Titans: Beast World #1 kicks off DC Comics‘ next big event, and the Titans are taking center stage from writer Tom Taylor and artist Ivan Reis.
We reviewed the book on the Stack podcast. But in the interest of highlighting more about the title, here’s a summary of the conversation with our thoughts. And if you prefer the longer audio version, that’s below as well!
Powered by RedCircle
Titans: Beast World #1 Review:
Building on the ongoing story in Titans, the team takes on the threat of the Church of Eternity… A group taken over by a being called the Necrostar. The only way of stopping it? Starro. So Beast Boy turns into a giant star, and then oops — gets corrupted, and turns the world into hybrid beast creatures.
Host Pete LePage was impressed by the “big swings” in the issue, as well as “all the twists and turns… It just kept getting crazier… building momentum to this Beast World reveal.” He also was a big fan of how the issue developed the Beast Boy and Raven relationship.
Justin Tyler agreed, feeling that Tom Taylor can do no wrong right now. He is able “to write any superhero story with the right amount of pacing, character work, and plot. It’s in perfect sync… There’s so much emotion, so many emotional moments here.”
He also felt like this was an event that actually feels like “a bigger event that is completely story driven, and that is so rare… I’m very excited.”
Adding on to these thoughts, Alex Zalben noted that this book feels like the sort of alternate universe story Tom Taylor has been writing in Dark Knights of Steel, DCeased, and elsewhere, but in the main DC continuity. However, his one quibble was the use of prescient narration throughout — something he felt has a place in the previously mentioned series but felt unnecessary in this book.
Tyler disagreed, saying, “it worked here because it helped us with the surprises. It gave us a little bit of a nod to it.”
On the more positive side, Zalben also lauded the Beast Boy and Raven relationship, calling out that Taylor always gives a strong emotional hook to his stories — usually with Black Canary and Green Arrow. And he also lauded DC for doing a Titans-focused event. It “really doubles down on the fact that they’re the new Justice League. Will that stick? No. But for now, let’s keep going with it. That’s good.”
Finishing up, Tyler added that he loved the idea of Beast Boy being on “a big stage,” and knowing he’s out of his depth but going for it anyway. “It’s rare to see a hero being like, ‘I’m not good at this. This hurts. I’m bad at this,’ and then succeeding — and then failing. And seeing that process is such a nice part of this event.”
Titans: Beast World #1 Official Synopsis:
THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE DC UNIVERSE IS…BEAST BOY?! CAN THE TITANS SAVE THE WORLD AND THEIR TEAMMATE? SUPERSTARS TOM TAYLOR AND IVAN REIS TEAM UP FOR AN UNPRECEDENTED TITANS CROSSOVER! Clawing its way out of the pages of Titans comes an unprecedented threat to the DC Universe. Superman, Wonder Woman, Starfire—all are powerless to stop the Necrostar from ending all life on Earth. The only hero who can save the world is…Beast Boy?!
With Nightwing, Raven, Cyborg, and the Titans beside him, can Garfield Logan rise to battle an ancient evil? What will Amanda Waller do to take advantage of the situation as millions of people are changed into rampaging creatures? Can humanity survive all-powerful heroes and villains transformed into ferocious beasts? Friends will fall. Heroes will rise. And nothing will ever be the same again. Earth is about to become…Beast World.
DC proudly presents the Titans’ first crossover as the world’s premier superhero team, with universe-shattering repercussions. Brought to you by the all-star creative team of writer Tom Taylor and artist Ivan Reis, this story promises to be an epic one that sets the stage for what’s to come for the DCU!
