Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files 2005 # 1

By Koppy McFad
September 30, 2005 - 05:00

This special is more substantial than the usual SECRET FILES books which often contain mostly filler material. This one focuses on the inner conflicts still brewing within the Teen Titans and the Outsiders. The tale is set before the return of Donna Troy and the betrayal of Indigo so the events in the story have a certain irony. There are references to previous betrayals by Terra and Jericho and even the smaller betrayals by Raven, Arsenal and the others and how this has left lasting scars on both groups. This is an interesting change from the days when we kept on hearing how "the Titans are a family," that stay together because they need each other. Sadly, for all the references to the past, there is a marked lack of footnotes, as if the editor just expected the reader to know the history of these characters. There are also amusing back-up stories that recall the previous incarnations of the Titans as well as the YOUNG JUSTICE era. The art is of high-quality all throughout even though the art styles are rather varied. Perhaps the weakest point of this issue are the information pages which give a brief bio-data on key characters. In fact, this has been a weak point in many of the SECRET FILES books. These info pages end up as nothing but glorified pin-ups with only the sketchiest information on their subjects. Properly written, they could serve as reference both to fans and creators, to be compiled on the DC website and in future editions of DC encyclopedias.

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51