Review: Justice League vs. Teen Titans

After disobeying orders during a mission with the Justice League, Robin is reprimanded and sent to learn about teamwork from the Teen Titans. Though he clashes instantly with the group of teenage heroes, Robin is drawn to the enigmatic sorceress Raven. It’s through this connection that Robin is convinced to help the team as they are drawn into a battle with the demonic villain Trigon.

Justice League vs. Teen Titans is a 2016 animated film directed by Sam Liu and features the voices of Stuart Allan, Taissa Farmiga, Jerry O’Connell, Jason O’Mara, and Rosario Dawson.

The storyline for Justice League vs. Teen Titans is loosely adapted from The New Teen Titans #4-6 by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. In both versions, the Teen Titans race against the clock to prevent Trigon from entering into our dimension and turning the planet into a hellish wasteland. Where they differ is in the film’s lack of cohesion and the divergence from the canon. Justice League vs. Teen Titans essentially tries to be a sequel to Justice League: Throne of Atlantis and Batman: Bad Blood and a spin-off for the Teen Titans. The product that director Sam Liu and screenwriters Bryan Q. Miller and Alan Burnett put together feels like a cobbled together mess of two films crammed into one. The presence of the Justice League throughout feels unnecessary, especially since there’s a forced continuation of the relationship between Superman and Wonder Woman that takes away precious screentime from the film’s true stars (the Teen Titans). Furthermore, the absence of Aquaman, Green Lantern, and Shazam isn’t addressed in a satisfying way.

This film is at its best when it focuses on the Teen Titans and is actually really entertaining when it actually explores the interpersonal relationships between the characters. The rivalry between Robin and Beast Boy proves to be rather amusing, which culminates in a (somewhat dated) scene where they compete against one another in a game of Dance Dance Revolution. Similarly, Robin and Raven make for an interesting duo. The sullen bird-named heroes both have villainous father figures (an actual father in Raven’s case). There’s also a sense that Robin may have the inklings of romantic feelings for Raven, which is admittedly kind of cute. Unsurprisingly, Robin and Raven are the standout characters of this film, the latter especially due to her having a fully developed character arc. That said, there is an uncomfortable exchange between Raven and one of the male members of the team when she retells the story of her conception. Whether it was Miller or Burnett who wrote the dialogue, their flippant approach to making a punchline out of an instance of implied sexual assault is disgusting.

The same, however, cannot be said about Blue Beetle and Starfire. Blue Beetle is a rather obvious stand-in for Cyborg, whose status as a Titan was nullified by being a founding member of the League instead. He’s given very little to do throughout and there’s not much to convey that he has a personality. With Starfire, who has a couple of eyeroll worthy fan service moments, she comes across as a glorified babysitter who seems to be constantly hovering around the team. In fact, it was a major misstep to have her serve as the team’s mentor. This is probably more of a personal preference than an objective criticism though. For one thing, Starfire is portrayed in this film in a rather dippy manner, especially giving the lilting tones that Kari Wahlgren uses. As such, it seems her characterization draws more from the 2003 cartoon than the comics. Furthermore, all of her lines and the role itself would have been more effective had they been given to Donna Troy. She’s a better leader, a far more nurturing individual, and would likely not have been portrayed as if she had nothing but air rattling around between her ears. Quite frankly, the continued mistreatment of Donna at the hands of Warner Brothers and their employees is irritating and is disrespectful towards the legacy and importance of Wonder Woman. The legal red tape is no more, so stop leaving her in the dustbin. She’s an amazing character, one of the best you all have, so start putting her in adaptations!

Justice League vs. Teen Titans is one of the weakest entries into the DC Animated Movie Universe, which is a shame because it’s adapted from such a seminal comic book series. The character designs, performances (Rosario Dawson in particular continues to shine as Wonder Woman), and direction overall is quite good, but it’s the writing that drags the quality down. It juggles one too many subplots and has an unwieldly large cast that is woefully underdeveloped. It would have been more effective as a film had it stuck closer to the source text (this means having both Donna and Wally as part of the cast) and if it kept the Justice League members to cameos. As it is, Justice League vs. Teen Titans is a bit of a mess with occasional stints of compelling character moments.

