Readers who have longed to see the Teen Titans grow into the next phase of their lives may have finally gotten their wish. A talented group of cosplayers has reinterpreted the crew with inspiration taken from the highly-popular illustrator Gabriel Picolo.
The Teen Titans is an expansive superhero team that has recruited a number of young heroes over the years. But a large portion of fans seem to have a particular fondness for The New Teen Titans era, which introduced new and beloved characters like Starfire and Raven to the DC Universe. It doesn't hurt that that particular era of the Teen Titans was the inspiration for the animated series Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go!. Despite the allure of this one particular generation of the Titans, fans have largely been stuck with the more kid-friendly adventures found in the property's cartoons.
But a group of fans is proving that there's fun to be had with a slightly more mature take on the team. On Instagram, a photo shoot by @calop_ was posted showing a crew of cosplayers all dressed up like the famous heroes celebrating their recent leasing of an "overpriced apartment in LA." The cosplayers mention that they were inspired by Gabriel Picolo’s Teen Titans art as the heroes are dressed in casual clothes. Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, Robin, Starfire and her sister Blackfire all celebrate their new home in the way only young people can—by drinking and having fun. After a gorgeous set of photos shows the team outside their new place, more pictures show the Titans break out the beer and liquor to party. From Beast Boy downing a bottle of Jameson to Robin putting the moves on Starfire, the heroes unwind like there's no tomorrow.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the set raked in thousands of likes. Gabriel Picolo’s Teen Titans are universally loved online, and the team of cosplayers brought his work to life flawlessly. While classic superhero costumes and fights with villains almost never go out of style, casual-style Titans have clearly struck a chord with fans. This group's photo shoot may be the biggest evidence that fans are ready to see the heroes they love live a much more relatable life.
One of the appeals of comics is seeing heroes engage in high-stakes scenarios and fighting to overcome them. But a good slice-of-life story has merit as well. While there’s always going to be a place for classic Teen Titans adventures, some fans may want to see more down-to-Earth stories with characters they've known for years. @calop_'s photo set shows that there's a demand to see the Titans pull away from the dramatic battles and enter more chill atmospheres where they can hang out and just live the carefree life of young people. Perhaps one day fans will see their wishes fulfilled. For now, however, this amazing Teen Titans cosplay scratches the itch of fans in need of a more mature take.
Source: @calop_