REVIEW: ‘Titans: Beast World’ Issue #6

Titans: Beast World #6 is published by DC Comics, written by Tom Taylor, pencils by Ivan Reis, Eduardo Pansica, and Lucas Meyer, inks by Danny Miki, Meyer, and Julio Ferreira, colors by Brad Anderson and Romulo Fajardo Jr, and inks by Wes Abbott. This is the final issue of the event. Doctor Hate has been revealed to be the evil side of Raven, released from the Soul Stone on her forehead, as the heroes scramble to release the rest of the beasts.

This is a double-sized issue to match the scale of the occasion. The reveal that Raven’s demonic form has been responsible for so much of the carnage has completely changed who is in the driver’s seat of the event. The story splits. Raven must defeat the nefarious side of herself and protect the world from herself, whilst the Titans and other heroes go and save the rest of it. The 40+ pages go past at an extraordinary pace as this action-packed series reaches its conclusion.

Characters that have been hamstrung throughout the story, either through commitment or captivity, return to lend a hand for the largest of battles. But these heroes are different and that can be seen as the issue peaks. Brutality is not what it stands for, leading to a shift in focus to protection and saving lives. It provides the characters with a chance for hope instead of destruction and devastation. The ending is extremely satisfying, with all of the major plot threads given a place to end. Much of the finale will lead directly into the ongoing Titans comic, however, and so there are wounds that will take time to heal. The last page shows just how much trouble the team will be in.

The Titans take this final issue to solidify their strength and sensitivity. They will approach the spores and Amanda Waller in their own way, which differs from any other big team. They all embrace the responsibility on their shoulders. Nightwing himself goes to the President of the United States in order to beg for restraint. The tactic he takes brilliant subverts from a common trope within superhero comics. Dick has been one of the best characters in this event. As the one that everyone turns to for leadership and tactics, he has been fighting to the point of exhaustion. He knows when to leave his teammates to their roles because he trusts their ability and their judgment.

Each of the Titans gets a moment to change the course of the vent, not solely placing the fulcrum on one character. Every action is something that When each one pops up, it takes Titan: Beast World #6 to another level. The love and genuine care within the members of this superhero team is their core, and Taylor acknowledges that importance just as much as he does their power. Doctor Hate being Raven’s evil side was shocking and yet a superb decision by Taylor. It makes this last chapter and what comes next much more intimate as a storyline. It is much more emotive to have someone so integral to the cast be the one that could lead to their destruction.

The art has been top-notch on every single page of the event. When the intensity of the action has reached its crescendo, it can be difficult to maintain and stay on that summit. One of the more fascinating elements introduced within this final issue of the event is the concept of two Ravens within the same space. It forces a redesign within the same story. Those subtle details that can completely change the perception of a character are mesmerizing. This is also the last chance to see the beasts. An argument could easily be made that there weren’t enough transformations within this main book, but the ones that were seen have been tremendous.

Throughout this last chapter, the nature of the comic requires the heroes to stand tall and steadfast against authority figures and whole armies. The defiance and strength are remarkable, captured superbly by the artists. Superman is a particularly great example. For the entirety of the book, when Nightwing calls on Superman, it is Jon who has answered. He has looked and acted like the mantle describes. He has practically become an honorary Titan.

The colors are also sensational. This is a book with a lot of energy-based powers and electricity, and the prominence of those powers is made possible by how vibrant they are. Those individual shades that match the specific heroes are brilliant for both identification and display purposes. The lettering is an excellent example of how to do custom word balloons without affecting the readability of the text. Where the colors of the balloon may vary, the font itself stays clear.

Titans: Beast World #6 wraps up this team’s biggest challenge to date. Every single major plot point in this event has been connected to the Titans in some way, and they have sought to fix those problems themselves. They have fought valiantly and taken responsibility brilliantly. Taylor has written an incredibly entertaining story that has turned a comic filled with bestial transformations into a character-driven tale. The art team has alternated but has been world-class the entire time, seamlessly transitioning for each shift. The torment of the Titans is not finished, however. After this, It will be interesting to see how the team continues its role as Earth’s premier superhero team.

Titans: Beast World #6 is a available where comics are sold.