'Teen Titans: Raven' with story by Kami Garcia and art by Gabriel Picolo is part of a series of reinterpretations of characters by authors. Some have been better than others. This is one of the better ones.

Raven Roth is involved in a bad accident with her foster mom and loses her memory (as well as her foster mother). Now she is in a new foster home in New Orleans and trying to rebuild the fragments of her life. There is the good: like her new foster sister, Max, and Tommy Torres, the guy at school that likes her. There is the bad: the thoughts of others that plague her, and the dawning realization that her life before had some pure darkness.

Like any of these titles, you kind of have to suspend a little disbelief. This isn't quite the Raven I'm familiar with, but it's a plausible enough version of her, and that's all I look for in this series. I actually care more about this version of Raven than some others I've read. The art is sparse and light on color, but I like the approach a lot and the art is really solid.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

I really enjoyed this book. I am slowly learning more of the DC (and Marvel) Universe and this book helped me to learn about an interesting character with whom I was not previously familiar. The artwork worked for me and the story made sense. Raven and her fellow students all felt like teenagers, complete with crushes and drama. The representation seemed natural and organic, not shoe-horned in because they were checking off a box.

Possible trigger: the beginning starts with a car accident in which the parental figure doesn't survive. Also attempted kidnapping of a teenager by an adult. Nothing overly horrible as per this day and age, but it could be jarring to someone not prepared or more tender hearted. (Nothing wrong with that, I admit to tearing up while reading the beginning. But my heart has become a big ball of mush the older I've gotten.)

I really enjoyed this and want to continue with Raven's story. 4.5 stars, rounded down to 4, only because it didn't quite reach "keeper" status for me. Really good read, highly recommended!

My thanks to NetGalley and DC Entertainment/DC Ink for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

This comic was absolutely amazing!! I loved it SOOO much! Highly recommend to Teen Titans fans and comic Raven fans!

I went into this with very little prior knowledge of Teen Titans, but I’ve always been intrigued by Raven as a character, so I was excited to jump into this graphic novel. The art style was wonderful and I loved the use of a limited color palette to emphasize certain elements of the visual story. Unfortunately, I feel like I missed out a little on getting to know Raven with this being my first real introduction. Perhaps having more previous background information would have helped, but I mostly felt the story was just too short. I wanted more! Especially when it came to Raven and Max’s friendship, which was probably my favorite part of the story. So would I recommend this graphic novel? Yes, I think I would, but perhaps not as readily as I would have if it were longer and took more time to allow the reader to get to know the characters.

This was such a great graphic novel. I follow the illustrator, Gabriel Picolo, on Instagram and I love his illustrations. This is a fast read and the story captures you from the beginning. You don't need Teen Titan knowledge to understand what's going on in this. The illustrations in this were amazing! I can't wait to read Beast Boy next.

Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia, Illustrated by Gabriel Picolo
Available now

Memory loss, high school drama, gods...what more can you want in a book?
After surviving the car crash that killed her adoptive mom and suffering from memory loss, Raven feels adrift and alone. With the help of her mom’s sister and daughter, Raven tries to move on with her life and navigate high school but she is plagued by nightmares and hearing the thoughts of other people.
What is happening to Raven and what does her aunt and cousin know? Who can she trust?

I loved Raven! Her character is so vulnerable as she deals with her memory loss and trying to find her true self. She is also incredibly powerful and can read the minds of others-although I don’t think that would always be the best gift. I loved the scenes inside Tallulah Saints House of Voodoo and would love to spend hours wandering around the shop and having my cards read by Miss Eliza.
Fast paced, well written, and with beautiful artwork, Raven will keep you captivated from start to finish.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

Fun story about super heroes! And the book is pure artwork! So visually stunning and entertaining story.

