Titans Together!

What is a “Relation Review”? It’s where I compare the comic book character to WizKids adaptation.

Yes. A DC review! Back to the good stuff…. Hehe

Last week I mentioned I’d either do the Titans or the JSA. Well, I just finished reading the whole Young Justice series and so here we are. BTW I now wish Impulse had stayed Impulse and not “grown up” into Kid Flash. He was a riot. And I want an Arrowette figure! I like the new Speedy but Arrowette is so much better.

Now, I’ll admit up front I don’t know a whole lot about the last few decades of Titan Tales. Frankly I only started reading the book when this new incarnation started up and then because I liked watching the cartoon. So…

Who are the Teen Titans?

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Arsenal/Speedy – The once youthful ward to The Green Arrow. Speedy eventually grew up and changed his name to Arsenal as he advanced to using other weapons aside from just a bow and arrow. He is/was a long time member of the TT and he and a few of the other Titans left to go form the new Outsiders after Troia’s death. Much like his mentor Roy can be a bit of a man-##### and he’s had a go-round with drugs and he is also a daddy (he knocked up Cheshire). He’s one of the more interesting “archer” characters. Did all this make for a good clix fig? Sure if you like next to no powers. His rookie “Speedy” version got all the trick arrows. Unfortunately, Roy seems to have forgotten all his special weapons in his E and V version. Instead he’s a simple cheap character (Although his Vet version is pushing the cost/effective ratio). Honestly, I’m disappointed. Yea, I know that straight damage is better than RCE but he could at least have RCEW for a click somewhere! I can easily see a dial akin to Clint Barton. Eh. I’d probably only use him on a theme team. Perhaps they will make the NEW Speedy fig (with poison) (Stupid Winnick). Arsenal can be seen over in Outsiders and in Green Arrow at the moment. In OS he is about to get his butt handed to him by Deathstroke and in GA by an assassin who almost killed them all (The GA family) a few issues back.

Changeling – AKA Beast Boy – BB was once bitten by a “special” monkey that granted him the abilities to change into any animal he wanted (although he was always a green color). He is somewhat of a jokester and a fun loving guy. His dial suffers from “shapechangeritus”. Basically, it stinks. Just about the only good shape changer fig I can think of is Snowbird and even then…these characters just don’t translate well into clix for some reason. If it were me I’d give them an activation click. Then after that it would be straight bruiser. For BB it could mean he turns into a bear or something. Toss in charge and BCF, some toughness… eh. BB is, of course, still a Titan so check him out there.

Cyborg – He’s a ah… cyborg. Part man. Part machine. He’s currently in a sort of mentor role in the new TT book. I like him better in the TT cartoon. Booya! His figure has pulse wave. There was a time when I either saw him or Avalanche or Blizzard on a team. Usually he was smacking the hookers into their perplex before doing a little run n’ gun. He’s an effective range combatant. I think he mimic’s his comic version well. Could have MAYBE had a tad better defensive powers BUT it keeps his cost down... as with BB he can also be found over in the TT book.

Hawk and Dove – This is one of my stumpers. I really don’t know a whole lot about the characters short of one of “Hawk represents chaos while Dove represents order”. This version of Hawk died about 2 years back and the NEW Hawk JUST showed up in the current issue of TT. This time it’s a female and is the sister of Dove. Which mimics that the original Hawk and Dove were brothers. Both are good fighters in clix. Especially Hawk. Even today he is still a decent fig to field. And he helps to represent his attitude of charge in and start fighting. Dove however is also a good fighter but get the ability to fly (and carry Hawk) over charging in like Hawk. She also supposed to be the more peaceful “think things through” type but I don’t see that on her dial. As I mentioned both of these characters (sort of) just popped up in TT fighting Dr. Light.

Jesse Quick – Is actually not so quick anymore. A couple of years ago she “forgot” how to activate her speed powers. Oh and unlike any other speedster she had the ability to fly AND has Super Str. She currently works for the JSA in some form while she tries to figure out how to regain her powers. Her figure is excellent. It would have been BETTER had she also had the super str! She’d have been like a mini superman or something. Zip over grab and object smack you for 4 then zip away! Oh well, still a good figure. Where is she now? Last I saw of her she was taking that job with the JSA a while back.

