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I’m going to take a welcome break from the major crossovers this week, and focus on what I was asking for, a single issue story.

Titans #20 focuses on Donna Troy, which is not before time. Donna has an unfortunate history, being subject to so many continuity revisions, or one could even say victim. Firstly the teenage side kick to Wonder Woman, then Wonder Woman was devolved to clay and sent back in time, so that she never existed. So then Wonder Girl was rescued by the Titaness Rhea and trained by the Greek Titans to be their champion. Then she became a goddess and went mad, then it was revealed she was created as a mirror image playmate for the young Princess Diana. Somewhere along the line she was also a Darkstar. However she was also sent through a myriad of lifetimes due to the Dark Angel, at the hands of John Byrne.

This was actually a good solution to her multiple histories, until the dawn of the Infinite Crisis, and we discover she was also Harbinger. And the Dark Angel as well! Paradox much? Still, this is allowable under the nature of the Crisis on Infinite Earths I suppose, not that it explains why the Dark Angel was active in the WWII era.

Somewhere along the line, these continuity issues became more important than her actual personality. Her husband and son were killed (after Robert failed to mature into the insane godling Lord Chaos), but this never really garnered the attention it required until the recent Blackest Night crossover.

This state of things has been addressed in the newest issue of Titans, where finally Donna gets the spotlight once, but this time on her personal life. Summoned to Miami for the first photography shoot for what must be years (anyone remember that she was a photographer?), she is unfortunately ambushed by the Fearsome Five, but they also help clear her head of an inordinate amount of whining, which dominate the first few pages.

To be honest, she has plenty to whine about after the events of this last decade (publishing-wise, that must be at least, what, three months comics-time?), but it is neither attractive nor in her character. As no doubt the writer intended, you can see her rebuild herself page by page, and for this fan, that is most welcome.

I have only two reservations about the issue. She turns up to the shoot looking so very Diana Prince-like in a pair of Palinesque glasses. She does not need to do this, she never used to, and it just looks wrong! In fact, my mind boggles at the comparison. I mean, Sarah Palin and Donna Troy? Euwww!

Also the cover does not entice you into the issue, I almost left it to read later, but then the Titans have always had the pull for me.

I finished the issue feeling quite warm inside. Pleased for her. Not that I think of the characters as real people, oh no, not me! I also have friends who are real you know! Then again, the Titans have been a part of my life for so very long I carry unending affection for them, and it’s about time Donna got a break.

This was almost nostalgic, having a comic’s events cheer me up, rather than make me think ‘Well, there goes another character down the pan’. Not all stories have to be dark, and I hope to see a few more happy endings in the future.