Absolutely delightful new spin on Beast Boy's origin story. I'm extremely impressed that Garcia and Piccolo as a team were able to give this book a completely different tone an aesthetic than their previous collaboration, TEEN TITANS: RAVEN and I'm very much looking forward to seeing how they bring both the moods and the characters together in the upcoming TEEN TITANS: BEAST BOY LOVES RAVEN.

I loved Raven so much & I was so excited that this book was coming out! Gar aka Beast Boy becomes his true self in this book and I love this origin story for him so much! I love how much his best friends support him and Kang is such a good companion! Beast Boy & Raven are my favorite Teen Titans so I’m so excited for the next book! If you like Teen Titans, you will enjoy reading this book!

The plot of this was just eh. Nothing too exciting and it didn't really do anything for me. I feel like the backstory behind Gar's powers should have started earlier in the story.

The art was done well and suited the story but the story itself didn't do much for me.

Thanks, DC Comics, for the ARC!

"Teen Titans: Beast Boy" is not exactly what you'd expect from a superhero origin story, but I loved every single minute of it.

I've read Teen Titans comics in the past and the best characterizations of Gar is when he has depth, not just a prankster and jokester. While I've read and enjoyed the creators' other graphic novel, "Teen Titans: Raven", I honestly believe that Gar got more characterization and love put into him than his future teammate. I'm glad that the author decided to discuss body image in boys, as that's rarely discussed in YA.

You can tell that the writing style is meant for lower level readers, much like "Raven." It's very easy to understand and follow. I will probably always love Gabriel Picolo's art, as I've been following him for years and will continue to do so.

A solid read for newbies and veterans of DC Comics.

Beast Boy is my favorite Teen Titan character. Like Raven's story I was mesmerized by the artwork and amazing story line. I can't wait to read more of the characters Kami and Gabriel bring to life.

Thanks so much to the publishers for the ARC!

I loved Raven, Gabriel Picolo's artistry is peak illustration for me, so to see the green aesthetic in Teen Titans: Best Boy really made me happy.
I've always loved the Teen Titan's story line, so reading Beast Boy was awesome. I loved the writing style, the overall attitude of Beast Boy, and the way everything starts to come together.
I can't wait to see what Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo write/illustrate next!

This is both an excellent graphic novel and an excellent superhero origin story - particularly for a teenage superhero.

The whole novel is an origin story, but the real origin of Beast Boy isn't what gave him his capabilities, but what led him to realizing them. And that is completely grounded in the totally normal teenager-ness of Gar, which I think is a huge part of the charm of this story. I love the care with which Garcia has crafted this story. The characters feel real and I believe their motivations, which is saying something for the genre (which while often excellent can be hit-and-miss).

Picolo states in his artist's note that Beast Boy is his favorite, and the care with which he did the art for the novel makes that clear. I love the way the transformations are drawn, and I really liked the color story.

Definitely recommended for fans of graphic novels, the Teen Titans or DC, superhero origins, or well-written stories about teenagers figuring stuff out.

Loved this book! So cute and fun, and also serves as a great introduction to the character of Beast Boy! I have always loved the teen titans and I think this series has been amazing as a more character concentrated look at this very loved team.

I LOVE Beast Boy's origin story. I said this with Raven and I'll say it again with this one: somehow, my expectations were topped!

The illustrations were amazing, and I could not put the book down! I'm so excited for the follow-up!

If you like short, intriguing reads, definitely recommend. His origin story was well fleshed out, well written, and amazingly illustrated.

I love how even his friends have their own character arcs and development, not just him growing alone.

I do wish that he told them what he was up to at the end of the book, because he does need a safety net, but that's just a character being flawed, not a writing or illustration issue.

Overall, it was very well thought out, 10/10.

After how disappointing the Raven comic by this author-illustrator duo was, I approached Beast Boy trepidatiously. BB has always been my fave of the Teen Titans, and though I love Gabriel Picolo's art style (especially his casual modern Teen Titans works), I'm not confident in Kami Garcia's writing. And the verdict is... at least this was better than Raven?

Garfield "Gar" Logan, aka Beast Boy, had big plans for senior year. He was going to grow a few inches taller, gain some muscle, and kiss the popular girl. Only, no matter how much time he spends at the gym or how many protein shakes he drinks, he can't seem to put on any weight. Finally he decides to ditch the supplements his parents have been prescribing him since he was a kid and there's an overnight shift. He's taller, stronger, and impressing the cool kids at school. Only, there also seem to be some strange side effects...

