The story of this book is not original: a group of people who barely know each other have to overcome their differences to defeat their enemies. The only thing that saved it from being completely forgettable was Damian and his character arc. He was well-written, his goals and relationships clear and touching. He went from cocky self-assured lone wolf to someone willing to sacrifice himself for his friends. He easily stole the whole book and every page with him was a joy.

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The only problem with a storyline based on „Damian turns out to be a good person after all“ is that we’ve already seen this exact storyline several times already and it always goes the same, until he gets rebooted and de-aged again. As a Damian fan, it’s exhausting and frankly annoying. Yes, Damian is a good person with a troubled past fighting to stay good. That is a good base for a character, but after the amazing Batman and Robin run by Peter J. Tomasi, I’m expecting to move past that.

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The other problem with Damian outshining everyone else so spectacularly is that this is supposed to be a team book, despite not being written that way. The other members of Teen Titans might as well be mannequins with notes on them for their dialogues, for all the personality they have. Starfire is the only one who gets to be occasionally interesting, and her dialogue is completely hamfisted.

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Demon’s Fish, the enemy team, is interesting, but aside Mara, their leader, none of them have a real reason to be here. According to the plot, all of them chose their own Teen Titan nemesis based on some criteria, except we never learn what those are.

All the characters give long speeches about friendship and change their behavior, as if they underwent a complex character development, but they didn’t. They spend most of their short time together fighting, but when the story needs them to be friends, they suddenly are. It’s all very abrupt and a classic case of telling, not showing.

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There are two art styles in this book. The first half, done by Jonboy Meyers, didn’t fit the story much. The colorful angular style seemed at odds with the story. The second half of the book was done by Khoi Pham, whose fluid and soft style fit the book much better.

Overall, the book is sadly mediocre. It gets better in the second half, but not by much. Maybe now that the basics are set, the next book can be much more solid.

Story: With the death (wink wink) of Tim Drake the Teen Titans pretty much disbanded, they each went their separate ways. One by one Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, and the new Kid Flash are all taken but it’s not by some nefarious mastermind…ok well they are but Damian ultimately had a good purpose for it. Damian Wayne wants the Teen Titans to get back together again with him in charge. As Robin, Damian is ready to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors he’s thirteen now and ready to prove to his father that he can do this. Damian’s Grandfather, Ra’s al Ghul, has plans of his own and unless Robin can convince the other Titans to work together again with him they are doomed.

Art: This probably has some of my favorite art in it, Jonboy Meyers working both story and illustrations did a fantastic job at both. Khoi Pham, Diogenes Neves and all the colorist… everyone, I loved it. The art was clear, detailed, the coloring was bold. I had to go back and just look at the art without reading the story.

Characters: Damian Wayne/ Robin, Beast Boy, Starfire, Raven, Kid Flash, Ra’s al Ghul, League of Assassins, The Demon’s Fist, Alfred and Batman.



Review: Damian Wayne, that’s the little shit I know and love. Damian tracks down, stalks, and masterminds the kidnapping of the new Kid Flash, Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy all to prove they need him. Didn’t even occur to him that they might find it offensive and not too keen on working with someone who basically insulted each and every one of them and then asked for a favor. You really see the dual sided nature that Damian is struggling with, being trained by Ra’s but trying to live up the standards of Batman and prove that he is up to the task that is being the leader of the Teen Titans. As they fight the Demon Fist, the villainous teen group that Ra’s created for the League of Assassins, the Titans learn that Damian is more like his father then they all thought. And seriously Starfire is STILL a teenager?

I will be honest, this is the first comic book I have read in about 20 years. I was interested in it because I loved the concept and of course DC. A few friends of mine have been talking about the DC Rebirth event and I was curious. I have always been a fan of the Teen Titans and this comic did not disappoint. The illustrations were so amazing! Damian Wayne ( Robin), Batman's son, suddenly finds himself in charge of the Titans. It is not all sunshine and roses that's for sure. Damian needs their help to battle his grandfather Ra's al Ghul, the League of Assassins, and the Demon's Fist. The stakes are pretty high and it doesn't elp that not all the Titans are thrilled to be working with Robin. I don't want to spoil this for true comic book readers but I will say that it was the perfect way to dip my toes back in.

