The Teen Titans drew on ideas that had already worked well in comic books. The idea of young sidekicks, like Robin and Bucky, came from understanding that readers wanted to imagine themselves fighting crime with their favorite heroes. Similarly, superhero teams were popular because they offered more heroes for readers to enjoy and buy comics about. Therefore, a team of young superheroes seemed like a winning idea.
Even though the idea for the Teen Titans was really solid, it took a while for the team to really catch on with readers. The very first version of the Titans had some issues because the writer, Bob Haney, tried too hard to make the characters talk like teenagers in the 1960s – all that ‘groovy’ slang just didn’t quite work! It was hard to then switch gears and have them deal with serious stuff like the Vietnam War. A try at bringing them back in 1976 didn’t do much better, honestly. It wasn’t until the 1980s that everything finally clicked, and the Titans became one of DC’s biggest hits – which, as a fan, I was so happy to see!
Best Teen Titans comics as of 2025
As a big fan of the Teen Titans, it’s honestly a little confusing trying to jump into the original comics! Over the last forty years, we’ve gotten so many different versions – comics, cartoons, even a live-action show. It means there are a bunch of alternate takes on the team, like the ‘Earth One’ series, and a few graphic novels geared towards younger readers. The good news is, most of these are pretty accessible and they all stay true to what makes the classic Titans great.
New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 1
The 1980s ‘New Teen Titans’ comic book series is widely considered a turning point for the team. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Perez, it launched a fresh group of teen heroes for a new audience. The series reunited popular teen sidekicks from the past and also introduced exciting new characters like Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire.
The first story arc focused on Raven bringing together a team of heroes to stop her father, Trigon, from appearing on Earth. After succeeding, the team decided to continue working together, but they quickly encountered the deadly assassin Deathstroke. This marked the beginning of a legendary rivalry, establishing Deathstroke as the ultimate enemy of Dick Grayson, the original Robin.
The entire run of stories created by Wolfman and Perez is definitely worth checking out. Luckily, DC Comics has done a good job of keeping these issues in print with collected editions like trade paperbacks and omnibuses. The newest collection, released in 2022, gathers the first 16 issues of their work together, plus the team’s debut in DC Comics Presents #26.
DC Finest: Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
The Judas Contract is widely considered the most well-known story arc in Teen Titans history. It’s been adapted twice into animated form – once for the 2003 Teen Titans series, and again as a movie in 2017 – and continues to influence stories published after it.
Beyond its suspenseful plot – featuring a team member secretly aiding Deathstroke – The Judas Contract is best known for two major changes. It’s the story where Dick Grayson officially becomes Nightwing, and also the one where Wally West steps down as Kid Flash.
Considering its popularity and impact, it makes sense that “The Judas Contract” was the first Teen Titans story collected in the DC Finest trade paperbacks. To get the most out of the story, though, it’s helpful to read the issues leading up to it, and the New Teen Titans Omnibus volumes are a great way to do that.
JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative
The Justice League realizes something’s wrong when superheroes start disappearing, all seemingly taken by alien probes. They quickly discover a connection: every missing hero once belonged to the Teen Titans. The captured heroes figure out who’s behind the abductions and why, leading to a massive showdown between the Justice League and the Teen Titans, with one of their own hanging in the balance.
‘The Technis Imperative’ first appeared in 1998 as a three-part series and was created as a tribute to all versions of the Teen Titans. Although the Justice League is featured prominently, the story is fundamentally about the Teen Titans. While there’s a large-scale battle between the two teams—including exciting matchups like Beast Boy against Plastic Man—the heart of the story lies in the connections between the young heroes, emphasizing that the Titans are a family as much as a superhero group.
‘The Technis Imperative’ not only brought back characters that hadn’t been seen since the 1990s, but it also represented a significant change for the Teen Titans. After this story, the team officially became known as simply the Titans. It also led to a new monthly comic book series, focusing on the original five members as they formed a new team.
Teen Titans by Kami Garcia & Gabriel Picolo
These days, most teens who read comics find books at bookstores or school events, rather than at dedicated comic shops. Recognizing this trend, DC Comics started publishing graphic novels for young adults in 2017, and one of their new series was a fresh take on the classic Teen Titans.
The first three episodes of the series centered on Raven and Beast Boy. Both characters discover their abilities during difficult times and eventually meet each other. Unfortunately, their budding relationship is quickly interrupted as they’re pursued by Slade Wilson and the shadowy group known as H.I.V.E. While trying to escape, they team up with other young heroes like Damian Wayne and Kori Anders.
Gabriel Picolo’s artwork brings a lively energy to the series. But it’s Kami Garcia’s writing, known from her ‘Beautiful Creatures’ novels, that keeps the story relatable, even with its superhero elements. The focus is just as much on the characters forming connections and navigating feelings of isolation as it is on the chase they’re trying to escape. The sixth book, ‘Teen Titans Together,’ which will introduce the character Cyborg, is scheduled to come out in 2026.
Titans Vol. 1: Out of the Shadows
As kids, the Teen Titans dreamed of becoming members of the Justice League. But after the events of the Dark Crisis, they’ve unexpectedly found themselves stepping up to take the place of their heroes. They’re confident they’re up to the challenge, but the big question is whether the world is ready to see them as its main protectors.
Tom Taylor previously demonstrated his skill with Nightwing in the character’s monthly comic series. Now, with the 2023 Titans series, he’s shown he understands the entire classic Teen Titans team equally well. Alongside artist Nicola Scott, he created a short but impactful run that successfully reintroduced the team for DC’s new Dawn of DC publishing initiative.
The recent Titans storyline was full of ambitious and creative ideas. Stories included a race against time to solve a future murder involving Wally West, and Beast Boy pushing his shapeshifting abilities to incredible new levels, like becoming insect swarms and giant monsters. This all built up to the ‘Titans: Beast World’ event, which is still considered one of the best DC Comics crossover stories in years.
How we chose the best Teen Titans comics
When putting together this list of the best Teen Titans comics, we focused on three things: how important the stories were in the team’s history, how easy they were for new readers to jump into, and how well they explored the characters’ feelings and growth. We wanted stories that weren’t just about fighting villains, but also about the characters’ personal journeys and development. We made sure to include key moments in the team’s history while also keeping it welcoming for those new to the series.
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2025-10-20 22:59