REVIEW: ‘Titans: Beast War: World Tour – Atlantis,’ Issue #1

Titans: Beast War: World Tour – Atlantis #1 is published by DC Comics and features three stories by various creators. The first story is titled “Wild Blue: A Tale From the Beast World,” written by Sina Grace, art by Riccardo Federici, colors by Lee Loughridge, and letters by Dave Sharpe. The second story is titled “Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Back in The Water,” written by Frank Tieri, art by Valentine De Landro, colors by Marissa Louise, and letters by Clayton Cowles. The third story is titled “Out of his Depths,” written by Meghan Fitzpatrick, art by M.L. Sanapo, colors by Michael Atiyeh, and letters by Cowles. The Beast War has spread to the bottom of the ocean, where the defenders of Atlantis struggle to establish leadership.

This next chapter of the World Tour tie-in series follows the previous edition’s example by changing the anthology format, again refreshing the concept. It isn’t quite as drastic as the sewn-together stories, but they are connected. The third story is directly in voled with the first, with something of a palette cleanser for the second. They are entirely different creators, but the events of “Wild Blue: A Tale From the Beast War” directly impact “Out of His Depths.”

The first provides an example of everything that is going on in Atlantis, focusing on the protection of Atlantis. Aquaman and Tempest are the first wave, with Mera and Tula appearing later in the story. The book features many references to other books leading up to the event but is largely connected to Beat War and Titans. And whilst it would be beneficial to know some of the names of the context, it really isn’t vital to read Titans in order to understand what is happening. All that is required is knowing that Tempest and his old friends are not seeing eye to eye. What is clever is some of the plot strands that are set up here are continued into “Out of His Depths.”

There, Mera and Aqualad argue over the best cause of action, with leaders rapidly diminishing, serving as the ever-increasing danger for the whole book. Not just that, but there is the vulnerability of Andy inside Atlantis, getting passed between figures as protectors run out. Being underwater leads to a new set of transformations, and this issue really includes some major threats to the other heroes as big names are turned into beasts.

In the middle of the comic is another continuation of a previous comic, which is perhaps more crucial to understanding its formation. Both Deadeye and Vixen, survivors from the Titans: Beast War – Waller Rising one-shot, are looking for a transformed Black Manta, using help from Captain Boomerang. Tieri uses the story as an opportunity to parody a film that perfectly fits the book’s remit. Jaws is turned into a DC adventure from the intro to the last pages. It’s hilarious whilst also advancing the group that is going after Waller from the shadows, solidifying it as more than just a comedic story that solely serves as filler. Especially through the ending, it moves advantages and puts others in danger.

The book features fewer individual stories than the other issues in the series, but the character development and the dialogue are much better. It allows for conversations and relationships to be both established and stretched. The appears to be a breakdown in communication between the younger members of the group and the royal couple. Aquaman is trying to give orders to Tempest, who is headstrong and distracted.

The same can be said for Mera and Aqualad, with tempers fraying. The decisions get tougher as figures begin to fall. The whole scenario and tone are different in the second story, as the dialogue has to match that of the script for Jaws. Whilst Deadeye and Vixen are working together and are the pair for that story, the inclusion of Captain Boomerang exists to also mimic the movie, as he is a humorous pastiche of Robert Shaw. But Tieri uses him as a direct connection to Amanda Waller, too. It’s funny in a different way to the sometimes complete chaos that Boomerang brings, as again, they have to conform to something of a context. The small cast in each issue condenses and intensifies the friction between the characters.

The art is very unique for each tale. In the first story, Federici’s style is hauntingly, achingly beautiful. The underwater world looks creepy and unnerving, with the addition of monsters making the place even scarier. The humans are extremely realistic. Aquaman looks older and regal, still exhibiting a real presence. Alternatively, Tempest is younger, and his petulance shines through quite evidently. And through Federicci come some of the best creature designs yet. Some of them are purely impressive. Others are utterly horrifying. The first is phenomenal, and they only get more tremendous.

In the second story, De Landro has incredibly thick line weights, to the point. The first page is a pure homage to Jaws, and the rest of the issue combines the tribute with heroes. Black Manta is massive and imposing, and the powers of those fighting him require some ingenuity and inventiveness. The last story has more realism and creativity in the line weights. There’s another brilliant hero transformation, and the actual change is one of the best of the event so far.

The colors are awesome throughout the issue. Loughridge brings a selection of terrific tones to “Wild Blue: A Tale From The Beast World,” from a sickly yellow in the beginning to deep purple or even the thick blue that represents the darkness of the bottom of the ocean.

“Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Back in The Water” is much brighter, being predominantly on the shoreline and above the water. Vixen’s powers look brilliant, with the lines themselves drawn with pink ink. “Out of His Depth” returns to the blue, but it is much lighter. And more of this final story is within the dome of Atlantis, where there is much more royal gold on display. The lettering is consistently fantastic across the whole issue.

Titans: Beast War: World Tour – Atlantis #1 is another awesome format shakeup. Something of a blend between the classic style of multiple stories but with more of the interlocking concept of the Central City issue, ultimately, the tie-in is a success because of it. It makes the issues feel like a bigger story overall, providing the characters and the cities under attack with time to build into something great. There are not as many stories but higher quality ones, with still enough space for some fun extras, like delivering an ode to Jaws.

Titans: Beast War: World Tour – Atlantis #1 is available where comics are sold.