How does the Mad Mod weigh in with his second appearance in the series? Let’s just say this, despite utter madness the Mod somehow pulls it off.

I can’t put my finger on it, but something about the Mad Mod character makes the zaniness that has torpedoed other episodes in the past work. Is it the non-stop references to mod-culture? Perhaps. Or maybe yours truly is just a sap.

The references in ”Revolution” are very similar to those found in Mod’s first appearance, yet they come in smaller numbers and less frequently. Where as “Mad Mod” was a barrage of non-stop gags and referential jokes, “Revolution” is more akin to “Fractured” sans the annoying alternate dimension Boy Wonder.

There are the obligatory references to the “Fab Four” beginning with the episodes’ title, which happens to share the name of my favorite Beatles album, and Monty Python’s Flying Circus, but it seems that things border the repetitious this time around. The references to Britain in the 1960’s becomes a full-fledged U.K. takeover when Mod decides to curb the Fourth of July celebration stateside, and return the “land of the free” to the rule of the redcoats.

Mod somehow hijacks a nationwide broadcast of fireworks in celebration of the signing of our nation’s independence and manages to pump his “hypno-vision” into the homes of countless Americans, putting them in a zombie-like trance. What ensues is a Sex-Pistols inspired landscape consisting of photos of British landmarks cut out from newspapers, which replaces the San Francisco skyline. The blue and white sky is painted with the Union Jack.

As the Titans spring into action, Robin finds himself facing off with Mod himself. Mod manages to get the upper hand, and uses his cane to suck the youth from Robin, turning Mod young again and rendering Robin geriatric.

The team finds themselves leaderless once again, and this is hardly new territory for the teens. In fact, thinking back through the first season it seemed like the Titans were constantly facing this dilemma, “What would they do without Robin leading the team?”

The answer is always the same; they bicker themselves into further predicaments. However, the one solution to the problem that, if memory serves, has never really been touched on would seem to be the most obvious. The team must learn to work together.

It might seem that re-treading through this commonly used scenario would prove disastrous for the episode, but that wacky glue that is Mad Mod somehow holds the whole thing together.

This time around, each Titan has their own idea how to thwart Mod’s sinister plot, and each one gets their chance to lead the group in carrying out their plan. This mode of decision-making falls in line with the patriotic motif surrounding the episode, as the team takes turns leading based on voting for the most plausible approach. Unfortunately, the team learns that they must combine their efforts into one “uber-plan,” multi-faceted enough to throw off the any anticipation Mad Mod may have, before Beast Boy gets a chance to try out his “squirrel army insurrection” ploy.

Like I said, as basic and zany as it all sounds, it works on a level of pure enjoyment.

If I were to drum up any criticism regarding the episode, they would have to surround the recycled message and the manner in which Mod was defeated. In retrospect, although it’s understood why this thread was re-used, the likeliness that this episode will survive future viewings is not very promising.

Mod’s defeat, although it works in theme, does not make much practical sense at all. Cyborg’s blasts to Mod’s robotic army are the same each time he faces them, yet they somehow obliterate the robots after the team has agreed to pull together as a team to save Robin. Sure, message is read loud and clear, but how does this happen? Why didn’t Beast Boy’s T-Rex rampage work the first time they squared off against Mod’s minions? Did any of this make sense to anyone else?

And yet it all worked for the first viewing. It was enjoyable, I swear!

My only conclusion is that Mod’s episodes work, regardless of common sense and practical knowledge, because he somehow hypnotizes audiences into putting their thinking caps on the nightstand for the thirty-minute duration. As crazy as it sounds, this is the only way to make sense of this all.

Next Week: It finally sounds like the narrative train is going to leave the station once again as Brother Blood returns! Yes, we last saw Blood way back in the season opener (that’s Episode 27 for those keeping track), and hopefully his return will set things in motion for Season Three. See you here in seven...

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Mario Anima