Garfield Logan wants to be remembered for something. It’s his final year of school and he feels like a nobody. There is nothing that makes him unique or special in his eyes.
On a whim he accepts and manages to succeed a challenge that changes things. His popularity is not the only thing changing... he notices that he’s growing rapidly, voice is deepening, muscle where bone and scrawny flesh used to be. On top of that to keep his popularity he seems to have to keeping being bigger and better. Some of his changes are causing him to question everything around him. What is happening to Garfield Logan?


While I’m embarrassed to say that this was my first step into graphic novels I am so glad I did! This was such an entertaining story that I finished in one sitting. I have always enjoyed reading on how superheroes or even villains were made or came upon their powers, and this did not disappoint. I found myself giggling aloud so many times while reminiscing of my own high school experiences. This book is captivating from beginning to end. When I got to the last page I did not want it to be over, and I can’t wait to see the next chapter in this series!

Hello! Welcome Back!


I have been reading a lot but there are so many new books coming out today and this month in general! I feel like there are always tons of books being released in the fall and I always get so excited. I am so excited for every Tuesday and my pre-order packages to arrive. One of the books I am excited about today is Beast Boy (we are going to talk about many others later this week but look out because Majesty and many others come out today and I am so excited)! I have been reading a lot of the DC graphic novel releases and these have been my first exposures to many characters in this universe. It's been a really fun experience and this month I got to learn more about Beast Boy.


SPOILERS AHEAD


Garfield is spending his school break trying to bulk up. He is tired of being overlooked by everyone including his crush. He has a bucket list of things he wants to do before the end of school and he is determined to make it happen. However, none of Garfield's attempts to bulk up are working, he is in fact losing weight and he can not figure out why. Garfield decides to try the one thing he has not done yet to bulk up, stop taking his supplement. Shortly after he stops, Garfield notices some minor changes to his body pretty quickly but he also takes on a dare from his classmates where he must eat a ghost pepper. Usually, when someone eats a ghost pepper they are unable to stomach the entire thing and usually, there are terrible physical symptoms. However, Garfield eats the pepper no problem! His classmates are videoing this crazy experience and some even try to eat the pepper themselves like Garfield is. Unsure how he is able to do this, he starts to wonder about things but also starts to really enjoy his new popularity among his peers. Can Garfield continue to not take his supplement and not attract attention from anyone about his new abilities? What exactly are his new abilities? What do his parents know?


I know a little about Beast Boy already, I recently watched season one of Teen Titans with my husband (but this is all my Beast Boy/ teen titan knowledge). I feel like this graphic takes a little bit of a different approach than the show but I still enjoyed it. In particular, about this graphic novel, I enjoyed learning about Beast Boy's back story (how he got his special mutation, his family life, etc..).This was an interesting way to introduce Beast Boy who I am guessing is going to meet up with Raven and Slade. I know there is a Raven graphic novel out already but I have not yet read this one (now I definitely need to ASAP) but I feel like they are going to connect (since reading/writing this post I have learned I am correct that there is another graphic novel coming out in this series with both characters)!  I can not wait to see where the Beast Boy/Raven/Slade plotline goes, so I will definitely be reading the new graphic novel!


Goodreads Rating: 3.5 Stars





**Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC and the chance to read this graphic novel early!

Teen Titans: Beast Boy is a new coming-of-age origin story for 17-year-old Garfield Logan. It takes place in the same universe as Teen Titans: Raven by the same writer and artist team. If you enjoyed that novel, you’ll definitely enjoy this next installment that introduces Gar and how he becomes Beast Boy.

Teen Titans: Beast Boy begins with Gar Logan contemplating his average life and the “buttered popcorn” bucket list he has for his senior year. His main concerns are to try to gain muscle mass, get his hair to cooperate, find a pizza-paying job, start hanging out with the cool kids, and kiss and possibly someday date the popular girl in class. It’s almost the end of the school year and so far, he hasn’t accomplished any of those things.

At one point, Gar decides to stop taking his supplements that his parents had him take because he felt like maybe they were stopping him from gaining weight. Little does he know, because of that choice, his life is about to change drastically. His life won’t be so boring, normal, or unnoticeable anymore. Suddenly he has the attention of the popular kids, but eventually Gar has to really think about the changes he’s going through and rely on the friends who have always been there for him.

Teen Titans: Beast Boy is recommended for readers ages 13+. The novel is a diverse read that touches on topics such as coming-of-age, identity and self-discovery, self-esteem, popularity, and discovering who your real friends are. Something that definitely applies to the intended reader age group. There’s a lot of pressure to do what is cool, but that’s not always the best or most rewarding thing to do.

