Future State: Teen Titans #1
Written by Tim Sheridan
Art by Rafa Sandoval
Inks by Jordi Tarragona
Colors by Alejandro Sanchez
Letters by Rob Leigh
Review by KrisK
Teen Titans go! The Teen Titans probably stand out as the most popular comic book team/franchise to never get a live action movie. Thanks to three popular tv shows, the characters maintain a pop culture familiarity spanning generations unparalleled in comic books.
Future State: Teen Titans follows a combination of the most famous iteration of the team, Nightwing, Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Raven, along with the most recent members, Emiko, Crush, and Wally West (New 52). The book does a good job of leading into the next series, Teen Titans Academy. The Future State event spans eras of the DC heroes going forward thousands of years. This entry is not too far into the future. The issue does not specify heavily what happens, leaving a mystery as to who or what destroyed the world. The only thing the reader knows is the Teen Titans are somehow responsible. The Titans split up across the wastelands, fighting alongside the Shazam Family to get the Spear of Destiny. Meanwhile, Nightwing and Emiko acquire the phone for Dial H.
Flashbacks in the story allude to a new Red X, who attempted to prevent the tragedy. (Red X was an alter ego for Robin, that he hid from the Titans at first.) The Titans incarcerate this mysterious individual, and they continue to hold them for the events of Future State. While the book does not disclose who the new Red X is, they seem to share connections to Raven and Nightwing.
Sheridan’s writing quickly establishes the characters, and the changes they have made since the unknown event changed the world. Sheridan possesses a keen ear for the voices of the various Titans. I have been missing Beast Boy in my life, so having him return was an absolute delight.
The art follows a single style between the “Thens and Nows,” though the colors washout for the flashbacks. The art for Future State seems more or less consistent through the different titles. (Special shoutout to Harley Quinn for having a more animated cartoon style that I adore.) Sandoval excels at aging the characters realistically for the “Now” based stories. I never
imagined what a more mature Beast Boy would look like, but he does look like himself and older at the same time, so unasked question is answered. As I mentioned before, the colors washout for the flashbacks, but the intensity of DC’s colors return for the rest of the issue.
Verdict: Buy! I loved this little entry in the Future State anthology. I can’t wait to see where it goes, and I am thrilled to have the team back.
