The Titans' Top Member Is Now the Team's Weakest Link, And Someone Is Taking Advantage Of the Change
WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Titans #18!
The Titans, one of DC’s most iconic teams—second only to the Justice League—are packed with powerhouse heroes, each formidable in their own right. But now, the team’s strongest member has become its most vulnerable, and the real shock comes from the fact that someone within the team is already exploiting this hero's fall from grace.
...she was at the height of her power as the Dark-Winged Queen, but now she’s at her most vulnerable...
Raven has long been regarded as one of the Titans’ most powerful members, if not the most powerful, thanks to her half-demon heritage and the magic she inherited from it. Her status as one of the team’s strongest was further solidified in Tom Taylor’s Titans run during the Dark-Winged Queen storyline.
However, with the creative team change to John Layman and Pete Woods, the Titans have undergone several shifts, one of the most significant being Raven’s transformation from a powerhouse to one of the team’s weakest links. This decline is tied to her ongoing struggle to control her empathic abilities, a development revealed in Titans #18.
Layman's Titans #18 Explores the Consequences of Tom Taylor's Dark-Winged Queen Storyline
Raven Reuniting With Her Dark Half Had Major Consequences
To understand Raven’s loss of control over her empathic abilities, we must first go back to the heart of Tom Taylor’s Titans run, specifically the Dark-Winged Queen storyline. In this arc, Raven is essentially split in two, with her darker half separating and taking on its own identity as the Dark Winged Queen. This new persona traps the true Raven within her gemstone and assumes her place among the Titans, secretly working with Trigon (Raven’s father). However, during a high-stakes battle, Raven manages to break free from the gem and confront the Dark Winged Queen.
The two Ravens prepare for a final showdown, each determined to claim victory. But before the fight can begin, Beast Boy intervenes. He admits that he loves both sides of her, as they are two halves of the same person. He then urges them to consider merging back together rather than fighting. After some hesitation, the two Ravens agree to reunite. Fast forward to Titans #18, where Layman and Woods explore the aftermath of their reconciliation and the unforeseen consequences of bringing the two halves of Raven back together.
Raven Has Officially Lost Control of Her Empath Abilities
"A Team Empath with Emotional Problems. Terrific." – Arsenal in Titans #18 (2024)
The first instance where Raven starts acting a bit off occurs during a fight among the Titans, when she demands they stop fighting and "be happy," before storming off herself. The team is initially shocked by her outburst, but Beast Boy explains that after months of her personality being split during the Dark-Winged Queen crisis, she’s now a bit "emotional" after "reincorporating all the aspects of herself."Arsenal succinctly sums it up with, "A team empath with emotional problems. Terrific."
This exchange makes it clear that Raven is currently overwhelmed by her empathic abilities and being heavily influenced by the emotions of those around her. The full extent of this is revealed during the Titans' battle with Mammoth and Shimmer. During the fight, Raven becomes overwhelmed by the fear of the civilians caught in the crossfire, and as she feels their fear as her own, she freezes, unable to follow Donna’s orders. With this new weakness, Raven has now officially become the team’s weakest link.
Arsenal Just Took MAJOR Advantage of Raven's New Vulnerability
Arsenal Manipulates Raven's Emotions in a Way That Benefits the Team
Realizing that Raven is feeling the emotions around her more than she typically would, Arsenal is struck with an idea to get her back into the fight. Calling out to Raven, he points to Mammoth, who is filled with immense rage while fighting the Titans. Arsenal then manipulates her emotions, encouraging her to feel the villain's rage with leading language such as, “I bet maybe you want to pound his face in, too!” This method successfully replaces Raven’s fear with rage, and Arsenal directs her to get back into the fight, which she does.
Despite Arsenal’s plan working, he essentially manipulated a team member, and as Beast Boy points out, that was “not cool” of him to do. Donna also rips into Roy, telling him he “just took major advantage” of what’s going on with Raven and that they’ll have words after the battle is over. While Arsenal’s actions highlight some disconnect between team members, they also reveal a bigger problem—Raven is highly vulnerable at the moment, and anyone—including villains—could potentially manipulate her, putting her and others at extreme risk. Hence, the Titans will have to make this a priority before Raven can be taken advantage of again.
From the Dark-Winged Queen to the Titans' Most Vulnerable Member
DC Gives Raven a Majorly Different Character Arc to Explore
What makes this development with Raven particularly compelling is the dramatic shift it represents. Just a few issues ago, she was at the height of her power as the Dark-Winged Queen, but now she’s at her most vulnerable, overwhelmed by her own emotions. In Layman’s run, this out-of-control version of Raven is a sharp contrast to the unstoppable Empath fans knew in Taylor’s run. This evolution opens up an entirely new and captivating character arc, while also injecting fresh tension into the plot as both Raven and the Titans navigate the challenges of her newfound vulnerability.
Titans #18 is available now from DC Comics!
- Created by
- Glen Murakami
- First Film
- Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans
- Latest Film
- Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans
- First TV Show
- Teen Titans
- Latest TV Show
- Teen Titans Go!
- First Episode Air Date
- July 19, 2003
Teen Titans is a superhero animated TV series based on the DC Comics team of the same name. Airing from 2003 to 2006, the show follows five young heroes—Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy—as they battle villains while navigating adolescence. The series was widely praised for its blend of action, humor, and character development, and it spawned a popular spin-off, Teen Titans Go!.