I'm going to start off by saying that I'm not a fan of Damian Wayne, I find him smug, arrogant and way to full of himself. On the other hand I love the Teen Titans, so it was a trade off. Damian has some big shoes to fill as Robin both as Batman's sidekick and leader of the Teen Titans.
The books start off with Damian and his daddy issues, which spiral into who am I and alot of the plot is taken up by his whole drama. I found some of the story very reminiscent of his subplot in Justice League vs. Teen Titans facing down his grandfather, Ra's al Ghul, and coming to grips with his new role as a superhero. In my opinion there was way too much focus on Damian. When Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and the new Kid Flash are targeted by Ra's al Ghul's forces Damian kidnaps them to save(?) them. After a big speech about fighting together or dieing alone, he takes off to face his grandfather alone. Of course the Titans come to his rescue and fighting ensues.
For me the plot was eh, I hoping for something more original and, I don't know, involving the Teen Titan's as a, you know, group. In order to end this review on a positive note I will say that I liked the artwork. I feel Mr Meyers did a good job making them slightly like the Teen Titan's animated series, but still different enough to be it's own thing.
Even though the writing fell a little flat, I'm still interested in seeing how Damian under the guidance of the Titan's will grow. The series has potential, let's see if the writers will run with or not.

I find myself oddly relieved by the fact that Damien is still a little tyrant terror, but a tyrant terror that is maybe finally going to grow up. If this is how the new Teen Titans are starting I can't wait to see how it grows from here.

I'm always happy when I get comics off Netgalley, but these DC Rebirth titles have been one disappointment after another.

I've only ever read the original Teen Titans titles - that too a handful at best. I requested this title before I realised that Damian Wayne is DC's most insufferable child character. He's a foul-mouthed (as bad as PG-13 DC can get), arrogant, know-it-all with no respect for anyone but himself.

This title starts with the kidnappings of the now disbanded members of the Teen Titans (Beast Boy, Raven, Starfire), and Kid Flash (who is Black like TV Kid Flash's Keiynan Lonsdale). Turns out their captor is Damian Wayne, who is such a psychopath that he thinks the only way to make a team is by abducting them, tying them up and threatening them with torture. Also, he fails to mention that they have all been tagged with ticking time bombs that he needs to deactivate.

Much banter later, we find out that this day marks Damian's 13th birthday, a big deal in the League of Assassins (or Shadows, I can't keep track), which is where he grew up (because he is the son of Talia al Ghoul, who is the daughter of Ra's al Ghoul, head of the League). Turns out Damian ran away and now lives with his Dad, Batman (comic books are confusing), but since the League didn't like this they've sent his childhood rival, some child whose name escapes me, with her band of merry assassins to kill Damian and these randoms-who-just-happen-to-be-Teen Titans.

There's a big fight, Damian runs back to the League to save his 'friends' (nothing like lying and abducting to get yourself a solid squad for life), but then loses in a duel to his rival and is about to die when the Titans come to save him. They change the mind of rival's team because she's only ever got her back not theirs, and everyone lives happily ever after.

I don't know who this is targeted at, but it was not much of a fun read. I'm just grateful Starfire has some clothes on - though she continues to be absent any trousers/leggings, because comic book artists are under the impression that women have super-powered natural shields protecting their legs from all ills. Also, the only two women in the comic are aliens - real human women just don't cut it in DC?

I think, even if I wanted to enjoy this title, I was annoyed by some panels in the beginning. Starfire is wandering around the Caribbean (don't know why), and she constantly criticises the people for their corruption and the human trafficking rampant here. She, a White-passing alien, who was a slave once herself (both alien women of the Teen Titans were subjugated in their youth, no comic book female can be a hero without that kind of experience; #sarcasm), is passing judgement on a people who've been at the mercy of White men all their lives; just what? She extols the virtues of Gotham, a city in America, as the prototype for how corrupt cities should act. I don't know what the writers were smoking, but this racist crap is not okay. You know who started this slavery and human trafficking nonsense? White countries. The businesses thrive in those countries, but no one wants to talk about that. Much better to point fingers at an economically struggling country and accuse them of inhumanity - get off your high horse DC, this is just stupid writing.

So - with that beginning, there was no hope for the rest of the book. It was as silly as I'd expected it to be. Damian becomes Teen Titans leader, with everyone, including Starfire (an actual adult from the looks of it, given that she lives in an apartment with Dick Grayson) waiting for his instructions. It's daft. I guess the kids will love it, but with all this fake angst and the need to include subliminal xenophobic messages, I definitely won't be in for a look at the subsequent volumes.

The Teen Titans are gathered together by the latest incarnation of Robin, Damian Wayne (son of Batman).
Starfire, Raven, Beat Boy and Kid Flash join forces to fight Ra's al Ghul.
I enjoyed the characterizations of the team, written realistically as teenagers by Benjamin Percy. Although I thought Starfire was a little older in the New 52? Damian Wayne as the impatient, impulsive Robin is my favorite incarnation of the Boy Wonder.
Good action, some interesting plot twists, and bit of a coming of age story. The art by Jonboy Meyers is a perfect fit or the book- dynamic in the action sequences, and capturing the characters essence in the quieter moments.
All in all, I've been impressed by the Rebirth title, and The Teen Titans Vol. 1: Damian Knows Best is no exception.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new Teen Titans! Especially Beast Boy! It was great to see Damien's history and I loved the two warring sides to him. Can;t wait to read more!