Welcome to Ink Spots, a quirky little corner of DC.com devoted entirely to all of our favorite Young Adult comics and fiction. In this new Book Breakdown, Kelly Knox falls for the found family the Teen Titans are becoming in their latest graphic novel.
 

Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo are back with the next installment of their incredible Teen Titans story! Garfield Logan, Rachel Roth, Max Navarro and Damian Wayne welcome the help of Dick Grayson in Teen Titans: Robin. Well, maybe not so much Damian. He can’t help but feel jealous of the teenager his estranged father Bruce chose to bring into his life. However, Dick wants nothing more than to help his adoptive brother and his friends. Is there room for two Robins on this Titans team?

We’ve got that answer and more in this Bat-tastic breakdown!
 

Cover Crackdown:

Gabriel Picolo once again delivers a stunning cover for this latest Teen Titans adventure. Cover boys Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne might be adoptive brothers, but they’re trying to go in opposite directions in this striking but tense illustration. They’re obviously at odds and this cover sets the tone for their inevitable clash. And those bright splashes of red aren’t just eye-catching. The pops of color remind us that these two sons of Bruce Wayne are both the red-clad Robin.
 

Tell Me a Story:

The new Young Adult graphic novel follows the action of Garcia and Picolo’s prior installment, Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven, as Raven Roth and Garfield Logan finally catch their breath after slipping from H.I.V.E.’s clutches. (Haven’t read that graphic novel yet or it’s been a while? Don’t worry. Robin catches you up on the story quickly.) They escaped with the help of their friends Max Navarro and Damian Wayne, and now they all need some time to lie low.

Max’s mom—soon to be Raven’s adoptive mom as well—helps the exhausted teens find a place to hide away with her for a while. But mercenary-for-hire Slade Wilson is hot on their trail, and so is one Dick Grayson…

Let’s Talk Art:

Gabriel Picolo is back on art with Rob Haynes for this part of the Titans origin story. If you’ve followed Raven, Gar and the gang this far, you probably know what to expect: a glorious number of fine details in every panel, from easy-to-read facial expressions to the multiverse’s best T-shirt slogans. The color palette is dominated by pale purples, grays and blues, with the exception of the vibrant red that accompanies Dick Grayson. As with the cover, red highlights Dick’s nature as both an outsider and the Boy Wonder.

Dialog Discussion:

Each scene that Damian and Dick share is a highlight of the book. Damian is hotheaded and combative, but Dick never takes the bait. When he says he’s only there to help, Dick’s sincerity is obvious.

The pair met at Wayne Manor just six weeks before the story begins, so this isn’t the Bat-Family we know and love quite yet. Damian and Dick are still learning about each other and that’s going to take some time. Their first steps toward cooperation almost feel like a bigger win than overcoming any obstacle H.I.V.E. could throw at them.

By the Numbers:

Teen Titans: Robin gives us five Titans and one supervillain-slash-mercenary on their tail. Wondering what else you’ll find inside this lively graphic novel?

Total number of pages: 208
Smooches: 4
Neighbors who seriously need to stop gossiping with total strangers: 2
Training montages: No such thing as too many
Times Dick Grayson does a flip: 2
Times my heart does a flip: 2

Which leads us to…

Most Crushworthy Character:

Even Damian Wayne would grudgingly admit he knows who the only choice for this is: golden boy Dick Grayson. Levelheaded, courageous and just plain cool, Dick seems like someone who has everything under control. And best of all, there’s no super ego at play when it comes to this superhero. I mean, he’s an adopted son of a billionaire and he insists on doing his own laundry. Oh, my.

One Perfect Page:

Slade Wilson caught stuffing his face with a BBQ sandwich?! What more do I need to say?

Okay, page 175 of Teen Titans: Robin also has the Titan teamwork we all know and love as our heroes pull together to work together. There’s also a little bro moment between Damian Wayne and Dick Grayson that absolutely made me smile. This page might not have flashy superpowers or daring heroics, but it’s the perfect culmination of everything that has brought our Titans to this point in time.

Also, be sure to keep an eye out for a sneak peek at who our plucky Teen Titans might be meeting next. 2024 can’t get here fast enough!
 

Teen Titans: Robin by Kami Garcia, Gabriel Picolo and Rob Haynes is now available in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and as a digital graphic novel.

Kelly Knox swoons over Superman and adores every story told about the first meeting of the World’s Finest. When she’s not reading comics, she’s waiting impatiently for the next book by Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton. Find her on Twitter at @kelly_knox.

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NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Kelly Knox and do not necessarily reflect those of DC Entertainment or Warner Bros., nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.