Tales of the Titans

by Shannon Hale, Steve Orlando, Dean Hale (illustrator)

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

136 pages, Paperback

Published April 9, 2024

About the author

Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels: the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, multiple award winner Book of a Thousand Days, and the highly acclaimed Books of Bayern series. She has written three books for adults, including the upcoming Midnight in Austenland (Jan. 2012), companion book to Austenland. She co-wrote the hit graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge and its sequel Calamity Jack with husband Dean Hale. They live near Salt Lake City, Utah with their four small children, and their pet, a small, plastic pig.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8 stars.

[Rahul Nadella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tales of the Titans accomplishes everything you can ask for from a spotlight of Starfire, Raven, Donna Troy and Beast Boy. Shannon and Dean Hale and Javier Rodriguez maximize the time given to tell a wonderful story that highlights what makes each a great character. The adventure and its lessons about being in touch with your feelings are best suited for young readers, and the drama-less art keeps the action and seriousness to a minimum. This book is probably going to be best enjoyed by very casual Titans fans who don't know the rich backstory of the team or who have been keeping up with the team.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

After establishing the Titans as the new dominant superhero team in the new DC Universe, DC lets different creative teams handle the origins and backstories of different lower tier heroes. Flash and Nightwing are shining in their current standalone stories.

But I loved the Starfire story by Shannon Hale. It really shines a light on the character in a way we haven't gotten before.

The Beast Boy story is obviously steering us in new directions for the epic Titans crossover, Beast World. And I can't wait for it.

These were fun to read!

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a heads-up I have no real konwledge of the comic Titans and I only read this for the Beast World prologue issue in this. Overall these are nice vignettes to focus on each Titan as an individual and their own personal journeys / highlight a core aspect of them. Each issue is given the same page length but the first two feel a tad too long and stretched out.
Spoilers ahead for my review on each individual Titan tale. Highlights were Raven and Beast Boy's tales. Average was 2.875 (for reference a 2.5 for me is servicable for a read).
Starfire - It was alright. I feel like if I was Starfire fan I would have liked this more. It’s got clear chops but I don’t really have an interest in Starfire. The focus on her strong emotions was neat. The art was not my favorite. 2.5/5
Raven - Focuses on the new Trigon son's and one of their transitions to becoming better thanks to Raven all while Raven internal monologues about her similarities to her Mother. The Trigon's sons deal from Lazarus Planet was neat to me so im glad it picks up here. 3/5
Donna Troy - Never read anything Donna before. I didn't know she was so political. Her reporter but also actual superhero gives her some stuff. I think she'd do well with Jon Kent if they ever have an issue or miniseries together. So far the simplest issue but somehow doesn't feel overstretched like the others. Just a fine individual issue overall. 2.5/5
Beast Boy - I read this trade singe-handedly so I could read this as apparently it’s a prologue for Beast World. Its the best issue from this trade. I enjoyed the art and the focus on Gar's mental health was neat with the thriller kidnapping storyline that pushes Gar through his trauma and fears to be back at full power thanks to himself and his relationship with Raven. 3.5/5

[Sarospice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly a directionless mess. The Beast Boy story is the best IMO because it seems to be in continuity and sets up the next Titans storyline. Tween mallgoth Raven will never be as good as the original. Sorry, not sorry.

[Belfry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starfire: 4 stars
Raven: 2.5 stars
Donna: 2 stars
Beast Boy: 4 stars

3 stars

[Matt town · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only story of these I significantly enjoyed was the Starfire one. :/

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okayish volume, some good stories, some not good and the art varies, but that issue with raven.. the art in that is horrendous so just know its a mixed bag.

The first story with Kory was nice and is about her finding herself and well being a princess and helping her people on New palamar and realizing that the Titans are her family and all that and yeah I like those moments she has and really its a nice filler but character exploration type of issue.

The next one with Raven is not that good, the story idea is great, some other woman like her mother is being manipulated to marry trigon and the baby is there which reminds her of her situation but its got this weird story with her brother trinity and disguised as an angel.. kinda confusing and the art was just bad lol.

That issue with Donna was great and fighting Baron Bedlam and exposing the wrongs going on in Markovia, and that felt like it should have been a 5 issue mini series and felt very compressed and so some parts that would have been better if it had been given more scenes and issues.. come off as incomplete maybe but it does set up a mystery about Donna with her father and I wonder where that will continue.

Then there is that last issue with Gar and him finding himself maybe as he is captured by this werewolf guy who wants to use Gar's blood to cure himself.. Anthony Lupus but the monster within him is unleashed and how will Gar stop him and I like that story a lot, it actually shows Gar being haunted by Deathstroke after dark crisis tragedy he faced ad the PTSD of it, haunting visions and how he gets over it and fights them to protect the woman he loves aka Raven and I love the character arc and growth there and its possibly the best written out of all these stories.

So yeah a volume with mixed results, some stories good, some stories bad, but it does the job of exploring each titan in this new era of DC comics and makes for a good read for some fans of the characters who want to read issues spotlighting such characters. And yeah so if you're like that its for you maybe!

