TV I Want To See: Live-Action Teen Titans

A few weeks ago, it was announced that writer Diego Gutierrez is developing a TV treatment about the DC Comics Teen Titans character Raven.

I admit that I was a bit underwhelmed by this announcement at first. Although I have been reading DC Comics for over twenty years now, Raven is a character I never really felt I got to “know.” Her backstory and connection to her demon father Trigon were all very confusing to me, and although attempts were made to make her character make sense again, I think that confusion kept me from making a real connection.

I liked the way Raven was portrayed in the Teen Titans cartoon, though a big part of that was the group dynamic. I did, however, hate the “emo” gimmick – especially when DC billed her short-lived comic “Now In Her Own Emo Series!” Enough already with that.

Then I read some of the comments about Raven both here on KSiteTV and on the KryptonSite Forum. And to many people, Raven is very special. That made me want to do some homework. I swung by the excellent resource that is the Titans Tower website and re-read Glen Cadigan’s two very well done Titans Companion books. Reading about Raven – especially the original conception of her by Marv Wolfman and George Perez – really made me “get it.”

But all of this research made me realize what I’d like even more – a live-action Teen Titans series.

While a girl who is half-human, half-demon might sound interesting as a TV series concept, it could also limit it. TV executives who are being pitched a show could think “I don’t get it.” A great supporting cast can be created around “Rachel Roth,” but at the end of the day, we all know Raven’s friends are supposed to have names like Gar, Dick, Kory, and Victor.

When Wolfman and Perez created The New Teen Titans in the early 1980’s, each member of the core cast seemed to have issues with their parental figures. Raven, of course, had the whole demon-dad thing. Victor Stone (Cyborg) had his life “saved” by his father but came out looking like a metal freak on the outside – two factors that were sadly forgotten when the character appeared on Smallville. Dick Grayson, Robin, was coming away from the shadow of the Bat – Batman, that is – and even found himself replaced by a new Robin within time. The family and people of Koriand’r’s home planet of Tamaran definitely had different plans for her than what she wanted. Donna Troy is in a constant state of not knowing what her origins are, and Roy Harper’s estrangement from Green Arrow even led him to drugs at one point. And then finally, Changeling, or Beast Boy as people again know him these days, Garfield Logan, lost his parents at a very young age, and then he lost his second “family” in the Doom Patrol. Super-powered or not, the concept of young people vs. their parental figures is one that resonates well, and almost any viewer – young or old – could identify with it. It’s the reason the Titans have had such a following for so many years.

Surely, there would be challenges in creating a Teen Titans live-action series. You’d want to have Robin – whoever that Robin may be – as a team leader, and the quick stop to The Graysons shows that Christopher Nolan doesn’t want to give that toy away. There could be an attempt at getting around that by using Nightwing, but even that probably wouldn’t fly. And speaking of flying, unless she had a humanoid look, Starfire would be a near-impossibility to do in live action, and her powers would probably also have to be limited. On a similar note, I don’t think Beast Boy would be able to be green in a live action counterpart. But would that really matter, ultimately, as long as he’s well done?

A Teen Titans TV show would be a great place to put the live-action Blue Beetle they’ve been talking about. If the Milestone license extends to TV, perhaps Static could be present? Kid Flash and Wonder Girl – whichever Wonder Girl there may be – might be unable to be used because of movies. But other characters, like Speedy, Ravager, Jericho, Red Star; heck, even other recruits like Damage – they’d be cool. Heck, if they wanted to keep the Smallville universe going, it’s a perfect vehicle for Laura Vandervoort’s Supergirl, or a Conner Kent if we happen to see one by series’ end.

A team of characters would give everyone a chance to have a favorite. A big part of Smallville’s longevity is that everyone has been able to latch onto and find a favorite character. Whether it’s Clark, Lex, Lana, Chloe, Lois, Oliver, or anyone, really; there has been something for everyone. Now, quick. Name a supporting character for Raven. Can’t do it, can you?

And the best part of a live action Teen Titans? Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke the Terminator. Hopefully cast well this time… not a slight on Michael Hogan, but the character as portrayed in Smallville plus the general look just doesn’t work.

I hope The CW considers this possibility when developing a new series. They don’t even need costumes; it’s the team and character dynamic that makes the Titans work. I do now think Raven on TV could be cool, but Teen Titans would be even better. Until then, I guess I’ll have to be happy with Young Justice animated episodes…