Warning: Spoilers for Titans (2023) #18 ahead!

Raven has long been a fan-favorite character across all iterations of the elements from the Teen Titans! (2003) animated series canon, bringing more cohesion to Raven's character across various platforms.

Tensions run high in Titans (2023) #18 - written by John Layman, with art by Pete Woods – as the Titans are forced out of their tower in Blüdhaven and must go underground. Raven, normally stoic and controlled, reacts especially poorly to the change, snapping at her teammates in a rage and later being overcome by fear and violence in a firefight.

Beast Boy explains that "[Raven]'s personality was split into different pieces for months on end during the whole Dark-Winged Queen stuff," a plot detail that echoes the plot of the popular Teen Titans! episode, "Nevermore.

DC Appears Set To Introduce Raven's "Emoticlones" From The "Teen Titans" Animated Series To Its Mainstream Canon

Titans (2023) #18 - written by John Layman; Art & Color By Pete Woods; Lettering By Wes Abbot

Teen Titans!, Season 1, Episode 6, "Nevermore," is one of the show's early characterizations of Raven. When Raven begins to behave oddly, Beast Boy and Cyborg go snooping in Raven's room to try and figure out why, but they find themselves sucked into Raven's mind after touching a magical mirror. In Raven's mind, they meet different color-coded versions of her, each corresponding to one of Raven's emotions. These "Emoticlones" would prove to be a very popular aspect of the animated Raven, making subsequent appearances in the Teen Titans Go! (2004) comic and even the Teen Titans Go! (2013) animated series.

The structure of Titans #18 has a lot in common with "Nevermore." Both introduce the conflict with an outburst from Raven, with Titans #18 even confirming that she is having trouble balancing the different aspects of her personality. Roy Harper provoking Raven to go all out against the duo of Mammoth and Shimmer also seems like a callback to "Nevermore," echoing the rage-fueled Raven's brutal takedown of the rampaging Dr. Light. There's even another Teen Titans! Easter egg in Titans #18, with Roy unpacking a box of Titan dolls that look eerily similar to the ones from episode 7, "Switched."

"Teen Titans" Beloved Stories Finally Get A Chance To Shine In DC Canon

The Animated Series' Storytelling Is Woefully Overlooked

With all the references to Teen Titans! episodes in this issue, particularly episodes 6 and 7, it seems very clear that the latest arc of Titans is pulling from its animated counterparts for inspiration. Teen Titans! was beloved in the 2000s for its emphasis on strong characterization alongside action, and it's now clear that all that work is finally being blended into their main comic counterparts. This wouldn't even be the first time that DC has tapped into elements from Teen Titans! for the comics: the previously animation-only villain Atlas made his comic book debut in Cyborg (2023) #3.

Who is Atlas and how does he fit into DC's main canon? Find out in Morgan Hampton and Tom Raney's Cyborg (2023) #3!

More than just a beloved pop culture touchstone, the animated Teen Titans! represents a rich vein of storylines and strong characterization for the Titans, but one that has been relatively underutilized in the comics. This new arc of Titans seems set to change that, however, with the stage set for Raven's Emoticlones and even the creepy Puppet King to shine. Fans of the old and new alike have a lot to look forward to, as the best of the animated Titans finally appears ready to break into the mainstream.

Titans #18 is available now from DC Comics.