I'm changing my rating.
Because for all its flaws - the slow pacing, the fact that this comic is more of an introduction and prologue for future books than an actual story in its own right, the one-dimensional popular high school kids consisting of jocks and shallow pretty girls, Gar not making up with his parents at the end - parents who don't appear much in the comic to begin with, Gar's casual law-breaking (even if it is ultimately harmless and for a good cause), the conspicuous lack of LBGTQ rep, the confusing and baffling inclusion of the 'Lord of the Flies' and 'Atlas Shrugged' literary texts, and the obviousness of how it is going to end (especially once Slade Wilson shows up, and the conclusion is crystal clear for anyone who's read the predecessor, 'Teen Titans: Raven') - I found that I couldn't stop thinking about 'Teen Titans: Beast Boy' after I'd finished it. It's such a warm, charming, endearing and sincere DC comic for young audiences as well. It must be a sign that I'm in love.Loving someone or something in spite of--no, because of, their imperfections, is true love. Accept that nothing and no one can be perfect - as long as they're not harming anyone - and embrace the beauty in everything.
Embrace the beauty of the beast. Of Beast Boy, in this case.
Okay, I'll shut up now.
'Teen Titans: Beast Boy' is a lovely graphic novel that centers around and highlights my favourite Teen Titan from the animated series, Beast Boy/Garfield Logan. To me, he has always been the antithesis of toxic masculinity and male entitlement, while still acting like a believable teenage boy; who happens to be a shapeshifter, that is. He is messy and has a lot of growing and developing to do. He is fun and jokey, but with hidden insecurities underneath his jovial, silly exterior. The sweet, noble, altruistic and non-hyper-violent Gar cares deeply for others, and he has a stalwart drive and resolve to keep going; to never give up, despite various encumbrances and tragedies.
And come on, who wouldn't want to transform into animals and become friends with animals? It's a power that truly is one of if not the greatest in the world.
The graphic novel incorporates these glowing attributes to Gar Logan brilliantly. He is almost unbearably adorable here, as a seventeen-year-old school boy who's nice, helpful and funny. Gar is short and skinny for his age, no matter what he tries, and he is waiting out a growth spurt. Bonus points for him being mixed-race in this version to boot.
Once his powers finally manifest (as a result of a secret experimental procedure done to him when he was four), things start looking up for him, when at last he is able to prove himself to be "cool". He adopts the nickname Beast Boy.
With great power comes great responsibility. Another comic book lesson which applies to life: Popularity in high school really doesn't matter in the least. This is a fact that sadly most high schoolers learn too late.
I'm so happy for Gar in 'Teen Titans: Beast Boy' for having two of the best friends anybody could wish for: Stella Alvarez, the POC pro-gamer and animal shelter employee; and Daniel "Tank" Tanaka, who is a big guy in every sense, possessing a warm, loyal heart. Both of them are loyal, and would do anything for Gar. He is very lucky to have them in his life. They clearly love and care for him; popularity doesn't matter to them, even though that crowd will try to convert the two into their dark circle.
Stella and Tank are outlandishly cool and authentic characters, just like Gar. They feel like real people.
Also, I can't tell you how bloody refreshing it is to see a lone female among a friend group of boys who isn't romantically attracted to any of them! I KNOW, RIGHT!!! Platonic relationships need to be depicted in droves in fiction, for they are as important as romantic and sexual ones, if not more so.
An alternate title for this book should have been 'Garfield and Friends'. Darn it, stop it with the pop culture references, Artemis!
'Teen Titans: Beast Boy', like 'Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed', is less about the superheroics and more about contemporary slice-of-life. The slow build up towards Gar unlocking and then grasping his animalistic abilities (the shapeshifting in particular happens only towards the end and very sparsely), might discourage some readers. But Gar and his friends are likeable, relatable and adorable enough on their own; it hardly matters whether or not Gar is supernatural or a superhero. If I were around his age and at his school, I'd want to date him in a flash. He's the perfect imperfect teen guy.
Furthermore, anyone who loves animals will get a kick out of this tale. It is strongly and passionately against animal testing, and animal euthanasia in shelters if they are not adopted as soon as it is deemed. A story about Beast Boy which takes a stance against animal cruelty is natural and appropriate (his vegetarianism is unchanged, thankfully). Plus, he will acquire a pet monkey, a cute little gray sidekick called Kong.
'Teen Titans: Beast Boy' - how cute and fuzzy! An earnest and genuine modern teen hero comic that will not leave you.
Thus ends my reading any more DC comics (except for one 'Amethyst' title coming out next year as a trade volume, though my hopes are considerably low even for that). Doubly, I'm done with Marvel comics. As charming and enjoyable as 'Teen Titans: Beast Boy' is, in general I'm going off these giant, conglomerate superhero comics industries. Especially since in recent years, they've both garnered multiple tumultuous, regressive and hateful backlashes; consistent in dumbfounding, tone-deaf and terrible decision making. There is a strong implication that the people working at DC and Marvel have no idea what they are doing, and that most of the writers seem to really, really, hate their audience. Not all of them, but most in undeserved positions of power, and decisions regarding plots and characters (crossovers can bite me - they are so overdone, messy and often incompetently and lazily made). I've gone off and outgrown the Titans as well, excepting a few individual characters. I might change my mind sometime in the increasingly uncertain future, but I've been disappointed too many times. For now, my retirement of my support for DC and Marvel is for good.
Thank you for reading my review of 'Teen Titans: Beast Boy'. Take care of yourselves and others, everyone.
Final Score: 3.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment