So anyone who has been reading either of these titles for more than three years knows that these titles have both fallen on hard times. Like the economy they keep on dropping further instead of entering into some form of recovery. What could happen to two titles that started out so strong upon their relaunches? How do you go about fixing whats wrong? Here are my ideas.


1. Bring Back Top Talent

First things first and that is putting creative teams on these titles that are A-List and nothing less. When these titles originally relaunched this is exactly what they had. Geoff Johns on Teen Titans and Brad Meltzer on JLA drove those titles. Letting untested writers and artists or even a team that is simply ok is not enough. These are two of DC's premier titles/teams they should be treated with caviar and champagne.
Having said this DC may be fixing this problem on at least one of the titles. Rumors are that JLA may be gaining the creative team of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. This would be an amazing team and would surely post this title at the top of the charts.

2. Bring Back The Big Boys and Girls

Alright so sometimes having a few off beat second or even third tier characters on one of these titles works. Having a character on the team who may not be a regular top notch player can help to give the reader an in to the team that they can relate to someone a little more normal like them. Filling the team with characters like this is a huge mistake.
Unfortunately, filling a team with second and third tier characters appears to be DC's plan of action with these titles. On look at the cover of Teen Titans #69 proves my point. While there are some interesting characters on there the majority are near unknowns to the uninitiated. This should not happen. This team should have all the best sidekicks or underage heroes as well as classic Teen Titans members.

3. Slim Down The Line

This last one helps Teen Titans more but it could also be beneficial to JLA. I would say it's time to let the Titans title go. It has been terrible lately and when it comes to importance Teen Titans should be far more important. So cut it loose and let the members disperse to other things.

If Your So Smart You Build a Team!

I will! So this is just for fun but this is how I would personally fix the two problems i've listed.

Teen Titans
Written By - Marv Wolfman
Penciled By - Mark Bagley
Cast- Cyborg(Leader), Starfire, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Blue Beetle, Miss Martian, Ravager and Firestorm.
This would give you an A-List writer/artist team and a cast that contains classic members as well as modern favorites. It would also add a new element in Firestorm. This team could change to include other members as the status of the DC universe shifts more. Eventually you could bring in the new Robin for instance.

JLA
Written By - Geoff Johns
Penciled By -Jim Lee
Cast - Wonder Woman (Leader), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Hawkman, Flash (Barry Allen), Black Canary, Green Arrow and Supergirl.
This would fix the creative team issue without doubt. This team is also based on the status of the DCU so the omission of Batman(Dead) and Superman(Off world) are due to those stories. Once these stories resolve themselves I would place these characters back on the teams. Bringing in Superman to replace Supergirl and eventually Batman, whether it be the new one or Bruce, would solidify this roster as the heavy hitters of the DCU again.


So this is what I would do to fix these things. I am but a lonely fanboy/blogger though so what do I know? Anyone like what I have here or have arguments? Please feel free to rant. Check ya later Inmates.

Here are my favorite covers from this week. I have picked them based upon a few factors. Each factor is worth 5 points and the points are totaled to give the cover a rating. Those factors are:

• Style - Is it unique and something new or just classic and clean.
• Pop - How much does it pop out to the readers eyes when it's sitting on the shelf.
• Relevance - How relevant is the cover to what is actually happening inside the book.
• Iconic Value - Is this a cover that will stand out over the course of time or is it neat but nothing legendary.

Without further ado here we go:

4. Messiah War One-Shot (Kaare Andrews)

• Style - The style fits the direness of the title very well. It is very dark and decrepit. The look of Archangel in the background is a very haunting image and works well as a focal point for the eye in the background. 4/5
• Pop - Almost everything that helps this title in the style category hurts it here in the pop category. It does have some great A-List characters from the x-books here which will draw some readers to look at it. The dark drab colors though doesn't really make it immediately appealing. 2/5
• Relevance - It has a majority of the characters from this arc in what appears to be a wasteland much like the future that appears under the cover. This is about where it ends. 2/5
• Iconic Value - It is a great visual piece of art. Very dark and brooding and it sets a great tone for this story arc. It has some great characters in a great pose looking half dead. Iconic? Wouldn't go that far. I would say it will probably be one of the more memorable covers from this crossover though. 3/5
• SPRI Total 11/20

3. Amazing Spider-Man #589 (Chirs Eliopolous, Klaus Janson and Dean White)

• Style - This cover takes a chance and I dig it. While there isn't much art it has flavor nonetheless. The large font with Spidey's hand coming out of it is really a neat idea. It stands out from its peers on the shelves. Name one other book that looks anything like this. No matter whether you think that's a good thing or a bad thing. It still has a style of it's own. 3/5
• Pop - Again because of its uniqueness it pop quite a bit. Enough to get you to buy it? Not so sure. But pop it has in spades. If you walk by it you are sure to take a few seconds to let your peepers take a look at it. 4/5
• Relevance - Well i'll be damned if the Spot doesn't return here so i'd say the relevance is through the roof. 5/5
• Iconic Value - It isn't iconic as much as it has a real retro unique feel to it. I can't get give it a ton of marks here but it definitely deserves some credit for trying. 2/5
• SPRI Total 14/20

Justice League of America # 31 (Ed Benes and Brian Miller)

