By Hunter T. Patrick

Well, this will be interesting. Held after No Justice, the world has changed. Life is not viewed as it was before this event. Robin was as affected by the events as much as those who stayed on Earth, such as Red Arrow and Kid Flash. Half of Rebirth’s Damian Wayne’s Teen Titans team has been separated. Raven and Beast Boy have been upgraded to being Titans whereas Starfire is now in Justice League Odyssey. Teen Titans now consists of Damian Wayne Robin, Red Arrow, and Kid Flash.

This issue has three stories, each revolving around each one of the three. Damian’s has him going face to face with Black Mask, and showing Damian snapping and taking steps that his father (Batman) would never do. Emiko (Red Arrow) deals with her relationship with her mother and the trouble she causes. Wally West (Kid Flash) deals with the other Wally West and how they do not see eye to eye with the Suicide Squad. All three kids experience different situations that all end in the same. It is time for them to rebel and create a more rogue Teen Titans team. This is what is needed to be read before Teen Titans New Justice comics, beginning with Teen Titans #20.

The writing is both fun and somewhat edgier than past Titans comics, though not by much. The Red Arrow story did not feel nearly as strong as the other two, and that is a shame. Damian’s was shocking while Wally’s felt fun seeing dynamics, and Harley was present who had a good bit of fun lines. Interestingly their philosophies, as opposed to other, more ‘adult’ superheroes, make us agree more with these teens then the adults they are supposed to be modeled off of. This brings forth an interesting perspective and sense that maybe who readers agree with truly is beyond black and white, even characters always considered purely ethical. 

The art felt like such a dud sadly. Damian did not look like Damian, and Kid Flash looked, well, who knows what he looked like. The art was easy to follow but it just had a look to it that left a bad taste. The backgrounds looked good but specific character designs felt too much trying to make characters look like the artists that it lost who the characters are. 

New Justice has begun to look extremely strong with Snyder’s Justice League, Dan Abnett’s Titans special, and now this. The new characters will surely change the dynamic, but the focus on the three characters currently in Teen Titans is a brilliant move. None is more important than the other in the fact all of them have their own mini story. To get the full New Justice series this issue is important, especially if a Teen Titans fan. How new writer Adam Glass will handle the characters after this is a mystery. As a stand-alone comic, it is not enough to satisfy for a special, despite being stand alone. It is good and shows promise for the future. Let’s hope the future being built up truly is good.

Score: 3/5

Teen Titans Special #1
DC Comics