Comic Book Event Round-Up—Titans: Beast World
The Titans take over as DC’s premier superhero team and get a massive superhero event. How did the Titans get on in Beast World?
The Dawn of DC began with the disbanding of the Justice League (catch the Dark Crisis crossover for more on that) and made way for another superhero team to take over: enter the Titans.
At one stage they were called the Teen Titans because the team was comprised of the younger sidekicks of DC’s heavy hitters. If you still watch the TV show (and who wouldn’t because it’s great) you might still consider them the Teen Titans, but they aren’t. They’re all grown up now (and have been for a while).
With Nightwing (Dick Grayson, previously known as Robin) taking the lead, the team consists of Raven, Beast Boy, Donna Troy, Cyborg (who has often been a member of the Justice League), Starfire and The Flash (Wally West not Barry Allen).
When the Earth is threatened by an intergalactic entity named Necrostar. Starfire has concerning information about the danger of the entity and it’s durability.
Necrostar, a space starfish more powerful that Starro (remember him from the Suicide Squad movie), brought destruction to an entire planet of super powered individuals and was only stopped when it encountered and defeated Starro. The Tamaraneans managed to trap Necrostar after it was weakened by its battle with Starro.
The first issue of Beast World starts off with a blast. The threat of Necrostar is only going to be slowed down by adding another intergalactic threat. Or at least it is until Beast Boy steps forward. Getting some ideas about where Beast World gets its name?
Beast Boy’s plan is impressive. He transforms into Starro to combat Necrostar so it can be pushed back into a frozen galaxy. In doing so, Beast Boy is pushing his own ability to the limits. It’s also obviously that Tom Taylor and DC are also pushing the superheroes to the limits as well.
The first issue involved a ton of cameos from numerous familiar superheroes, but it is a Titans story. The action revolves around the Titans team. It is the Titans team who are able to avert the threat and it is also the Titans threat who suffer the most.
Beast Boy takes centre stage with his ostentatious plan which, to give him credit, he pulls off. Unfortunately, the crossover isn’t about averting the threat of Necrostar. The arrival of another new threat brings pain and suffering for the Titans team and a new danger to the planet.
Enter: Doctor Hate. Created as the epilogue of the Knight Terrors crossover of Summer 2023, Doctor Hate is a Doctor Fate inspired villain who is bringing new dangers to the Titans (if you are looking for a quick background for Doctor Hate, check out my previous article).
The problem that becomes the focus for the heroes is an infestation that turns people into beast versions of themselves. And it’s an idea that is as good as it is ridiculous.
There is a clearly visible element. Seeing people and a whole selection of heroes transformed into beasts is very entertaining. There is also a very good threat element with an impressive dilemma. The infestation is global stretches the resources of the world and the heroes very thinly as the beasts hurt people. However, the beasts are people. The beasts cannot be exterminated, but they have to be controlled.
The presence of Doctor Hate working in the shadows runs through this event with some very impressive revelations. No spoilers here, but genuine surprises did happen in the story. And if the presence of Doctor Hate wasn’t enough, Amanda Waller, Peacemaker and a range of other villains make appearances.
An element that DC comics manages but appears to be less of a concern for Marvel is the incorporation of live action characters into the comics. In Beast World, everything about Peacemaker screams John Cena. While Viola Davis’ version of Amanda Waller appears tame in relation to the Beast World version, Waller actively creates problems in the Beast World story.
Waller is clever and supremely effective. A continuing problem for the Titans throughout the entire story.
The Titans crossover event takes place in the six-issue mini-series. In order to get the full story, you don’t need anything else.
The tie-in issues take the Beast World transformation around familiar cities in the DC universe, which is a clever idea. And the tie-ins are fun insights into the different beasts our favourite superheroes would transform into when infected. Apart from a little amusement and some action, the tie-ins don’t add to the overall story, which is much more focused on the Titans’ attempts to deal with the infestation and struggle against the manipulation of Amanda Waller.
The full line up of comics are:
Prologue:
Tales of the Titan #4
Titans #5
Main Story:
Titans: Beast World #1-6
Tie-Ins:
Titans: Beast World – Waller Rising #1
Titans: Beast World Tour – Metropolis #1
Titans: Beast World Tour – Gotham #1
Action Comics #1060
Titans #6
Titans #7
Titans: Beast World Tour – Central City #1
Titans: Beast World Tour – Atlantis #1
Titans: Beast World – Star City #1
Nightwing #109
Nightwing #110
Epilogue:
Titans #8
It is impressive to think that the world ending, intergalactic space entity Necrostar is merely the opening of the Beast World crossover. It’s entertaining and the characters are interesting.
Maybe disbanding the Justice League was a good idea, because the Titans are delivering with action, exciting, spectacle and interesting characters. It’s worth reading all the way to the end (don’t skip to the end). The journey through Beast World is very satisfying.
Pick up your copy of Dark Crisis for the disbanding of the Justice League (or if you want a dose of Justice League action) and pick up Knight Terrors for DC’s Summer event that gave rise to Doctor Hate (these are paid affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I will earn a small income from qualifying purchases, but won’t cost you any more).