Review: ‘Teen Titans’ #1 Is More Than A Reimagining, It’s A Vibe
by Tony Thornley
They’re one of the most venerable names in comics. But the Teen Titans also is one of the most versatile teams, and in DC’s latest launch, it’s clear that the name is in some very different hands now.
Kyle Higgins, Daniele Di Niculo, Marcelo Costa, and Becca Carey breathe some new life into the Titans.
Jason Todd is on the trail of a missing teenager, a kid who may have gotten himself in over his head. But this kid wasn’t alone. He was part of the new online Teen Titans network, and young metahumans Fairplay, Cheshire Cat, Wildcard and Proxy all want to know what happened to their friend. They’re about to become the next generation of Titans … and the Red Hood will need to try to do his best to keep them alive.
I’m always a little bit cautious of a totally new team of characters using a familiar name. Right away though, Higgins does two things right. First of all, the Titans we all know and love are still there — starring in New Titans — and he makes sure we know that.
But beyond that, these new kids step on the page fully formed. These kids are smart-ass teenagers who feel authentic and real, and they’re driven by wanting to help. And Higgins makes that all very real, as well as Jason’s exasperation at being suddenly thrust into a mentorship role he never asked for. The stakes are low, but that’s to the story’s advantage, allowing Higgins to center it in the characters and what they’ve stepped into.
Di Niculo’s line art and Costa’s colors are exactly what the story needs. It’s energetic and lively, with a great flow of action, engaging layouts and really good character work. The designs feel authentic, and the kids all feel like kids. Costa uses bright colors to set the mood and draw the eye across Di Niculo’s pages. The chase scene in the middle of the issue in particular does a really fantastic job of telling the story while creating an action sequence that draws you as the reader in.
Carey has a lot of information to relay from Higgins’ script. She nails it though, putting the information on the page clearly, without overwhelming the story.
The Titans are back, even if they look a little different, and it’s going to be a lot of fun to see what good trouble they can get into.
Overview
The Titans are back, even if they look a little different, with a very fun, high energy new series.
