Written and Penciled by Adam Warren
Inked by Tom Simmons / Colored by Joe Rosas
DC Comics: Elseworlds
$4.95 US/$6.95 CAN
Copyright © 1997 DC Comics

Based on the first issue of the DC Comic series THE TEEN TITANS, TITANS: SCISSORS, PAPER, STONE retells the story in a different light. The reigns of the story fell into the hands of the capable and talented Adam Warren. He has done several other works in a strictly anime domain, including an original BUBBLE GUM CRISIS series, and several DIRTY PAIR series. Lately, he has crossed over into the mainstream American comics world, and has done work for all the major comic companies, and has even done one-shots for the popular GEN13 series offered by Image Comics.
The American comic scene has seen a wave of talent influenced by manga and anime into the realm. Warren was one of the first artists to adopt the style and embrace it whole-heartedly. Unlike others who seek to create an amalgam of Japanese-American art, he refines his art with some American techniques, but the heart of his art is largely Eastern. TITANS is a good example of this application of Japanese pacing and flow over an established Western story.
The story follows the basic outline of the original comic plot. An alien threat is attacking the planet, and a sorceress takes it upon herself to recruit allies in the coming battle. She approaches three others and assembles an unlikely band of heroes. The story begins with the invasion and ends with the repulsion of the enemy. All throughout, flashbacks are taking place and telling the background of the characters, much like the original story. However, the pacing and references to anime (as well as to a seemingly endless supply of references to the artist's other interests) make it uniquely Warren-esque.
The mood Warren seeks to create is strangely effective. His art lends itself well to the depiction of ensuing destruction. The to-the-edge, no-border type of pages in the book allows him to break the figurative as well as literal boundaries of traditional western storytelling. The art is dynamic, and the characters are exceptionally likeable. The colorist and inker have also done an extraordinary job in creating visually spectacular effects. To be sure, it is an impressive piece of work in terms of art. It does not lack for story either.
Warren's tongue-in-cheek, unrestrained attempts at humor may occasionally rub the wrong way, but it's all in fun. How can you not begin to like the author poking fun at the original Titans (and superhero names in general) Robin, Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg; he names his versions Captain Thug, Witchy-Poo, Prosthetic Lass, and Dead Prettyboy. Warren also tends to lay on the techno-lingo a bit thick in order to give the feel of a futuristic society. However, this is largely unneccessary and sometimes serves to confuse the issue. It will take the reader a while to get used to the speech style of the characters.
If you're an anime fan, you'll be hard-pressed not to find some reference to your favorite animation. From the TENCHI MUYO T-shirts, to janken; from manga artists names tatooed on everyday objects, to the steam-emitting androids. You'd better brush up on your Kanji if you expect to catch all the anime references. And it helps if you know several other languages, because you'll often see some Korean and Chinese mixed in. If you are familiar with the original TEEN TITANS series, then your appreciation of this series will be all that more enjoyable.
I liked it. Many a hardcore anime fan will disagree, but let it be said that this is a good book, and deserves a thorough reading. I've found myself picking it up and discovering something new in each reading. The surprise twist at the end is interesting, to say the least.