True to its name, New Titans has injected new life into the Teen Titans by giving the team a new roster, a new writer in Tate Brombal, and a new sense of purpose. That shakeup extends to the team’s base of operations, which is actually an old-school location – specifically, the mountain in Happy Harbor where the original Justice League first formed. Now, it’s named Mount Titans, but instead of settling into their home, the new team of Titans decides to explore Happy Harbor and stumbles upon a mystery in the process.
Most of New Titans #36 focuses on Eva, the mysterious mechanical being who helped Cyborg assemble the New Titans. Being relatively new to life and to working in a team, Eva wants to get to know her teammates better through a game of pickleball. It’s through her eyes that Brombal establishes the dynamic among the new Titans. Stephanie Brown, aka Spoiler, is a workaholic; Yara Flor, aka Wonder Girl, is more interested in leisure; Eddie Bloomberg, the Red Devil, mostly keeps to himself; and Jon Kent is running himself ragged due to the events taking place in Superman Unlimited. It’s a great way to establish character while also showcasing that getting these new Titans to work together is easier said than done.
Brombal also doesn’t forget to show how the older Titans are dealing with their own problems. Nightwing and Starfire are at odds following the events of New Titans #33-35, with the Tamaranian princess planning to head back to space. Terra, on the other hand, has chosen to take part in the villain amnesty program established in Justice League Unlimited, but balks upon learning that it’s not a paid position. As for Cyborg, he continues to examine the Heart of Omega that was left behind during DC K.O., yet keeps it from his teammates. I love that Brombal is able to work in developments from across the DC Universe into his story, while also staying true to each character’s personality.
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New Titans #36 also features a shift in artists, as Marcus To takes over from Sami Basri. It’s always a delight to see To’s interiors on a comic; he really has a gift for capturing a character’s movements. Stephanie moves with the grace and hard-hitting ferocity of someone who’s grown up in Gotham, Eddie looks every bit as demonic as his name sake, and Cyborg’s flesh and metal parts both have clear definition to them. To also makes great use of certain superpowers, especially Terra’s: her ability to manipulate the Earth means she can sense vibrations in the ground, which leads to perhaps the biggest twist in New Titans #36.
To also has help from Adriano Lucas, who brings a unique color scheme to each character. Eva is the one who stands out the most thanks to her green-and-pink ensemble, with the markings on her cheeks often glowing bright pink. It’s a small but easily noticed way of reminding the reader about her powers, and it’s not the only character choice that stands out. All of Eddie’s word balloons are rendered in a yellowish format, once again hinting at his hellborn powers; it also leads to a major revelation about why Happy Harbor earned its name.
New Titans #36 features a new headquarters, a new artist, and a new team dynamic, as Tate Brombal continues to shake up the Teen Titans mythos. With Static set to join the team in New Titans #38, it looks like fans will continue to get a Teen Titans book that actually feels like a breath of fresh air.
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