Titans United (2021-) #1

Titans United #1

by Cavan Scott, Jamal Campbell (Cover Art), Rex Lokus (Colorist)

The Titans face their greatest challenge-their own powers! Nightwing, Donna Troy, Superboy, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, and Red Hood kick off a thrilling new case that will lead one of their own to question not only their place on the team, but their very existence.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels

28 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2021

About the author

is a freelance comic writer and author. He is best known for his work on a variety of spin-offs from both Doctor Who and Star Wars, as well as comics and novels for Vikings, Pacific Rim, Sherlock Holmes, and Penguins of Madagascar.

Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.

Reviews

[Scratch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm probably doing a real disservice to myself by only picking up a random DC issue every couple months. This one held promise because I generally like the younger superheroes (90s Young Justice especially). But I was a little thrown by the fact Red Hood was hanging out with the others, and no one was trying to apprehend him as a villain. I was aware that the Bat Family was sort of letting him operate on his own for a while, but I have trouble wrapping my head around the fact he was a member of their team. Especially with Dick Grayson right there. Why put two ex-Robins on one team? Neither of them has powers. They're just duplicative gymnasts with attitude.

Decent fight scenes and powers otherwise.

[Christian Zamora-Dahmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the entire 1-7 set in single issues.
It’s always a joy to see this team back together. The story wasn’t that impressive, but it was definitely a joy to watch this “surprise” villain show up. I’m not dropping any spoilers.
I’m not sure Cavan Scott is the perfect fit for a writer for this book, but still it was an enjoyable read. I have to admit there was some stiffness around some characters, and that’s something that would make a bit uncomfortable any long-time Titans fan. This team is mostly about its heart, not about punching everyone around, and I’m not sure Scott had that in mind (it could also have been that his editor asked him for a different direction).
All in all, it could have been better, but I’m still giving it a 4-star rating. I just want more Titans books (and no, the Academy book is not really living up to its name).

[Roland Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a decent Titans story. These last years have been rough for this team. The art is dynamic and fluid as is expected with so many highly powered characters. Cavan Scott immediately finds a recognisable voice and tone for this book honouring the past. This is infinitely better than the mess the franchise is in main continuity at present.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm intrigued. We'll see where it goes from here.

[Sid · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok, titans. you have my attention.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's alright I guess. Plot isn't very elaborated, heroes act sort of basic, and it seems like the only ones with some kind of non plain generic hero personality there are Gar and Jason (even when I don't like how try-hard tough jerk guy Jason's is). But it's entertaining enough for someone who doesn't look for a read with a lasting feel.

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the show and realize this title is probably supposed to bridge readers and viewers, and get some to cross over one way or another, but I was surprised to see Jason Todd. The story gets off to a rough start. The guy has no idea what's happening to him and is crying for help, but the Titans come in on the offensive with name calling and posturing, and then switch into help mode, and waffle back and forth throughout. Most of the early commentary is true to their personalities, but it's totally out of place and forced in this situation. It would've been a smoother start to let that all come organically in the back half, which did smooth out eventually. Overall, it's an interesting start that seems to be using all of the Titans more effectively than the show does.

[Clay Bartel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love the idea of the interconnect mini series format DC is heavily relying on with the Infinite Frontier line of books.

This will allow for loads of characters to appear in their own limited series without the issues related to poor sales with lesser known figures in ongoings.


This mini series directly follows Teen Titans Academy which is one of the ongoing series.

Shazam 1-4 mini also spun out of the Academy line.

The storyline for Titans United focuses on the classic members being robbed of their powers and very existence.

Exciting stuff! Keep them coming!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was refreshing after how bad the last Titans title was. I'm kind of disappointed they went with the almost the exact same characters that're on the TV show but I guess that was to be expected. Still, it's a nice setup - some good action, some interpersonal bickering, and all of the characters act like they've been established in the past. I'm definitely in for the second issue.

