Titans #16 is written by John Layman and published by DC. Artwork and colours are by Pete Woods and letters by Wes Abbott. Main cover art (left) is also by Woods.
Titans #16 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
A league of their own! After the events of Absolute Power, the team looks towards the future and their place in it. Will their failure to control Amanda Waller mean lasting consequences for the hero community?
Review
In the wake of Absolute Power and with a change in creative team, DC’s Titans returns to comic book stores today with a brand new outlook on life. As Tom Taylor and Lucas Meyer move on to pastures new, John Layman and Pete Woods are entering the fray as the balance of power is shifting in the DCU.
For much of the past year the Titans have the DCU’s top super-team. With the Justice League disbanded, Nightwing, Beast Boy, Starfire, Donna Troy, Wally West and Raven have been Earth’s first line of defence. In that time we’ve seen them headline their first ever event storyline. They’ve also been instrumental in saving us all from Amanda Waller’s dastardly plans. But now things are changing…
With the Justice League reformed and its membership thrown open to almost every hero in the DCU, the Titans are questioning their place in the world. It’s a literal question for the characters in the book. But also easily a metaphorical question for Titans readers as we wonder how the team fits in to this new landscape. So it becomes the perfect jumping off point for Layman and Woods to put their stamp on the team.
Layman kicks off his era by diving right in to the big questions. The Titans are in awe of the new Watchtower but doubts over their position can’t help but creep in. It seems Donna is the most cynical when it comes to the Titans place in the world whilst Dick is typically pragmatic and Beast Boy just wants to explore their new surroundings. As the main Titans book has continued to exist outside of the Absolute Power storyline it gives Layman chance to very quickly catch up readers who may not have picked up the event. It’s important to know there’s a lot going on across the DCU right now and this is a period of pretty intense change. Layman taps in to that but rather than making this book feel chaotic it’s setup in way which leaves plenty of room for future storytelling.
Part of that change means a shift in the lineup of the Titans core group. Layman is switching up a couple of members of the group, in part due to the wider storytelling initiatives. But it’s also a great chance to refresh the book and add some new flavours. Having Roy rejoining the lineup feels like a great opportunity to inject a little conflict amongst the members. It’s also a chance for Roy to have a little redemption and break out from the confines of Green Arrow. What does remain to be seen coming out of issue #16 is how Wally may fit in moving forwards. As such an integral part of the team it could leave a huge gap whilst he’s away working with the League.
There’s a great sense of coming home as the location shifts to Titans tower. Whilst the theme of change continues to be present, Layman counterbalances any of those new elements by rooting the book in familiar locations and the sense of family between these characters. It’s out of those moments the new story arc really gets down to business. At first subtly. But then with a big bang and a very cool choice of villain. The choices feel right for this group of heroes. Keeping it grounded but still posing a challenge worthy of the team as a whole.
Pete Woods art style feels right at home with these characters. Over the course of Absolute Power there’s been a couple of costume upgrades. So this feels like a moment to stop, catch our breath and remember who these people are right now. The format of the story also offers up a quick opportunity to remind the reader just how far these characters have come since they first moved into Titan Tower. Woods is more than up to the challenge.
Verdict
Titans feels creatively refreshed and re-energised with a new creative team. John Layman eases in to a new era with a neat reset bridging the gap between Absolute Power and what comes next. Likewise, Pete Woods artwork skilfully puts his stamp on the book and these characters without reinventing the wheel. Consider me very excited for the future of the Titans.
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