[Tomás Sendarrubias García · Rating 3 out of 5]

Con la Liga de la Justicia apartada del foco después de los acontecimientos de Crisis Oscura, según parece los Titanes van a convertirse en el nuevo "equipo principal" del Universo DC, y así dentro de este nuevo Amanecer de DC, vamos a tener este tomo recopilatoria de historias cortas sobre cuatro de sus miembros (dejando fuera a Nightwing y a Kid Flash, quizá por considerar que son los más conocidos). Así, tendremos historias sobre Starfire, Raven, Donna Troy y Beast Boy, y, ¿qué nos vamos a encontrar? Pues cuatro historias dispares, la verdad, siendo las dos mejores las centrales del volúmenes (las dedicadas a Raven y Donna Troy), costando un poco de arrancar la de Starfire, y siendo la más floja (a nivel de guion pero la mejor visualmente) la de Beast Boy.

Y curiosamente, creo que aunque el número de Beast Boy está mejor dibujado que los anteriores, el gran punto flojo de este tomo es del dibujo. Demasiado anime, demasiado cartoon, no sé como definirlo, quizá queriendo dirigirse hacia un público juvenil que está acostumbrado a los Teen Titans de los dibujos... no lo tengo muy claro. Por lo demás... una lectura entretenida, incluso interesante en muchos momentos, y cuya lectura es ágil y no cuesta.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Handful of stories to get you caught up with the Titans as they take on 'major player' status in the DC universe. Move over, Justice League. Titans Together!

4 issues comprise the collection (each focusing on a single Titans character):
- Starfire : learning to be at peace with her wild emotional swings and sensitivity
- Raven : trying to believe that they've matured and are ready for these new responsibilities
- Donna Troy : again, adjusting to feelings of isolation after recent anti-Amazon legislation
= Beast Boy : trusting himself after taking a gunshot to the head by Deathstroke during Dark Crisis

=====
Bonus: Justice Foundation (a Steve Orlando creation) makes its first(?) appearance since 2018
Bonus Bonus: Marv Wolfman is to thank for Starfire's 'spicy' name. Now add, Kardam'am to the mix

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.
As we head into the newest era of DC Comics, this GN pays homage to the 80's Classic Tales of the Teen Titans, by giving us another collection, illustrated similar to back then, but with current continuity stories.
- Starfire goes on a solo mission to help some of her people overcome a monster, and learns that "Princess" really is closer to "Hero" for those she loves.
- Raven goes undercover in the Cult of Trigon to free a woman having the demon's baby... and may have gained her brother as an ally in the process.
- Donna Troy helps save Markovia from Baron Bedlam, and rediscovers her love of photography... but might finally meet her father soon.
- Beast Boy must go feral to regain his weakening powers, and remember who he is.

Overall, a good read and a nice jump off point for the Titans.
Recommend.

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

these were a slog to get through. particularly raven's issue. the writing was incoherent at times. raven investigates a religious cult that is similar to the one hwr mother was in where she became pregnant eith Rachel. here another perpsn is pregnant and the cult want her child for trigon purposes. the dialogue at times doesn't add up. did they know who Rachel was? did the mother want out? it wasn't clear.

the art for Donna and starfire issues was great. loved it. colours for starfire also good. beast boy I liked the story, dealing with grief abd depression. Donna's was too real for 2025 - fascist leader, concentration camps, deporting immigrants illegally. starfire owns the names she is given by her friends.

ill never read it again but I may flip through it.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally enjoyed this.

I thought that Starfire’s issue was a bit flat and Raven’s was incredibly boring. Really loved Donna’s issue from the art to the story, and the debrief with Nightwing at the end. Beast Boy’s was also fun and engaging. No story for Nightwing, Wally, Cyborg though?

I would have really loved some more team interactions instead of individual stories.

As a side note, what on earth have they done to poor Raven?

3.5 stars.

[NarraTea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5: okayish volume, feels 1000% filler to everything the team has going on and sort of off-putting to the prep for the Beast World event. Still a nice little light read if you wish to know the characters in a deeper level.

[Will Cooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this was written for younger audiences and didn't strike a chord with me.

[minna · Rating 3 out of 5]

the starfire one was good and i didnt know what was going on with raven and never met donna troy before so that was nice and beast boy is oomf

[Olivia Maki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize it was 4 different stories, still a good read.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75

Character stories about the center of 4 Titans.

[Alex A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starfire - 4 stars
Raven - 1.5 stars
Donna Troy - 2 stars
Beast Boy - 4 stars

Starfire and Beast Boy's stories felt like good representations of the characters and were well paced/written. The art was especially excellent in the former.

Raven's art and story were nonsense; a general misinterpretation of the character's growth thus far too. (And why does Raven have a nose piercing?)

Donna's story was okay, but felt too condensed. The ending was a good cliffhanger, though.
A minor gripe: Donna spends the first half of her issue taking photos of people she's just freed as they run away. That's not gripping photojournalism! Why not take a photo and then free them?