Member Reviews
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!
I've now read all of the new DC YA titles and this is by far my favorite one. The art style was unique, the characters interesting, and the story kept me entertained until the end. I would love to see more with Raven or possibly the other Teen Titan from YA authors in the future!
I really enjoyed the story of Raven. Before reading this graphic novel/comic I wasn't aware of the story of Raven or her character. I don't have much knowledge of the Teen Titans in general but I loved this little glimpse into their world. I look forward to reading more of her story and the story of the other Teen Titans.
In this ARC there were a few speech or thought bubbles that looked like they were coming from the wrong person, where it didn't make sense for that person to be saying it in that situation. There were also a few spelling or grammatical mistakes, one time a speech bubble had the same line repeated, which didn't seem purposeful.
My only other comment is I have no knowledge or experience with the world of spiritual guides, tarot card readers, or empaths so I can't speak to that aspect of the story. I just hope that what is portrayed in this story is accurate to that world.
On the NetGalley page it says this copy isn't in the final full color, which makes me really intrigued in what the final version will look like. I really enjoyed the illustration style and have heard many great things about Gabriel Picolo.
Can't wait to read the final print copy!
This was awesome! I love getting to see Raven a little more vulnerable. The art is fantastic too! I hope that this connects with the Titans eventually.
I am so excited to see the finished book in color! The illustrations are incredible and Kami Garcia is such an amazing writer. I love everything that she does so I was so excited to hear that she is venturing into the comic book world (similar to Rainbow Rowell with Marvels Runaways).
This book definitely has a Kami Garcia vibe. I’m not as familiar with Teen Titans as I am with her writing. This book reminded me very much of her Beautiful Creatures series which I absolutely loved. Pair that with DC Comics lore and you have a winner. The artwork really draws you in, pun intended. Lol. I can only imagine how it will look in print. I truly hope they continue to create books to add to this series. (Like DC Icons is). I love that big authors are getting on board with the super heroes and some not-quite heroes. Keep it up!
Thank you, Net Galley, for the chance to read this arc and give an unbiased review.
I knew very little about the teen titans before I read this, but I found that I really didn't need to to enjoy it. I loved this one. The characters had distinct, but not over the top, personalities. They were easy to relate to. I was thoroughly engrossed in Raven's story. I really enjoyed the artwork and the way it was almost all done in white, grays, blacks, and purples. The times when other colors were thrown in really stood out. There were a few editing issues where words were out of order (in a way that was obviously a mistake), but hopefully that will be caught before publishing. I would definitely recommend this to a teen who is a fan of graphic novels, or just someone who likes great characters with an exciting story.
Great introduction to Raven including some good background information. The artwork was great too. I'm not sure if more color is planned but I kind of liked the black and white. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Raven in the series.
The artwork in the book is wonderful. It gives me a taste of the old Teen Titans animation. Like all comic books, this felt over all to soon, but I will be looking forward to the next installment.
Starting off with the how perfect the drawing in this graphic novel is. I'm very much looking at the next installment. Anyone that was a fan of the old Teen Titans should read this and get the comfort that I did while reading this.
This wasn't really what I expected. It's a bit more a high school focused than I would have expected. The story wasn't particularly interesting and I felt like it never went anywhere. Fans may disagree! I'm a fan of the artist, though it all feels a bit reined in here.
Raven wakes in the hospital to find her memory gone and her mother dead. She goes to live with her aunt and cousin who give her love and room to find herself. As she begins to build a new life, she is racked with nightmares of a demon calling to her. Her aunt and cousin have hidden powers they summon to protect her, but the demon may appear before the three of them are ready to face him.
The cast of characters are diverse with a voodoo thread running throughout. The black and white drawings are compelling with a touch of blue and purple emphasizing Raven and the shadows she faces. The pages have a great variety of structure to draw the reader into the story and the action. Really well done - moves the story forward but makes the eye linger. The YA author is well-known and popular but the artist is also definitely worth following. Hope he does more of this caliber of work.
Raven is a compelling character. The overall story is exciting, but their are a few abrupt jumps and the end was so abrupt that I was looking for more pages. Beyond a cliffhanger, I was just left wondering what had happened. The artwork, even in this early arc, was very well done and attractive.
Any fan of Teen Titans will enjoy the more in-depth exploration of Raven's background. Any Kami Garcia fan will enjoy her tensely-paced supernatural story with a hint of romance hindered by family baggage. The gorgeous illustrations and added mystery make it a quiick and pleasurable read.
By far the best of the DC Ink/Zoom crop that I've read so far. It feels a little deceptive to call this a Teen Titans title when it really is just Raven, but aside from that little quibble, it's a great introduction to her character and an interesting twist on her backstory (her adoptive family are voodoo priestesses in this version). The art is GREAT and really memorable; I hope that Gabriel Picolo will continue drawing for DC!
Recommended for new and old Teen Titans fans alike. I'm brand new to the Teen Titans world, but loved learning Raven's origin story. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia is a wonderful introductory novel to the character of Raven. My only exposure to the Teen Titans is through bits and pieces from the animated television show but Raven has always been a character I was curious about. Raven is a teenager who has been bounced around through the system. Now that she has found a stable home and environment that she is comfortable with, Raven is ready to settle down and enjoy being a teenager. However, tragedy strikes and tears Raven's world apart. Now she must not only find a way to survive being the new kid at school but also manage her growing powers when the only person who knew how to help is now gone. Garcia strikes a gentle balance between introducing readers to the character and her backstory and creating new elements that will entertain those who have known Raven for a while. Readers familiar with the general backstory of Raven will already know the details as to who her father is and why he seeks her out. With just enough of mystery to keep the reader tearing through page after page, Multiple story lines weave together seamlessly and clearly so that confusion is unlikely. Teen Titans:Raven sports artwork that enhances and supports the story and allows the user to immerse themselves in Raven's world.
This was phenomenal. I loved the characters, the story, the writing and the art. I can't wait to be able to flip through a physical copy. I hope to see more from this amazing artist. The art and the writing were a perfect pair. Everything flowed nicely.
The art is amazing, the story isn't. Seems to be a trend in these DC Ink titles, like they really want exciting YA authors and then don't give them any guidance on writing comics instead of novels. Again, this is a good origin story if you're not already attached to Raven as a character based on other comics or animation.
Great origin story, even if you are a new fan of Teen Titans. Love the artwork and the contrast between the black and grey and color only for the main character.
I was pleasantly surprised! I think Raven is a hard character to do properly, but one that everyone wants to try. I thought this took an interesting bent with the voodoo and I loved all of the ladies who supported Raven. The art is great and I'm sure in full color it will look even better, as some classmates tended to blend together. If anything, I'd say the book ended quickly and on an odd note, which made me almost think I was missing a page or two.