The Teen Titans Rebirth run would be so much more enjoyable if the core three (Damian, Emiko, Wallace) were in-character. As it is, putting aside how annoyed I am at Damian and Emiko's writing, the series is a bit depressing? You never really see the team bonding as friends, and with all the drama between them you have to wonder if they even like each other
I đabsolutelyđ agreeđ.
Although I am frustrated characters like Maya, Jon, Surren, Colin or Mara weren't used this group, the current team isnt soo bad...its the writing.
Like the only team member I dislike is Djinn because it seems like she was literally created for Damian and to imitate the Damian x Raven ship.
Everyone else, I don't have issues with. Crush, AKA Xiomara Rojas, is actually is one of my favorites besides the core 3.
This team and each of these members have soo much potential to be great but again, they are not being written that way.
-> A) They are written out of character and their development just gets destroyed in the process (Damian, Emiko).
->B) They are under-ultlitized even though they are supposed to be the moral compass of the group (Wallace).
->C) Minor characters aren't being used to their full potential and/or growing their bond with the group even though it's been 20 issues (Crush, Roundhouse and Djinn).
->D) The last writer focused so much on creating dramatic storytelling that they lost focus on developing the team's relationships. Glass basically is ripping apart a group that essentially has no relationship to begin with.
And yup, I agree. The current Teen Titans series is overall depressing. There doesn't really seem to be anything meddling them together which is obivious, because unlike traditional Teen Titan groups where the Robin picks their friends to be apart of the group, Damian was literally written to handpick each member that he had no previous connection to (besides Emiko and Wallace). So it just feels like this group is simply working together because they have nothing else to do in their spare time.
And its sad, because the Teen Titan's is supposed to be a sort of haven for teen superheroes to escape their sometimes overbearing mentors and leagacies and have fun fighting crime with superheroes their age. It's supposed to be a place where teen heroes learn how to better work with other people and create relationships with other superheroes besides their mentor and superhero families. A place where they can essentially be teens with other teens that understand their non-average life.
And again this team has so much potential...its frustrating. You can do so much more with this group in terms of bonding.
-> Comic book geek Wallace and Anime/manga geek Roundhouse introducing Damian to comics, manga and anime. Them bonding while playing games and trying to beat each others top scores.
-> WHERE THE HECK IS GOLIATH??? Right there, you already have an additional member to the team. Imagine them all ridding Goliath into battle; Justice league, Titans and Young Justice like đś. Plus I need an issue where we get their reactions to Batcow.
-> By this time, Wallace should be Damian's closest friend. They have been working with each other the longest. Wallace literally got fired from the previous team and agreed to being recruited again by Damian. Please explore that friendship.
-> Give me Wallace, Damian and Roundhouse bonding over fixing a car and upgrading security.
-> Crush, Djinn and Emiko secretly watching the Kardashians together when the guys are out.
-> Roundhouse being mind-blowned by Damian's art skills and begging for fanart of his favorite anime characters.
-> Damian, Emiko and Crush bonding over their truamas.
Let's hope Robbie Thompson focuses on bringing this team closer and adding additional members. Or at the very least writing the core 3 in character and using their abilities to their full potential.
Link to Javi's insta (hes working on future issues currently).