REVIEW: ‘Titans,’ Issue #2

Titans #2 from DC moves the world’s premier superteam to action in solving the murder of The Flash. Tom Taylor rolls out the story, with the amazing pencils of Nicola Scott on art, Annette Kwok provides fabulous colors, and the indomitable Wes Abbott’s lettering is in fine style. If you caught that stellar first issue (and if you haven’t you should,) then you saw the murder of Wally West, The Flash. Taylor set up readers for a murder mystery I love, and hate. Wally’s gotten the short end of the stick since the New 52, so seeing him be the victim again is disheartening. The issue complicates things further, with Wally’s death being the one major gripe. 

There’s a lot this issue seeks to tell and all points lead to a very surprising ending I will not spoil for you. Beginning wiht a flashback, the Teen Titans are about to raid the lair of Brother Blood. Scott’s detailed, smooth lines amplify these early moments — her Robin always being a personal favorite. Every young hero sports a strong look that is dramatic, serious, and not foolish. The raid goes south for them very fast, and this leads into the present as the team investigates Wally’s corpse.

Taylor knows these characters like best friends, and he manages not only to write them as such but to give each one a starring role throughout the issue. Nightwing goes first with forensic analysis. Then, after a surprise, each Titan gets to show off as it were as a new crisis rises up. Taylor sprinkles in what looks like a touch of an upcoming internal schism, then jumps into the action. I can’t say enough about how well he develops the Titans into not just adult heroes who behave with experience and true camaraderie, but they seem more, dare I say, mature than the Justice League.

Even with Garth goofing around, these characters feels like professional superheroes the public could rely on, who take their job seriously, and aren’t simply here for their own agenda or to watch the others with suspicion. In many ways, it feels like older comics where you could see a team of heroes as respectable and motivated by their morals, while also having self-awareness that this is a network of living powerhouses who need some degree of checks and balances. The result is beautiful.

You cannot go wrong with Scott’s artwork, shown here through the Titans as they are detailed in their rendering, drawn with humanity in their expressions and poses. Kwok’s colors are varied and clean, especially in the water, and Raven and Starfire’s costumes. The same goes for Raven’s eyes up close and the sequences with fire. Abbott gets to toy around with giant lettering FX this issue. Every panel looks great, the Titans appearing like DC’s premiere superhero team.

Titans #2 is a vivacious read you can sit down and enjoy with an ending that will undoubtedly prompt healthy discussion amongst fans. Wonderfully written, the issue gives each hero a moment to shine, features heroism and humanity, and brings it all to life through slick, bright, detailed art. Get yourself a copy and recognize the Titans are every bit as good as the JLA, JSA, and other popular teams are.

Titans #2 is available wherever comic books are sold.