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"The face of our enemy has changed. No longer is the Doom Patrol our only threat. Now a new generation stands in our way. And those who rule the young will control the future. We have a common enemy. The Teen Titans and their friends will fall. Working together we will destroy them... one by one."
- The BrainOriginally aired: October 1, 2005 Written by Simon Racioppa and Richard Elliot
Directed by Ben Jones
The Doom Patrol has been saved, but the sinister Brotherhood of Evil is still on the loose. It's just like old times for Beast Boy when he finds himself back on the team for one last mission - to stop the Brotherhood once and for all... no matter what the cost.
Xander Berkeley as Mento, General Immortus
Judge Reinhold as Negative Man
Peter Onorati as Robot Man
Tara Strong as Elasti-Girl
Glenn Shadix as The Brain, Monsieur Mallah
Hynden Walch as Madame Rouge
The Doom Patrol reveals Beast Boy's real name: Garfield. It's the first time one of the Titans' real names was spoken and confirmed in the series.
info to come
This episode was partially inspired by the comic book tale, "The Quest for the Killers of the Doom Patrol" which was published in NEW TEEN TITANS #13-15 [1981-1982].In that story, Beast Boy abandoned his light-hearted demeanor when confronted with his past - much as he does here. In part two of HOMECOMING, we see more of Beast Boy's familial relationship with the Doom Patrol. Mento and Elasti-Girl behave more like step-parents, a role they assumed in the comic book series. Mento even calls Beast Boy "son." Also, Mento and Beast Boy had a difficult and sometimes strained relationship. But they cared for each other as father and son, as seen in this episode as well.
In this episode, Elast-Girl calls Beast Boy by his real name, Garfield. In the comics, Beast Boy's real name is Garfield Logan. Other episodes have hinted at the character's real names; In FRACTURED, Larry the Titan is a alternate dimension version of Robin... and he states his name: Kcid Nosyarg. As his name spins backward it reads Dick Grayson, who was the first Robin. In DECEPTION, Cyborg uses the alias Stone - which is a reference to Cyborg's real name, Victor Stone. In BETROTHED, Galfore calls Starfire "Koraind'r," which is her Tamaranean name in the comics. And Raven has no other alias; Raven is her given name.
The viewscreens grouped the five founding Teen Titans together Robin, Speedy, Kid Flash, Speedy and Wonder Girl. Wonder Girl makes her first 'unofficial' appearance on the animated series with this cameo. Wonder Girl, also known as Donna Troy, is Wonder Woman's younger sister. She first appeared - and joined the Teen Titans - in Brave and the Bold #60 [1965]. Amazon sorceress Magala created a mystical twin sister of young Princess Diana to provide a playmate for the lonely princess. Diana's 'sister' was soon lost to her and raised by the Titans of Myth - who named her 'Donna Troy.' Donna later arrived on earth and became Wonder Girl in tribute to the Golden Age Wonder Woman. When Donna discovered her true Titanic heritage, she became the heroine known as Troia.
Comic book Titans Kid Flash, Red Star, Killowat, Jericho, Bushido, Herald, Argent and Pantha also make their first animated appearance in the series with this episode. Look for more on their comic book histories later in season five.
Comic book Adversaries Ding Dong Daddy, Andre Le Blanc, Phobia, Psimon and Cheshire make their first animated appearance in the series with this episode. Look for more on their comic book histories later in season five.
The villains in the Brotherhood of Evil are grouped by their comic book connections: The Fearsome Five characters [Dr. Light, Mammoth, Gizmo, Jinx and Psimon] are grouped together. They first appeared in NEW TEEN TITANS #3 [1980]. And the second incarnation of Brotherhood characters [Plasmus, Phobia and Warp] are grouped together. That team premiered in NEW TEEN TITANS #13-15 [1981-1982].
See HOMECOMING [part one] for notes on The Doom Patrol and The Brotherhood of Evil. For more information on the comic book versions of the characters - including many images - visit titanstower.com's meeting room page.
Part two of Homecoming fares a bit better than part one. We delve a bit more into Beast Boy's relationship with the Doom Patrol. In this episode, we see more affection between Beast Boy and his family. As a result, it has a much more satisfying emotional tone.Not to say the action sequences suffer in this outing. Director Ben Jones can always be relied upon for some fun-to-watch intense action. Part one provided the set-up, but part two of HOMECOMING provided the emotional pay-off. This is one example where watching both parts together would make the whole experience stronger.
There's plenty to love from a long-time fan perspective. We see first glimpses of the new Titans to debut in season five. Seeing the original fab five together - including a sneaky cameo of Wonder Girl - was a nice moment. There's also a real sense of history yet forward momentum in season five. The series has really grown into something special - and season five looks to be an enjoyable ride. Grade: B+
provided by John The Artist
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