Kami Garcia's Beast Boy provides a fresh origin story for the soon to be superhero. Not only is Garfield (Gar for short) dealing with the normal teen issues of girls, bullies, and the like; but he's also grappling with a secret his parents have been keeping from him. Along with his friends, Gar navigates through his senior year in order to figure out who he really is.

This graphic novel has some of the best representation of minority characters, interracial dating, and characters throughout with various disabilities. It's definitely a graphic novel superhero story for the new generation! My students are going to love this graphic. novel! I can't wait for more from Garcia!

I liked Beast Boy's origin story better than Raven's, which is so funny because Kami Garcia said that she loved Raven so much but she was nervous going into Beast Boy's tale! The artwork is still really good, and what was interesting is that in Beast Boy's tale, where he's so much more social and with such a big personality, there was a lot more color in the story, versus in Raven's tale the only time there was color was to highlight an important person or conversation. Beast Boy is a fun person overall and that made the story a lot of fun. I think these origin stories are really cool and I can't wait for everyone's to be out and find out what Slade's roll is going to be. From what we know based off of previous DC comics, this is going to be very interesting...

This was a great origin story. I will admit that I have not watched much Teen Titans so I am certainly not an expert on the characters. However, this was a fantastic graphic novel. The art was incredible. The story moved quickly and kept my interest and the characters were fantastic. I hope Kami Garcia continues this series because this was fantastic.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the Raven book, but I enjoyed this one slightly more. Although my memory of the previous book isn’t the best (it was pretty forgettable), I think I just found Gar more charming in this one. Don’t get me wrong, the writing is still super stilted and cliche in this, but it had a few fun moments. I’ll probably keep reading these because they’re quick reads and I’m a sucker for Teen Titans, but they seem to be continuing the trend of being mediocre. 3/5 stars.

While I liked Raven a little more, I did enjoy Beast Boy. I just wanted a bit more from this origin story. I felt it just skimmed the surface of his character and I wanted to go deeper. I suppose that could be construed as a compliment since I am wanting more from the Teen Titans and am excited to continue this series by Garcia. I can see she is invested in these characters. I was equally drawn into the artwork.

Thank goodness HBO Max has the Teen Titans cartoon for me to binge, after reading this I knew I needed more of the adorkable green shapeshifter. Kami Garcia aged up Beast Boy while keeping all the best and funniest parts, it was a solid kick in the nostalgia feels.

After really enjoying Raven, I've been looking forward to Kami Garcia's next installment and it didn't disappoint! It was a fast and engaging read with sympathetic and interesting characters. Gar's character stood out as especially well rounded, with his jokester attitude and his struggles with his body. I enjoyed the way he looked up to RJ as a social media influence and Gar's willingness to accept dares (like eating the pepper or taking the selfie with the snake) were believable and within his character.
Stella and Tank felt a little one dimensional, especially Tank's off-page struggles with dyslexia. I would have liked that to be a little more explored. I also wanted more information on the history of the trio's friendship and what brings them together since they often seemed at odds throughout the story.
But overall, the art was fantastic, the story was fast-paced and engaging, and it will definitely be a great recommendation to teens at my library.

Kami Garcia did an amazing job telling the story of how Gar became Beast Boy. This was a fun, engaging story. The was little development with Slade Wilson, when combined with the ending of the story, which left room for a continuation. Hopefully this one will get a sequel.

Beast Boy is my favorite Teen Titan. His backstory is almost as dark as his teammates', but he's still a cinnamon roll in all of his incarnations. So I was excited that I approved to read an ARC from netgalley.

<spoiler>I hate the "parents hiding big secrets from their kids" trope. I didn't like Gar's parents. Yes he's a teenager, but you can't tell me you didn't notice his lack of confidence, his self-deprecating humor, his physical underdevelopment? Always be honest with your kids, especially if it involves their life. Keeping life-altering secrets is how you never see your kids again once they turn 18.</spoiler>

I loved the diverse characters, especially Gar's friends. I liked that, despite Gar being a jerk and doing stupid stuff to hang with the popular crowd, Tank and Stella never abandoned him or stopped being there for him. And Gar was there for his best friends when they really needed him, though sometimes his plans weren't thought out thoroughly.

Looking forward to reading about the other titans. But I really can't wait for more Beast Boy adventures. This book will definitely attract new teen titans fans without alienating the old ones. Teens will relate to Gar's transformation and the need to find his own answers to the person he's becoming.

And was I the only one who heard Greg Cipes voice the whole time?

