*This article contains spoilers for Titans #2 (2023)*
With their team member’s still-warm carcass found in Titans Tower, the team are flabbergasted. Every Titan’s face drips with concern and mourning. Dick Grayson makes a reluctant phone call to the partner of the deceased, but the person who answers is the most shocking of all!
…Because it’s Wally West! Though Wally’s body lay dead on the ground, another Wally comes running into Titans Tower. And he is just as confused. As expected, the testing begins on identifying who the cadaver is, but all tests confirm it is, in fact, Wally West. It could be a different version from a different earth, or a clone, or a shapeshifter, but Dick thinks it’s a version of Wally from the future. He ran back in time to stop his own murder.
Though things get interrupted, as they tend to do, the Titans are called away. Though Wally wants to go with the team to the forest fire, Dick mentions he found ash from burning wood on the cadaver. Believing that is where Wally’s murderer happens, he makes Wally stand down. He knows Wally was shot at close range—that means it was someone Wally trusted, even someone close to him.
At this point, it looks like Dick Grayson might be the killer—especially if he is the only person staying with Wally. He fits the profile: a close friend of Wally West, someone Wally would let his guard down around. No one would suspect it. It would be the perfect time for a murder. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
As the team leaves, Donna takes point. Which is odd, seeing as Kory is usually team leader if Grayson is out of commission. But Donna is a master strategist and comes up with a plan to teleport water over the burning rainforest, using Cyborg and Raven’s abilities. It works well. Gar saves the animals and all is well.
It is only then that Cyborg reveals the energy signature that started the fire appears to be Tamaranean…could it be Blackfire?
In the final moments of the issue, former Brother Blood is seen on television evangelizing his latest scheme. He is sending people into outer space. And it is being crowd funded. And he cannot possibly be up to anything bad because…..wait for it….he has a superhero on his side. A titan, in fact. Tempest.
It is a huge slap in the face to the Titans, unless of course, Tempest is simply scoping out Brother Blood. Trying to do an undercover sting.
Another good Tom Taylor issue! Though not the strongest of his work, it is still a good transition into the next part of this Dawn of DC title. Interesting things are happening and the story arc is moving at a healthy rate. I see this series as still a strong title.
Rating: 3/5 Stars. Issue has a nice progression and is healthy, but still needs a little more flare.
Suggested reading: Nightwing (2016) Get caught up on Nightwing’s story and his relationship with the Titans in this REBIRTH series!
Double-Sized Issue Comic Blog! 
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