Beast Boy's characterization in this comic isn't bad, though overall a bit bland. I would have appreciated more corny jokes. I really liked his interaction with his friends, Stella and Tank-- their group dynamic was easily my favorite aspect of the story. Stella is a Black gamer girl, and Tank is a Japanese-American football player with a learning disability. The representation is nice to see, though I felt that Tank's dyslexia was handled poorly; the story makes it seem as if Tank's reading struggles have appeared suddenly in the middle of his senior year of high school, that he's never had any trouble at all before and this is new and different, which (I could be wrong, but) I'm pretty sure is not how dyslexia works. BB's parents didn't add anything to the story, and may as well have been entirely off-page. Animal activism is, naturally, a big part of the story, with storylines including kill shelters and animal testing. But then at the climax there's a random pack of coyotes attacking a large group of humans gathered around a bonfire, which is just totally asinine. Coyote (and wolf for that matter) attacks on humans are extremely rare, and using them as antagonists in a story that focuses a lot on animal behavior is not only ignorant but also irresponsible, imo.

Overall, while there were a few aspects that I really didn't like about Beast Boy, it was mostly just fine. My main problem with Garcia's writing in this series so far is that it's so bland, there's no spark or energy. If the series was going to continue focusing on individual members of the Teen Titans, I would probably stop reading here. However, the next title that's been announced is Beast Boy Loves Raven and I just... my little twelve-year-old shipper heart can't not read that, y'know? So I guess I'm still in this for at least one more book. Sigh. 2.5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and DC Entertainment for the ARC copy of this book.

This Teen Titans series is shaping up to be something spectacular! When I read Teen Titans: Raven last year I knew I would need to keep an eye on this series.

I've been a fan of Gabriel Picolo for quite a while and his art never disappoints. The coloring always fits the characters beautifully, this time utilizing a pallet that compliments Beast Boy's famous green coloring. The action and progression between panels is smooth and creative. I never felt lost or like the art style abruptly changed. Picolo is truly talented!

On top of the illustrations, Gar's story was really well done. I wasn't a fan of Kami Garcia's Beautiful Creatures series, but I always admired how she brought the world to life! Gar felt like a real person, not your stereotypical teenage boy. Sure, he makes a handful a stupid mistakes, but even he acknowledges that it isn't the end of the world and I really appreciate that. His friends Stella and Tank were amazing as well and got their time to shine.

The only reason this is getting 4 stars instead of 5 is I felt like there was a big shift around chapter 14. The beginning of the story had steady pace for a while but then things shifted here very suddenly. Whereas I felt things would naturally be revealed to Gar about what he is, it all happened very suddenly and his reaction to it all didn't feel very genuine. The same goes for the ending which felt rushed compared to the rest of the book.

This is a solid read with great art and an entertaining story. Beast Boy is out now and you should totally be reading it!

As a huge fan of the Teen Titans cartoon series from 2003-2006, I loved this book just as much as I loved the first book in the series, Raven. Gabriel Picolo's character designs are based on Raven and Beast Boy's cartoon counterparts from the show, but they're also drawn in a modern comic-book style that I really admire. (He also has a Modern Teen Titans art series on his Instagram, where the designs for these characters originated.) Kami Garcia's storytelling was also very interesting -- while I was familiar with Raven and Beast Boy's superpowers and origin stories, the characters were placed in new situations and interacted with new characters, keeping both stories fresh. I thought this narrative choice, combined with the superhero origin stories of both books, is great for readers who aren't familiar with The Teen Titans -- they won't be lost in the narrative. While there aren't many action scenes in Raven or Beast Boy, this didn't take away from my enjoyment of the books because of how character-driven they were. I'm excited to see where this series goes, and which Teen Titan is introduced next.

This was just as beautifully rendered as the Raven installment. The art is stunning and expressive with amazing attention to detail. Though I really enjoyed getting to know a lot about the side characters, I feel like the beginning of the book was a little on the slow side. Perhaps it felt slow because certain parts of the plot point were very expected - a confused teen who causes a whole bunch of mayhem that could've been avoided if their parents would have just told the whole truth - but once it picked up toward the middle of it, there was no putting the book back down! There's so much more of the story to be told, and I'm excited to see where it goes!

