Wrapped In The Feels: Reviewing ‘Titans’ #4

Earth has an expiration date. That’s according to former Titans member Tempest. The question: does Beast Boy truly believe that? It’s okay, he won’t have time to deal with it now that Amanda Waller is entering the picture.

Titans #4 paves the way toward the upcoming Titans: Beast World event by turning its eyes toward the classic, green, shape-shifting character. Helping spread Gar’s message is the regular creative team of Tom Taylor, Nicola Scott, Annette Kwok, and Wes Abbott.

One of the strengths of any Titans-related series is the stronger focus on the individuals and their connections to one another. While, right now, they are meant to be the premiere heroes taking the place of the Justice League, the Titans are far more a found family than the League ever could be. We feel it in every pore, and this creative team has been able to tap into that fully.

Unfortunately, even if they are meant to be the DC Universe’s premiere team right now, it is not feeling that way.

I’m torn on this title. If this was just a normal-level Titans book, I would be all-in each issue. It’s got those solid characters dynamics we love about this group, a team that grew up together, alongside some solid personal-level missions. Nothing that screams Justice League, though.

Yes, they are not the Justice League. Yet, right now, they are supposed to be essentially filling that role. We watched the League fight off alien invasions, multiversal incursions, Apokolips attacks, and more on a daily basis. Apparently, all that stuff just ceased because Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are hanging out solo these days. Titans: Beast World will be the event where they are on the big stage, but all the regular JL-level heroes are supposed to be part of that too (supporting it seems).

So, we’ll see.

I dig part of what Taylor is doing here, but it just feels too small in scale. Don’t tell me this hamburger is now at the same level as a steak but then just keep giving me the same burger. It’s definitely not at the same level as the steak, no matter how much you say it. It’s a good burger, don’t get me wrong, but don’t tease me with an elevated meal without delivering.

Weirdly enough, it feels like things are taking too long. We’re only in issue four, but there was also a two-month hiatus so six months have passed since the first issue. We’re no closer to knowing what the actual threats are, what the heck is up with the church/Garth, who murdered Wally, etc. Story arcs take time, yes, but I dunno … I’m not seeing any crumbs that would lead me to begin to suspect anything.

I hate to say this, but it feels all a bit too safe.

Visually, we’re getting some solid depictions of these characters, deep and grounded with plenty of emotion. Imagine though if Scott, Kwok, and Abbott were getting to do what they do so well on a JL-level story. Scott is just such an expressive artist, able to really make one believe these characters are true living breathing individuals. Pages burst via plenty of detailed panels with true depth, creating actual spaces, mixed with dynamic layout choices that hone the focus.

There is action, don’t get me wrong. Motion is felt as the characters deal with various struggles even as they try to level a villain in Borneo. Even the opening pages with Raven and Beast Boy dispatching some thugs are slick and kinetic. Despite being green, I feel the animal presence of Garfield rather than it being goofy or for a gag. Not that there aren’t such things, but at the moment, he feels very truly big, bold, and powerful (as he should).

Kwok’s colors are heavy, while also being quite light and free, to fulfill that grounded feeling. Spaces feel very natural with the level of colors — from the grayer cityscape to lusher environs encountered on the journey. More vibrant colors are saved for the flashier fantastical elements, like our heroes or bolder spaces, keeping them as the “anomaly” within a world that appears much like our own.

Flow and pacing are key to lettering on the pages. It has to move around the page in an unencumbered way, keeping the rest of the artwork free, and guiding us along. All while exuding those emotional qualities we need to ‘hear’ as we read. Abbott is a master of this, allowing each word or beat to have such weight. Familiarity is born in these voices, bringing comfort as well as other less comforting emotions.

Titans #4 is now available from DC Comics.