Titans Discussion Thread

[chrysalis]

If Raven had her own title, I would actually not want to see any of the Titans appear as regular characters.

[Navarre]

Completely agreed. I feel, if anything, the Titans have prevented Raven from being explored to her full potential.

I know you like Beast Boy but, really, is a romance with him the most interesting story line we can find for Raven?

[The Hitman]

Gar is gone too. I still suspect the Doom Patrol may see him in the near future.

Last issue of Titans was about Gar. In it he was wondering what his place is in life, thenm helps the Teen Titans take down Cinderblock (I think). He seemed to think he found where he belongs. Maybe he'll end up a sort-of mentor to the new Teen Titans.

[Navarre]

Cyborg has had some connection to the Teen Titans by virtue of administrating the tower. But with Titans Tower reduced to rubble (probably for the third time this week!) it opens him up for the JLA lineup that appears to be coming.

But the Teen Titans could benefit from a mentor. Honestly though, I like watching them try to make their own way.

Maybe Gar will form his own team or something. I really have no idea. I'm not a fan of his anyway.

[Navarre]

I just read Titans #18. So, there are some minor Spoilers below...








From what I'm reading it sure looks like Hitman is right. Gar looks to be heading off to be the mentor for the Teen Titans.

That's odd, as he usually acts like a teenager himself. But if will give his character room to grow and that's always a good thing. I guess with Vic going to the JLA the Teen Titans needed someone to take his place as the voice of Titan experience.

The issue put the spotlight on Raven, which is nice. But once again it was all Trigon-is-bad/I feel alone angsty stuff. Raven also needs a chance to grow as a character.

This issue seemed to be more directed toward illustrating that Raven doesn't quite know herself or where she belongs anymore. That certainly leaves the door open for her to move forward...but we just don't know where yet.

An interesting, and I'm sure unintentional, thing I noticed is on the last page of the issue. The last page is a right-hand page where Raven is backlit. ...on the reverse of that page are some ads, one of which is for the Starman comic.

If you hold Raven's page up to the light a bit, the corona emblem from the Starman cover on the reverse side makes a perfect halo for Raven. ... It's kinda neat. 

[Slappy]

There are 8 Titans: Dick Grayson, Donna Troy, Wally West, Red Arrow, Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Raven.

Of those mentioned above, Dick is the soul of the team, and Donna is the heart.  When either one of those members is not there, the family falls apart into the predictable "Super hero" team dynamics.  Dick IS the leader.  Especially when he is NOT trying to be like Bruce.
Donna is the Mommy, Wally & Roy are the Brothers.  Gar is the annoying Little Brother to Middle Child Vic.  Raven is the Goth sisterwho likes to stay in her room listening to Emo, while Kory has been in my opinion displaced ever since she and Dick broke up.  She was the Nympho girlfriend we all wanted when our hormones first kicked in but was with big brother all the time.

Titans have come and gone, and for me, my favorite team was from the 80's.  It was classic and defining.  Ever since then, every title has been a pale comparison trying to write a variation on a complicated theme.  Writers using these characters have either gone too far with the family theme (Devin Grayson) or usually in the other direction creating caricatures of the actual characters without giving them any real depth or personality.  Writers not using them tried to go completely different.
Young Justice/ Teen Titans was a natural progression, You can't go home again, so I think it best to try not to revisit the past every other year.  Unless DC editorial is willing to go long term (5 years at least)on a Titans book where this is the primary book for these characters, then I believe that all other attempts will fail.  Unlike the JLA, or X-Men, Avengers, or many other super teams, the Titans need to be together and commited to each other to work.  That is why the chemistry worked before.  Dick wasn't even in the Bat Books, nor were the sidekicks in the titles of their mentors.  That is why their relationships were able to develop.  There were no concerns about other titles being the major.
When Donna had to answer to Wonder Woman's editorial and Dick to batman, and Gar to Aquaman, then they couldn't develop except superficially.  Priorities need to be stated, and if it isn't titans, then so be it.  They are great characters, and do well on their own or with others.