The question of “Who is Donna Troy?” seems to be asked every decade by DC Comics. First created in 1965, Donna Troy has had a plethora of origin stories, depending on what continuity you read. Her history seems to change based on whatever greater purpose her story is meant to serve, rather than respecting the character’s long-standing history. As a result, this question seems to have come up again, and this time is being tackled by one of the most influential writers and artists in Wonder Woman history: Phil Jimenez.
Phil Jimenez has long documented his love for Donna Troy in particular, and is typically well regarded as one of the most influential people to impact Wonder Woman as a whole. In this issue, Phil is writing what seems to be his magnum opus on the character of Donna Troy by detailing once and for all her attempted meeting with her father, all while showing readers why this is one of the most important characters to the Titans. To prepare for this issue, I did some light reading and reread some of Donna’s most important stories, such as New Teen Titans #38, The Titans #23-25, Titans Rebirth: Annual #1, issues #16-22; and their Annual #2, as well as Tales of the Titans #3. But in the end, nothing could have prepared me for this. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
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The story chronicles Donna Troy’s entire history, all the way up until her fated meeting with her father. But this annual is so much more than that. Jimenez doesn’t pull any punches as he delivers a story full of heart, sincerity, and intentionality. Considering Donna’s complicated history, the amount of research that Jimenez must have done is clear from the first few pages. Every single iota is full of detail and precision that is that only a master creator can pull off. By taking us from the time Donna was saved from a burning building and being saved by Wonder Woman (we finally have the superior origin of Donna’s back, everybody say thank you Phil!), to the Titans’ early days, to the gut-wrenching heartbreak that today brings, this annual is absolutely fantastic.
As the story goes from rabbit hole to rabbit hole, detailing Donna’s life, it’s impossible not to feel attached to her. Maybe it’s from growing up and thinking of her as one of the coolest Titans ever, but I think it also comes down to the voice that Jimenez has for Donna. She’s kind, humorous, and sincere to everyone she speaks to, which is a testament to her pure and heroic nature. Here, Jimenez writes one of the most important moments in her life in this Annual, one where every text bubble and thought bubble has meaning as we slowly approach the story’s big reveal. Through this process, Jimenez is able to help readers connect with Donna by crafting a story full of love and empathy for her life’s many experiences. This also winds up being one of the strongest points of the issue. This annual doesn’t feel like any other run-of-the-mill filler annual that comics often provide; this is an opportunity to connect with the very heart and soul of a character on a personal level- from the moment they were created, to the day you’re reading this. As a whole, this book feels like a once-in-a-lifetime story that hopefully elevates the popularity of Donna Troy to that of others who helped her form the Titans.
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Let’s also take a minute to talk about the creativity and passion that Phil Jimenez pours into the issue. First, Jimenez absolutely nails the dynamics that the Titans have with Donna, with their banter in their early “Fab Five” days actually making me laugh out loud, to the subtle nod that honors Marv Wolfman and George Pérez’s infamous New Teen Titans, and most importantly, to the personal relationships between them. The Titans will always be, at their core, a family built on the foundation of love and all of its amazing imperfections. And while this is a story about Donna, it is taking place in a Titans series, so Jimenez makes sure to emphasize how Donna’s development has shaped the team members throughout the years. By using the lens of Donna Troy’s eye for this, Jimenez also delivers a more heartfelt analysis of the team; after all, who else could be the very heart of The Titans than the one who named them?
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Another stroke of genius is the use of paneling. Every inch of each page is full to the brim with stunning art that is able to shine to its greatest capacity thanks to how the pages are laid out. As a result, the story becomes far more cohesive and has a distinct flow to it that is often impossible to capture. Additionally, the story does a fantastic job paralleling the concept of love to Donna’s various interactions with those around her throughout the story. Unlike most times when a story is a “love letter” to a character, I felt this one took it a step further by showing the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to love. Being able to see and read Donna’s highs and lows with perfectly crafted artwork to match excellent dialogue helps this issue become more sincere. Also, Jimenez’s intricate line work perfectly brings this story to life and Arif Prianto’s vibrant colors help this book feel just as magical as you’d hope it is. As a result, this story is creative, it’s fun, and it’s utterly heartbreaking; none of which could have been possible without the talent and attention to detail that Jimenez and Prianto clearly put into this.
Phil Jimenez has teased this issue for quite a long time, and it surely was worth the wait. From start to finish, this issue is perfect. Not only is it fulfilling to have a firm grasp on her history, but it’s also gratifying to learn more about her family. While Donna’s father doesn’t play the role one might expect, the story does a spectacular job of showing how he still greatly impacted Donna’s life. At first glance, this issue seems like it’s building up to the fateful meeting between Donna and her father; instead, readers are gifted with a story that examines, defines, and illustrates how limitless love is capable of being. Another thing worth noting is that Donna’s relationship with her son hasn’t changed a bit since his tragic death. Jimenez utilizes this relationship to excellently show how the loss of loved ones is something that stays with us forever, but it doesn’t mean that love ever fades.
In a story that shows just how special and sensational comics are capable of being, Titans Annual 2025 is already my favorite comic of the year, if not ever. It’s a fantastic story that teaches readers how important love is in shaping who we are. If you only pick up one comic this year, let it be this one.
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