Review: Titans- The Lazarus Contract

Quick Summary

Pros: There are a few fun moments within the event. The event’s conclusion sets up interesting plot points in all of the comics involved in the crossover.

Cons: The crossover of storylines interrupts narratives and gives the event an inorganic start. The main narrative is messy and does not have as many fun moments as one would hope.

Overall: This is a lackluster crossover event that doesn’t work out well for any parties involved. The connections between the individual comics are handled poorly, the narrative is a bit too chaotic, and there simply are not enough positives to make up for the problems. The conclusion of the event sets up some interesting plotlines for the future, but the event itself is not that interesting. Overall, this volume is for fans who really want to see a transitory moment for the Teen Titans, Titans, and Deathstroke, even if the story behind it isn’t that great.

Story

Titans: The Lazarus Contract, by Christopher Priest, Dan Abnett and Benjamin Percy, is a somewhat disappointing crossover event. The collection tries to tie together the narratives from three separate comics into one epic event. However, the ties between these comics are somewhat weak and the resulting narrative is too bogged down with problems to be as epic as it should be. There are a few individual moments that stand out and the volume’s conclusion opens up some unique pathways for the future, but the overall story is subpar.

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The Lazarus Contract brings together the Titans and the Teen Titans in an attempt to stop Deathstroke from damaging the timestream. However, the volume’s attempt to tie together plotlines from three separate series does not work as well as one would hope. The plotlines from the Titans and Teen Titans comics are interrupted by this event and only barely mentioned as the event moves on. In addition, Deathstroke’s sudden decision to rescue his son and Jericho’s lack of violent hatred toward his father feel strange after what just happened in the Deathstroke series.

The crossover does allow for a few fun moments, especially as members of the Titans and Teen Titans interact. However, these do not happen quite as often as one would hope.

The other problem plaguing this event is the convoluted nature of the storytelling. Many of the event’s subplots and character motivations have little bearing on the event as a whole. This means that the text spends plenty of time setting up internal complications within the teams, including the emotional fallout of the titular “Lazarus Contract”, but does not effectively utilize them. Meanwhile, Deathstroke’s ability to control the Speed Force fluctuates randomly; it starts out through the use of technology, is seemingly broken by alterations to the timeline, but is then retained through unknown means. In general, this comic has a feeling of chaos and a lack of structure that makes it harder to enjoy.

While the story in The Lazarus Contract isn’t that great, what it accomplishes is worthwhile. By the end of the volume, Kid Flash has been dropped from the Teen Titans, the Flash/Wally power’s have been severely limited, and Deathstroke looks like he is making an effort to be a “hero” for once. This shakes up the status quo for all of the comics involved in this crossover and opens the door for some interesting storytelling in the future.

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Art

The artwork in The Lazarus Contract is a bit mixed. Individually, the chapters in this collection look nice and are drawn well. Each chapter has a solid sense of energy, particularly the first few, and is laid out well, particularly the last few. However, each of the chapters contains radically different art styles that occasionally clash with one another. Jumping from Brett Booth’s work on the first chapter to Khoi Pham’s work on the second chapter is jarring and visually separates the pieces of this event. In a comic that already struggles with a chaotic narrative, disunity in visual stylings only serves to exacerbate already existing problems.

Continuity

Titans: The Lazarus Contract continues the story from Titans Vol. 2: Made in Manhattan (Review), Deathstroke Vol. 3: Twilight, and the first half of Teen Titans Vol. 2: The Rise of Aqualad.

The story here continues in Titans Vol. 3: A Judas Among Us (Review), Deathstroke Vol. 4: Defiance, and the second half of Teen Titans Vol. 2: The Rise of Aqualad.

This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:

• The original origin and death of Grant Wilson was seen in New Teen Titans #1-2, collected in New Teen Titans Vol. 1. However, it and the events following it are presented differently here.
• The Titans reassembled in Titans Vol. 1: The Return of Wally West (Review).
• The Teen Titans reassembled in Teen Titans Vol. 1: Damian Knows Best (Review).
• Kid Flash’s father’s history as a villain is detailed across The Flash Vol. 4: Reverse (Review). His father died in New Suicide Squad Annual #1, collected in New Suicide Squad Vol. 2: Monsters (Review). 
• A quick reference is made to Darwin Elias’ work on the Speed Force. This work is seen across The Flash Vol. 1: Moving Forward (Review) and The Flash Vol. 2: Rogues Revenge (Review).
• The older Wally West’s time in the Speed Force was explained in DC Universe: Rebirth (Review).