The mystery of Red X has been the central plot point of DC Comics‘ latest limited series, Teen Titans Academy. The origin of the Red X identity goes back to 2003’s Teen Titans animated series when Robin created the deep-cover alias to take down Deathstroke. His plans, however, failed and he hung up the dark persona for good. Sometime later, a doppelganger started masquerading as Red X, but their identity was never revealed. The previous issue of Teen Titans Academy dealt with the destruction of the Titans Tower brought on by Red X and Dane, the mortal vessel of the demon Nevermore. The latest issue, Teen Titans Academy #12, deals with the aftermath of the tower’s destruction.
Teen Titans Academy #12, written by Tim Sheridan with artwork from Tom Derenick and Alex Sinclair, opens with chaotic scenes from the Titans Tower. The Teen Titans headquarters is falling apart thanks to the actions of Red X and Dane. Shazam transports the latter to safety within the Rock of Eternity, while Red X attempts a daring escape. Meanwhile, a frenzied rescue attempt is underway to locate survivors among the ruins. Both students and professors have banded together to use their abilities to help their fellow heroes. Red X’s plan to exploit it as a distraction fails when Nightwing and his pupils catch the masked vigilante. Red X reveals his identity, baffling everyone as a dark figure interrupts their conversation.
Teen Titans Academy #12 has a lot of narrative threads to manage. Writer Tim Sheridan tries to wrap up the plotlines and add more clarity to the story while bringing events to a conclusion. Sheridan, who penned the Shazam miniseries before taking on this title, crafts an interconnected tale based on a grounded world where power holds agency. Despite the hectic pace of storytelling, there is still order in the chaos. The linear narrative punctuated by multiple cutaways not only portrays the recklessness of the situation but also relates the characters as they move through their grief. However, the plot is flimsy at best and the revelation even flimsier than imagined. The issue has a serious undertone, with heated dialogues foreshadowing darker events to come.
The artwork of Teen Titans Academy #12 does exceptionally well to portray a devastating chain of events while giving individual focus to each member of the cast of characters. Artist Tom Derenick of Injustice: Gods Among Us fame is known for illustrating dynamic superhero anatomy. His bold lines give weight to every movement of the Titans’ story. Even so, there is a noticeable lack of depth in the background art which gets highlighted in wide-angle scenes. Colorist Alex Sinclair predominantly uses scarlet shades to reciprocate the look of fire and destruction. Using soft shadows, Sinclair gives the book a somber tone, mimicking the glow of the sun as it sets on the Titans Tower.
Teen Titans Academy #12 finally addresses one of the series’ most well-kept secrets in a tumultuous issue that will undoubtedly usher in some changes to how the Titans operate. Despite foreshadowing and hyping up the Red X event, the final confrontation is anticlimactic and leads to a fatal conclusion. However, it does well in setting up future events across the DC universe and opening up new avenues of storytelling. The fast pacing allows for a range of emotions, with light quips giving the story warmth. Teen Titans Academy #12 may not be groundbreaking in any aspect of storytelling, but it does provide a conclusion for the Titans and their students as they look to rebuild lost trust.
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