Overall, I really enjoyed Teen Titans: Beast Boy. I found it very hard to put down and ended up reading it in a single night. I will be the first to admit that I have a short attention span, but this book and its characters sucked me in and a kept me actively engaged. I was never that interested in Beast Boy prior to reading this book. Now, I want to know more about him.

I highly recommend Teen Titans: Beast Boy to new and old fans of the Teen Titans and Titans franchises. It’s also perfect for anyone looking to get into Teen Titans, but not knowing where to start. And if you haven’t yet, I recommend reading Teen Titans: Raven as well in preparation for Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven slated to release in 2021!

My full review can be found here: https://thegeekiary.com/learning-to-accept-yourself-teen-titans-beast-boy-graphic-novel-review/86093

I’m really hooked on this new DC series! I didn’t love Beast Boy as much as Raven (but come on NOLA setting is hard to beat). However it’s earned a place on our shelves! Gar’s character is so cute & I adored his crew of friends. He’s a cinnamon roll character and I love him!!!!

Also side note: you don’t have to have read Raven to enjoy this book! Though it is a part of a series, each stands complete on its own!

A few transitions in the story weren’t as smooth as what I’d like, so true rating for this would be 4.5 star for me! Definitely recommend and I will eagerly continue to series ! Beast Boy Loves Raven coming 2021!

Beast Boy is a favorite from Teen Titans so I was quite excited for this one! In Teen Titans: Beast Boy, we get the origin story for Gar (much like the first one did for Raven), and he is a high school senior for whom puberty hasn’t arrived completely – he looks younger than his age, and he has been working hard to gain weight/build muscles, to no avail. He wants to be cool and popular, and kiss a particular girl in his class, and his body image issues aren’t helping. He figures out that the amino acid supplements his parents have insisted him on taking must be messing with his pituitary gland, so he stops taking them. And later, inspired by a YouTuber who does pranks and dares, he decides to do a dare where he eats a really hot chilli, but instead of burning up, his body adjusts to take the damage. Slowly, he comes to realize that his body’s changes and adjustments might be because of something else. There’s a subplot about a university’s animal testing center and him trying to do what he can to save animals, thus ending up with a monkey and a python as pets. And there’s also possible danger lurking for him in the form of a guy who promises him answers and who his parents are wary of. As an origin story, it works quite well and I am eager to see what comes next. The artwork is the same as Teen Titans: Raven, and I have already expressed my thoughts on the style – I wasn’t happy with the coloring style, but the character design is quite cool.

I can honestly say I did not know much about Beast Boy prior to reading this book, aside from what my child watches on TV. I thoroughly enjoyed this! It made him seem like less of an idiot and more like a misunderstood hero.

*Received ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Rating: 4.5 Stars!
https://bookboyfriendsdoitbetter.com/

I looooved this! Gar (Beast Boy) is always such an underrated character in my opinion! I'm glad I found this on NetGalley because if not, I would have completely missed this!

I loved reading his origin story and I can't wait to see what happens next. I really liked how Garcia and Picolo really showed him as a regular teenager.

I loved Stella and Tank! They were such great side characters and I'm really hoping we see more of them in the next volumes.

I grew up watching Teen Titans and this really took me back. I love where the plot is going and I would for sure recommend this to any titan fans!

The illustrations are stunning! I love everything about them. Gabriel Picolo really draws your attention right away and doesn't let go 'till the end!

A companion to Teen Titans: Raven by the same author and artist, Garcia and Picolo have again created an imaginative and fun take on the classic DC Teens in a retelling of Gar, AKA Beast Boy's origin story! Already familiar with the DC universe, I loved this more modern and relatable retelling! Like most teens, Gar struggles with issues in popularity, appearance, and belonging, yet with the inevitable superhero twist, his problems are only amplified - especially his powers begin to surface. I loved that we got to see glimpses of such familiar teen angst, making the superhero not too super/distanced from readers. Overall, I very much enjoyed this fun graphic novel and can't wait to read the next one!

Great sequel in the series and definitely builds the anticipation for the following stories. I loved that you could really see the artists love and appreciation for this character, the art palate was perfect, and the characters were beautifully formed.

I will say I appreciated this story quite a bit more than the last, I was able to make a connection with BB that I feel was really missing in Raven.

I cannot wait to find out who will be getting to meet in the next installment (I'm hoping for Cyborg).