RATING: C+

Review: The New Teen Titans Omnibus, Volume 2

After two years on The New Teen Titans, Marv Wolfman and George Perez had a bonafide hit on their hands. With their unique cast of characters and thrilling stories, this dynamic duo faced the challenge of keeping readers engaged and helping their creations to grow. The New Teen Titans Omnibus: Volume 2 collects Wolfman and Perez's third and fourth years on the title. In this magnificent oversized volume, the Teen Titans face off against deadly aliens, betrayal, and growing up.

While the first volume in this series featured stories of varying qualities, this collection is a genuine page turner. In the first arc, the Titans come up against the threat of the sinister Brother Blood. As far as villains go, Blood is terrifying and seemingly unstoppable. Wolfman and Perez carefully tackle the subject of cults and religion with this character, as well as the influence such factions have on the media and youths. However, it is not Brother Blood that stands as the most menacing villain in this collection. That honour goes to Starfire's sister Komand'r. In the most thrilling adventure available in this volume, Komand'r kidnaps her sister and subjects her to the most inhumane tortures imaginable. Dubbing herself Blackfire, Komand'r manipulates her allies and establishes herself as one of the Titans' greatest enemies. All of this leads towards one of the most epic battles ever witnessed in comic books. At the climax of this arc, Starfire and her sister face off in a duel to the death. It is bloody, violent, and solidified Starfire's status as a true survivor.

The narratives that follow Starfire and Blackfire's battle in space lead up to the much-loved "The Judas Contract" storyline. This four-part tale of suspicion and betrayal changed the status quo for the Teen Titans. The Titans had recently invited the young hero known as Terra into their ranks, not knowing that she was a mole planted on the team for Deathstroke. As Wolfman and Perez peeled back the layers of the character, it became evident that Terra was one of the most unfeeling and psychotic figures ever depicted in the pages of a comic book. It was a stroke of genius for the creative team and made The New Teen Titans one of the most groundbreaking comic books of all time. Beyond that, "The Judas Contract" is notable for Dick Grayson becoming Nightwing and Wally West giving up his title of Kid Flash.

The New Teen Titans Omnibus: Volume 2 is a must-have for any comic book fan and is especially necessary for lovers of Starfire. This collection is a non-stop thrill ride with surprising twists and turns. The characters are intricate and complex, which makes them incredibly relatable. Perez's art is gorgeous and expressive, making this not only a great collection of stories but also an artistic masterpiece. Do not pass up on a chance to read these stories, they're influential for a reason.

Rating: A-

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Review: The New Teen Titans Omnibus, Volume 1

As far as dynamic duos in comic books go, Marv Wolfman and George Perez are easily within the top ten. Their legendary run on The New Teen Titans re-invented the way readers looked at sidekicks and was the primary influence for the Teen Titans cartoon from the 2000s. The New Teen Titans Omnibus Volume 1 collects the first two years of their run, giving fans a chance to read these adventures from the very beginning. In this oversized hardcover collection, the Teen Titans are re-assembled after an invasion of the alien race known as the Gordanians. Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Changeling join mainstays Robin, Wonder Girl, and Kid Flash to form the “new” Teen Titans.

The first two years of their adventures are chronicled here in fresh, new colours and features them facing off against the likes of Deathstroke, the Brotherhood of Evil, and the demonic Trigon. For the most part, Wolfman and Perez were still finding their feet. Many of the villains in this compilation are too colourful and too zany to be taken seriously. Wolfman and Perez also have a tendency to overdramatize. Cyborg is overly angsty and is incredibly antagonistic towards his teammates. It makes him incredibly unlikable. Similarly, Changeling’s flippant attitude becomes rather grating after a while. Even the sweet romantic overtones of Kid Flash and Raven's interactions are all but ruined by messy lashings of melodrama.

