The New Titans #83 (February 1992)

Here’s the thing about declaring “the most shocking last page in Titans history” right on the cover. It makes the last page not exciting because it’s obviously going to be Slade killing Joseph. And I don’t say that simply because Slade spoiled the shocking ending in his own monthly comic, or because I’ve read this comic before. I say it because this is the way of the entertainment world. They’d rather spoil the story for regular consumers of the media for the possible bump in sales figures or eyeballs by drawing in new consumers with their hyperbolic claims. This happens on televsion shows all the time. Commercials claim the must see last five minutes of a show and regular viewers easily guess what’s going to happen because they’re familiar with the story and where it’s going. I’d much rather be actually shocked by the ending of a show or comic book. You’d have to be a huge dolt to not guess the ending of a book or movie that’s hyped as having the biggest twist ending or espousing some shocking revelation. It’s why The Sixth Sense was so good and every other M. Night Shyamalan movie sucked. It’s why I completely ruined the experience when my ex-girlfriend desperately needed me to watch Hitchcock’s Rebecca and, knowing Hitchcock, I wouldn’t stop guessing at the upcoming twist. I don’t remember if I guessed it because I don’t remember the movie at all because, as I just said earlier, I totally ruined it with my constant guessing.

In summary, this comic book would have been better if everybody involved had just kept their stupid mouths shut.