The BBxRae Shrine
Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The BBxRae Shrine: Forums. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Teen Titans #80; February 2010
Topic Started: Nov 15 2009, 03:00 PM (1,465 Views)
KingoftheBeasts
Member Avatar
Lieutenant Commander
Quote:
 
I don't know about anyone else, but it doesn't feel like Gar is being a buffoon or anything here; maybe this is just me, but it feels like everyone is being a complete and utter ass to him for next to no reason.
I agree with you here. Aside for the first part with the cop, Gar hasn't been been acting like an idiot or anything. More accurately, he's been acting terribly depressed and down on himself (which is actually in character for him, given the fact that everyone he believes in and turns to for confidence is shooting him down)

I don't think this was caused by an editorial typo or any level of miscommunocation.

I think what happened here is that when Felicia signed on to do the book, she wanted to write Wondergirl as the leader. Then the Upper-ups came down and told her that the Titans' book had dessolved and the best place for Beast Boy was to be leader of the Teen Titans. Felicia reluctantly agreed, but constantly voiced her disscontent. During the BN tie-in, she brought up her argument again and the compromise was made that BB would remian on the team, but Wondergirl would resume leadership.

So to do this and have it make sense, they had to perform some character destruction on Gar so he wouldn't seem out of place taking orders from Cass...

Either that or Felicia wasn't happy with merely demoting Gar and she wants him off the team completely. If which were the case the best way to get this done would be to make the character something that no one wants to see until she gets the approval to write him out.

I just can't imagine that she wanted to write for Gar at all if this is what she's reduced him to. I mean if a writer wants to write a character in a "loser" position, they still give them saving graces to show that they actually care for the sucker. Like how Geoff treated Eddie. Even Judd gave Gar some depth and truth to what he had become, even if he was a bit snarky at times...

By the way, I'd like to make it know that I hope I'm wrong about all of this. I hope Felicia actually does want to do good by BB and is just doing a bad job at accomplishing it.

Also, to those who have read the issue: What about Raven? Did she remain almost non-existant as we've seen her?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Plissken
Member Avatar
Knight Champion
dl316bh
Feb 25 2010, 05:56 PM
Not... really. Let's be honest with ourselves. The character issues were filler designed to kill time. It's completely obvious they didn't know what to do with any of the characters and put those there to kill time while they figured out what they were going to do with the title. Which eventually turned out to be "send three to the Justice League, send two to the Teen team and change direction with it".

While that applies to the issues individually--and that's not entirely true since those story threads have been continuing--the connecting thread through all of them was Gar.

He is featured in each of them and there's a story sub plot about him going to take control of the Teen Titans to prove himself to the others. In Kory's issue, we seem him busily researching the Teen Titans. In Titans #16 we get his impressions that he feels he needs to do something important, as well as Vic's assurance of confidence in his abilities, as well his plan to get Gar to take charge. In Titans #17, we have his issue where he comes to the decision to take charge of his life and lead the Titans. In Titans #18, we have him packing off to go, inviting Raven to join them.

Where it falls apart is after that.

So yeah, they were filler, in the sense that they weren't contributing to a series arc and were more like individual portfolio issues; but through them was the story thread that Gar was off to lead the Titans.

So, no, I don't buy that there was miscommunication of the story arc across several writers and issues. The problem occurs when the story picks up and continues in Teen Titans. The plan was there, and it either changed when Felicia took over, or else it was delayed or dropped.

Now, I say delayed because they do keep pushing the sub plot of Gar struggling, and as was mentioned it almost seems more like everyone else is treating him like **** rather than him doing anything wrong. Though even if that's the case, I still find his behavior to be a little pathetic.

So there's still that chance that SOMETHING is in the works. Maybe next issue we'll know more. But it needs to turn around soon, because the book is simply bleeding numbers. I'm entirely certain the only ones reading it now are the die-hard fans, and even they are falling away.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
KingoftheBeasts
Member Avatar
Lieutenant Commander
I was just looking over the scans again and was wondering if anyone else felt that BB looks like a green Shaggy from Scooby Doo?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
dl316bh
Member Avatar

Honorary Members
KingoftheBeasts
Feb 25 2010, 08:20 PM
I was just looking over the scans again and was wondering if anyone else felt that BB looks like a green Shaggy from Scooby Doo?

