REVIEW: ‘Teen Titans Academy,’ Issue #11

The senior Titans did everything in their power to avoid a cataclysmic event foreseen by Raven, but they may be too late. With an apocalyptic event on the horizon, the students and faculty at Teen Titans Academy must come together to face their more dire threat yet. Teen Titans Academy #11 is published by DC Comics and written by Tim Sheridan, with art by Rafa Sandoval and Jordi Tarragona, Brent Peeples,  colors by Alex Sinclair, Jeremiah Skipper, and Matt Herms, letters by Rob Leigh, cover by Rafa Sandoval, and Alex Sinclair, and variant cover by Fico Ossio.

This is a magnificent issue of comic book storytelling. The action, drama, and stakes of the story that has been building come to a breathtaking head. Sheridan is able to involve as many of his characters as possible in the story and action, conveying the unity that these characters have built, in spite of all the challenges we’ve seen over the course of the series. You can palpably feel the tension while you read the story, and it makes all the more for an enthralling read.

You feel the stakes, even without having to read the issues leading up to it. Sheridan takes so much care to write all his characters with keen empathy and nuance, instilling a connection for all readers to form with them. It’s not simply that this is yet another apocalyptic event in comic book storytelling, it’s that it directly involves the choices of characters you deeply care about. Characters who make you laugh, cry, and feel connected to. With this issue, Sheridan cements himself as a master comic storyteller.

The art and colors by Sandoval, Tarragona, Peeples, Sinclair, Skipper, and Herms fire on all cylinders throughout. This is one of the best displays of art in a comic series that has consistently great art throughout. There is a consistent sense of motion and action throughout the issue, and the characters are drawn in great detail, with an explosion of rad colors from Sinclair, Skipper, and Herms. The action panels are sweeping and electric, and the more intimate scenes are rife with poignancy from the characters’ faces. The incredible art comes together with the visceral story to make a thrilling masterpiece.

And as always, the perfect cherry on top is Leigh’s lettering. Not only are the dialogue boxes well placed, but the sound effects are the perfect touch to the epic art, and it makes the read all the more engaging.

Teen Titans Academy #11 is an epic superhero story. Sheridan continues to prove himself as a master of his craft by bringing the characters of Teen Titans Academy together in an epic clash that could decide the fate of the world, as the art and colors by Sandoval, Tarragona, Peeples, Sinclair, Skipper, and Herms are remarkable. The lettering by Leigh is the brilliant finishing touch. It looks like the endgame for this arc of Teen Titans Academy is in sight, and I eagerly anticipate reading how it will all end.

Teen Titans Academy #11 is available wherever comics are sold.