REVIEW: ‘Knight Terrors: Titans,’ Issue #1

Knight Terrors: Titans #1 is published by DC Comics, written by Andrew Constant, art by Scott Godlewski, colors by Ryan Cody, and letters by Wes Abbott. This is part of the Knight Terrors event. The Titans are all on a different floor of a seemingly never-ending building and must be reminded of who they are one by one. 

There is a great structure and concept to the plot of this tie-in. It’s a journey from the bottom of this mysterious place to the top. And on each level is a twisted, horrifying version of a Titan. A strange woman is tasked with saving them, being put through a constantly changing trial. While the plot moves slowly, it is never uninteresting; simply enjoying the setting that it’s in. Each one of the rooms seems more dramatic and intense, entirely different from the last. What I love about the whole story is complexity within simplicity. The rules are set and adhered to, allowing for the character work and their adventure to drive the Titans upwards.

The characters are revealed bit by bit. Significantly, each of the Titans is in a dungeon, a segment of their own where they have become their darkest far of themselves. And for all but one of these parts, they are simply understood, not explained, or lessened by tons of dialogue. As more Titans join the group, the conversations between them are more enthused, but still, each word is only used when needed. Additionally, the dialogue is beautifully poetic, often repeating and raising questions.

The main character of the issue is a strange woman, who I can safely say I couldn’t tell who she was. Her name is never spoken. And I think the ambiguity of her identity is intentional and part of the tale. She is guided by a talking voice, presented as the captions. But what makes this narration stand out from others of its type is that the main character can hear and interact with it. 

The art is stunning, telling the story on its own at multiple junctures of the issue. The Titan challenges are all truly unique, entirely personal to the hero that is at the centre of them. They are snippets of stories but pieces of art as well. They can perfectly sum up what the hero is afraid of becoming without saying anything at all. Each of the fights is fantastic and just as individualized as the situations dictate. The details are everywhere in this issue. 

The colors are gorgeous and layered with textures. The background wall in the main stairway, which serves as the main travel point between the rooms, is a delicate mix of brown and a darker blue. Then the Titan rooms themselves have their own set of tones and shades. Perhaps the most striking is Beast Boy‘s room. The colors are much more vibrant and spread over the whole panel compared to what comes before it. And as the Titans get higher, red starts to take over and dominate the page. The lettering beautifully fits the approach of having few words per piece of dialogue. The text might be smaller than usual, but it looks smart and is never difficult to read.

Knight Terrors: Titans #1 is a great idea for a group nightmare. The issue features horror and mystery that is able to be maintained for the entire comic. It’s such a wonderfully crafted journey, with eloquent dialogue that never wants to say too much. The partnership between writer and artist means that neither steps on the other’s toes. Slowly revealing the characters as they progress up the tower mixes The Wizard of Oz, The Raid, and a horror story into one.

Knight Terrors: Titans #1 is available where comics are sold.