I didn't notice. When it comes to the art, I generally only notice the fact that it looks like ass. Not all the time, mind you, but some of the art is just awful.

Quote:
 
Though even if that's the case, I still find his behavior to be a little pathetic.

I don't really think he's being pathetic. As mentioned in previous issues, it feels like he's being railroaded. He was smacked down by hypocrite Cassie in the first two issues, basically told she was leading and to get in line, told how to act as a Titan by Cassie of all people, told off by Vic when he goes to ask for assistance with finding Static and then told to go rest at a hotel while the others search for Static. He's being extended no olive branch and most of the Titans are just treating him like ****. Frankly, he's handling it better than one might expect; the fact that he hasn't gotten outright pissed and told everyone off for treating him like a damn outsider is amazing.
Posted Image

Posted Image

Damiens Omens: My review blog
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
KingoftheBeasts
Member Avatar
Lieutenant Commander
I see a small ray of hope in all this. It all rests in Gar's being told to stay at the hotel. Cassie is tired of dealing with him and is sending him away. This could all lead to her failing on her own and BB having to ignore her wishes and come about to save the day. Thus proving that he has something to offer in the realm of leadership and judgement. It's all a long shot, but this whole thing could be a plot device to assert some form of advisory between Cassie and Garfield.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Changeling
Member Avatar

Moderators
Oh, Gar...

I really feel like hugging him. Seriously, what is everybody's problem?
To walk with Him is to walk in light. The Lord is my light and my salvation--who shall I fear? ~Psalm 27:1

GOD'S NOT DEAD
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
craZy
Member Avatar
Graphics Artist
Admin
KotB
 
Also, to those who have read the issue: What about Raven? Did she remain almost non-existant as we've seen her?


Yeah, kind of. Only 2 or 3 lines, nothing significant.

Man with all this, I really just wanna hear from Felicia herself on this matter. Does she have a blog or anything like that through which we can drop some feedback for her?

DL
 
I don't know about anyone else, but it doesn't feel like Gar is being a buffoon or anything here; maybe this is just me, but it feels like everyone is being a complete and utter ass to him for next to no reason.


Everyone is being an ass towards him. While I definitley don't think he's acting like baffoon, I would like to start seeing him do...something. Like KingoftheBeasts said, it does seem like he's terribly depressed but that ain't anything nice to see either. So while I agree with you on that, I slightly agree with Plissken as well in regards to his behavior seeming pathetic.

KotB
 
I see a small ray of hope in all this. It all rests in Gar's being told to stay at the hotel. Cassie is tired of dealing with him and is sending him away. This could all lead to her failing on her own and BB having to ignore her wishes and come about to save the day. Thus proving that he has something to offer in the realm of leadership and judgement. It's all a long shot, but this whole thing could be a plot device to assert some form of advisory between Cassie and Garfield.

That is definitley a possibilty for at the end of the issue the girls and Static didn't look like they were doing too good against Holocaust.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Plissken
Member Avatar
Knight Champion
craZy18gurl
Feb 26 2010, 02:56 AM
DL
 
I don't know about anyone else, but it doesn't feel like Gar is being a buffoon or anything here; maybe this is just me, but it feels like everyone is being a complete and utter ass to him for next to no reason.


Everyone is being an ass towards him. While I definitley don't think he's acting like baffoon, I would like to start seeing him do...something. Like KingoftheBeasts said, it does seem like he's terribly depressed but that ain't anything nice to see either. So while I agree with you on that, I slightly agree with Plissken as well in regards to his behavior seeming pathetic.

Well that's more what I mean. Its not that he's acting terribly per se--its that he isn't being proactive at all and is sort of sitting there taking it with a frown on his face. He doesn't even seem to think anything is up, he just stands around moping.

