Teen Titans: Rebirth #1
Story & Visuals – Ben Percy & Jonboy Meyers
Colors – Jim Charalampidis
Letters – Corey Breen
Cover – Jonboy Meyers
Variant – Evan “Doc” Shaner
Assistant Editor – Brittany Colzherr
Editor – Alex Antone
Group Editor – Marie Javins
WARNING: Potential Spoilers Ahead!
Ben Percy (Detective Comics, Green Arrow) and Jonboy Meyers (Red Hood & The Outlaws, Supergirl, Secret Origins) begin a new era with Teen Titans: Rebirth #1. The story picks up shortly after the final issue of Teen Titans. Tim Drake is presumed dead; former teammates are dealing with his loss in their own ways.
Teen Titans: Rebirth #1 features striking visuals, sharp lines and brilliant colors. It feels stylish and fresh. The faces and figures of the characters were reminiscent of the work of J. Scott Campbell or Michael Turner, crossed with Japanese-anime. It also features one of the most realistic drawings of a shark I’ve ever seen! I really liked how the pages and panels were layered. It lent a wonderful texture to the book. I noticed the characters were outlined in a contrasting color that offset their figure from the rest of the scenery. I found myself taking time to soak in the fine lines, sharp contrasts, and depth of the pages. I truly enjoyed the way this issue looked and appreciated the way it felt.
Images courtesy of DC Entertainment:
Teen Titans: Rebirth #1 has a distinct, youthful quality to it. The pacing is energetic and quick. The characters are young and vibrant. Readers are treated to the gathering of a diverse group of heroes, who are introduced with no shortage of insight into their character: Beast Boy’s need for attention; Starfire’s desire to save the oppressed; Raven’s fragility; and Kid Flash’s struggle to find himself. These qualities will no doubt be explored in subsequent issues.
In Teen Titans: Rebirth #1, the characters seem to fit together with more contrast than other iterations of the Titans. Beast Boy and Raven are former Teen Titans, dealing with the loss of Tim Drake. Kid Flash seems very young, and it appears he and Beast Boy are strangers in this issue. Starfire is a more seasoned hero with vast experience. She knows who she is, and has her historical continuity intact – the issue depicts her past relationship with Dick Grayson (Nightwing). Added to the mix is an audacious Damian Wayne, who assumes the role of matchmaker – selecting and gathering a new team of Titans, albeit in his own way. This lineup of heroes offers a unique mix, with all sorts of stories waiting to be told.
The first issue sets up a new Teen Titans series well. It establishes characters and gives foundations and insight into stories to come. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this issue and can’t wait to see where this creative team takes the story next. My first exposure to Ben Percy and Jonboy Meyers certainly did not disappoint.