Kid Flash/Impulse – My 1st YJ character on the list! After reading the YJ series I have to say I REALLY liked him as Impulse. He lived up to his name and he thought is pictures and was just a riot! Now, he’s more like his namesake “The Flash” he is even wearing a costume like the original Kid Flash. Oh well, I guess everyone grows up sometime. Some people like his Exp version more for it’s free attack option while the Vet gives you perplex. Me? I’ll take Free HSS attack with armor piercing. Plus the Exp version represents his time in YJ! I think his figures represent him very well. He can be found as a new Titan but he’s life seemed easier as a Yjer. He’s been shot in the kneecap twice so far as a TT in a matter of like 12 issues….

Nightwing – One of the founding members. I’m sure you know all you need to know about NW. He is/was the leader and that’s the why his figure has leadership…. And carpy everything else. Really, NW was a let down for his rookie. If they really wanted to be thematic his Exp version should have been TT TA (with stealth) and his Rookie as Batman TA and his Vet would have no TA (or Bat again). Yet, as things stand his Vet is the fig of choice (especially with Stunning Blow). Play the rookie at you peril. Hopefully the NEW NW fig (if that ever happens) will be more like I mentioned above. He is currently having personal problems over in Nightwing and Outsiders as he feels Bats is butting in to much plus he feels guilty over Blockbusters death angst angst angst.

Raven – Mmmm Tara Strong (the voice actress of her on the cartoon). Anyways, Raven just recently came back from comic limbo over in Titans. She got a whole new body thanks to Brother Blood. This body is of course a teenage one! So she gets to relive her teen years along side the new Titans. She has expressed a desire to go to school and wants to see what living as a “normal” girl would be like. Also her and Beast Boy might be seeing cupid’s arrow in the future! She’s defiantly an interesting character. Her figure is great. PC and Support! Range! Not bad at all. Should she fly? She can turn into that Raven thing and fly can’t she? She can teleport, can’t she? Had I been making figs (please!) I’d have given her flight. The rest is pretty good. I like and use the fig a bunch. In the comic she is currently fighting Dr. Light. She seems to be a big emotion vampire at the moment. I wonder where the writer is taking that angle.

Starfire – She JUST made the move from Titan to Outsider because she wants to keep tabs on NW as he is having a cow. We also learned that her and NW waxed the floor in every single room in the Titans Tower back when they were dating. Her figure is fairly straightforward. Run N. Gun. She see’s a fair amount of use due to her high speed and long range. Plus she can take a hit (but not many). Now, I would PREFER that we get a TT cartoon version of Starfire cause I SERIOUSLY dislike her design (in clix and comics). All that hair is SO 70s. And WEAR some clothes! I like half-nekkid women as much as the next guy but yeesh it gets old after awhile. I like sweet naive Starfire in the ‘toon who can lay a serious butt whopping when she gets mad. Much better than Warrior Princess Kori…. She can be found in Outsiders now.

Superboy – New to the Titans team. He was a long time YJer though. Kon it seems, is about to flip sides and join up with Daddy Lex for some reason but that’s all from previews of later issues. He’s still dating Wonder Girl and may have just lost his new heat ray vision thanks to Dr. Light. His figure? Haven’t played it yet. He’s a brick. And yea the TT’s could use a nice solid brick fig. He’s basically a Superman lite, which fits him well. I’ll say he was done well in clix but I may change my opinion once I’ve actually played him. Anyone have a good opinion on Superboy they’d like to share? Oh and before I forget. I hate his t-shirt and jeans look. I liked his old costume (the one with the jacket).

Troia – She’s dead now. Maybe because she saw how her clix fig was designed and decided to end it all. Her fig is supposed to be Wonder Woman lite but it came off as complete and total ####. Give that girl some charge! I know they can’t make her exactly like WW but come one…. Throw her a bone. She stinks. The sister of Wonder Woman is a joke in clix. She hangs out with Rookie Nightwing and the Changeling figs. Yeesh. You may have already heard but Troia is scheduled to return from the dead soon (as she was killed by a rogue Superman Robot). I’ll probably pick up the series just to see how they do it, not that I’m a big Troia fan. But I do love me some Wonder Woman. You should be reading the WW book! Joss Whedon is going to be writing/directing the movie!

Titans Together Team!

E Raven
E Arsenal
V Cyborg
V Starfire
V Superboy
V Kid Flash
ICWO Feat
Armor Pierce Feat
500pnts

Stick ICWO on 2 people that need the help. Perhaps Starfire and Flash? Extra damage! Piercing on Flash maybe? Or on Arsenal! Raven! Choices! To many choices for such good cards. The team lacks mobility though. No Tkers. No fliers. Earthquake could ruin your day. Good luck!

