I feel that the 2003 Teen Titans cartoon has a weird chokehold over a lot of the DC fandom, particularly the parts that don't actually READ or even like COMICS, to the point where this show, whose creators openly admit had to be simple enough for a toddler to follow, largely informs a lot of fans' interpretations of some pretty complex characters, themes and continuity. The show, specifically, can tend to become nostalgia bait, and I think it's due time for a lot of this fandom to take off their rose-tinted glasses and let the show go.

Like I enjoyed the show growing up and I still have a soft spot for episodes like Lightspeed and Hide & Seek, but...frankly it's a simple show tailored to young kids that just does not, and was never meant to, do justice to the Titans' comic canon. This show could never have done Who is Donna Troy? and conveyed the unlabelableness of Donna and Dick's relationship, but it was never supposed to. Characterisations are intentionally dumbed down, themes are broken down into bite-sized morals, half of the show is dedicated to comedy, and character development is purposely few and far between because this show was designed for kids aged 2-11. And all that is fine but it's just not at all a reflection of what the Titans really are in print. It should not really inform any serious reading of the DC comic universe.

On the one hand, I really didn't need to see a Red X comic arc or Starfire talking in broken english in a comic, it's all just cheap nostalgia bait that people need to stop falling for. It's sacrificing theme in favour of cheap references. On the other hand, I do think the fans I'm talking about probably owe it to themselves to a) be a little more honest and critical about their engagement with DC media, and b) challenge themselves more when engaging in media to avoid wallowing in flanderized fluff.

I like in Teen Titans that Robin’s mask is just as expressive as like cartoon spidey masks. Especially when they do this thing:

OR WHEN HE DOES THIS:

he’s so silly I love him lmao

I've been getting a lot of reblogs in my ladies carrying people tag, and realized I somehow never put Starfire carrying Dick Grayson around in it even thought she did it, like, every other issue in the 80's New Teen Titans comics. The time she just yoinks him away, hoisting him by his stupid wonderful disco collar? incredible.

A reddit user, Connectviw, even posted a collage of the times she carries him:

I salute this dedication, a true person of taste. Also the amount of times he's either swooning, in a state of undress or both as she rescues him? They were so iconic.

She also did it a few times in the original Teen Titans cartoon (IMO not enough) I remember her carrying Cyborg a few times too, though I couldn't easily find pics.

Starfire✨💜✨

Proud that I was able to capture a bit of the shows style

Teen Titans by Emma Kubert

I just realized Dick is more like Bruce in TT more so than they led on especially when Dick goes to train with an elder lady to gain more knowledge and strength even though already being an hero but vice versa with Bruce though same concept he went to travel half around the world and mostly spent in Japan doing the same thing as when he started out becoming his hero persona

Boring?

the "her" is raven

"face it Red X could be anyone. Anyone smart enough to take the suit and dumb enough to take it for a joyride".

Man people are so hung up on who Red X is when they TELL you. They throw out all alternate universe robins or being Jason Todd by calling Beast Boy silly for suggesting these ideas. They go "it's not comic book nonsense Beast boy is stupid for suggesting this" then immediately go "he's just SOME GUY".

Face it, Red X doesn't have a secret identity. For all intensive purposes, just like every hero/villain in the show, his name does not matter. When I was watching this show when I was younger I thought Starfire was her name. Raven as well. I figured Robin and Beast boy weren't real names because who names their kid Beast boy and Robin was super cagey about himself. Cyborg as well, once I realized he used to be a full human and what cyborg meant.

But the fact that these characters have real names doesn't matter. The same can be said about Red X. The only thing about red x that matters is that he is cool and reflects Robin.

Seeing Red X's face would literally be that clip where Luther is like "I have no idea who this is" when he sees the flashes.

The og Teen Titans cartoon is WILD

The season 2 episode 5 about Raven’s fear genuinely had me on edge like I WAS SCAREDDDD BRO OH MY GOD

And then the next episode we have a dude with just an entire spider as his head that drags the limp human body along with it.

AND IN THAT SAME EPISODE WE GET FUCKING MOTHMAN SAYING “sorry kitten daddy was at work” WHICH IS HILARIOUS AND I LOVE IT AND I’M SO HAPPY 2020 TIKTOK DID NOT GET AHOLD OF THAT

“Who is this girl and why does she call you poo?” STARFIRE I LOVE YOU ‼️‼️

he is like a blorbo to me <3

Ok so I rewatched a bit of teen titans bc it's my 2nd fave show and I love Robin so here's a Robin Haunted ep drawing bc that's my fave ep

Also this is a redraw of a frame but I do not have an image of the framed saved so 💔

VERSION AFTER THE CUT HAS BLOOD/INJURIES SO WARNING FOR THAT

Nightwing by Edwin Galmon

first flea market trip of the year(i can't stop goin an spending money on toys)

attempting once again to get back to regularly sharing these trips. anyway here's what i got

Speedy from Teen Titans 2003 :')

ID/image description: photo of an action figure of Speedy from the 2003 Teen Titans cartoon standing on a bookshelf with books and comics visible behind him. end description.

og Kenner Stormtrooper an Scout Trooper. from New Hope an Return of The Jedi.

ID/image description: photo of vintage action figures of a Stormtrooper and a Scout Trooper from Star Wars standing on a bookshelf with books and comics visible behind them. end description.

this mystery lady i picked up cuz she had 1997 DC comics stamped on. obviously Kenner but i dunno what from somehow?? looked her up an she's a Lt. Sparks from the Shaq Steel movie. i didn't know they made a toyline for it! an i mean i haven't.. watched the movie. she's Shaq/Steel's tech support an she uses a wheelchair and according to her DC wiki she was actually based on Oracle. so there's that. they gave the figure of her tactical/military gear(which ties into her backstory as she was apparently with Shaq in the military an was injured,but i'm pretty sure she doesn't actually wear this in the movie. but then again 90s toyline) and a 'Mobile Defense Power Chair' which of course has a big cannon. which is definitely somethin. it's pretty neat that they made a figure of the "girl character" in the toyline at all though.

ID/image description: photo of an action figure of Lieutenant Sparks from the Shaquille O'Neal Steel movie sitting on a phone charger adapter on a bookshelf with books and comics visible in the back. end description.

and Deathstroke from the Mattel Dark Knight toyline. yes the movie The Dark Knight. even though he obviously doesn't appear in it. they also made a Firefly figure too.

ID/image description: photo of an action figure of Deathstroke standing on a bookshelf with books and comics visible behind him. end description.

Honestly the og Teen Titans cartoon does an excellent job at portraying a creep/molester while keeping it, you know, more or less censored. Because Slade is precisely that, he is a sexual predator choosing vulnerable, impressionable young teens as their main target.

And the show does a good job at showing that the victim can be anyone: Robin, Terra, Raven.

Robin, who is so headstrong and smart. Raven, who is so powerful, independent and intellectual. Terra, who is just as powerful as Raven.

Slade preys on them during their moments of raw vulnerability, exploits their insecurities, plays with their fears. And the show does not shy away from this. Still the lesson is that he's not all powerful. He's not the end of everything. Even after the horror, there's a fighting chance. There's a way to fight back and resist and survive.

Yes, Slade is the worst enemy, the most dangerous, but he too shall be a thing of the past. And there will be someone, something, there on the other side for you. And there is hope.

There is always hope.