Thank you NetGalley and DC Comics for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one! Like her previous book,"Teen TItans: Raven", Garcia focuses on themes that will be relatable and enticing to the teen reader. Not just a teenage boy coming into his powers, but a young man who is facing body image issues and learning how to be comfortable in his own skin. I hope Kami Garcia writes one big story connecting all the Teen TItans together. I think she would do really great things with it!

I've been anticipating this since I read Raven! I love Garcia's take on Beast Boy, and as usual Picolo's art is GORGEOUS and perfect for this series and these characters. I really love how he uses a theme/signature color for each book. Garcia manages to pack a ton of character development into the story, and honor the character's origins while still creating a fresh perspective on them. I can't wait for the rest of the series!

Good for any fan of the comic world. Great origin story for a favorite of the Teen Titan universe. Fantastic artwork and style.

Fans of Teen Titans and Garcia’s previous book on Raven will love this new entry. Beast Boy is a fun character with many real-world issues that readers will relate to. This origin story is entertaining and engaging and the illustrations are vibrant and eye-catching. Highly recommend.

Gar is tired of being the smallest guy around, but no amount of protein shakes and time in the gym has helped him to bulk up. Friends Stella and Tank try to convince him he's awesome as is, but Gar wants a change. And a change he will get!

This book was my first introduction to Beast Boy since I hadn't watched Teen Titans Go! or seen the character elsewhere. I really enjoyed this as an origin story. I think that Kami Garcia has done a tremendous job with this character, just as she did with Raven.

The illustrations, by Gabriel Picolo are beautiful and so much fun.

I highly recommend this book to superhero fans and to anyone who loves graphic novels!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Not having read the first Teen Titans book Raven or knowing anything about the series, really, I was able to catch on pretty quickly. I liked that this graphic novel dealt with boys having body image issues and worried about being tall enough or built enough. I don't think there are enough books showing that boys also worry about their bodies and how they're portrayed to the world. I also liked that Tank struggled with learning only to find out he's dyslexic. So many students worry about this being a negative stigma, but Tank discusses how many intelligent people have dyslexia and now that he knows he can get help. I liked the focus on how popularity isn't everything as well. Great YA graphic novel & artwork!

Another home run for Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo as they bring another Titan to life for a new generation. A great origin story for a fan favorite teen titan, the troubles and insecurities Gar Logan faces remain true to the classic beloved character while being relatable to any reader who knows the angst and growing pains of adolescence. The story touches on the deep rooted insecurities that will probably continue to plague Beast Boy as he becomes the hero he’s meant to be while keeping the light heartedness and humor associated with the character ever present. Can’t wait to see what this amazing duo puts out next!

4.5 Stars. Thank you to Netgalley and DC Entertainment for the opportunity for the advanced read!

Did you read the GN Raven last year. I was hoping we would get more of that story, but instead of a sequel, we get the creation of a character. If you follow the comics or the DC world at all, then you already know that the Teen titans are made up of Raven, Beast, Robin and others. This time we see how beast boys come about. I wish the illustrator would have done similar to what they did with Raven and kept everything in hues of green, but this is in full color. Beast boy is no beast. He is a small guy with no power. No matter how much he works out he can not put on muscle and weight. Until he throws his parents “supplements” out the door. Now he is getting bigger, stronger, and having weird green hairy flashes of adventure. I really enjoyed this origin story and can not wait to read when all the characters finally come together.

Garcia and Picolo are at it again with another hit. I thought Beast Boy was even better than Raven.

Gar Logan is a the funny guy in the friend group, but struggles with his body image, and seeks to prove himself to the more popular kids. His parents are distracted scientists working in medical chemistry, and at first fail to notice when Gar stops taking a supplement and starts changing. His friends notice, and though the change and his desire to get with the in crowd makes things rocky at first, they are loyal and stick with him. A fantastic first installment to a new Beast Boy series!

The art is unique, and the characters are well created and diverse. I love the thematic use of green throughout, and the use of other colors to call attention to detail or provide contrast. The superimposition of animals used during Beast Boy's changes feels smooth and authentic.

Can't wait for the next one!

This book is a great addition to the DC Ink comic line. It follows Gar, a 17 year old who kind of small for his age and unpopular. More than anything, he looks to be noticed. One day, when he stops taking his medicine, he notices that he suddenly has a growth spurt and can do things he never thought that they could. He has to figure out his new powers and how to navigate high school. I don't know a lot about the character Beast Boy, but I found this an engaging and fun origin story. I was not a big fan of the cliffhanger ending, but I liked the characters, the story, and the art style. I look forward to more DC Ink titles in the future.

Unfortunately, I couldn't access this book to read it, due to technological difficulties and not having access to my office computer b/c of the COVID19 shutdown. The cover looks amazing and I love Kami Garcia's work so I'm sure it's going to be great. Can't wait to get it for my library!