Warning: Contains spoilers for Titans #1!The Titans are on a collision course with Suicide Squad in a battle that will determine DC’s future. With the Justice League on hiatus, the Titans are now the biggest superhero team on Earth–but not everyone is happy about this development, such as Amanda Waller and the Suicide Squad. In Titans #1, the Peacemaker warns the Titans to watch themselves, setting up the inevitable showdown between the two.
The book is written by Tom Taylor, drawn by Nicola Scott, colored by Annette Kwok and lettered by Wes Abbott. The Titans have just vanquished the giant superape Titano. As the cleanup crews arrive, so does the Peacemaker. He informs the Titans that Titano is but the opening salvo by unknown forces. Peacemaker tells the Titans he believes they should be shut down, but the President wants them to work for the government–an offer Nightwing refuses. Peacemaker is stunned, and Nightwing explains that the Titans do not work for one country–they work for the entire world. Peacemaker protests, saying the Titans are too powerful to run around unchecked. Nightwing assures Peacemaker they will be much different than the Justice League; after the team leaves, Peacemaker talks to Amanda Waller, telling her the Titans are “going to be a problem for us.”
Peacemaker Doesn't Trust the Titans
The Titans are the vanguard of a new era in the DC Universe. Over the years, the Titans have been one of DC’s premier superhero teams, at times second only to the League. Despite this, they have always been looked upon as “kids,” even though they have all stepped out of their mentors' shadows. With the Justice League currently on hiatus, the Titans are now finally ready to step into the big time. The Suicide Squad recently underwent changes as well, as Rick Flag was able to break free of Waller’s influence. Undaunted, Waller is continuing her crusade against Earth’s metahumans, allying herself with the Council of Light–and now she and Peacemaker have their sights set on the Titans.
The Suicide Squad Thinks the Titans are Too Powerful
The Titans and the Suicide Squad are vastly different teams, representing entirely different worldviews. The Titans are the clean and colorful heroes–they grew up in the public eye and have all developed into great heroes in their own rights. They represent the very best of what Earth’s superhero community has to offer. The bonds between the various members of the Titans run deep, creating a sense of community and trust. The Suicide Squad is none of these things. A team of villains and other morally ambiguous characters, the Suicide Squad does the dirty work the League and the Titans will not. The Squad works in the shadows, and nearly every member is considered expendable at any time. The two teams have a difference in leadership styles as well: Nightwing’s open and trusting nature conflicts with Waller’s manipulative and heavy-handed machinations.
It is these differences that will ignite the forthcoming battle between the Titans and the Suicide Squad. Peacemaker is correct that the Titans are a very powerful team, but each member possesses the moral compass to use that power wisely. As a member of the Suicide Squad, Peacemaker deals with some of the worst superpowered people, which has severely colored his already skewed perspective of super-heroics. Peacemaker and Waller cannot conceive of heroes who do the right thing because it is the right thing, and thus they want the Titans gone. The Titans represent everything good about the DC Universe, and if they are in the driver's seat, they will take it to new heights, but if the Suicide Squad prevails, Earth’s heroes will fall.
Titans #1 is on sale now from DC Comics!