If you want to win over comics fans, a promo that declares “f— Batman” is usually not the way to do it. But “Titans,” the new superhero series on DCUniverse.com, has beaten the odds. We talk about how on the new “Low Key” podcast, which you can listen to on Apple or right here:
Remember the “f— Batman” trailer? It debuted at San Diego Comic-Con in July. When some thugs ask Dick Grayon (Brenton Thwaites) if he has Batman with him, he snaps back, “f— Batman.”
It’s a declaration of independence — Robin is finally going his own way. It was also an economical way for “Titans” to declare itself a show for mature audiences who use grown-up words. But it gave us the sense that the show might be trying too hard.
Well, we were wrong. “Titans” does just the right amount of trying. It takes its time when it needs to, but moves at a watchable clip. It performs fan service, sure, but not in a cloying way. It declares its independence from past DC content by standing on its own.
The series focuses on a band of soon-to-be superheroes recruited from across the DC Comics universe and led by Grayson, the original Robin. At the start of the series, he’s parted ways with Batman to become a Detroit cop.
Grayson is pulled back into the superhero game by Rachel/Raven (Teagan Croft), becoming kind of a Batman to her scary-powerful Robin. Rounding out the cast are Anna Diop as Koriand’r/Starfire, Ryan Potter as Gar Logan/Beast Boy, Minka Kelly as Dawn Granger/Dove and Alan Ritchson as Hank Hall/Hawk.
The series is based on DC’s young superheroes team “Teen Titans,” which consisted of sidekicks Robin, Aqualad and Kid Flash. They got their own comic book in 1966, and the lineup has changed often since.
The DC Universe series is based in part on the 1980s incarnation of the team.
You can watch Titans on DC Universe.