**E-ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

I received an advanced copy of Teen Titans: Beast Boy through NetGalley so that I could share my review with you!

Garfield Logan’s life feels too small for his dreams. He wants to be taller, stand out more, and somehow find a way to make his life worth remembering. No matter what he tries, though, he can’t find a way to stand out, even in his smalltown home. Gar is willing to do whatever it takes to find a way into the popular crowd at his school, so when he is dared to try something a little on the dangerous side, he can’t say no. After shattering everyone’s expectations by taking on the dare and succeeding, Gar thinks his big dreams might just become a reality. But, just when things are starting to look up for Gar, his whole world shifts. He grows six inches taller overnight, has unexplained bursts of strength and speed, and he isn’t entirely sure who he is anymore. Gar clings to the scrap of popularity he has won, but as the dares become more and more dangerous, he must face the truth of who he really is and what it means for the future.

You can get your copy of Teen Titans: Beast Boy on September 1st from DC Comics!

Kami Garcia’s Teen Titans series is one of my favorite versions of the Teen Titans I’ve seen today! These books have the same spunk and humor that first made me love the Teen Titans, paired with an in-depth exploration of character struggle. My favorite part of this series has to be the stunning illustrations, by, Gabriel Picolo. Their choice to focus on a limited color palette for each character is utterly captivating! The third book in this series, Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven, will be coming out in 2021, giving you plenty of time to read the first two books!

My Recommendation-
If you loved the classic Teen Titans cartoon, you definitely need to read this series! Teen Titans: Raven and Teen Titans: Beast Boy are part of an independent series within DC Comics, so you don’t necessarily need any prior knowledge before you start reading! Just dive on in and start enjoying the superhero fun!

Teen Titans: Beast Boy is a fun, energized book that offers a modern, teen friendly explanation of Garfield Logan’s origin story. With excellent artwork from Gabriel Picolo and the always admirable writing talents of Kami Garcia, I enjoyed this graphic novel and am looking forward to passing it on to my 12 year old daughter.

Cover
Credits

The origins of the Teen Titans date back to the 1960s, but their solo titles didn’t get much attention until the New Teen Titans in 1980 under Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. Beast Boy, Garfield Logan, was a near-constant character in their book and the Titans overall, though he has been less involved in later iterations of the team. If you have watched the animated adaptations such as Young Justice or the 2003 Teen Titans, however, you will be well familiar with Beast Boy’s basic ability: transform into any animal. (As far as I’m concerned, you can and should skip Teen Titans Go!)

DC has been focusing on middle grade and young adult friendly origin stories for popular and recognizable characters over the past several years, with Harley Quinn, Raven, Cassandra Cain, Barbara Gordon as Oracle, and Green Lantern all getting their own graphic novels. If only DC had given in and tapped into the wildly popular youth graphic novel market earlier, perhaps they wouldn’t be in the financial position they’re in now.

Gar’s origin story is basic, as superheroes go; his parents were working in Africa to reverse engineer extinct species (think Jurassic Park) when Gar contracted a deadly virus. Only one species was immune to the virus, a particular breed of monkey, so his parents decided to inject him with the genetic material of the monkey. Instead of just the antibodies fighting the virus, it turned him monkey that was immune to said virus. After this, a green-skinned, green-haired Gar is able to shape shift into animal forms.

Teen Titans: Beast Boy preserves the building blocks of that origin story, but moves in its own direction rather than stick with the 1960s Doom Patrol issues as biblical canon. Instead of dying, his parents are alive and well, instead of dead in Africa. Instead of immediately gaining his powers, his parents have suppressed them with an amino-acid supplement, telling him that it’s to treat a deficiency. Gar doesn’t remember anything about his illness other than the green monkeys he saw in Sierra Leone. What he does notice is that as a high school senior, he is still shortsmall and whipcord thinslim; all the protein shakes, healthy eating, and working out in the world aren’t changing it. While his parents aren’t physically or emotionally abusive in the ways they are in the comic, they are obviously manipulating his body without his concent. When he stops taking the pills, he rapidly grows, gets stronger, begins to gain the powers of other animals, and eventually progresses to the ability to fully shapeshift. And, in keeping with the book's less fantastical style, he has a movie-style 'nod-to-the-comics' streak of green in his hair.

He also has typical teenager problems; he likes the popular girl who doesn’t even know he exists. In a pleasant variant, he is best friends with a jock and a gamer, so at least he’s not a stereotypical “loner” kid; this also fits with Gar’s other portrayals as a Teen Titan, where he easily makes friends with all sorts of people.

