Titans: Beast War #3 is published by DC Comics, written by Tom Taylor, art by Lucas Meyer, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr, and letters by Wes Abbott. The beasts threaten to overrun the planet as the Titans struggle to contain it.
This is as close to a recovery issue as the event will allow. Bitten and bloodied, many of the heroes are still moving despite their injuries. For many of them, this book is barely a let-up. Nightwing drops the transformed Batman off at Titans Tower but has been ripped to shreds. Starfire and Donna Troy are trying to hold back Black Adam from destroying Kahndaq whilst in danger of being targeted by the spores themselves. The Flash is zooming around the planet, evacuating everyone he can. And finally, Beast Boy is a giant star in the sky, with Raven trying to reach him.
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The scale of the event is enormous, and the beasts are becoming much more violent and dangerous. It’s slightly disappointing that the amount of heroes and villains transformed (except in the tie-ins) is relatively low, but it makes it more impressive when it happens. The pacing is slow enough to provide each scene with some brilliant moments and fantastic pieces of dialogue while accelerating at the right parts. Alongside the reactive nature of the Titans is the meticulous but malicious planning of Amanda Waller, who resorts to strange bedfellows. Taylor excellently sets up the potential for dangerous consequences of actions, but they are the only options available.
The book is superb at both placing the Tiants at the centre of the action as well as presenting the differences between them and the Justice League. The Titans are a family, far closer than the older League. There are some beautifully tender moments amid the chaos and the animalistic carnage. Starfire is one of the most prominent figures in Titans: Beast War #3, with her immense power and heat recognised. But even as she unleashes that fury, she and Donna are given a lovely instance. Nightwing has a revealing and calming conversation with a woman who has lived near him for ages, allowing him to slow down.
The dialogue constantly acknowledges the history the characters have and their devotion to one another. When Raven goes to Donna for help, the panic and the pain are clear. The captions kick in at that moment, and it is hauntingly poetic and complimentary towards the fantastic heroes. There are outsiders from the Titans included, showcasing the wider threat of the event, but they are there to assist. Those that will shape the course of the storyline are solely the Titans.
The art is fantastic, following a change in artist. Meyer’s style is not dissimilar to Reis’, stopping the shift from being too jarring. Both the power and the sensitivity of the characters are represented well. Starfire protecting Donna whilst incinerating the spores around her will be one of the defining pages of the event. Meanwhile, Nightwing looks beaten up and exhausted, shredded by claws and teeth. The biggest setpieces of the event so far look phenomenal. A plane under attack from a swarm of bird people has an amazing sense of spectacle and danger. The container filled with vulnerable innocents suddenly looks fragile and paper-thin when surrounded by heroes and monsters. The fights are phenomenal as furry and ferocious creatures are matching the mightiest heroes.
The colors are terrific. There’s both a vibrancy and darkness to the comic. There are huge examples of bright colors from the superpowers, fire, and costumes, but there are also solid blocks of black, with faces sometimes barely visible, poking through them. It gives the impression that anything can slink out of those shadows. The lettering is spacious, clear, and easy to read.
Titans: Beast War #3 is cementing the heroes’ legacy. This is a group that has always been on the sidelines. It isn’t even a coming-of-age story. That would be better attributed to Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, where Nightwing and the other younger heroes had to step up. They are adults through and through. They are now the last line of defense, expected to save the world. And yet the values that made them unique are still held dear; the sensitivity and their shared connection keep them tethered even across the planet.
Titans: Beast War #3 is available where comics are sold.
Titans: Beast War #3
TL;DR
Titans: Beast War #3 is cementing the heroes’ legacy. This is a group that has always been on the sidelines. They are now the last line of defense, expected to save the world. And yet the values that made them unique are still held dear; the sensitivity and their shared connection keep them tethered even across the planet.
