Pre-Crisis Primer: The Titans Hate Religion

Teen Titans 39-40

Tales of the Teen Titans 41

“His Name is Brother Blood”

This is pretty much what it'd it take to get me into a church or other place of worship.

Considering that the H.I.V.E, which stands for the Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination (shit, I love that; it's obvious that the writer came up with H.I.V.E first and the meaning second), hired Deathstroke the Terminator to eliminate the Teen Titans, it's completely understandable that the angry teen heroes would finally take the fight to the obtusely-named criminal organization.

At this point, I'll admit I don't know much about the H.I.V.E. and the writer isn't too forthcoming in details either. In fact, H.I.V.E. (I hate typing that) go ahead and state that they've spent many years building up their organization, complete with beehive-themed bases, and situated agents around the world, but gosh-darnit, they'd be able to start their bid for world domination if only they could get rid of these pesky Teen Titans. At this point I believe H.I.V.E. Is a worldwide criminal organization that has only committed one crime: soliciting for murder. Comics, man.

The Titans show their disdain for grunts and soldiers; the working man gets stiffed again.

What's a superhero comic with only one large criminal criminal organization? Of course the H.I.V.E base is infested with Brother Blood's soldiers waging their own war. I like my superhero conflicts as a three-way too. And like most of the other conflicts in this comic, the bad guys escape to lick their wounds and the fight lacks finality.

While the rip-roaring physical conflict might have been inconclusive, the various inner-conflicts plaguing the members of the Teen Titans take their toll as Kid Flash announces his departure, feeling apart from the team for a long while now; and Robin, citing a need to make his own identity, opts to not leave the team outright, but in light of recent events, quits being Robin. With Both H.I.V.E. and Brother Blood on the loose and these guys take a hike. Some friends. 

At least they posed for a picture before leaving. Thanks guys.

 

With Dick Grayson (no Robin here) as point man, the Teen Titans infiltrate Brother Blood's sanctuary and are quickly captured. Raven, constantly wrestling with the evil influence of her her soul-self as well as her demonic heritage (Evil father Trigon is constantly pressuring his daughter to kill shit), is instrumental in freeing the Titans from a not-so-quick and lava-filled death, while Terra is saved in the nick-of-time from death by marauding mutant by Cyborg. She seems genuinely surprised by this fact, seemingly oblivious to the concept of teamwork. Is it possible she'll turn on Deathstroke yet and not betray the Titans?

No, it's all but inevitable at this point, it's pretty clear Terra hates the Titans just for the sake of having something to hate.

We know she's bad because she smokes. And wears make-up. And fucks her grandfather.

Regardless of the unknown impending betrayal, the Titans rally and in the end, Blood is destroyed, buried in the ruins of his own citadel. With the public now rallying around Blood and his religion, the villain turned into a martyr, Dick and Starfire have to wonder if Blood got exacty what he wanted in the end.

Brother Blood is a weird villain. Sure he hates H.I.V.E. And he doesn't seem to like the Titans, but that's only because they infiltrated his base. They trespassed on his property. Why? Because his religion is popular with the kids and the Titans just don't like it. It's clear Blood is a bad guy in the story, but it's just not clear as to how he's a bad guy. Why does Blood do evil things? Aside from his penchant for dark-cave citadels and gaudy costumes, it seems he's bad just because he's bad. 

Donna shows Cyborg how it's done.

Sure Blood keeps trying to kill the Titans, but they keep trying to hit him. Can we blame him? What else does Blood do? Oh, yeah, he's trying to overthrow a corrupt regime to a small country and he attempts this action through bringing faith, hope, and a sense of belonging to the poor, disenfranchised populace.

That bastard.

You know, in hindsight, faith is the tool of a villain. He is evil. I'm glad he's 'dead.'