Tank, Gar’s friend who is a competitive eater and fitness focused, has been helping him figure out an eating plan that should be helping Gar bulk up. When Gar brings up the supplement, Tank says that it could be causing Gar’s lack of success. Gar then researches the amino acid and realizes that it might interfere with the function of his pituitary gland. He immediately stops taking it, though he lies to his parents about it. Suddenly, all that work has paid off — he’s stronger, buffer, and taller, too. But other things start to happen; when he takes up a challenge to eat a “Reaper” hot pepper, his body internally rewires to that of a tree shrew, which isn’t affected by the pepper’s heat. Gar doesn’t know what’s happening, but the art depicts it clearly, which I appreciated as a reader. It's tricky to manage the audience knowing something that the main character doesn't without wanting to yell at the character to figure it out. But these changes continue and progress until Gar completes a full shape shift in the book’s climax.

I definitely enjoyed Teen Titans: Beast Boy; it has the same fun, friendly attitude I’ve always felt from Beast Boy in the comics I’ve read and animation I’ve watched. Gar is coming into his own in terms of his superpowers, but also in terms of who to trust. His parents aren’t presented as villains in the book, but Gar (understandably!) does not trust them to be looking out for his best interests after they a.) conducted untested science experiments on him b.) interfered with his healthy development c.) lied about all of it. His choices about who to trust are going to make a long-time DC reader’s eyes go wide, but from someone less familiar with the DC universe, it makes plenty of sense and creates a nice dramatic tension from either reader

All of that said, I’m pretty sure my daughters will enjoy it more (which makes sense, as they are the book’s target audience). To me, the typical teen subplots felt too well-tred to be enjoyable, but as a teenager, I think they would have seemed the pleasant and comfortable kind of familiar. Kami Garcia’s writing is always crisp and tight, carefully paced that lets Gar’s development happen over a short period of time without moving to potboiler style pacing. Characters are differentiated, voices are clear, and there’s not a bunch of extra dialogue or explanation that weighs down the pages.

Gabriel Picolo’s artwork is excellent. In his bio, Picolo (known for his Casual Teen Titans fanart) mentions that Gar is his favorite Titan. His excitement at getting to draw Beast Boy shines through on the page. The art has a rounded, pseudo-realistic style (a less exaggerated version of Avatar the Last Airbender's character designs), making me think of Stefano Casseli or Juan Cabal — that sweet spot with more shape and distinction than the squared off minimalism of David Aja, without pushing to the incredible level of detail that distinguishes George Pérez or Nicola Scott. The backgrounds aren't given the same level of attention as the characters, seeming almost watercolor — while unusual in its abstraction, it keeps the focus of each panel solely on the characters. This is the perfect art style for a book of this type; it’s clear, fits the story and has some great character acting.

My daughter already owns Teen Titans: Raven, the first book in this series. While I haven’t gotten the chance to snag it off her shelves, she described it as “pretty fun,” which tells me that they’re not delving too far into the dark side of Raven’s back story. Similarly, this book skips over the casual racism involved in white parents in an African country using monkey DNA to save their kid’s life. I’m not the person to speak to whether or not that’s acceptable, but it seems important to note that the issue is not raised within the book.

The next entry in the series seems to be Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven, set for release in February 2021. I’m excited to read about two of my favorite heroes managing the intense attentions of Slade Wilson (aka Deathstroke, and if that name sounds familiar, please remember that Liefeld's Deadpool was ripping off DC, not the other way around). I hope that the series continues to bring in the other Teen Titans. While there are dozens of characters who have been part of the team over the years, I hope to see the now classic lineup of Robin (Dick Grayson), Starfire, and Cyborg getting similar graphic novels in the future. But I suppose the potential existence of those books depends on whether DC’s teen and middle grade imprints survive the company’s current financial crisis. In the meantime, enjoy Teen Titans: Beast Boy, check out Teen Titans: Raven, and hope for more in the series after the third installment, Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven.

This was a fun read. Fans of Beast Boy have a new treat to check out that has more going on than just being an origin story. Fans who may be new to Gar won’t be left behind though. This can also serve as a great introduction to Beast Boy.

I wish the side stories for Tank and Stella had been able to be a little more robust, but there is only so much storyline for a graphic novel to go around. So, I understand that can’t always happen.

If you were a fan of the graphic novel for Raven, this one is likely going to be a hit for you too, but this is also a fine place to start the journey. Fun, interesting quick read. I’m definitely curious to read what Gar will be up to in the next part of his tale.

