Teen Titans (2003)

It's been a long time, and I know Teen Titans Go does this often, but was Batman ever mentioned in the original series, by name or otherwise?

Only by very indirect references. Here's a youtube of most of them. There's also a flash back where you see Robin taking an oath to Batman like in the comics, though Bats himself is off screen.

The only time we ever see adult superheroes was that one episode with the Doom Patrol.

Aqualad shows up, and he feels a bit older than the Titans, at least.

I don't know what Starfire and Raven see in Aqualad, honestly. Dude is dull as hell. The guy has better chemistry with Beast Boy than either of the girls.

Edited by Redmess on Mar 19th 2024 at 11:10:58 AM

He's pretty, really.

If he was any older he wouldn't still be calling himself Aqualad. That's a very kiddy name.

Maybe... it would be more convincing if he actually shared some scenes and dialogue with them.

Man, I didn't expect Robin to be the weak link on the team with his Mr X persona. Isn't he supposed to be the heroic golden boy? Or is this a different kind of Robin?

A common thing about the Robins is that they can slip into being basically Batman Jr. with all the trouble that that implies.

Edited by Blueace on Mar 20th 2024 at 5:47:56 AM

Oh, that certainly explains the constant attitude.

Red X was my favorite episode of the show growing up. Takes me right back to those Cartoon Fridays/evenings where reruns would be on.

Oh look, it's the "Made On Drugs" episode, with lots of weird, trippy visuals.

No idea why they went with a peppy Japanese song for the surreal Scooby-Dooby Doors bit when the villain is Very British and the artwork is all Western art references. It kinda clashes.

It's a song from the same group that did the show's theme song, is probably why.

And apparently, is a bit dirtier than the happy lyrics would suggest, making references to sex and alcohol.

Edited by HandsomeRob on Mar 20th 2024 at 4:05:42 AM

Ah, that explains it.

What a weird episode. There is a half-hearted attempt at a technological explanation that doesn't really cut it. This episode is just plain reality warper stuff, not simple smoke and mirrors.

I mean, the hypnosis thing is right there as an explanation, but they don't really use that for some reason.

Edited by Redmess on Mar 20th 2024 at 12:12:25 PM

I think Mad Mod comes back in a later episode?

Really? He really has the air of one-off gimmick villain to him.

He's a classic Teen Titans villain, if you can believe it.

He does, in iirc Season Three, the episode is "Revolution."

EDIT: And every season has one or two really weird and out there episodes, usually with the Japanese version of the theme song.

Edited by MasterGhandalf on Mar 20th 2024 at 5:30:37 AM

Why does Robin not have pupils? It makes his face oddly inexpressive whenever he's not, like, scowling.

Irisless Eye Mask Of Mystery. The mask with those blank eyes is common in Batman and related stuff or other guys like The Flash or Green Arrow. The thing is that it is more noticeable here since you never see Robin without it.

Edited by Blueace on Mar 24th 2024 at 9:40:49 AM

Yeah, and Robin is drawn with a much bigger mask than Batman usually is, so that makes it more noticeable as well, I guess.

The artstyle does give a lot of characters big eyes, I guess.

Yeah, it's much cartoonier than Batman is usually drawn.

Man, it does not take Robin much to just turn on his friends, does it? Sure, he's being blackmailed by Slade, and supposedly only does so to protect his friends, but he shows a hostility and willingness to harm them that just doesn't seem to add up. This forced betrayal looks way too much like a real one, in short.

What's also forced is the idea that Robin and Slade are dangerously alike, when they are clearly nothing of the sort. Slade is cool-headed, calculating, and patient, while Robin is a brash hot-head who would rather rush in and throw fists than think things through and plan.

Is he even friends with the other Titans at this point? Because it seems like he doesn't actually put much stock in them, either as superheroes or as persons. All he does is bark orders and then ignore their imput, if he isn't outright manipulating them by posing as a villain to lure Slade out without telling his friends, putting them in needless danger.