[Laura Maciuszek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am beyond content with finally finding a modern titans comic with an actually impactful/engaging plot, where the titans aren’t being written completely out of character to the point where you’re wondering if you know them at all.

The artist did a remarkable job with the panels and character designs as well, they all looked so good and realistic !!!

[Terri]

NIGHTWING!!!

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun first issue. Only a few hints of the wokeness that DC Comics is most known for these days.

[chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

but seriously who invited red hood?

[lola :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

slayed
also they’re all so attractive???

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story and artwork.

[Lauren Deaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Renee M. P. T. Kray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the worst thing I've read, but definitely forgettable. Nothing stands out in this book, it's just... Meh.

[The Wintermute System · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing, plot, and art are all good. I probably would have rated this four if not for a nitpick at the end, that really encapsulates how I elevate certain characters.

I bought this, and subscribe to this series, because of Jason Todd, aka Red Hood; I would very much have passed on this book if not for him. I don't like all Robins, and I certainly don't love them equally, I will die on the hill that Jason is the best.

It's excited to see Red Hood on a team, even though it's unlikely. He's got Roy Harper/Arsenal and Kori/Starfire in the original run of Red Hood and the Outlaws, and Artemis and Bizarro in the second run of that, but he often mentions being a loner. He doesn't really get put in teams that are anything more than threesomes, to be honest, partially because superhero teams lean into following the law - as much as possible - especially when it comes to not murdering people. Jason, the second Robin who was murdered by the Joker, found peace in death, and then was ripped out of that to be shoved into a world where he was all but forgotten? He couldn't really deal with the Joker still running around, with crime going on as always; he was angry when he was alive and angrier when he came back from the dead.

He was trained by Batman to be effective, brutal if needed, but not lethal; unbound from those chains he became so. Which means that this starts off with humans showing superhuman abilities, that they can't control and that is supercharging them and turning them into living explosives, and the most efficient solution is a lethal one. The team was bound to sneer at Jason, so it seems cruel to put him on a team that would do so. Still, when they tell him to stow it so they can find other solutions, he complies.

I figured they weren't being terrible to him, it was okay...

Until Superboy, Connor Kent, starts losing his power: he already was having trouble with people comparing him to Superman and him feeling like he couldn't live up to that. So when he ends up not able to save people and with a broken arm, insisting he can still help the Titans, somehow has to prove he can't. It's not just that he relies on his superpowers, it's that he's emotionally fragile, and Jason nails it: he's the only one to notice. Jason goads Connor about how useless he is without his power - ironic that no one pointed out that Jason and Dick Grayson, the team leader, Nightwing, and formerly the first Robin have no powers. Not having powers doesn't make you useless; not having powers and being used to having them, relying them, and being unable to navigate being powerless makes you useless on missions. Add an inferiority complex, and Connor - without testing if he has his powers again - punches Jason.

It's a problem because he could have easily killed Jason with powers. His anger at his own powerlessness are a danger to those around him, as they have no idea why humans are getting these metahuman powers, or why Connor lost his powers, or when or if they'll come back. Connor is a weak point on more than one counts, and would be out of his depths in a fight. Even without powers, Jason and Dick can handle themselves, so Connor is out of luck.

And yet, despite this valuable service, despite being the only one to see how off his game and unstable Connor was, despite the fact that nothing short of this display would have convinced the others, they turn on Jason. Their biases are showing and it's not pretty: Jason was correct, and they know it, because they benched Connor without a second thought after that. And yet, Jason is treated like dirt for helping them, because they don't approve of his necessary strategy - which put Jason, and no one else, in danger.

If I were Jason, I would have walked away from this team - and yet despite his cries of being a loner, he appreciates when Tim Drake is not an absolute asshole to him, like most others. Or Roy or Kori or Artemis or Bizarro... He wants to help people and he wants to be around friends.

Too bad these people aren't really his friends...

That's right. I wrote a whole team book review about Jason. I honestly don't care about any of the others.