And its not so much just that, its his somewhat weird attempts at trying to impress Cassie--I just don't feel like he's been acting like a veteran of anything let alone a potential leader for the team--he certainly doesn't seem to have anyone else's confidience. Why would he have to prove anything to Cassie, of all people? That's the one reason I'm too sure yet if this is all set up for Gar to take the reigns of leadership in a bit--he's yet to really show us that he's ready for it. Okay, we Beast Boy fans know better, but picking up this book for the first time since Felicia's first issues doesn't make you feel like Gar is ready to be a leader in anyone's eyes.

Nor should he have to go through this process in the first place--he's already shown before he's capable of it, they don't have to take a leap backwards to reassert that. He could have simply agreed to hold back and give Cassie a chance to prove herself, and not jump in until she needed it; he didn't need to get shot down by someone who is younger and less experienced than him leading a team he was an original member of.

This brings up another little problem--how old is Gar supposed to be again? I mean, we've been struggling with this since Winnick took over. Before that, Gar was being depicted as in his early 20's. Since then, we don't seem to know what age he's meant to be anymore. The way he's acting right now feels less like a young adult and more like an teenager like the rest of YJ crew. So its hard to pinpoint what age range he is, and the art doesn't help us any either.




EDIT: Something else I'd like to mention--I really wish he'd interact with Raven. I don't even mean that as a shipper, but if there's anyone on the team right now who can back Gar up or at least be friendly towards him, its Raven. They just came from the same team, they were both leading the Titans at one point during the OYL, they're long-time friends and colleagues, and she is an empath. I would take even a side comment like "Are you alright, Garfield?"

Especially since bad things are supposed to be coming for Raven, I'd like to see them interact some more before things start to hit the fan.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
KingoftheBeasts
Member Avatar
Lieutenant Commander
Quote:
 
Well that's more what I mean. Its not that he's acting terribly per se--its that he isn't being proactive at all and is sort of sitting there taking it with a frown on his face. He doesn't even seem to think anything is up, he just stands around moping.


I actually have to argue that this is, to a degree, in character for Gar. Although he has grown in leaps and bounds over the years, one quality he has never gotten rid of was his low self image. He can stride on very well, but one negative comment from a person whom he respects takes root far deeper than it is meant to. He doesn't trust in himself enough to take these comments in stride.

Commpound this with his superman complex (the expectation of perfection from one's self even when you wouldn't expect anyone else to live up to such perfection) This is evident as whenever some one makes some mistake, he is the first to reassure them that it is no big deal and only human. However, if he made the same mistake he wouldn't forgive himself.

Now, niether of these prevent him from being a good leader. If anything, it would keep him striving to best serve the team. the only problem is that it is detrimental to his emotional strength. That's why the dynamic with him and Raven worked so well. He held the team together and she held him together.

Then again, this whole story line could be designed to push Gar beyond this lack in confidence. I doubt he will ever be without some doubt of his actions, but this crisis may force him to believe in himself enough to take action even when he thinks no one else believes in him.

You know, the more and more I think about where this story "could" be going, the more hopeful I am.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
dl316bh
Member Avatar

Honorary Members
KingoftheBeasts
Feb 26 2010, 06:14 PM
You know, the more and more I think about where this story "could" be going, the more hopeful I am.

I'm still way on the fence. Even if that's where this is going - and keep in mind, this could very well be where it's going and I even theorized Gar would prove himself to the others back when #75 and 76 came out - it will sting less, but won't erase that some of the characters are just ringing false. Blue Beetle has suffered in earlier issues and Vics response in those panels there does not sit well with me at all. He's Gar's best friend; of anybody he's the last that I imagine would talk to Gar like that.

Felicia's newness to comics is unbelievably evident. Perhaps she'll straighten things out over time. But I'm not overly confident; Titans editorial don't seem to be doing a damn thing anymore, so how is she ever supposed to learn? She was basically dropped on the title without any real experience.
Posted Image

Posted Image

Damiens Omens: My review blog
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Fully Featured & Customizable Free Forums
« Previous Topic · Teen Titans · Next Topic »
Add Reply