It’s All About The Green: Reviewing ‘Titans’ #5

Being a hero, especially a superhero, should mean doing far more than punching or defeating the latest world threatening villain. While that is important, there are people and things in the world that need a helping hand far more.

One of those things is addressed in Titans #5, the final issue in this first arc from Tom Taylor, Nicola Scott, Annette Kwok, and Wes Abbott.

Much like the villain Two-Face, I’m of two minds about this issue.

Let’s start with the aforementioned helping hand and heroics of it all.

I’ve been very open about my feelings regarding the Titans being the premiere heroes of the universe, and this title not reflecting that fully. Having the younger generation of heroes using their power and influence to find a way to help the actual world is a topical thing. None of us have the power or sway of the Titans in their world, but we’re fighting every day for a better world. From climate change issues to the systemic rot of capitalism to bigotry and so much more.

Here we see the Titans actually find a way to restoring the natural order of nature in Borneo after humans ruined things. What helps is just how spectacular the sequences are, thanks to Scott and Kwok. There is just such vivid depth, framing showcases every moment putting us right there. Really liked the piece by piece perspective we get as each part of nature is restored little by little, balance being restored. Kwok’s palate begins toned down/dour and gradually becomes more vivid and appealing as the restoration continues.

Seeing Beast Boy take charge is a great moment for the character. We also get some insight into the horror that comes with using his ability. Raven explaining to the other Titans as well as us about Gar losing part of himself each time one of his smaller self-proxies meets their end, is heartbreaking.

Everything flows so well artistically, as the right kinetic energy keeps it moving. There is a moment at the start where Gar is angry, and we feel it in his face, but also from the slow perspective change as his size actually grows to tower over their foes. Same way that we can feel every bit of that emotion in their voices thanks to the beyond solid work Abbott always delivers.

I’m glad that Taylor and Abbott keep getting paired up. It allows a sort of steady presence alongside the writer, in bringing the word portions of a story to life. There is that consistency in how Nightwing’s voice is being formed both here and over in his solo series. Similar for the others really though since they kept appearing over in Nightwing. Shifts in the fonts or bubbles that create uniqueness for some voices, but mainly just accurately capture each character’s personality/energy with each word.

Not to mention the SFX, which are always a bright fun welcome addition to any story in my opinion.

Now, you’re probably wondering, what the other mind I have on this issue could be.

That would be the structure. We see at the very end that this arc doesn’t end. Sure, the Borneo parts are wrapped up, but everything else here just sort of cliffhangers. That’s because this arc is basically a five part zero issue of sorts for the about to begin Titans: Beast World event. On the one hand, that isn’t a bad thing. It sets a foundation for the event and gets the ball rolling.

There always needs to be that buildup for event stories either in zero issues or the arc of another book. Usually though, it’s not the intro arc of a just launched series. A series that was supposed to prove how the Titans are now the Justice League of this world, since the regular Justice League is active but just not hanging out in a club/team these days.

Hard to do that when most of the plots of this first arc were so small and so varied. We had a murder mystery that wasn’t much of a mystery, as it semi fizzled by the time we finally discovered who was behind it. Then there was stuff done to try and build up what is to come with Beast Boy in the Beast World event, somewhat achieved but buried by other things. We also had the Brother Eternity mysteries and revelations, again mostly unresolved as it’s part of the event too.

Really, it’s just a lot of things thrown at the wall in these five issues with none of them really taking charge, all just pieces leading to a full universe separate story. Yes I’m glad to see the Titans lead an event, meant to showcase their JL level status currently. Yet, something just feels hollow about the title right now. It’s a very good found family Titans series, but I kind of was expecting more.

Time will tell if that changes or not. Really, it depends on Taylor but also depends on how long DC actually will keep the Justice League off the table. With every JL hero still bigger than the Titans, in their own solo books, good money says they won’t be off the table for long.

Titans #5 is now available from DC Comics.