This was a beautifully drawn intro into Raven’s character. I really liked the illustrations and the portrayal of Raven as a human. She has no memory of being a half-demon and instead becomes a typical teen. She is faced with mean girls, navigating a high school setting, and talking to boys. While this may not be the Raven we know in the comics, I really liked this adaptation of her character. I mean, who’s to say Raven wouldn’t behave this way if her memory was completely wiped and she was taken in by her human aunt?

Even though I really liked this, I did feel like it was a bit rushed. I know Raven’s story because I’m a fan of her character, but for anyone new coming in, things are just thrown at the readers. The author did a good job trying to give the readers nuggets of her history in the form of Raven slowly getting her memory back, but there are still a lot of questions left unanswered. I know graphic novels are meant to be short, but a little bit more time developing her character, as well as her cousin and aunt’s characters , would have been nice.

This was a great graphic novel. I read it within an hour. I thought the artwork was beautiful and I can’t wait to see it in full color. I liked the portrayal of Raven as Rachel Roth and this humanized version of her as she navigated high school while regaining her memory. I wish it were a bit longer so that things could be more fleshed out, but I’m hoping that her character develops more as the series progresses.

I had a great time reading Teen Titans: Raven. It told a wonderful story that was a real page turner. Honestly it was hard to put this graphic novel down. We learn a bit about Raven’s past here and follow them on the journey to remembering who they are. There are some truly epic fights toward the end, and this story ends on a strong note. If you are a fan of Teen Titans then this is a graphic novel you may want to check out.

I am loving the reboot of DC characters. Raven has always been a favorite of mine so I was a little worried. Kami Garcia did a wonderful job with the story and the artist Gabriel Picollo really brought the words to life. Ms. Garcia’s story is a great coming of age tale that works in the context of the universe as well as a stand alone. I think all ages will enjoy the new take on Raven.

After Raven and her foster mom are in a tragic auto accident, Raven loses both the only mother she has ever known and her memories. She moves to New Orleans with her foster mother’s sister in order to finish her senior year of high school. Raven quickly remembers anything related to school knowledge, but can’t remember the personal things. When she starts hearing weird things and some other unexplained issues arise, Raven begins to wonder if it is actually a good thing that she doesn’t remember her past. What secrets is Raven’s subconscious trying to protect her from?

Teen Titans: Raven is the first graphic novel in the Teen Titans series. Those readers who are looking for the group will need to hold off for another book because this volume is all about Raven. It really doesn’t matter if readers are knowledgeable about any other stories that include Raven because this book is intended to give a starting point for this character. Unfortunately, if you are a really big fan you might find flaws, but as a reader who just enjoys good stories, this book fits the bill. I will be looking for future stories about the other Teen Titans and hopefully Raven herself.

Raven has always been one of my favorite characters in comics. When I heard the Teen Titans, and Raven specifically, were going to be making their way into the DC Ink line, I was ecstatic. The news that Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures) would write this new take on Raven only furthered my excitement. And she and artist Gabriel Picolo did not disappoint.

I loved this book. Kami Garcia writes Raven exactly as I would expect and the art is absolutely perfect. But beyond that, I've fallen in love with a new character - Max. Max is Raven's foster sister who provides an anchor to Raven from their initial encounter in the book and beyond. Max and Raven both have secrets, but they accept each other without prying or forcing those secrets out. There is a shared understanding between these two teenage girls that feels so encouraging.

While the book begins with tragedy, that has a lasting impact, it doesn't dwell on it. It would be easy to go full dark mode with Raven and her story, but there is a lightness here that is appreciated. It's perfect for young teens and a very easy entry point into the life and story of this amazing character. Plus, the artwork is stunning! I want just about every panel enlarged and framed for my walls, especially the ones with the Raven shadow.

My one question - do teenagers really drink coffee regularly nowadays? (Also, I feel old writing and questioning that).

I can't wait to see how Raven's journey continues (and Max's too) and see what happens next with the collection list and the Teen Titans. I look forward to meeting Beast Boy and the others!

