REVIEW: ‘Titans: Beast World,’ Issue #2

Titans: Beast World #2 is published by DC Comics, written by Tom Taylor, pencils by Ivan Reis, inks by Danny Miki, colors by Brad Anderson, and letters by Wes Abbott. The world is being torn apart by beasts, leaving the Titans and the other heroes scrambling to keep control.

This plot unleashes the consequences of the first issue. Beast Boy saved and doomed the world in the same action, with the rest of the Titans now rushing to control the chaos. The global scale of the drama opens up the typical world-ending event, but it is just as exciting and enthralling. Some of the bigger cities are the first and worst hit. Gotham is erupting in violence, with Batman and Nightwing struggling to establish a foothold in what is happening. And Kahndaq is getting massacred due to their leader transforming into an animalistic Black Adam.

There is a fascinating concept within this event that separates it from other events. The heroes could be the most dangerous feature of the crossover, as the spores appear to target them for transformation over the weaker heroes. This feeds into the tactics of one of the antagonists of the series, with Taylor also controlling the wider, sneakier plot of the series. The pacing is fantastic, fast-paced, and intense while maintaining control of the exposition. The structure starts to split by the end of the issue as those who helped instigate the situation now take advantage of it. There aren’t many surprises in the issue, but every development is interesting and dramatic.

Where the first issue was primarily focused on Beast Boy, Titans: Beast World #2 spends much of its time emphasizing the other team members. Heroes like Green Lantern, Batman, and Superman are in the comic, but this event will rely on the heroism and power of the Titans. Batman is crucial to much of the comic, but it soon becomes his son who has taken command of the situation. Oracle is also very significant, as she is the eyes and ears of the whole planet. At the beginning of the book, many of the most powerful heroes are out in space. The reactive dialogue is powerful and amazing, with Starfire and Donna Troy being among the first to return to Earth. But their reintroduction to the stratosphere is a cause for concern.

The art takes a wild and wicked turn. The first issue saw Reis and Miki illustrate a gathering of heroes, which is awesome but has been seen countless times before. This next chapter takes the concept to a new level, transforming the characters and other people into huge, ferocious animals. It’s still early when it comes to revealing the designs of heroes and villains that have been affected, but there are two superb examples. The artists get to have extreme fun, with extensive details added to the creatures. They are huge, bloodthirsty, and vicious. The fights are terrific, dripping with intensity. The teeth and claws that the now animalistic heroes possess will be used violently. The transformations themselves are also tremendous. The creatures increase the subject’s size, and the primal power emanating from them is palpable.

The colors are brilliant. The book is filled with darkness, but two other colors fill the background. The first is orange, representing the burning cities that have fallen into chaos. The second is the bright green, depicting Beast Boy’s influence on the planet. These two opposing tones fight and mix. But these colors don’t affect the shades that make up the costumes and powers of Nightwing, Starfire, or the other heroes. The lettering is stunningly subtle. When a character is in pain but trying to mask it, the word balloons are shakier to fit that notion into their voice.

Titans: Beast World #2 shows its teeth. The unique elements of the event are even more present in the second issue as the ramifications of Doctor Hate’s confrontation with Beast Boy become clearer and more chaotic. The stakes are enormous, and the help the Titans will get is tentative, with the possibility of anyone becoming a beast. The battles are visceral within a core book that remains tethered to the main Titans team, keeping the plot focused while the tie-in expands the event further.

Titans: Beast World #2 is available now wherever comics are sold.