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Primer #2

Primer: Clashing Colors

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Primer’s made a splash, but does she have what it takes to be a Teen Titan?

Ashley wants nothing more than to be taken seriously as a superhero—she can't help it that things don't always go as planned! And when the Teen Titans roll into town chasing after their infamous nemesis, Deathstroke, Ashley just knows this is her chance to prove that Primer has what it takes to join the team.

The only thing is, her parents still expect her to go to school and finish her homework—typical Dad and Yuka (umm…Mom) stuff! And best friend Luke keeps acting so weird every time her Titan dream gets brought up…but Ashley has it all figured out. If only they would just see that she can do this! The new girl at her school, Violette, thinks Primer is the best—so why doesn’t everyone else get it, too?

Will Ashley learn what it means to be both a team player and a trustworthy friend...all while battling her newest foe?

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2024

20 people are currently reading
335 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer Muro

11 books49 followers

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5 stars
62 (22%)
4 stars
100 (36%)
3 stars
90 (32%)
2 stars
20 (7%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Kadi P.
868 reviews139 followers
September 18, 2025
This graphic novel felt like a glorified self-promo where the protagonist spent the entirety of the graphic novel professing her brilliance without a single shred of evidence to prove it. She barely fought anyone in the first instalment because she was only just getting started as a superhero, and in this one she also barely fought at all which was even more odd as it has happened twice and now she’s supposedly an established superhero.

The protagonist’s quirkiness in the first graphic novel was cute and endearing, but here it’s odd with her saying weird phrases like “What the butt” and acting really strange in a creepy off-putting way rather than a funny way. If multiple other characters look at you like a weirdo and actually ask “what’s wrong with her?” then trust me girl, that’s not the cool kind of weird. That’s the trying too hard kind.

The protagonist acted like a caricature with no real emotions, like laughing whilst talking about her dead mother and felon father. I understood that that was her coping mechanism, and she actually spelt that out for the reader, as well (in case it was too complex for a young audience to grasp, which feels a little insulting), but it would’ve been to the benefit of the graphic novel if Primer’s superhero dilemmas sort of linked to that and gave her an opportunity to explore her feelings about her losses. It’s like the graphic novel was afraid of the complexity of the topics and tried really hard to be all about having a good time and being cool, and that made it feel very empty when there was ample opportunity to say something worthwhile about grief or family hardships or adoption but instead they chose donkey jokes. And it was really hard to feel sorry for the protagonist or to root for her when everyone who was constantly getting her down was right because she made a mess of everything and she sucked at being a superhero.

The end of the conflict was ridiculous. First the protagonist won by the power of friendship, then she won again because of plot armour. Primer is the least competent superhero I’ve ever read about and it was so infuriating to see everyone congratulating her for fixing the problem that she created to begin with. The final scene was the only moment of any real consequence, but it mirrored the ending of the first graphic novel way too much that it just seemed like a cheap copy.
Profile Image for D.T..
Author 5 books79 followers
December 19, 2024
Ashley is every bit thirteen here. She’s immature and well-meaning, but a little shortsighted and cringy. This is going to turn off older readers, but I think younger ones will understand where she is coming from—the impulsiveness and wanting older teens' attention/validation.

Too often, older readers are used to these young main characters who act too mature for their age. But Ashley is how your average teen would probably act.

In addition, seeing a return to the Teen Titans (2005) I grew up with was a joy. And I have followed Gretel's (and Piccolo's) fan art of the Teen Titans for years, so it's full circle for them. I'm happy to see it.

But, this wasn't my favorite. The ending resolution with one of the characters didn't feel earned at all. Like, a split-second change. I also thought Starfire in the other artist's style looked nearly white instead of orange. The cliffhanger gives an opening for another book, but I don't know how eager I am to read it.
Profile Image for Jennifer Dawes.
132 reviews
September 10, 2024
Read the ARC preview. Picking up where the last book left off, Primer (aka Ashley) now has her own superhero costume. Still living with supportive, for both her and her superhero alter ego, foster parents Ashley continues to have troubling interactions with her father. She desperately wants to prove herself, and decides joining the Teen Titans is what she needs to do.
This is a good superhero comic for young readers. It tells a solid story and the action scenes are age appropriate (with some youthful snark).
Profile Image for Pranta Dastider.
Author 18 books327 followers
April 19, 2025
I was liking the book, I really did. That is until 60 or so pages. After that the artwork got changed. The clean color popping artworks were replaced with faded washed blurry panels. In many pages it was hard to see. That really was annoying. I hate the creative directors who had decided to change the artwork to turn it rather more girly and swishy intentionally. Why not keep it as it was before, because dialogues were enough to make it a fun read anyways!