As far as Raven backstories go, this one does a pretty good job. If you know anything about Raven, her backstory is so far beyond just tragic. Her mother is forced into a contract with the demon Trigun and has a child as a result. Trigun then attempts to exploit Raven as a means to garner more power and to eventually break free from his prison. And if you’re as big a fan of Teen Titans as I was, you know this is the reason why Raven has to keep her emotions in check. The details may differ from version to version but it all basically revolves around the same story.

Which is why I enjoyed this one.

This story takes it back to the beginning after Raven loses her memory due to amnesia. We go through the story getting the opportunity to see what really happens with Raven when she lets her emotions get out of control. Most of the time in her various versions, we only get to see the Raven who has already learned to control her emotions and her abilities. So, it was kind of cool to delve into what it’s like when she has no control. She goes through high school and attempts a normal life, all while trying to remember her foster mother and the memory that she’s lost.

Oh, and did I mention her foster mother comes from a family of voodoo priestesses? Because that’s awesome. It was pretty cool to see that part of New Orleans history mixed in with the story. True, it’s very minor and basically sticks to the background until the end of the story, but it’s still one of those things that adds an extra bit of flare to Raven’s story.

And let’s not forget: the artwork. Holy cow, the art was simply incredible! When I first saw the cover, I was completely blown away but I also thought it looked really familiar. And then I saw the illustrator and I knew why. Gabriel Picolo is a fabulously talented artist I’ve followed for years on Instagram, and when I realized he was the illustrator for this graphic novel, I knew I had to try and get it. He magnificently gave life to all of the characters, including the iconic Raven, while still adding his own personal flair to them. I was so, so happy with the artwork and I can’t wait to see more from him.

Okay, now for the not so great part. Honestly, there was nothing too bad about this story that stuck out to me and made me want to quit reading it. There were some issues with the pacing. Which, of course, I understand that it’s a graphic novel so it’s going to move at a faster pace than a normal novel. However, there were places where the story seemed to jump between plot points so quickly, I had to go back and reread them to make sure I didn’t miss anything important. There were also times where the information didn’t come across as well as it should have and caused me to think something had been skipped over or left out. But really, this only happened in a few places and barely detracted from the actual story.

Overall, I enjoyed reading it. There was a lot of nostalgia from the animated Teen Titan days while reading this and that may have influenced my opinion on the actual story. But, every author is going to tell the same story differently and in their own way. So, if you love the teen titans franchise as a whole, I would recommend this to you.

Teen Titans: Raven is notable for a few reasons. First is the author, Kami Garcia, whose Beautiful Creatures novels were well-received and quite popular in my middle school classroom. Second is the grounded artwork of Gabriel Picolo. There's supernatural stuff happening here, of course, but the overall feel is of a day-in-the-life book for youth.

DC Ink presents graphic novels in this approachable and polished format. It's a different kind of reading aesthetic, and this is my third venture into this illustrated world. I'm looking forward to seeing more of these titles and I'm envious in some ways of the younger generation who will be enjoying these books alongside DC's other offerings or, perhaps, discovering graphic novels for the first time through work like this.

Books like this are vital for young readers and they are entertaining for adults too. Now that I've read the digital copy I'll be on the lookout for a hard copy sometime soon. A really great reading experience.

I thought this was a pretty good introduction to Raven, a DC character I didn't know much about. She's in a car accident that takes her memory, but in a weird way. Math comes back, but not really information about her family and her past. I liked the color scheme in the book a lot. It definitely made me want to learn more about this character.

To compare it to the book about Mera that's also in this new line of DC books, this one cleared the low bar of actually being about the character in question, rather than a story about the title female character and a man.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC.

I grew up watching Teen Titans so as soon as I saw this arc up I knew that I needed to request it. Ultimately I really loved this story. The art was not just beautiful but also felt like it fit very well with Raven’s story. As for Raven’s story, I really enjoyed seeing Raven before she joined the Titans. Kami Garcia did a great job at building Raven’s character while keeping her true to the character that I loved growing up.

