I was never really sold on the idea of Kaine in the New Warriors. It seemed obvious that Yost hadn't gotten a chance to wrap up "Scarlet Spider" the way that he wanted, so he threw Kaine on the team to give him some more time with the character. In other words, if any other author was writing this series, Kaine wouldn't be on the team. But, I was totally OK with it, since I'm just glad to see Kaine.
But, Yost really sells me on it here. Justice's speech to him at the end made as much sense to me as it did to Kaine. Worry that you're a monster that's going to kill a lot of people? Be on a team with people that can stop you. Worry that you're not a good enough person? Be on a team with people that can inspire you. It totally makes sense.
Along the way, Yost offers up a pretty hilarious story of a mascot gone wild. Honestly, this one could've gone really badly, but Yost totally makes it work. He uses the mascot as the embodiment of threats to Houston, the city that Kaine called his own for a while. It forces Kaine to stay and fight, reminding us how much he overplays the idea that he's really a villain. (Vance essentially says the same thing to him at the end.)
My only complaint about this issue is that I would've loved to have seen a little more of Wally. Yost does what he can with the exchange, making it clear that Wally's gotten over his anger at Kaine and sees him the way that he used to see him, as a hero. Kaine clearly hasn't, and it would've been nice to give Wally a chance to sell him on it a little more. But, that's probably more about me missing "Scarlet Spider" than any failing of the story.
All in all, this issue is the most solid one of this series, though, again, it's probably because I just want to see as much Kaine as possible. Regardless, it's always a pleasure to read such a well constructed done-in-one issue.
**** (four of five stars)
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