• Style - Pretty cool cover with the big three walking away. Really dig the torn JLA flag billowing over their heads. Always enjoy when a logo can be incorporated into a cover as more than just a static logo stamped at the top. Definitely seems to show the end of an era here. 3/5
• Pop - Anytime you have the big three on a cover there is immediate pop. The fact that things look so bleak yet you have a little sun coming up only adds more pop. The JLA flag up top is a really nice touch that adds a little more flair to it as well. 4/5
• Relevance - All three of these characters are now out of the title as the cover implies. The cover does a great job of implying the end of an era and on the inside this is exactly what is going on. 4/5
• Iconic Value - For this era of JLA this is a very iconic and well done cover. While we all know that these three will be back at some point right now they are out. Since this title was relaunched it has been an uber power team but this looks to be shifting. So i'd say for the era that is now passing this is iconic as it marks the end. 4/5
• SPRI Total 15/20

Daredevil #117 (Marko Djurdjevic)

• Style - Love the look of this cover. DD and Kingpin meeting in a graveyard and shaking hands. Great stuff. Scream deal with the devil. Which is the devil though? Very Faustian. The light coming in from the background really brings the dark nature of the foreground into focus and gives it that highlighted effect as your eyes are drawn right there. 3/5
• Pop - DD and Kingpin shaking hands in a graveyard is great. The light surrounding them brings your eyes onto them immediately and makes you think, "Now why the hell would these two be shaking hands?!". I know it did for me. I then popped the sucker open and consumed it with my eyes. 4/5
• Relevance - This scene is in there. It happens at the end as it should too. The cover makes you want to see it and they make you wait till the end to see it. Oh and it's worth it. 5/5
• Iconic Value - DD and Kingpin shaking hands. Mortal enemies seemingly making a gentleman's agreement. It is beautifully rendered. I think it will be remembered for awhile. 4/5
• SPRI Total 16/20
  

Let me know what you think Inmates and tune in next week as we start on April! Just as a refresher the final three nominees for Cover of March are Action Comics #875 by Andrew Robinson, X-Force #13 by Clayton Crain and Daredevil #117 by Marko Djurdjevic.

So here are the books on my to get list this week. Some will end up in my pull box while some from previous weeks will probably come out of the box but this is my list of what I feel is worth picking up from this weeks releases.

Coming Home No Questions Asked:

Justice League of America #31 - Probably my last for this title for a bit though. Seems like the big three will be leaving the team and a few of the Milestone characters will be coming over which I could care less about. Unless this issue is absolutely killer that will be the end for this one. It's the only reason it comes home this week.

Amazing Spider-Man #589 - Digging the new Spider-Man stuff still. Not sure why MJ couldn't have been left as his wife but still loving the stories.

Captain America #48 - So far the weakest arc of Brubaker's run but still good stuff. This is consistently one of my favorite titles. Love me some Bucky Cap.

Immortal Iron Fist #24 - Another Iron Fist already? Awesome! This one always come home when it releases. Great title that is well worth the money.

Mighty Avengers #23 - This one is like JLA not really digging it and may be the last one unless this issue proves me wrong and hooks me. Coming home tomorrow just to find out.

Ms. Marvel #37 - Love the title. Brian Reed usually never disappoints. Interested having said that to see how this title is with a new lady in the Ms. Marvel uniform.

New Avengers #51 - Can't wait to see who the new Sorcerer Supreme is! This is a consistently out of this park hit with me. No complaints at all.

Skaar: Son of Hulk #9 - Great title that keeps me coming back. Love the art especially. The muted colors and the perfect fantasy vibe with a hulk is a great mix. Feel like Planet Hulk never ended when I read this.

Messiah War Prologue: Can't wait for this one! Loved Messiah Complex and this is the second part of the Messiah trilogy. Hopefully we will see some real progress with the stories of Cable, Hope and especially Bishop.

X-Infernus #4 - This has been a fun mini and I am interested to see how they close this one out. Hoping for no casualties from the New X-Men class.

X-Men: Kingbreaker #4 - Going to miss this one. The art has been fantastic. The writing has been great. I really love the X-Men infused Starjammers and hope they stick around in some capacity.

X-Men: Sword of Braddocks - As has been pointed out in a previous post I am looking forward to this. I am a fan of Psylocke and can't wait till she comes back to the 616 proper. While I love Claremont I am excited this is his last story with her for awhile.

X-Men: Bishop Mini #2 - Enjoying seeing the future from Bishop's POV. Interested to see what has brought him to the point we are at in the Messiah trilogy. Bishop is one of my favorite X-Men so I hope he comes out better than he is going into this one. I wanna be able to break out the Bishop Was Right shirts.

Going in The Box:

Wonder Woman #30 - Gotta get the last one from the box before I get this one. Another title I will probably be dropping. Just waiting till the end of this long arc. The whole Genocide thing has been just plain flat for me.

Umbrella Academy #5 - Gotta get the previous one from the box. This is a fun title it just unfortunately gets shifted to the box because of all the other things out this week.

Fantastic Four #585 - Just waiting for the new team to come on board. Not my favorite run on this title.

Guardians of the Galaxy #12 - Another one I enjoy but gets shifted to the box because of all the other stuff out this box or that is currently in my box that needs to come out.

Nova #23 - Good title but gotta get the last one from my box. Wish it didn't have to go in but a big week means sacrifices.

Thunderbolts #130 - Gotta get the last one from my box. Fun title though. Love G.I. Ant-Man sleaze bag.

Not Sure Whether to Get or Not:

Dark Reign: Elektra #1 - Art looks cool. Character is fun. Just not sure if it is going to be worth the $3.99 price of admission. Better be something real spectacular.


So as anyone who comes to this blog can tell I am an X-Men fan. So a lot of X-Men this week. Also the trend continues with less and less DC titles every week. It is a real shame as I was on a huge DC kick after Infinite Crisis and 52. Looking forward to reading this weeks titles.