This stupid change of artwork made me strike off two stars. I seriously hope the big decision makers for this comics series would bring back the first artist and make things properly. Otherwise, their nonsensical decision of making a colorful hero colorfade would cost them losing more customers including myself.

Peace.
81 reviews2 followers
February 14, 2025
I thought the first book was decent, but this one fell right in the middle instead of being better. I do recognise this is middle grade, and quite good for what it is, so I didn't mind it as a quick, casual read.

Now I'm not the target audience, but Ashley really did get annoying at times. She's an overpowered comic relief, so when she does utilise her great powers well it feels unearned, too easy, the villain looks really stupid and not much of a threat (which isn't good if there's meant to be an actual challenge).

The Teen Titans are clearly based on the animated show, their involvement here is minimal though, and it feels like one of these joke episodes that would have the theme song in Japanese.

Deathstroke does way too much standing around and doing nothing, when he was a formidable enemy in the show. I could excuse Ravager's stupidity due to age, like wasting time on explaining the evil plot, all of which (including the 'twist') I saw coming miles away. I can blame this on my detailed comic knowledge, and that ultimately, this is for kids.

There's an art shift part way through, and I didn't like the later exaggerated facial expressions, the change was a bit jarring. Also, minor bug, Ravager's hair looks terrible. Even when trying to show something semi serious like a two second potential death, everyone looks goofy like they're watching a TV show, not, say, their daughter in danger.

The story is very predictable and cliche, at least for me, but if you liked things like the humorous Teen Titans episodes, this might be for you. It wasn't bad, and I stayed for Ravager despite guessing the identity immediately, but it's nothing too deep that would greatly add to the first book.
992 reviews
January 13, 2025
Ok sequel to a fun middle grade superhero graphic novel. I thought Primer was fantastic, but Primer: Clashing Colors leaves a lot to be desired.

Ashley/Primer is thirteen and doesn't ever let you forget it. She desperately wants to join the Teen Titans, but she's clearly not mature enough - and somehow this plotline made me dislike pretty much all of the characters (except her foster parents; they are awesomely supportive). Will be curious to see how the kids like her, since I do think Primer acts her age...

The art style changes throughout the book (in a disappointing way imo). One of the major conflicts is basically waved away with a quick conversation. Overall pretty disappointed after loving the first one so much.
Profile Image for Megan Mann.
1,365 reviews25 followers
October 19, 2025
I enjoyed the first one, so I was hoping I’d like this one just as much…and I did! It was such a fun story and I looooove Primer’s abilities because they’re kind of like Robin’s in a way. She’s not magical or super without the paints. I like that. And it’s so realistic for a 13 year old to make mistakes because they’re trying to prove themselves.

I need the third!
Profile Image for Rose.
24 reviews
Want to read
April 17, 2023
WHY DOES IT SAY 2079!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Profile Image for Pickletape.
100 reviews
May 18, 2025
I was really excited for this one because I just finished and loved Primer, and I love the Teen Titans in this, but I don’t think I can give it more than like 3.5 stars.

I can’t fault Ashley too much for her behavior in this book because she’s just a 13 year old girl trying to impress the older Teen Titans. I do like that it’s the 2005 Teen Titans that I grew up with, I felt like they even nailed the humor from the show with their scenes. I also liked Gretel Lusky’s illustrations in the first part but then… They changed artists like halfway for some reason.

Nicoletta Baldari’s art is by no means terrible. Her use of colors was very pretty and made emotions very expressive and kinda gave the novel a magical feel. However, I really didn’t like the over the top facial expressions and in a lot of panels the characters were smiling all big when they were talking about stuff that I don’t think they should’ve been so happy about??? It was weird, she also seems to have almost Same face syndrome where the characters faces were similar with minimal differences. When she drew men they also looked feminine kinda like when she draws women. She also had like inconsistencies in the character designs throughout part 2 and 3, and even differences with the way Gretel Lusky drew them which was a bummer. The way she drew the Teen Titans made them resemble the 2005 Teen Titans even less. The art change and style difference definitely brought down the comic for me.

