“Teen Titans” Vol.5 issues 1 – 4

Written by Will Pfeifer
Wildstorm Concepts: 

In this series of issues we see the Teen Titans face supervillain Algorithm, which we’ve previously covered in Teen Titans: Future’s End. Yes, even though she doesn’t look like it, Algorithm is supposed to be another name for Ladytron, making her the second iteration (and not last) of the character in this universe.
Algorithm works for Manchester Black, a technological terrorist. Under his orders, she breaks into S.T.A.R. Labs’ under-construction state-of-the-art laboratory. She takes over the building with two scientists hostage and causes an explosion. The Teen Titans arrive on the scene, but they’ve gotta hurry – if the flames reach the project that’s being worked on, the blast could take Manhattan out. Bunker faces Algorithm, but after realising she’s a robot he simply creates boxes inside her brain and blows her head off. The Titans save the day, but Algorithm rebuilds herself elsewhere, thanks to S.T.A.R. Nanotech. Manchester Black is using her threat to convince S.T.A.R. Labs to relocate away from Manhattan, but they aren’t sure yet – Black wants to raise the stakes, make the city demand S.T.A.R. Labs move out. Algorithm thinks Black loves her; he rambles on about the rise of artificial intelligence, the coming of the singularity, and Algorithm thinks she IS the singularity, the next step in humanity.
While Teen Titan member Raven is in a night club, Algorithm strikes again. Raven calls reinforcements, and once again, after finding out she’s a robot the Titans are able to cut loose and tear her apart. Robin suspects that it was easy — too easy. He heads to S.T.A.R. Labs and begins pocking in the computers, attracting Algorithm’s attention. She beats Robin, but Manchester Black won’t let her kill the boy — she’s outlived her usefulness. She thought she was independent, but all along she just followed her code; that’s why Black named her Algorithm. She loses her mind and heads over to Black, wanting to kill him. Robin shows up in the nick of time and saves Black, just like he was counting on – he recorded the whole thing to make himself look like an innocent victim.

Next: “Black Canary” Vol.4 issue 9, written by Matthew Rosenberg.