Future State: Teen Titans #2: Red X is Here!

This issue opens up with Dick Grayson and Red X being confronted by Starfire and the rest of the team over Dial H. Sheridan is able to give fans a bittersweet moment of a flashback of the cast in front of the graves of fallen Titans. This opens up the dialogue that with Donna she knew the price of what being a Titan was, and Grayson shares that some of the other Titans who died were only children. He expresses the regret of weaponizing them into an army before letting them experience life the way other kids go to. We are able to see with the expression of the older Titans that they feel guilt for not training them enough for what they had to face. 

After making their final preparations to their mission, they say a potential goodbye to the younger Titans staying behind in case they fail their mission. Starfire shows a lot of faith in these new heroes being ready to take over. Raven leads the way through a portal to their destination, and each hero jumps through ready. Four of them quickly encounter each of these four horsemen in the bodies of their fallen friends.  

For the final big fight we get this family of heroes facing off against these four destructive enemies. Red Arrow unleashes a carefully aimed attack on Famine, only to seconds later have the life sucked right out of her. This heartbreaking moment pushes the team further. As most of the team gets brainwashed for a moment, Raven is able to snap them out.

Red X using the Dial to summon the spirits of fallen Titans is a beautiful scene. This creative team certainly delivers a big moment having their spirits be able to help the Titans that pays off. Cybeast recalls Miguel saying, “When a Hero falls, their power, their spirit, lives on.” With this conversation, Sheridan gives a breathtaking moment that their previous teammates were never really gone and were willing to come together as a family one last time. Raven is able to trap their enemy inside of her, and Shazam carries her away to the Rock of Eternity. 

I love what Sandoval is able to convey in the art of the fight scenes. I absolutely adore the deathly expression of Wally. The panel of Raven facing the monstrous form of Wally is jarring. I give lots of props to Sandoval for facial expression with this team. 

Alejandro Sanchez does a phenomenal job with the coloring. Like the previous issue, I absolutely adore what he does with the colors of Bunker’s abilities. The coloring through the whole issue is delightful. I love the color for any scene with Raven or Starfire. My eyes instantly gravitate to them, especially whenever Raven appears from how captivating her powers look.