Summary
WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Titans #12!For several issues in Tom Taylor’sTitansrun,Nightwingand the Dark Winged Queen– who has been successfully impersonating the trueRaven–have been engaged in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Now, their game seems poised to escalate into an all-out battle of minds, finally determining the stronger Titan.
It’s incredible how well DC has developed Nightwing, giving him a credible and, more importantly, believable chance of prevailing in a mental showdown against a character often seen as possessing god-like powers.
Titans#12 by Tom Taylor and Lucas Meyer delivered one of the most action-packed issues in the series, featuring a showdown against a new villain and a significant confrontation between Nightwing and Raven where Dick confronts the empath about her excessive force against Vanadia,the AMAZO-like villain who was possibly sentient.
Raven, however, becomes defensive and questions why she couldn’t connect with Dick telepathically when the battle initially began. This escalates to the point whereshe pins him against the wall by his throat.It’s here the issue concludes, hinting at a potential Raven vs. Nightwing battle in the next installment.
Nightwing and Raven’s Battle of the Minds Will Officially Determine Who the Stronger Titan Is
Panel Comes From Titans #11 By Tom Taylor and Lucas Meyer
Unbeknownst to Raven but revealed to readers inTitans#11, the reason she couldn’t initially connect to Dick’s mind was because he had intentionally partitioned his thoughts as a precaution.Nightwing’s increasing suspicion of Raven’s recent actionsprompted this defensive measure. With Raven’s alter ego manipulating his mind to erase doubts about her true intentions, Dick’s decision to partition his thoughts proved to be a wise move. In this guarded mental state,Nightwing began to entertain the unsettling possibility that the real Rachel Roth might not be inhabiting Raven’s body.
It’s important to clarify that Dick can only access these thoughts when he enters this unique state of mind; otherwise, he risks Raven mind-wiping him. Despite not having continuous access to these thoughts of suspicion,he has still found a way to overcome Raven’s mind-reading and control abilities, a significant accomplishment in itself. However, Dick’s will and mental fortitude are about to face their ultimate test, as Raven now harbors suspicions and appears poised to mentally probe Nightwing’s mind to uncover what he is hiding from her.
The Titans' Dark Destiny Confirms Raven Rivals Darkseid as a Major Villain
There are tons of evil and twisted forces in the DC Universe, and while Raven is usually a hero, she can also rival Darkseid as a major villain.
Dick Grayson Taking on the God-Like Raven and Having a Chance at Winning Solidifies His Status as an A-List Hero
The fact that Dick possesses any form of mental defense against Raven, despite being fully human, underscores why he is regarded as an A-list hero. It’s incredible how well DC has developed this non-meta hero, giving him a credible and, more importantly, believable chance of prevailing in a mental showdown against a character often seen as possessing god-like powers. Therefore, now is the ideal moment for fans to bet on who will emerge victorious if these two Titans engage in a battle of the minds. So, who gets your vote:NightwingorRaven?
TITANS #12 (2024)
Raven
Nightwing
Nightwing is the superhero moniker taken up by Dick Grayson, upon his aging out of the Robin role and becoming a superhero of his own. Inspired by the original Kryptonian hero of the same name, Grayson has risen to comic book immortality with the identity, earning respect as one of the greatest leaders in the DC Universe.