I grew up watching Teen Titans and it held so many amazing aspects. Raven was my favorite character throughout the series so when I first saw this, I knew it was something I wanted to read. I was so impressed with this background story of Raven. She always was a strong character but you knew there was more to her rough exterior. This graphic novel did a fantastic job to exploit that. The story was intriguing and I was enraptured the entire time. As adaptations come out, it is always a little nervous about how it is going to go. I'm so glad that Kami Garcia was chosen to do this. It seemed like she understood Raven's character so well but still made Raven a different version that Garcia created. I cannot wait to continue this series.

Along with a fantastic story the artwork was phenomenal. It truly brought this story alive and the imagery was perfect. I loved the color combinations used. I don't know if this story would have been as successful in a novel format. The medium used to tell Raven's story with the combination of Garcia's story telling and Picolo's art was exactly what was needed.

This was fantastic!! I really loved Raven and her story. Kami Garcia did a great job with the writing and dialogue. The art style was nice, although I wanted to see a bit more color. However, the color was strategically placed in this comic and I appreciated that. I really can’t wait to see more of Raven’s story!

Rating:
3/5 cool aunts

Format:
eBook. I would like to thank NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What it's like:
The art style, teen angst, and mental abilities brought to mind the new reboot of Sabrina (Netflix) and Jessica Jones.

What I loved:
The art is really cool. I love the water color style, the splashes of purple in particular are really neat. I like the premise of a girl who has lost her memory and is trying to re-discover herself. Add in an interesting ability she didn't know she had, a backdrop of a standard high school experience, and some New Orleans voodoo priestess vibes and I am here for it. I also enjoyed all the SECRETS lol I don't have to know what they all are yet, but they definitely added a suspense to the second half of the story that I enjoyed.

What was meh:
Some of the story board layout felt a little disjoined, it didn't quite always flow in the way I expected, so I had to stop and figure out where we were. In this book I felt like they had some interesting story elements to work with but they were sort of disjointed and awkward in their presentation. Especially the reveal of the cousin and aunt's (secret?) life. I put secret in parentheses because I was a little confused by how far their more magical world extends, who knows about it, etc. I assume that is something we will learn more about with future installments, but I either wanted more now, or actually less would have been fine too, but somehow we got a weird amount of info that I don't really know how to make sense of. For most of the book we know almost nothing, and then BAM they hit us with A LOT of info. Overall I had quite a few questions about the "world" in this story, the most basic one is: Is there a difference between "gifts" and just general witchiness? I'm cool with either or both, but I expected to know the answer by the end of this book and I didn't really.

I was also a little disappointed by the writing. While the premise is pretty neat, and there are some cool elements in the story, the daily problems and drama (the way it was written) in the first 3/4 of the book just didn't hold my interest. There was a lot of random elements that felt thrown in to cater to the audience rather than add to the plot (like girls asking boys to prom with roses? Is this a necessary detail?). Pages in graphic novels are limited, it's one of the reasons why I like this medium, because the author and artist have to be very efficient with the imagery and text to tell their story. Every piece should instill insight into the character or setting. Unfortunately, I felt like too often we were being told something I didn't really care about and not enough about the mystery part of the story, or how magic operates in this world.

Who I'd recommend it to: Fans of witchy New Orleans + X-men vibes!

Favorite line:
Flowers die. Plastic jewelry lasts forever.

I love the graphics on this! It's all grey tones which complements Raven, our main character so well. This is a very easy to follow graphic novel that sets up the premise of Raven. She has suffered a horrible tragedy and she must piece together her memories, while also attending high school and battling normal high school bullies. Are demons bigger than high school? It's a fun set up and I'm interesting in reading more of her journey. It gives you just enough to get to know the characters and their stories but has definite room for more.