Reviews

I was seriously disappointed with this first volume of what has always been touted as a classic of the DC superhero canon. The characters are very flat and wishy-washy, never really having much of a motive or reason for doing what they're doing. They also are often quite confused about why they're doing anything in the first place.

Raven acts pretty much like a puppet master, pulling the strings of the other Titans to get them to form a team and do what she wants. She never explains anything and often changes her mind, and it's all very annoying when she's sending these other kids to fight while whining about being a pacifist. None of the characters really get fleshed out until the final issue when it stops being about beating things up and instead we get a bit of time with each character as they live a relatively normal life for a bit.

Also the Fearsome Five as a group is pretty silly with goofy powers and goofier costumes. I know that's very much 80s comics at the time, but I thought it was much better done in the second volume with similar types of villain groups.

woodenpersonality's review

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adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Wolfman and Perez start strong in their New Teen Titans run. This book sees the team of Robin, Kid Flash, Starfire, Wonder Girl, Beast Boy and Cyborg assembled by Raven as they take on some of the Titan's most enduring villains like Trigon and Deathstroke. The strength in the Wolfman & Perez's collaboration is not in these fights, however (although Perez draws some truly great fight scenes), but in the moments that make up each of their inner lives. Each character is defined by deeply held issues with their parents. Raven's father is plotting to destroy the world, Cyborg's father turned him into half-machine, Starfire's father sold her into slavery, etc. etc. It adds a layer of depth to the team that many superheroes lack. And while those fights can go on too long at times, the moments when the Titans are just truly living and trying to cope with their own angst and confusion about the world are among the best moments that can be found in any superhero comics.

Content Warnings

fungivibes's review

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

3.5

kashila's review

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adventurous funny medium-paced

Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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