As much as I love superheroes, I never really read any of the Teen Titans stuff nor did I watch more than a few episodes of the show. I honestly didn't know what to expect and wasn't sure if I would enjoy without any backstory/knowledge about Beast Boy. Spoiler: I loved it. I sat down to read it and didn't stop until it was done. I devoured it.

I'm a huge superhero fan, I read comics and graphic novels, watch the movies and tv shows, and call my car the Batmobile (but like.. if Batgirl had a car instead of a motorcycle, Batgirl's Batmobile.) Despite that, I haven't explored the world of the Teen Titans too much. I went into this story without the knowledge of how Beast Boy got his name, his powers, or joined the Teen Titans. Like the other DC Ink titles, readers are introduced to an early iteration of the character and shown their origin story. I felt that the story would feel authentic to fans of Beast Boy/Gar and those that are new to the character.

Can I rave about the art? Gabriel Picolo does an incredible job of bringing Beast Boy and his environment to life. The more muted palette of green, gray, and black helped to bring Gar's story to life. I fell in love with Gabriel's art paired with Kami Garcia's story - and would love to see more Teen Titans titles (or other DC Ink titles) penned by them. The story readers are given is that of Gar's origins and leaves us wanting more. I cannot wait to see what else this duo creates and hope to see more of Beast Boy in the future. Highly recommend this graphic novel about the Teen Titan's resident jokester.

Beast Boy is the second book in the new Teen Titans series and follows Gar, aka Beast Boy as he realizes that something is not quite right and becomes the Beast Boy we know.

This was another great re-interpretation of a Teen Titan back-story by Kami Garcia. I have never read other versions but I really liked this one and it was action packed and there were characters you loved and hated. In addition, the cast was diverse and we always need more of that in YA reading.

Overall, I found the plot interesting and relatable, even though we are talking teens with powers. There are still teen issues and teen drama and angst that we often find in teen-reads. Gar is a great lead character and I think both male and female readers will enjoy his back story. It is very thought provoking. The plot examines themes like finding yourself, popularity and pressures, knowing and finding your true friends, and of course "unleashing your inner beast" (quote from DC Comics announcement).


I found the book to be a lot of fun to read and the illustrations are beautifully done and elaborate. I look forward to what is coming next from this series.

I want to thank firstly, DC Entertainment for sending me an advanced reading copy of this title. I was EXTREMELY excited to be able to review this graphic novel. I read Teen Titans: Raven and loved it. I knew that I would have to get my hands on the Beast Boy story if I could.

I truly loved the art by Gabriel Picolo. There is a youthfulness to Beast Boy that Picolo was able to capture and the story was fast paced. I mean Beast Boy has to be able to transition from animal to human seamlessly. It was captured perfectly.

The story being fast paced I did feel like there were a few things that were rushed. I think the story was good but it wasn’t my favorite. I felt like the Raven story was more developed and I felt more for Raven. Maybe too I just enjoy Raven more as a character in general, I mean she is my favorite Teen Titan after all. I just wish that maybe the graphic novel had a stronger story. I think it would give a better understanding of who Garfield is before he became Beast Boy. There was a rush to his powers and I didn’t like that his parents were just shown as a bit of the enemy, that they were just keeping something from him when they were trying to protect him. Teens are meant to be angsty but I think we needed more in that story development. Did he have a good relationship with his parents before?

The next book in the series is Beast Boy and Raven, so I am excited to see where the story is going to go when those two forces collide.

A comical, coming of age graphic novel about Garfield Logan and his struggle with fitting in and the evolution from regular Garfield to Beast Boy! This graphic novel pairing is perfection. Garcia adds fun, laugh-out-loud dialogue, while Picolo brings stunning artwork with page-turning qualities. An entertaining read that is both visually stimulating with relevant dialogue. Such a fun read!

Blurb: Garfield has always been the smaller unpopular guy and would love to see what it’s like to be with the in-crowd, but when he becomes an experiment gone wrong he becomes much more than a bigger, better version of himself, he becomes Beast Boy!

This was my first graphic novel ARC and such a joy! I read a lot of my daughters graphic novels and what I loved so much about this one in comparison is that the topic is current and the writing is done just as well as any novel. The bubbles are easy to follow and the design holds my attentions, so much so that I went and bought a physical copy of Raven’s story by the same duo. So well done and I can’t wait to read more by these two artists!

