One of DC Comics’ biggest, fan-favorite superhero teams has unfortunately had its image harmed by an incredibly popular animated series. Numerous heroes have been adapted into cartoons for both young and older fans. But decades after the debut of one particular show, a certain DC team is still feeling the impact of its adaptation.
In 2003, the animated series Teen Titans debuted on Cartoon Network. Largely inspired by the classic series The New Teen Titans, the cartoon focused on Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy as they navigated traditional teenage problems as well as facing down sinister threats. While the show officially ended in 2006, it remains one of the most popular depictions of the team, so much so that elements of the show eventually made their way into the comics. But that influence has ironically done a disservice to the way that the Titans are viewed in the public sphere.
Teen Titans Boosted the Team's Popularity…At a Cost
Certain Changes Became Non-Negotiable Canon for Fans
Teen Titans ran for only 3 years, but the legacy it left behind was immeasurable. The show instantly connected with an entire generation of fans, many of whom had never picked up a comic book, but who instantly resonated with the Titans’ adventures and characterizations. While the show was a fairly faithful adaptation of the heroes, several changes were made when creating the lore of the Teen Titans’ universe. While these changes were small, they were noticeably different from what the comics had going on at the time.
…shippers got quiet used to seeing Robin and Starfire or Raven and Beast Boy paired together…
For one, the Titans began with the New Teen Titans lineup and the Fab Five iteration never existed. Also Kid Flash and Wonder Girl were excluded from starring roles, causing many show-only fans to miss out on their dynamics with the rest of the team. Speaking of dynamics, shippers got quiet used to seeing Robin and Starfire or Raven and Beast Boy paired together, despite neither being couples in the comics at the time of the show’s premiere. Though the show eventually ended, the fans that had grown up watching Teen Titans expected to see the comics reflect its canon.
The ‘Fab Five’ refers to the very first Titans lineup of Robin, Wonder Girl, Speedy, Kid Flash, and Aqualad.
DC Comics has recognized the impact of Teen Titans and tried to chase its enduring popularity. During the Dawn of DC, the publisher relaunched the Titans book, featuring the show’s lineup (as well as Wally West and Donna Troy). While Nightwing and Starfire were not presented as a couple due to Dick being with Batgirl, Beast Boy and Raven were. The miniseries Cyborg went even further bringing show canon into the DCU, introducing show-original villains like Billy Numerous, See-More, and A.T.L.A.S. as Titans enemies.
The Titans Can't Live in the Show's Shadow Forever
Change is Necessary for Properties to Thrive
Teen Titans deserves a lot of credit for getting fans interested in the team and keeping their legacy alive for an entirely new generation. But at the same time, the show can’t be allowed to dictate the comics forever. After all, the television series lives in a vacuum, but DC Comics is constantly coming out with new stories. As popular as Teen Titans was (or rather is, given the life of the spin-off Teen Titans Go!), the comics would only be hamstrung trying to reflect the show’s continuity.
There are so many things from the comic that the show never got to explore, like Dick and Donna’s close friendship or the Titans growing to become the mentors of new generations of Titans. That kind of thing can only happen when characters are allowed to progress. But chasing the glory days of the animated series, while comforting, only serves to stifle the heroes. Teen Titans might have defined the characters for millennial fans and younger, but DC Comics is better off not using the cartoon as a primary source of inspiration.
