue Raven from the clutches of Brother Blood and Mother Mayhem. Beast Boy arrives with a plan to help them try again. Memories and loyalties still a bit unstable, they find themselves betrayed and captured by one of their own.
Facing off in a stale mate with Blood, Mayhem, and the Dark Daughter version of Raven, an unexpected ally emerges and reveals the true nature of the spell cast in issue #1. The ending is to be expected, but the story itself had some fun and surprising moments. The only critique is we never get an explanation as to why Tim started out remembering his true reality. That being said, this was a blast to read and I’ll be keeping an eye out for future works by Cavan Scott.
