DC All In changed the status quo of the entire DC Universe. Particularly, with the announcement of the Justice League Unlimited initiative the superhero community has been united in a whole new way. One of the big questions the launch of the Justice League Unlimited is what does this all mean for the Titans? Afterall, the Titans stepped up in a big way post-Dark Crisis to become the premiere superhero team. They proved they were ready for that role by leading the heroes through two big events in Beast World and Absolute Power. We got some clarification for what the team’s status quo is in Titans #16 with the major decisions made by Dick Grayson, Donna Troy, and Wally West. Let’s take a look at what they were and what it means for the future of the team.
DICK GRAYSON & WALLY WEST MOVE FORWARD
Titans #16 opened with the team walking through the Watchtower wondering what the launch of the Justice League Unlimited means for them. It was at that point that Wally West decided to announce that he was leaving the Titans to focus on is solo work and role in the Justice League. Other than Arsenal, who was looking forward to working with Wally again, the team largely understood Wally’s decision. Afterwards, Dick Grayson announced he was stepping down as team leader as his solo work along with being on Titans and Justice League was a lot to manage.
Both Wally West and Dick Grayson are understandable ones. For a long time both have established themselves as heroes who can operate solo and on a team. In recent years with Infinite Frontier and Dawn of DC both have had their status elevated even more as key parts of the DC Universe.
On an individual level, with Barry Allen losing his connection to the Speed Force Wally has to step up even more as the Flash. Focusing on what the Justice League Unlimited mission is an example of why Wally as Flash is so important right now. He is bringing the experience as the speedster who can help figure out what is going on in the larger DC Universe. Wally with his family will also be busy with even more Speed Force related events without Barry around.
Similarly, Dick Grayson proved during Absolute Power that he is one of the best, if not the best, leader in the DC Universe. Proving that through his actions positions Nightwing to be someone we could see lead strike team missions for the Justice League Unlimited. This on top of Nightwing, as he mentions in Titans #16, already splitting his time with protecting both Bludhaven and Gotham City while also running his own community improvement-focused businesses.
Given that it is understandable both would take a step back from their spots on the Titans. Though as we see with all the current Titans solicitations Nightwing is still going to be a member of the team for the foreseeable future.
DONNA TROY VOTED TITANS NEW LEADER
With Flash and Nightwing taking step backs from their roles on the team the question became who would lead the Titans? That was quickly answered as Nightwing announced he already nominated Donna Troy to be the leader of the Titans. This nomination was unanimously voted on by Cyborg, Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy.
Donna Troy being the leader is the least surprising development we’ve had in DC All In. Donna has long proved to be a strong leader as she has normally led the Titans when Nightwing isn’t on the team. In this latest incarnation of the Titans she easily became the second-in-command without it being outwardly stated. And in both Beast World and Absolute Power, Nightwing trusted Donna to lead the main strike teams in various battles against the main antagonist army.
While Donna is the unquestioned leader of the team it still leaves major questions around the direction of the Titans. Afterall, the Justice League Unlimited are firmly positioned as the premiere superhero team of the DC Universe. While Flash and others have said it does not change the Titans spot as protectors of the world there is no denying the shift in attention.
The good thing this incarnation of the Titans have going for them is that during the Justice League’s absence they proved they should stand on equal footing as the DCU’s premiere team. That is something that should continue to be the case. It is shown that they will be taking part in The Atom Project storyline that the Justice League are dealing with. The true test of where the Titans stand will be whenever the next big DC Universe event happens and what their roles in the story will be.
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