Spinning out of the spectacular pages of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest is World’s Finest: Teen Titans! They’re not sidekicks, nor are they the “Junior Justice League.” No, they’re Titans. That said, they still aim to be much more trendy than their mentors. Bringing the original Titans into the 21st Century involves a bit of pop culture. It only makes sense that the newest team of heroes takes this in stride as they work through the growing pains of working as a group. In this six-issue miniseries, Mark Waid partners with Emanuela Lupacchino to reinvent the origin of the Teen Titans.
When the issue opens up, you might as well turn on A-Punk by Vampire Weekend. While saving the day, we gain insight into their chemistry as a team. Everyone seems rather well-adjusted and relatively seasoned in their superheroes. However, working on a big team is different than with one’s mentor. Throughout the issue, we see who’s close to who, as well as who’s still warming up to each other, to better understand the overall dynamics of the roster.
Throughout this issue, we see how well-versed Mark Waid writes each character. We’ve seen brief glimpses of this in the mainline Batman/Superman: World’s Finest series, but everyone is a more fleshed-out version of each member here. From this, we also have Karen Beecher added to the roster. Bringing Karen into the mix works out very well in this issue. Not only does she bring added fun personality, but she also helps further ground the team. it seems this is going to be important because there already seems to be some not-so-subtle tensions building up. Outside of Karen, Wally West appears to be the other underdog in the series. Through his brief interactions, Wally seems to be the heart of the Teen Titans. His interactions with characters like Dick Grayson help show how pure-hearted he is. Altogether, Waid writes each character very well and gives each of them their moment to shine.
Another strong part of the issue is the art. Emanuela Lupacchino is no stranger to the Titans, having drawn Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #12, the covers for Convergence Titans #1-2, and the cover for Titans #24. However, this is her first time drawing the team in the interiors. Through the issue, Lupacchino draws each character rather softly. Each character is very expressive in a book that’s sure to have a lot of drama. And, of course, every great artist is a great colorist to bring the issue to life. Jordie Bellaire is one of the best in the business, and in a series leaning heavily into pop culture and loud colors, it’s important to use every page to help evoke emotion out of the story. Through their collaboration, the art in the story is just as stylish as it sets out to be.
Overall, the first issue of Teen Titans: World’s Finest is a great start to what seems to be the reimagined origin of the current premier team for the DC Universe. The writing is stellar and focuses primarily on building the team from the ground up, which helps make this a great series for new readers to learn about almost the entire Teen Titans bronze age roster. Additionally, the art helps maintain the proper vibe for the issue as it combines retro and a bit of modern art for an enjoyable read. Needless to say, this is a can’t-miss read for both longtime and new Titans fans.
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