The DC-nU finishes its debut month this week, with some anticipated titles. One of those is Teen Titans. “Teen Spirit” is the somewhat less than inspired title of the issue, which keeps comic tradition alive by showing characters on the cover who appear nowhere in the issue, or minimally.The issue opens with Kid Flash arriving at a fire that was pretty much under control, stopping to appear for the press (and stealing the reporter’s microphone briefly), and then making the fire incredibly worse through recklessness and grandstanding, knocking himself out in the process. With a scene shift, we learn that Tim Drake has given up costumed heroing to “work from the shadows,” and is monitoring the various young heroes that are popping up all over. Among those on his screens are Kid Flash, Miss Martian, what I’m pretty sure is Static, and another who might be Raven. A few others could be Changeling and Starfire, but the images are very indistinct. Tim is confronted by agents from an organization called N.O.W.H.E.R.E., who break into his penthouse base and try to recruit him. He blows the place up instead (fortunately, it was in Lex Towers in New York, so Luthor’s insurance will take the hit), escaping via glider wings which somehow magically make a mask appear on his face.Out on the Pacific Coast Highway, Cassie Sandsmark is driving a car that is not hers before being pulled over. She tries to talk her way out things, but the “officer” attacks her, Red Robin rescues her. RR tells Cassie he knows she is the mysterious “Wonder Girl,” and that she’s been targeted by a group that is hunting young metahumans. Cassie denies everything, but their debate is interrupted by the arrival of an attack helicopter. Tim uses his wings to get out of the way and says he’ll be fine, but she better start using her powers. Cassie transforms into her costume, downs the chopper, and gets very annoyed at being called Wonder Girl. They arrive at an uneasy truce. Elsewhere, we cross into territory already covered by Superboy #1, as the scientists who made him prepare to release him.Changes noted: Tim and Cassie have never met before; it seems all recent Teen Titans history has been erased. How far back that goes I have no idea. Kid Flash has lost much of his experience at using his powers and become a showboat. Tim Drake was “retired” from costumed heroing for an unknown time.

What I liked and what I didn’t:

Despite some of what I said above, it was a good read. Tim seems to be very mature and in control of himself, escaping armed agents with ease. I’m not sure what he’s been up to lately, but he seems to have been hiding and watching since whenever he quit being Robin (if he quit vs being fired). I like this take on him, and it’s enough to keep me reading for now.

I’m neutral on the new take on Cassie. She’s accused of “breaking into a geological dig” in Greece, which goes with the line about her being a “super-powered thief.” So far, I liked her old self better, but I’m willing to see where they go.

I don’t like this version of Bart. He’s a putz who doesn’t know what he’s doing and is too busy posing for the press to think about what he’s doing. One of the news stories says the Justice League has announced that he has no ties to the Flash, which also seems a bit odd. If someone is out there using part of your name in a costume somewhat inspired by yours, wouldn’t you track them down? I don’t like the new costumes- Red Robin appears to have stolen the late Black Condor II’s outfit, and Cassie’s new look is part Donna Troy’s “Troia” starfield, but in red instead of black, and with a hood. Kid Flash’s new look very much has the “I made this out of what I could find in the closet” vibe, which a lot of characters seem to be doing these days and I think looks ridiculous. Oddly, the outfit he wears on the cover is much better looking, but doesn’t show up inside. Of the three new characters shown on the cover, one has a one panel pop-up in Tim’s screen array, and I don’t believe the others show up at all. None are identified.

I’m curious enough to read more, and unlike much of the “DC-nU,” this issue doesn’t seem to fall back on graphic violence, death, or sex to sell it.