Tales of the Titans #1: Starfire
B. Radtz
Recap
The Titans have stepped up to become the DCU’s premier superhero team, and all eyes are on them! Who are Starfire, Raven, Donna Troy, and Beast Boy? Where do they come from, and what do they stand for? All will be revealed in Tales of the Titans, an all-new series of spotlight issues in the spirit of the beloved 1980s classic Tales of the New Teen Titans!
First up is alien princess and warrior Starfire, whose huge heart, huger hair, and fiery fists have made her a fan-favorite member of the team! When a spaceship bearing Tamaranean markings crash-lands on Earth, Starfire goes on a solo mission to uncover its origins. But what awaits her on that journey will bring her back to the earliest days of her youth, to memories of two sisters eternally at war…and perhaps the chance to keep history from repeating itself.
Review
The Titans have officially become THE DC Universe’s greatest superteam. To celebrate that fact, DC is giving the fans one-shots to provide us with the current origin stories for the members who don’t have a solo ongoing/mini of their own (here’s looking at you, Dick, Wally, and Vic), with some of today’s hottest talent around. This issue comes to us from Shannon and Dean Hale, with Art by Javier Rodriguez, with a cover that’s a beautiful homage to George Perez by Titans series artist Nicola Scott. So let’s get to know the princess from Tamaran, Princess K’oriandr, aka Starfire.
This issue was deeply personal as a fan who started reading an older cousin’s comics from the late Bronze Age, and besides a few Marvel books, DC helped mold this reviewer into the fan today. It’s books like the seminal fan-favorite New Teen Titans from Marv Wolfman and the late, great George Perez that helped me along on that journey. Here we are 43 years after the debut of that book, and after the events of last year’s Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Justice League is no more, and that team of sidekicks is now the biggest team in the DC universe. To say it’s shocking would be an understatement.
Shannon and Dean have an excellent grasp of who Kory is, and it shows in this issue. Their voice for her is top-notch, atop-notch. Kory’s love and dedication to her teammates have been a constant over the 40 years. Hence, seeing writers who see that and understand what her relationships mean to her is the biggest highlight of the issue for me. Not only this, but the insight into the relationship between her and her sister and the tie growing up on Tamaran was a delight. Scenes like this and this attention to her character stood out the most from this issue, except for the art.
The art, the art. Where to begin? Javier Rodriguez’s modern-day style is so amazingly retro, yet also so contemporary that he shines on any project he’s on. As a fan of his since his turn on the Amazing Spider-Man during the One More Day era, where he had a two-part arc featuring the Sandman, and was just blown away. From there to Daredevil to Spider-Woman, he just kills it on whatever he does. After decades of seeing him work his magic on Marvel properties, one would be absolutely giddy to see what he’ll bring to DC.
Final Thoughts
DC’s set up these series of one-shots to give an inner look at DC’s biggest team, and it’s a breath of fresh air to see them in situations where they can be who they always were, prior to the decades of trauma that’s been inflicted upon them. Shannon and Dean Hale get Kory, get who she is, and have an interesting backstory for her. Add in the beauty that is Javier Rodriguez’s art, and you have a killer combination.
Tales of the Titans #1: Starfire: When you wish upon a Starfire…
- Writing - 9.5/109.5/10
- Storyline - 9.5/109.5/10
- Art - 10/1010/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10