Still a lot of characters to be made. Need me an Arrowette. Want a new Speedy. Empress. Secret. WONDER GIRL (who doesn't have a Troia dial) I Lil’ Lobo/Slo-bo (or a REV Lobo with a JLA TA to represent when he became Lil Lobo). MUST have a NEW Robin figure. The Rookie is Bat TA, the E in JLA and the Vet it TT. And the E and V have leadership. NEED!

As for the Titans comic? I like the new book. I look forward to it every month. After reading the Young Justice series I kind of miss those old attitudes. I liked Superboy’s cockiness. I liked how Impulse was so impulse and fun. I liked how WG was so unsure of herself. Peter David wrote gold. TT defiantly shows they matured since their YJ days. Read the TT. Watch the cartoon, it’s smart enough for adults.

It’s good to be a DC fan now a days (aside from poo like War Games and ID Crisis)

If you’re curious about how I rate this book (and other comics) each month check out my Comic Reviews in the Comic Forum, which are done every Wed.

i hope you don't really think a figure with HIV should have poison and it's meant as some sarcastic joke I don't get?

otherwise Winnick isn't that supid since there is still a lot of educational work to be done

I don't know how smart the toon is. Don't get me wrong -- I watch it, but it is just a bit campy to call it smart enough for the adults. Plus the anime style of the toon is a little much for me to take in prolonged sittings.

Otherwise, a good breakdown of the team. I am also enjoying reading the new titans book, and can't wait to bust me out a TT themed team!

You included A LOT of spoilers for current and upcoming comics.

You might want to have some kind of spoiler warning. :disappoin

The TT cartoon is more childish than the others (BATMAN OF THE FUTURE, JLU ...), but the characters are well represented.

I'm also upset with you lack of a spoiler warning....


Shouldn't that be a concrete rule or something?

Ranged Combat Exploit Weakness? Is that you, superman33?

I kinda like these reviews, but I also think you should include enemies as well, especially non affiliated enemies. As an example you could have included Deathstroke and Ravager.

The poison thing was a joke, Although I think Judd needs to STOP with all the gay/AIDS awareness moments in his books.

Why give Speedy HIV if it's not ever going to be a problem or represented correctly? How is that educational?

What spoilers? The TT's are fighting Dr. Light? It's as plain as day on the covers. Besides I'm always talking about the most current stuff in my reviews. This is nothing new.

Oh yea, and what I meant by "smart enough for adults" is, It's smart enough that we adults don't feel bored watching it. Like I can't stand watching pokemon or yugioh etc. An adult can watch it and actually be enertained. Sure some of the episodes are just wacky but episodes like when Slade pops up...

Why is Beast Boy so bad? Because he doesn't have any powers that stay around for more than one click. It is impossible to use him in a deliberate way. You can set him up to do his thing, but a single click of damage will hose you by changing what he can do.

The R and E Penguin had this problem. The new versions of the Joker may have it, too, although I haven't had a chance to play them.

Also: I think you underrate the R Nightwing. Let V Starfire carry him around! Her biggest weakness is that she falls off quickly after her first awesome click. Now she can running shot and push to RCE, and he use the team ability to keep her on the goods. He also provides Leadership, so put in enough figures that you can get use out of the extra action-- police seem appropriate.

Brother!

I'm right there with you. I pretty much hate Mia, btw, having grown up on Young Justice (do the late teens to early twenties count as growing up?). I was very upset that instead of using the perfectly suitable, Olympic champion Arrowette, they went with ANOTHER blonde teenage archer, who, unlike Arrowette, had NO training in archery, and yet somehow became a Green Arrow class archer within months. Lame.

That cartoon is the reason I got back into clix
Anywho, I actually found that if you put taunt on Nightwing he's pretty decent. Of course taunting an opposing figure thats based is always fun (of course it saved my Starfire from wolvie's claws). Oh and stick haymaker on the V Changling. After he charges for 4 you pick up and object and smack for 4 again (not sure if Haymaker is optional). AP is going to make Jesse and Kid flash a force to be reckoned with (not that they werent already). So heres the question, who do you pick for your bruiser? Hawk or Superboy? I leave Troia out because, as you said, she's "complete and total ####."
Titans are my favorite team to use. Its just too bad that they dont stand much of a chance in competitive play (wheres Terra with our ####ing TK?)

funny i was thinking of making both a titans team and a titans enemy team with the titans enemies being
brother blood
deathstroke
ravager
starfire for blackfire
changeling to represent the time he went nuts when cyborg died
cyborg for when he was just a souless machine

For TV Titan 'subs' consider:

Any Robin for Nightwing
vet Marvel Girl for Terra
vet Kid Quantum for Bumblebee
any Chamelon for Beast Boy