Tony Black reviews Titans: Rebirth #1…
Friends. Teammates. Titans. Donna Troy, Arsenal, Garth, Lilith and Nightwing were all that and more until a mysterious force erased their memories, forcing them to forget what they could accomplish together. Reunited with their memories returned, the Titans must destroy the interdimensional demon that broke them apart and threatens reality itself.
SEE ALSO: Check out a preview of Titans: Rebirth #1
The ripples of the DC Rebirth continue cascading out into the wider universe, and the relaunch of Titans allows for focus on Wally West, arguably the most crucial character in the entire Rebirth saga, given it was his involvement in the Flashpoint that triggered the ten years of lost memories he spends this first issue from writer Dan Abnett recovering. Wally is the catalyst for the rest of the Teen Titans remembering him, beginning to rediscover what they’ve lost, as he reaches out first to Dick Grayson aka Nightwing in order to trigger the bond he had with his former hero team mates. The issue deals with his interactions with the team, while reintroducing them to any new readers Rebirth has swept up along the way.
Now as a comic book newbie, I had to go and look up the Titans group who Wally zaps with energy and unlocks the memories of, but here we have Donna Troy aka Wonder Girl, Lilith Clay, Roy Harper aka Arsenal (though I can’t help but think of the football team!) and Garth aka Aqualad. I don’t yet know all of these guys but I have heard of one or two – Arsenal has a connection to Green Arrow which is mentioned here in passing, and of course Dick Grayson is well known as being an incarnation of Robin in the comics and movies. Abnett here uses the power of the speed force to remind these guys who Wally is, what he means to them, a glimpse of what they had together, and the hope they may figure out the bigger mystery of who or what stole ten years from them together.
I’d be lying if, as a newbie, Titans: Rebirth explains who these characters are or indeed what the function of the Titans as a group is, but it does serve as a level of reintroduction to their bond, and continues the Wally West through line we’ve seen in the first Rebirth primer and The Flash: Rebirth just recently. With some gorgeous, colourful strips from Norm Rapmund, it’s yet another strong entry into the Rebirth reworking of DC and leaves you keen to see where Wally’s story heads next.
Tony Black is a freelance film/TV writer & podcaster & would love you to follow him on Twitter.
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Originally published June 19, 2016. Updated November 10, 2019.
