Titans #6 - DC Comics

TITANS No. 6, February 2024

For those fans either unwilling to fork out for the “Titans: Beast World” multi-issue comic book mini-series and the event's numerous crossover titles, or simply just completely oblivious to the notion of “the people of Earth turning into animals after being exposed to the Beast Boy spores” storyline, Tom Taylor’s narrative for Issue Six of “Titans” may well have proved a bit hard going in places. Sure, some early dialogue from the likes of Starfire, Nightwing and Batgirl provides a little background information as to what is currently occurring inside the "DC Comics" universe. But what this twenty-page periodical arguably really needs is some sort of synopsis for any within its audience who haven’t read the six different tie-ins published before this one; “Detective Chimp and Doctor Clancy are examining Wolf-Batman now.”

Luckily, the “New York Times bestselling author” does still manage to pen an enthralling yarn for those bibliophiles ‘in the dark’, courtesy of Tempest and Brother Eternity penetrating the security of Titans Tower, and allowing the titular characters’ headquarters to be quite literally overrun by beasts. Indeed, this moment generates a palpable sense of urgency within the facility’s inhabitants, thanks largely to Clancy’s children innocently watching cartoons in the Lounge Room whilst a horde of bears, alligators and white-furry bunnies are just a whisker away from ensuring their “vital organs [are] gouged out.”

However, just as engaging is probably this comic’s opening, which focuses upon Princess Koriand’r’s final moments in the presence of her ill-fated mother, just minutes before an alien invasion leads to the destruction of her civilisation. This flashback sequence is both well-written and seemingly connects to the publication’s current main antagonist – Xand’r, providing the storytelling with an exciting pair of bookend-like scenes.

Frustratingly, the same praise probably cannot be directed towards Travis Moore’s illustrations though. The visual artist is clearly a proficient penciller, who does a fine job in helping Taylor deliver an exciting adventure. Yet the American’s style debatably lacks a lot of the detail which this title’s regular contributor, Nicola Scott, definitely delivered, and resultantly, every now and then a panel will potentially ‘jolt’ a reader out of the tale, such as when Garth of Atlantis bursts in upon Dick Grayson and flattens a flailing leopard-person with a small tidal wave.

The regular cover art of "TITANS" #6 by Clayton Henry & Marcelo Maiolo