Mean Green Middling Machine: Reviewing ‘Titans’ #13

A hearty serving of shapeshifter woes, hellish dealings, and a plot line that continues to play only as a teaser. That’s what Titans #13 delivers as the series continues to slowly amble along.

It’s another tale of two Titans as Tom Taylor, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Adriano Lucas, and Wes Abbott deliver the sixth chapter of the “Dark-Winged Queen” storyline. Yes, that’s right, it’s up to a sixth part with still more chapters to go.

As noted, there are two totally different versions of this series competing within each issue. There is the Raven plotline that brings the series it’s title, which keeps slowly dragging along, and then there are the sort of side things that are a bit more interesting.

Such as the return of Apex Ava, a hunter given Beast Boy derived shapeshifting powers during the Titans: Beast World event, who showed up during the Nightwing issues connected to Beast World. Her whole deal is bizarre, but she’s an interesting foil and foe for Garfield Logan, who has no real antagonists for himself. That would be because more often than not he’s one of many characters who only exist to be part of their given team, with no real stories outside of the team.

So his ‘foes’ are just the foes of the Titans, be they adult or teen version, themselves.

This part of the story has some claws and power to it from Taylor, as does the Hera/Blaze/Hell stuff trying to prepare for the Dark-Winged Queen’s rise. Unfortunately, the Raven stuff with her trying to become the Dark-Winged Queen is boring.

We had a moment at the start where it seemed at last the Titans would be aware of the evil Raven’s ascendance, but nope. Instead, she snaps her fingers, and they are back to none the wiser. Just so this can be dragged out a few more issues.

While I’m on record liking some of what Taylor has done with this team, I can’t wait for the creative change coming for the team in October. Mostly because some new voices might spice things up just a bit. One can hope.

Lucas Meyer isn’t here for this issue as Di Nicuolo, a frequent Taylor collaborator, jumps on board bringing a different style. There are a lot of the very fleshed out character forms with great emotional work, but this style has a more whimsical, rougher styling to it. Di Nicuolo’s style always brings this intriguing contrast because many times the stories he tackles are darker or heavier in nature, at least with Taylor so far. Coming in with this sort of style doesn’t lessen the tone or mood of the book, but in a way highlights it a bit more.

Things are very vibrant and bright, as Lucas shifts the color palette just a bit to maximize the embrace of Di Nicuolo’s style. Plenty of back-up or setting colors are more neutral, middle of the spectrum, to give depth and familiarity. Having Raven’s antics, two green animal shifting figures facing off, and the moment sin Hell means a lot of very bright in your face colors. Delivered in a way that feels outlandish or surreal, yet natural at the same time.

A lot of plotting and back-and-forth is going down in this issue. As usual, Abbott makes sure it all hits just the way it should. Framing it all up smoothly on the page and making plenty of little shifts in the presentation so that volume, tone, intent, and emotion among other things are quite clear and tangible.

Titans #13 is now available from DC Comics.