Also Deathstroke does like a whole lot of nothing, he didn’t really feel that menacing to me. He just stood around a lot and didn’t feel like a threat most of the time.. I figure it’s because this book is aimed for little kids but idk. Also at the end a character has a change of heart and it was almost hard to believe like it really seemed they did a 180.

Overall I think the book was still good but not as good as Primer and I wish Gretel Lusky illustrated the whole thing at the very least. The ending was kinda open ended so hopefully we’ll get more Primer books because I would love to read more! (And preferably with more Gretel Lusky art🙏)
Author 3 books62 followers
March 22, 2025
Read this with my 7 year old. Her verdict? 5 Stars! A fun little story that had my daughter laughing out loud at this likeable lead character. The art gets very busy at times, and I had to explain what was happening here and there, but it didn’t diminish her enjoyment. Good fun that leaves the door open for more.
Profile Image for Bella.
403 reviews3 followers
Read
March 24, 2025
I read this mostly because I love gretlusky and her art. The parts she illustrated were absolutely gorgeous though about a third of the way through the art style changed (I think another artist had to take over) and it wasn’t as clean and consistent as before. The story is definitely for younger audiences but it was fun.
Profile Image for Lauren. H.
41 reviews
May 7, 2025
The only downside to this book is that they switch artists in the middle of the story. For me it just throws the whole story off and made it a bit difficult to see what was happen because the second artists put so much pastel colors in her pieces that it was almost white at times.
Profile Image for Chris.
202 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2025
Almost 4 stars, but I can't do a round up in this case.

I really, really wanted to like this, but this story really didn't do anything for me. Primer is a now a freshly minted teenager, and boy howdy do you know it immediately. All the tropes are there. I understand that this is pretty close to how actual tweens/early teens act, but that doesn't make it any more fun to read.

I adored Primer's first volume. It was a unique story, with a main character that felt different from all the archtypical superhero stereotypes.

This walks back a lot of what I liked in volume 1. It feels like a lot of edges got sanded and reshaped so she would fit in the larger D.C. box.

I will say, the art is still phenomenal. The bright splashes of color and watercolor stylings are beautiful to look at. I'd even say the art is what saves this from being an even lower rating. Here's hoping we get some more Primer in the future, because even with this disappointing sequel, I still enjoy the character and idea a lot.
Profile Image for Alicia.
8,301 reviews150 followers
November 10, 2024
It's a superhero kind of day having also read Baptiste's Boy 2.0. This is the second book in the Primer series where Ashley is now really leaning into her powers as a superhero using her paints and her adopted mother is supporting everything alongside her adopted dad and her best friend. But they're unsure she's up for the next challenges and even the Teen Titans aren't really into her being a part of their special ground. But she's eager to try and has to move into action when they're gassed and the child of the villain is about to take control of an item-- problem is-- that child of the villain has done something already to get one up on Primer. Will she be able to save the day?

It's got plenty of bright colors, a delightful friendship story under the surface, and all the superhero vibes.
Profile Image for Sirah.
2,889 reviews26 followers
March 19, 2025
Primer would really like to join the Teen Titans, but they think she's too silly and inexperienced. So she sets out to prove herself. But even her best friend doesn't believe in her, so she gets a new best friend. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, they ruined it. The plot is good, and the characters are still among my favorite superheroes, but the dialogue? Ugh. What happened? How did it get so trite and cheesy? There were barely any pizzas! Oh, wait, there were many pizzas, but there was more cheese than 20 pizzas can explain. Book one remains one of my favorite comics of all time, but this one needed a lot more work before it left the oven. I don't hate the way the art style switched in chapter 2, but I do associate it with the drop in writing quality, and I'm not sure you can convince me it was a good idea either.
Profile Image for Emile Rudoy.
204 reviews1 follower
September 25, 2024
Me deja sentimientos encontrados. Me gusta mucho que sea formato de miniserie, pero también me gustaría mucho que fuera algo incluido dentro del universo DC y no como algo en una tierra paralela o así. Juraba que lo había comentado cuando salió la mini original, pero este es uno de los mejores personajes creados en este lustro (de hecho la miniserie original fue mi cómic favorito del año en que se publicó). Esta historia no le pide nada a esa y, aunque me parece que no soy el público meta la disfruté mucho también. El mensaje que manda está muy bien como para los preadolescentes y adolescentes a los que está destinada. El cambio de artista no me desagradó, de hecho lo disfruté mucho también. En fin, espero que no tengamos que esperar una vida para tener una nueva entrega.
Profile Image for Mr. Stick.
426 reviews
December 10, 2024
"If I got killed, my parents would kill me!"
- Ashley "Primer" Rayburn, to her best friend Luke.

