Since the recent release of Teen Titans Go! and DC Super Hero Girls, fans have been yearning for the Teen Titans that aired long before Teen Titans Go did. After all, the subject matter tended to be more serious, the characters more developed, and the action far grander.
Yet, it was the humor that caught the attention of most fans. Fans on Ranker have slowly been voting to determine which insults the heroes slung at each other were the best, especially given how often shots were fired. While not every insult hit its mark, they were certainly great.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
The Unitard
"Some guy in a unitard?" / "Let it go, Unitard Guy."
A young hero hailing from Atlantis, Aqualad had quite a high opinion of himself, and it showed in everything he did. That's why, when the news media was speculating on the name of the blue-clad Atlantian hero, it hit Aqualad so hard when he discovered that he was being called nothing more than "some guy in a unitard".
It's a relatable disappointment, especially given how hard Aqualad worked to save the day alongside his fellow young heroes. Unfortunately, he just couldn't get the recognition he wanted, and it showed in the funniest way possible.
Vegetarianism
"I respect that you don't eat meat. Please respect that I don't eat fake meat."
Though he's certainly one of the best Teen Titans characters, Beast Boy often gets the short end of the stick. A loud-mouthed class clown, he usually tries to bring levity to any situation he's around. Yet, that loud-mouthed nature doesn't always help him when he's trying to encourage others to pick up his vegan lifestyle.
After offering Raven a vegetarian burger, Raven immediately insults the burger entirely by calling it "fake meat". It was a major insult for the vegan Beast Boy, but it was also fairly funny — especially because Raven made sure to let him know she supported him, even as she insulted him.
Queen Bee
"Well, maybe you could call the shots if you spent more time working and less time messing with your hairdo!"
After Speedy, a DC sidekick that no one remembers asked Bumblebee who put her in charge, she immediately decided to tear him apart. Insulting his leadership skills, alongside his carefully-maintained hairstyle, she proved exactly why she deserved to take charge when others couldn't.
The lashing showed Speedy that she wasn't going to roll over for him, and it encouraged him to get his act into gear. That alone makes it an effective insult, and it's why fans remember it as fondly as they do.
Cyborg Dismantled
"If I wasn't on your side, you'd be spare parts by now."
But Bumblebee wasn't just ready to take Speedy apart. She even threatened to do the same thing to Cyborg. When he was questioning her allegiance and why he should trust her, Bumblebee reminded him just how much he needs her, and just how strong a threat she could be.
She managed to take Cyborg entirely by surprise. After all, she revealed herself as an ally, while also proving that she didn't care if he was intimidated by her or not. It proved just how great she was, and it got Cyborg to start listening to her.
The Bird And The Beast
"Raven calling anyone... Anyone other than Beast Boy."
Raven and Beast Boy spent most of the show bickering, and it showed pretty often. The two sniped at each other whenever they could, even when they were in situations that called for a little less levity and a little more attention to detail.
After all, when Raven was calling for help from anyone on the team, she immediately rejected Beast Boy as soon as he picked up the phone. It's part of why Raven is considered the best Teen Titan — she doesn't mind putting herself at risk if it means she can take whatever shot she needs to.
Raven's Social Life
"Gnarrk's not so good with people from the upper world." / "Neither is Raven."
Of course, Beast Boy doesn't just take it without snarking back. Even in situations requiring seriousness, like when they were trying to figure out how to deal with their ally, Gnarrk, Beast Boy was happy to remind the team of Raven's somewhat anti-social nature.
While their relationship is often considered to be romantic, proving to be one of the best Teen Titans relationships, in moments like these, it's just hilarious. Especially considering the harsh look Beast Boy earned the second Raven processed the insult.
Masks Defined
"Who are you?" / "If I wanted you to know that, would I be wearing a mask?"
Superheroes tend to have a code: You don't take off the mask. It's how heroes like Spider-Man have managed to keep their identities secure for as long as they have. So, when Robin asked Red X to share his identity, the masked Red X did nothing more than make fun of him.
Considering that Robin wears a mask himself, it's especially funny that he would expect an answer from Red X. After all, it's hard to call for something like that when Robin, himself, wasn't willing to share. So, really, what else did he expect to hear?
Ripping A Villain Apart
"A couch potato with a souped-up remote. I'm petrified."
Supervillains can be ridiculous sometimes, but heroes still do their best to take them seriously. So, when Raven was face-to-face with the villain Control Freak — a self-proclaimed geek with a remote control that lets him warp reality — it was especially surprising when she didn't bother.
Considering that Control Freak certainly wasn't among the ranks of the best Teen Titans villains, it's hard to blame her. Still, her lack of enthusiasm for the villain must have hit hard, especially since all he wanted was to be a cool villain.
Robin's Snark
"Sorry, I don't like you that way. As a matter of fact, I just don't like you."
Robin's well known for his intelligence, tactical genius, and acrobatics. Yet, what Robin is most well-known for is his quick wit and his ease at displaying it. After being forced to take Killer Moth's daughter to the school dance, the daughter — Kitten — tells Robin to kiss her. His immediate response is to remind her that he doesn't even like her.
It's hard-hitting — especially to hear from a prom date — which is part of why fans considered it such a strong insult. Robin managed to take her down completely with just two sentences, while also reminding her that he's only there by obligation, not affection.
Beast Boy's Sense Of Humor
"See? She thinks I'm funny." / "Statistically, I suppose someone has to."
Beast Boy is famous for his sense of humor. What he isn't famous for, unfortunately, is being a great comedian. Most of his teammates often struggle with his jokes, especially given the heavy circumstances that the team is often involved with, which Beast Boy's somewhat-immature jokes don't always help with.
So, when Beast Boy met Blackfire and she fell for his jokes, he was on top of the world. At least, until Robin reminded Beast Boy that someone in the galaxy would eventually have to. It's a major insult, but also an incredibly funny one, which is why fans remember it to this day.