However, there are moments of brilliance here. Starfire and Raven are the runaway stars of the Teen Titans. Starfire’s attitude and impulsivity make her incredibly compelling, while Raven’s compassion and tragic backstory are gripping. Standout stories include the Titans’ battle against Trigon, as well as their desperate attempt to rescue Wonder Girl from the clutches of the Titans of Myth. Another thrilling adventure sees them facing off against the Fearsome Five, who prove to be an incredibly dangerous band of miscreants. There's even a crossover with the Justice League of America here! Also included are the origin stories for the four new recruits. As can be expected, Starfire and Raven’s origins are the best of the bunch. In fact, Starfire's origin story is arguably the most harrowing and multifaceted story in this collection.

There’s no denying that every Teen Titan fan should own this collection. It is essential reading that features some of the most iconic adventures the Titans have had to date. The art is stunning and dynamic, while the characters are captivating. The only fault with this compilation is the variance in quality. Any stories that focus too heavily on Cyborg or Changeling tend to be much less interesting than those that spotlight the other Titans. While this could largely be a personal preference, Wolfman and Perez’s work is at its strongest when the women are placed at the forefront. Lastly, readers will want to be aware of the age of these stories. They’re from the early-‘80s and have a different aesthetic than contemporary works. The writing is fuller and the art can be a little gaudy at times. That said, consider yourself lucky if you manage to get your hands on this big honkin’ textbook of a collection!

Rating: B

Review: Raven, Injustice - Gods Among Us

            For a game so focused on DC Comics’ Justice League, it’s surprising that the Teen Titans' Raven would make it onto the initial roster of Injustice: Gods Among Us over veteran Leaguers like Zatanna and Black Canary. Nevertheless, Raven makes for an interesting entry into the fighting game.

            Known as an empath, Raven’s powers have always been relatively difficult to adapt and in Injustice: Gods Among Us they come across more generically as mystical powers. While fighters like Wonder Woman and Catwoman are largely focused on melee assaults, Raven is largely dependant on her magical abilities which transform Raven into a more long-range fighter. She is able to generate projectiles, teleport and bind enemies without having to come into close contact with them. In this way, she’s one of the more defensive characters in the game as well as one of the more technical fighters. In order to utilize her properly, gamers will have to master her moveset. The mystical aspect of her abilities continues over to her super move where she teleports her opponent to a demonic realm where her father Trigon blasts them with a powerful beam. While it’s not one of the more spectacular super moves, it is both creative and pays homage to the character’s background.

            Raven’s status as a Titan carries over to the narrative and is presented as Cyborg’s partner as part of Superman’s Regime. Her narrative largely hinges on the ‘Evil Raven’ trope we’ve seen so often before so it leaves the audience with a feeling of déjà vu. Raven’s appearance is arguably one of the worst in the game. While her default costume pays tribute to her classic look and has a lot of texture to it, developers failed to capture Raven’s unique facial structure and, in their attempts, generated a cringingly masculine visage for Raven. In essence, Raven looks like a really bad drag queen. Since NetherRealm has a history of difficulty capturing the female face, it’s no surprise that one (or several) of the women in the game would suffer from the Mortal Kombat manface syndrome. That said, her chiselled features are much less distracting in her alternate costume as she is presented as demonic in that form. NetherRealm does at least deserve points for making an attempt to capture a different sound for Raven’s voice that fits the style of text used in her earliest appearances versus the emotionless gothic voice she was given in the cartoon.

            Teen Titans fans will no doubt rejoice over Raven’s presence in the game. She’s fairly similar to her comic book counterpart and her cartoon adaptation. Her moveset will also prove to be lots of fun for those willing to work at perfecting their combat with her. While she’s not one of the best females in the game, she’s at least interesting enough to keep more than a handful of people selecting her as their favourite… they’ll just have to ignore the fact that she looks like a man.

Grade: B-