This Week: The Teen Titans Spotlight is located at Donna Troy in Titans 2025 Annual #1.
Note: The reviews below may contain spoilers. If you need quick spoiler purchase/pass recommendations for the manga in question, please see the bottom of the article for the final verdict.
Titan 2025 Year #1
Author and Artist: Phil Jimenez
Colorist: Arif Prianto
Letter: Wes Abbott
Cover Artist: Phil Jimenez & Arif Prianto
When people talk about the complicated nature of DC comic continuity, with the exception of Hawkman, one of the most commonly cited characters is Donna Troy. The Titans’ mainstay history is subject to a wealth of reboots and litcons to the point that even the most eager fans may not know what a “canon” is and what isn’t. This week in Titan 2025 Year #1, author and artist Phil Zimenez sets a straight-line record of Donna’s origins, offering an incredible story with something for both old and new fans.
Phil Zimenez received the Eisner Award last weekend for his contributions to last year’s DC Pride One-Shot and for his contributions to the talent and heart that the award was shown again at this week’s Titans Annual. After opening up the matter in a clever exchange between Donna and several fellow train passengers, Zimenez creates a story firmly rooted in Donna’s internal monologue about what is not true online about Titan’s history. Donna is traveling to meet her birth father for the first time, and the family relationship, the heart of the best Titan story since the reinvention of the 80s, is a sloop line where Donna reflects her past and considers her presents.
These reflections, including many flashbacks to key moments in Donna’s life, make clear to readers about Donna’s backstory and how that backstory shapes who she is today. The knowledge and love of Jimenez’s character, and Titan in general, is evident throughout the matter. He nods to the complicated nature of past stories and Donna’s past history. He manages to tell a story that is completely accessible and completely relevant is an incredible achievement.
Jimenez’s sharp and insightful script is brought back to life by his ever-glorious artwork. Wonder Woman Historia in 2021: Amazon #1 – The book where Jimenez won the first two eisners – his artwork has once decorated the complete set of interior pages, and it was worth the wait. His work is a perfect blend of grounding and fantasyism, with realistic characters in lively situations effortlessly doing amazing things and energy that explodes from the pages.
Jimenez’s storytelling is stunning as it easily transitions flashbacks with current flashbacks and flashbacks. He portrays former teenage Titans members at various stages throughout his life. It’s amazing how recognizable they can even be from their costumes, no matter their age. His pages are often packed with panels, but never packed. His layout is cleverly assembled and continues naturally. Colorist Arif Prianto does an incredible job of adding texture and depth to Jimenez’s linework and helping readers visually guide them through flashback transitions. This comic is a visual feast.
Titans 2025 Annual #1 is a clear labor of love from creators operating at the absolute peak of his talent. Jimenez pours love for Donna Troy into every page of this comic, and her dedication shines through reading it. Perhaps better than the people who have written them since Wolfman and Perez, Jimenez has a deep understanding of what makes the Titan character special and can bring it beautifully to the page. Don’t be surprised if this book gets him nominated for another Eisner next year. Whether you’re a casual fan or Titan’s stubbornness, you won’t regret picking up this manga.
Final Verdict: Purchase.
round up
Elsewhere in the year, Nightwing 2025 Annual #1 is an interlude of the currently operating main series arc. Dan Watters and Francesco Francavila follow on to Commissioner Maggie Sawyer of Bruduben, investigating the connection between Olivia Pierce and recent events in the city. Watters writes creepy characters like Nobody’s Business, and Francavilla’s art perfectly matches the noir tone of the story. I confess that I hadn’t happened to Nightwing recently, but this year was easy to access and definitely wanted to go back and catch up. After last week’s Bad Moon Rising Special, this week’s only monthly release is Flash #23. This is the tense teacher of the series’ run by author Si Spurrier. The overall storyline of Eclipso was somewhat dragged for me, but the introduction of shade and one-shot last week was a much needed shot of the story’s arms. This week’s issue will really push that momentum forward. Vasco Georgiev’s artwork in this series has been truly solid since he took over, and it’s nice to see Georgiev sticking little by little, even on Spurrier’s impending departure. Justice League: Dark Tomorrow Special #1 is another follow-up to the events in the “We Are Are Thynoty” storyline. What I didn’t even realize is the creation of a very own legendary tomorrow team in comics, but it must have been a hint for that in retrospect television’s Mark Guggenheim, who co-wrote the issue with Mark Wade. It’s a fun story with some new mysteries added to the mix, and it will be interesting to see how it connects with everything else in the Main Justice League Unlimited series. And close the week with DC’s latest anthology one-shot, Kal-El-Fornia Love #1. After all, it’s a Superman summer, so naturally, this summer-themed one-shot focuses on the Steel guy and his extended support cast. There are eight stories here, all of which are pretty fun, but the true standouts are those of “Jimmy Olsen’s Gorilla Ex-Wife” and Christophe Bogac and Jacoby Salcedo. It’s a story of so many veins and tones of Jimmy Olsen in Fractions and Reeber, as ridiculous as the title sounds.
Like this:
Like loading…
SDCC Coverage sponsored by Mad Cave
