REVIEW: ‘Titans’ Issue 29

Titans Issue 29 is published by DC Comics. Written by John Layman, art and colors by Pete Woods, and letters by Wes Abbott.

This issue is part of the DC K.O. event. The Titans are separated, facing attacks from all angles as they try to get the citizens of Earth to safety.

Titans Issue 29 features multiple stories unfolding simultaneously. The team are scattered, stretched impossibly thin as they lead evacuation efforts. Nightwing and Raven are on the magical planet of Gemworld. Starfire is on the edge of space, the only protector of a wave of escapees under attack from the Female Furies. Beast Boy and Beast Girl face a similar threat on their own planet, which was once thought to be abandoned.

Donna Troy and Arsenal are on Earth, trying to control everything, while Cyborg is actually at the Cosmic Tournament, about to fight. All of these battles are part of a larger story, connected as a cohesive narrative.

Each location sees a villain making trouble, threatening the lives of people who are already seeking safety. Whilst the story is split, the pacing makes it easy to follow. We spend time in each location, fully understanding the danger facing each Titan. There’s a real sense of overwhelming odds, beyond that of an already impossible task.

Once again, the Titans are all that’s left standing against evil targeting the world. And each scenario has entirely different villains and options for backup. Some Titans have better chances than others, while many are completely on their own.

With the party split, the chemistry shifts and changes inside Titans Issue 29. Usually the members of the team can rely on each other and call for backup from their family. However, here, the communications have been cut off, and the heroes must use what they have at hand. There is a selection of fascinating and rewarding cameos, whether the team are claiming asylum in foreign planets, or certain figures apart to try and stem the tide of evil and protect as many civilians as possible.

None of the Titans think about backing down and they all know that they have to make do with what they’ve got. And what’s nice is there are conversations and partnerships that aren’t often seen when the whole group is together. For example, Nightwing and Raven are on Gemworld. You get a hero that has been trained to control emotions and another who can sense and is being overwhelmed by emotions.

The art is phenomenal. The locations change completely multiple times in this issue, and Woods excels at creating multiple unique worlds. Whether a fantastical planet with palaces and crystals or just about to escape Earth’s orbit, the surroundings are magnificent. The detail is extraordinary, giving a sense of grandiosity to the planets. Starfire faces down a full force of Darkseid’s most dangerous soldiers, all of which are superbly designed. And what is heightened is the ground of isolation. The space around Starfire makes her look truly alone, amplified by the vulnerable arcs behind her.

The colors are stunning. Titans Issue 29 is extremely colorful, with vibrant shades everywhere in the page. Space is filled with lights and energy. The characters, especially Starfire, are radiant and have gorgeously immense tones. Gemworld is so beautiful, crafted out of precious gems and so pretty that the Care Bear kingdom looks dim compared to it. The lettering is precise and easy to read. When caption boxes are included, it’s color coded to associate the words with the characters.

Titans Issue 29 forces the team to think. Scattered and stressed, the heroes don’t have the family that they’ve always been able to fall back on. They’re all that are left, protecting people from everything and anything. Woods and Layman beautifully capture the isolation and just how stretched out the Titans are. But they aren’t just a unit. These are incredible powerful and resourceful individuals, ready to do anything to keep innocents alive. They can protect the world when together or far apart.

Titans Issue 29 is available where comics are sold.