Primer's back, and now she has a costume that can channel any color paint at the turn of a dial. Which makes switching powers more convenient.
This story features the Teen Titans and Deathstroke who're both trying to secure an explosive battery from the other. And, of course, Ashley wants to be a Teen Titan, so there're plenty of awkward attempts to impress punctuated by Beast Boy's comments and Starfire being oblivious to humor.
I got this as a Christmas gift for my nine year-old daughter. I approve of the content, and I'm sure she will also.
Same great writer. Same great artist. Same great characters. Same great everything. Four stars.
Profile Image for Chad.
10.2k reviews1,050 followers
July 12, 2025
The sequel to Primer from a few years ago which I loved. This I thought was just OK. Primer really wants to join the Teen Titans from the cartoon. I actually think that was part of the reason, the writing wasn't as tight. Trying to put this more in the DC universe but also not by making changes to the Titans history puts it in kind of a no man's land. The other thing I didn't like was the change in artists part way through. Gretel Lusky's art is a lot of fun. Nicoletta Baldari's artwork left me wondering what was happening in the action sequences. I had the hardest time following them. It's still not bad. Just not the lovefest I had with the original book.
Profile Image for Ross.
1,520 reviews
May 4, 2025
The continuing adventures of the 13yr old DNA encoded body paint superhero...
PRIMER!

Still 13...
Still a sarcastic mess...

This time around the lesson learned is about having to 'prove yourself' or be comfortable in your own skin. It's definitely a early teen theme (less booger jokes in this series, surprisingly).

Now, with a special appearances by Ravager and Primer's new BFF, Violette
----
Bonus: The Teen Titans have no Nightwing, so that sets this in something similar to the 2013 'Teen Titans' universe?
Profile Image for Stephen.
1,371 reviews3 followers
July 28, 2025
Let me start off by saying the art is stunning! I would read any book done by this artist! The story is fairly predictable and straightforward. You will pretty much know what is going to happen as you continue throughout this book, but like a rollercoaster you have already ridden, just buckle up and enjoy the ride! I highly recommend this graphic novel for teenage readers and the guest starring of the Teen Titans is done perfectly. Not too much, not too little of them make this book a great balancing act.
Profile Image for Scott Kelly.
347 reviews72 followers
December 7, 2024
3.5 🌟
I was so excited to see this long-awaited sequel, as I've recommended the first one to so many students over the years. I think the build up and the hype was too much to overcome, as I just wasn't blown away with this book as I was with the first. This book still makes me very happy that it exists, but I hope that the plot of the next one will be more flushed out.
I also didn't like her suit. One of the coolest parts about her is the paint on her skin with the 3 powers she's chosen.
Profile Image for Makelti.
12 reviews
January 1, 2025
This was an amazing book!!! I loved the story plot of the book, and the cliffhanger was amazing! The only complaint that I have is that like half way through the book, they changed the illustrators. The art was still good, but it was hard to look at because the art didn't have the sharp black lines that made the book, well... the book! It still was a good book, but the artwork was hard to look at.

(No hate to both illustrators. Just don't do the thing where you change the artwork halfway through the book!!)
Profile Image for Sesana.
6,195 reviews330 followers
November 21, 2024
I didn't like this second volume of Primer as much as I loved the first. Ashley was more bratty than relatable this time around. She's hugely overconfident and entitled, which made it harder for me to root for her. The Teen Titans play a pretty big role here, and it's worth noting that this is basically the version of the team that was in the excellent Teen Titans cartoon.
Profile Image for Sophie Delfuoco.
34 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2025
This was super cute and a great addition to the series. I love how much Ashley feels like a real 13 year old. I’m just a bit confused why the art style changed partway through the story. Was it intentional or did the original artist leave halfway through? Either way it was very jarring and I’m not sure I liked the new style as much as the original.
Profile Image for Gretchen.
1,428 reviews30 followers
November 26, 2024
Primer really wants to join the Teen Titans, but she isn't quite ready yet. When she accidentally lets the battery the Titans are guarding get stolen, she has to make things right. She also deals with friend issues and her bio-dad trying to manipulate her from prison.
Profile Image for Melissa Rochelle.
1,489 reviews153 followers
December 24, 2024
Evie's review: Love it, when's the next volume? It was very good but I MUST know when is the sequel? It would have to be like VERY VRY VERY GOOD!

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