Adam Beechen's Summer Preview

SUMMER PREVIEW: HIGH FIVE
We get the summer lowdown on comics' biggest teen hero titles
from wizarduniverse.com
By Kevin Mahadeo - Posted May 22, 2007 3:25 PM

TEEN TITANS
If the Teen Titans have learned anything over the years, it’s to adapt to change.

Straight off the heels of the “East vs. West” storyline where the Titans defeated Deathstroke’s Titans East gang, the teen team ties into the Amazons Attack crossover, where they must choose which side to fight on. And with the Titans having ties to the warrior women through Wonder Girl, you better believe that choice will be more difficult than you think. How big of a part they play is yet to be seen, but writer Adam Beechen (Robin) acknowledges that by the time issue #50 hits stores in August, the team’s lineup will shake up.

“There will be some characters leaving, some characters coming in…and readers might be a little surprised by who leaves and who stays,” notes Beechen. We’ve already seen the most recent Titans graduate, Bart Allen, make an appearance at the end of April’s issue #45, but the question remains as to whether or not the speedster sticks around and for how long.

Hopefully, Bart will stick around long enough to see issue #50, which is set to be a celebration, “as it should be,” says Beechen. The current, tentative plans have the issue taking a look at the young heroes’ past, present and possibly their future. Also, expect seeds of relationships to be sown and reaped.

“These are kids who are spending a lot of time together,” says Beechen. “We’ve already seen some hints of sparks happening between Wonder Girl and Robin, and I think they need to be acknowledged and dealt with. These are kids with hormones—sparks will fly!

ROBIN
It’s been one heck of a “One Year Later” for Batman’s young ward. So far, he’s been accused of murder, had a smackdown with former ally Batgirl and has dealt with gangs like the Lords of the Avenue. And things aren’t going to get any easier in the coming months.

“We’ve got a single-issue story coming up after the Lords of the Avenue arc along the lines of the first date story [in February’s issue #159],” reveals writer Adam Beechen. “We will be bringing back some of the villains from the [former Robin writer] Bill Willingham era who I liked a lot.” Issue #163 in May deals with Tim’s first Father’s Day with Batman since being formally adopted by the billionaire playboy a few months prior. But while Batman makes a few appearances in the upcoming arc later in the year, Robin remains mostly on his own.

“[Batman] does play a role in the storyline that follows,” says Beechen. “Robin does consult with him some, but it’s Robin’s show.”

After that, it’s back to heavy action right after that as Robin deals with villains both old and new. The following arc (which runs from July’s #164 to September’s #166) delves into the disappearance of Dodge—Gotham’s teleporting hero who bamfed off while in a coma—and we will see a new villain named Mr. Baptist vie for a piece of Gotham’s underworld. “And we’re bringing back another villain from the Willingham era named the Tapeworm—a fairly gross bad guy who can pull apart in sections.

“We’re going to be seeing some villainous superpowered faces,” says Beechen. “Which will be a nice change after the gritty down-to-earth storyline of the Lords of the Avenue.”