*I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.*

Teen Titans: Beast Boy Is the second installment of the Teen Titans series by author Kami Garcia and illustrator Gabriel Picolo. It’s part of DC Comics line of graphic novels for YA. The first in this series is Teen Titans: Raven by the same dynamic duo.

This is an updated retelling of Beast Boy’s origin story. In this version Garfield “Gar” Logan has always felt out of place. He’s too short and too scrawny. But when a twist of fate allows him to have everything he wants, it soon turns into more than he bargained for.

I liked the overall story but felt it was a geared toward a younger audience than typical YA books. The art was fantastic! I love Picolo’s style. I didn’t realize this was connected to the Raven graphic novel before reading so now I need to go back and read that one. There is a third book planned where Beast Boy and Raven meet and I cannot wait for that installment.

A fresh new look at the backstories of the Teen Titans superhero group made popular by DC Comics, centering on Beast Boy. Kami Garcia does a great job writing for Young Adults, and this series is no exception! While the overall personalities of the characters stay true to their previous adaptions, this series caught my attention with its witty banter and relatable friendships. The newest additional, Beast Boy, follows suit with fun situations, great character design, and clean art styles. Very eager to see the rest of the series!

I loved Teen Titans: Raven and was so excited when I saw that Beat Boy was next!

I am a big fan of origin stories, and both of these have been great!

The only thing I was bothered by was the pacing. It seemed kind of jumpy to me. Other than that, highly recommend if you like Teen Titans! I can't wait for the next one!


Thank you to Kami Garcia, Gabriel Picolo, DC Entertainment, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

As someone who grew up watching Teen Titans, it is nice to see the backstory of how these heroes came to be. The art is lovely and appeals to young readers as well as older fans from the past. What makes this book unique from the others? It gives the characters as close to a normal looking life as possible. Unlike DCs usual way of portraying these characters as already being heroes with flashbacks to their previous lives, their lives start out as normal as possible given the circumstances. It makes them more relatable despite the supernatural or science fiction aspects given to the them. The plot is interesting and the narratives well written. This graphic novel is a great asset to any library trying to encourage teens and youths to read what interests them!

Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia, 208 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. DC Comics, 2020. $17.
Language: PG (18 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Gar Logan is a senior in high school, still picked last in gym class and known for throwing out jokes, but no closer to the popular crowd than he was last year. When Gar makes some risky choices for his fifteen minutes of popularity, he knows it won’t last -- but he didn’t know the consequences.
Beast Boy has always been my favorite Teen Titan, and this modern version of his origin story was fun to read. Garcia keeps the ideas the same but puts Gar in a world with modern technology, giving it a twist for old fans and making him more relatable for new readers. One of my favorite parts is the side message Garcia tells about how to be a good friend -- Stella and Tank watch out for Gar, and he does his best to support them, too.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Ok first of all, this version of Beast Boy is my favorite version. He’s so freaking cute and the art style is just simply amazing, i was completely pulled into his story from the art alone and love Picolo’s style. For me, graphic novels obviously start with the art, and this is it!

Kami Garcia’s story though, is what kept me invested. As a kid growing up, me and my sister were obsessed with Teen Titans but I haven’t watched the show since I was a child. Reading this graphic novel was like relearning something about a part of my childhood and felt really nostalgic to me from the very start. So for that reason alone, I completely enjoyed and loved the story.

What I loved most about Beast Boy’s story is learning more about his background and, I’m guessing, how he will eventually end up at H.I.V.E. and it makes me want to rewatch the show so bad! Learning that Beast Boy has insecurities about not being popular enough was super interesting and I loved watching him learn life lessons, this would be amazing for a lot of teens to read and see!

I’m HOPING that we eventually (please?) get a continuation of this story. After I DEVOURED this graphic novel, I immediately went and bought Raven’s novel and can’t wait to read that one as well! I think Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo make one hell of a duo and I can’t wait to see more from them!

This is an origin story, so there's some set up before Gar notices and then grows into his powers. There's a lot here about Gar feeling small and "behind" his peers, looking to be noticed, and wanting to make an impact. I feel like there were a lot of things initiated, but not much closure to anything.

Honestly, when things really started to get rolling with Gar's powers, the book was done. I was disappointed that the book wasn't longer, or that the set up wasn't compressed so there was more to the story here. I loved Gar, and I really wanted more of his story. Thankfully I discovered the third book - Beast Boy Loves Raven - is due out in early 2021. I feel much better knowing the "more" I was longing for is on the way.