Warning! Spoilers ahead for Titans United #1
In the opening issue of DC Comics' Titans United, Jason Todd's Red Hood has joined a new team of heroes, though he's also instigating a new rivalry in the DC Universe in a similar vein as Batman v Superman. For some reason, Jason is not a fan of Conner Kent's Superboy in this first issue, taking multiple opportunities to bring him down, seemingly trying to goad him into a fight. Likewise, Conner Kent doesn't like Jason either, seeing his methods as too dark while also getting fed up with his attitude. As such, it seems as though the Titans have some work before they're all united (at least to being with).
Coming from writer Cavan Scott and artist Jose Luis, Titans United features a new iteration of the team featuring classic Teen Titans such as Nightwing, Wonder Girl, Beast Boy, Raven, Superboy, Hawk, Dove, and the Red Hood, operating as the same roster of heroes that can be seen on HBO's Titans live-action series, providing some dynamic synergy between the two projects for fans to enjoy. However, it seems as though this new team isn't as "united" as they could or should be, and that can largely be attributed to Red Hood.
In Titans United #1, the team responds to the unique threat of a man named Evan Morton uncontrollably exhibiting the powers of the Titans themselves such as Superboy, Starfire, and Beast Boy. However, during the conflict that sees the young heroes trying to contain the threat, Conner's powers simply stop working, a fact which Red Hood criticizes multiple times, undeservedly bashing the Superboy clone. Furthermore, Jason is prepared to use lethal methods to end the danger, though Superboy manages to get his powers back long enough to stop Morton (despite the act knocking him out with a broken arm in the process). Furthermore, once Conner wakes up in Titans Tower Jason continues to verbally attack Conner, resulting in the clone of Superman firing back, indicating the beginning of a new Batman v. Superman-esque rivalry.
Sure enough, Jason keeps pushing and goading Conner until Superboy finally delivers a hook right to Red Hood's jaw. However, the blow isn't a powerful as it could be due to Conner's haywire powers. In any case, the reason why Jason doesn't like Conner remains to be seen. Is it perhaps the fact that he reminds Red Hood of Bizarro from his days leading the Outlaws? Bizarro was a twisted attempt to replicate Superman's DNA by Lex Luthor as well, but he was saved by Jason and Artemis and three of them became a family. At the present, Bizarro is trapped in Hell after sacrificing himself to defeat Trigon, and Jason hasn't seen his friend since. As such, it could be that working alongside Superboy is a challenge for Jason. However, it could be something else entirely. Perhaps Jason's just jealous of Conner's powers and is enjoying the fact that he's having issues with them.
Regardless, the fact that Jason can push Conner into punching him is rather significant, showing that he's truly frustrated and unhinged the clone of Superman and Lex Luthor as he struggles to figure out what's going on with his powers. That being said, this could all just be the trial by fire that leads to the two heroes eventually becoming friends, not unlike Batman and Superman in the comics as well as their sons Damian Wayne and Jonathan Kent, continuing the trend of solid Bat and Kryptonian partnerships in the DC Universe. Here's hoping Red Hood and Conner Kent's Superboy can learn to get along and end their feud as Titans United continues.