After months on the run from the twisted project that created them, Cyborg, Terra, Beast Boy and Garth are near their breaking point, barely surviving on what they can steal, squatting in the ruins of an abandoned subdivision. But as they reach their lowest ebb, their creator, Dr. Niles Caulder, is ready to make his move…and they’re about to learn that they weren’t the only kids to go through Caulder’s twisted process! There are more children with powers out there, and unlike our heroes, they were raised for only one purpose—to be the living weapons Caulder wants ALL his Titans to be!
Teen Titans: Earth One Vol. 2 has that volume 2 for a reason as the comic is a direct continuation from the first and if you haven’t read it, you’ll probably have no idea what’s going on in here.
Written by Jeff Lemire, out of all of the “Earth One” graphic novels, this one feels the most like a second chapter continuing the story as opposed to two separate graphic novels you can enjoy on their own.
The story has Cyborg, Terra, Beast Boy and Garth on the run and being pursued by the police and Caulder. And to get his weapons back Caluder releases his “Titans” consisting of Wonder Girl, Kole, and Impulse. It’s a cool twist and all together is a solid opponent for our heroes. Also along for the ride is Slade Wilson and Jericho with a side story of their own.
The fun of these graphic novels has been seeing twists on characters we know and anticipating what might be coming. A reference to the Doom Patrol gets you to take notice wondering what this version might be like, it’s fun that way.
The story is fine if you’ve read the first volume. If you haven’t, you’ll likely be lost and not enjoy this volume as much. It’s absolutely the second chapter to the story. Lemire does solid work though when it comes to the interactions between Cyborg, Terra, Beast Boy and Garth and Garth especially stands out.
The art by Andrew T MacDonald is solid and I really like the character design and style of the story overall. Wonder Girl, Kole, and Impulse all look like a cohesive unit and the style is kind of cool. There’s some solid work in how the panels are used and the action is really solid.
The graphic novel is entertaining and the two volumes together are absolutely a fun read. On its own, things get a bit murkier. If you’ve read the first volume, definitely grab this one, but if you haven’t yet, it’s best to start there.
Story: Jeff Lemire Art: Andrew T MacDonald
Story: 7.8 Art: 7.8 Overall: 7.8 Recommendation: Read
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