"Garfield Logan has spent his entire life being overlooked. Even in a small town like Eden, Georgia, the 17-year-old with green streaks in his hair can’t find a way to stand out–and the clock is ticking. Senior year is almost over. If Gar doesn’t find a way to impress the Chosen Ones–the social elite at Bull Creek High School–he will never know what it’s like to matter. Gar’s best friends, Stella and Tank, don’t understand why he cares what other people think. They miss their funny, pizza-loving, video game-obsessed best friend.

Then Gar accepts a wild dare out of the blue. It impresses the Chosen Ones and his social status soars. But other things are changing, too. Gar grows six inches overnight. His voice drops and, suddenly, he’s stronger and faster. He’s finally getting everything he wanted, but his newfound popularity comes at a price. Gar has to work harder to impress his new friends. The dares keep getting bigger and the stakes keep getting higher.

When Gar realizes the extent of his physical changes, he has to dig deep and face the truth about himself–and the people who truly matter–before his life spirals out of control."

—Goodreads

I am going to start this review off with saying: I have been in love with Garfield Logan since I was 7 years old. The Teen Titans cartoon was my absolute favorite show when I was a kid and I was OBSESSED with animals, so naturally, the green-skinned jokester quickly became my favorite superhero (unfortunately, as I grew older, he stopped being my favorite superhero, but my love for him will forever go on). When I found out about Kami Garcia's Teen Titans graphic novels, I immediately knew that I would have to read them. Now, I admit, I have not read Teen Titans: Raven yet, but when I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of Teen Titans: Beast Boy from NetGalley, I quickly requested the title; and upon being approved for the ARC, I screamed and immediately texted my sister.

Skip to me actually reading the graphic novel. Garcia introduces us to the Gar that Teen Titans never truly delved into: a Garfield Logan before he is able to embrace the beast inside. At the beginning of the novel, Gar may be known for saving animals in distress, but the love for tofu and vegetarian products has not been pronounced. Despite this, Beast Boy is back and better than ever: cracking jokes at his own expense and discovering what it means to have this odd connection to the animal kingdom. With mentions of H.I.V.E. and the most beloved villain of the Teen Titans series, fans of the original cartoon will deeply enjoy this nod to their childhood. Garcia will introduce our favorite animal lover to a whole new set of fans who will fall head-over-heels for this humorous and relatable tale of finding oneself. Gabriel Picolo brings Gar to life with his detailed artistry, showing the animal within the boy as Beast Boy discovers this new addition to his life.

I highly recommend this graphic novel to not just graphic novel readers, but also to those who love to read stories about superheroes, animals, or plain humor.

Thank you DC Comics for the review copy via NetGalley!

I love Teen Titans and I truly enjoyed reading Beast Boy's origin story. Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo make such a good team! The writing and artwork were great and I can't wait for their next venture! Longer comics next time, please. Can't get enough of these!

Living in Eden, Georgia, Garfield Logan was always overlooked, even with green streaks in his hair. His best friends don't know why he cares so much about being popular, and miss who he used to be. Gar is accepting every dare from the popular crowd in order to remain liked, but the ante keeps rising and his life feels like it's spiraling out of control.

Gar's search for popularity so he could get a kiss from the popular girl he's crushing on, while his best friend Tank has trouble with his English assignments and his other best friend Stella is concerned about animals that will be euthanized at the shelter. They all worry about each other and support each other as they can, just like other seventeen-year-olds. Gar shoots up rapidly and has the ability to shapeshift into animals, which he's only starting to learn how to do by the end of this comic. Those of us who know Slade Wilson are scared for him, and those that don't know that he's a dangerous man and creeping around trying to convince Gar to trust him

This is slightly different from other backstories for Gar, but still has a few of the important elements to it. Gar's parents were scientists studying virology in Sierra Leone, and when he grew infected with it at age four, they experimented on him in an attempt to save his life. He doesn't find this out until closer to the end of the comic, which is more like volume one of a series. I hope I get a chance to read others, because this is a great start to his story, and one that other comic lovers will enjoy, too.

Following the origin story of 17-year-old Garth Logan as he battles more than just the normal changes of the human body. Kami Garcia and Gabriel Piccolo blend together another beautiful backstory for one of our favorite Teen Titans! So many people know and love the comics and animated series but getting to see Garth's (and Raven's previously) before the titans allowed readers to bond with them in a way that other comics don't. Gabriel Piccolo's drawings are fun and new, seeing his casual teen titans illustrations not only on his Instagram but also in graphic novel form is truly a treat. A definite recommendation to anyone who loves comics, the cartoon network animated series, or anyone who wants a new story on old favorites.