In the Dawn of DC era, there was a great deal of hype surrounding theTitansstepping up and taking theJustice League’s place after their disbandment. However, almost two years later, it doesn’t look like the Titans were able to live up to that hype. The Titans have failed to replace to the Justice League as DC’s main team, but their demotion might be the best thing for them.
The Titans announced their plans to take over as the main superhero team of the DC Universe inNightwing#100 by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Adriano Lucas, and more, and they’ve since filled in for the Justice League as the Earth’s primary line of defense. Although it appeared they were being set up for success,the Titans never quite reached the heights of the team before them, and now they’re already being sidelined. TheJustice League will soon returnas part of DC’s All In initiative, bringing “the time of the Titans” to an end.
It’s become apparent that the Titans couldn’t replace the Justice League, though that may not be such a bad thing. In fact, it proves how necessary they are as their own team. Thus,the Justice League’s impending return could be exactly what the Titans need to be truly great.
After Causing Multiple Crises, The Titans Have Failed to Replace the Justice League
Now They’ve Unleashed the Darkest Threat of All
The Titans' inability to replace the Justice League can be seen as early as their first major challenge as DC’s main team.TheTitans: Beast Worldeventby Tom Taylor, Ivan Reis, and Lucas Meyer begins with the Titans enlisting the entire hero community to assist them instead of handling the Necrostar themselves like the Justice League would have.They also allow Amanda Waller to manipulate her way to power, which then leads to the catastrophicevents ofAbsolute Power. If the Titans had prevented these crises themselves, they could’ve saved their fellow heroes - and the world - several times over.
To see the damage Waller has inflicted on the DC Universe as a result of the Titans' oversight, check outAbsolute Powerby Mark Waid and Dan Mora, available now from DC Comics.
InTitans#14 by Tom Taylor and Lucas Meyer, the Titans cause yet another global calamity. This time, their negligence hasspawned the Dark-Winged Queen, Raven’s twisted evil form, and she’s joined by her demon father, Trigon.Nightwing knows Trigon is too powerful for the Titansto beat alone, so he calls every hero in the DC Universe for backup, just like before. This all boils down to one simple fact:the Titans are in over their heads. They don’t have what it takes to protect the planet on their own - and that’s where the Justice League comes in.
The Titans Work Best on a Smaller Scale
Nightwing and His Allies Need to Become Their Own Team
The Titans are at their best when the Justice League is the main team to take on the planetary threats. The League has the extensive roster and resources to deal with these massive conflicts, whileNightwing and his friendsfight their own fights as a close-knit team on the ground. The teams' respective headquarters best exemplify this distinction. Titans Tower is a single building located in Blüdhaven, close to everyday people in need. TheJustice League watchtower, on the other hand, overlooks the whole planet from space. Through this imagery, the intended purposes of DC’s two main teams could not be more clear.
I’m Not Ready for the Teen Titans to Relive Their Worst Moments of All Time - But DC Is Making It Happen
The Teen Titans are one of DC’s greatest teams, and despite their young age, they’ve experienced true darkness — and now they’re reliving all of it.
Furthermore, theTitans' status as the main teamof the DC Universe has stripped them of their unique identity. In trying to fill the Justice League’s shoes, they’ve abandoned what makes them the Titans.The Titans' appeal has always been their relatability to teens and young adults, so that needs to be the focus again. This simple truth means Titans stories should include fewer world-ending crises and more soap opera drama as they balance getting along as roommates with saving lives as heroes. The Titans can only thrive if they revisit their roots, andthe Justice League’s comebackis the perfect opportunity for that.
TITANS#16 (2024)
October 16th, 2024
Variant Covers:
Rafa Sandoval, John Giang, Kelley Jones, and Daniel Sampere
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?
The Justice League is returning, and the Titans can now reflect on how they fared as their replacements. In the solicitation forTitans#16 by John Layman and Pete Woods, it’s revealed thatNightwing and his teammates will finally acknowledge their part in DC’s recent conflicts, specificallyWaller’s emergence as a threat. FromBeast WorldtoAbsolute Power, the former sidekicks have a lot to answer for. Hopefully, the Titans will learn the right lessons from their shortcomings and embrace the team they are rather than trying to be a team they aren’t. They aren’t the Justice League, and that’s their greatest strength.
The Titans' era as DC’s leading team has come and gone with little to show for it. Soon, theJustice League will battle enemies like Darkseid, leaving the Titans to forge their own path without the weight of the world on their shoulders. The only way the Titans can spread their wings as a team is if they leave the shadow of the Justice League and become “a league of their own,” as the above synopsis implies. Once theJustice Leagueis back on top, theTitanswill be able to unlock their full potential at long last.
Teen Titansis a superhero animated TV series based on the DC Comics team of the same name. Airing from 2003 to 2006, the show follows five young heroes—Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy—as they battle villains while navigating adolescence. The series was widely praised for its blend of action, humor, and character development, and it spawned a popular spin-off,Teen Titans Go!.
