Following the events of DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, the Justice League have disbanded. Having proven themselves as capable and worthy replacements, the Titans are now the world’s premiere super-team. But the team are already questioning their suitability to step up to this new level (following THE LEAP). And they’re not the only ones. The US Government see a former teen team – one trained by Batman, another the daughter of the demon Triton and a Tamaranean alien, among others – as potential threats to national security. If they can’t get them on-side, should the Titans be allowed to continue? Amanda Waller thinks otherwise…
On a positive note, at least their old foe Brother Blood seems to have reformed. But really, haven’t we heard about super-villains reforming before? Does it ever end well?
Related events: The Titans’ new direction is the primary focus of their own team title, but some of the group’s individual issues are explored in spin-off series ‘Tales of the Titans’, though it’s not essential. The story running through Nightwing’s title plays a much larger role, later on, hence its inclusion.
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS – The Titans step up their game
- THE LEAP – The Titans become the foremost team of heroes
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- ✔ Nightwing #101 [1/2]
- ✔ Nightwing #102 [1/2]
- ✔ Nightwing #103 [1/2]
- ✔ Nightwing #104 [1/2]
- Tales of the Titans #2 (tie-in)
- ✔ Dawn of DC Primer: Free Special Edition #1
- Tales of the Titans #4 (tie-in)
- ✔ Titans #1
- ✔ Titans #2
- ✔ Titans #3
- ✔ Titans #4
- ✔ Titans #5
- Tales of the Titans #1 (tie-in)
- Tales of the Titans #3 (tie-in)
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Nightwing #101 [1/2] Blockbuster bartered his daughter’s soul for power (revealed during THE LEAP). Now he’s dead, Neron’s come to collect. But Nightwing has already deflected Neron’s demons once. The Lord of Hell heads to Vlatava where the Grinning Man has taken on the appearance of the nation’s King. Another body is discovered in the rubble under Titans Academy (destroyed during DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS). They find the body of the King of Vlatava, prompting Amanda Waller to attend the scene. Nightwing assists the Vlatvan coroner until he knocks him out and takes his form, grinning the whole way through… Also see DAWN OF DC 1st appearance: The Grinning Man |
| ✔ | Nightwing #102 [1/2] Nightwing escapes the morgue fridge and rushes to Beast Boy’s home, confronting ‘Nightwing’ as he tries to abscond with Olivia Desmond. Olivia punches ‘Nightwing’ across the lawn, using her super-strength. ‘Nightwing’ tries to fly away with Olivia, but is laid low by the Titans, revealing the true form of the Grinning Man. He reveals he’s working for Neron, thanks to Donna Troy’s Lasso of Persuasion. Nightwing decides to lead the Titans into Hell to retrieve Blockbuster’s contract… Also see DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Nightwing #103 [1/2] His inability to claim Olivia’s soul has made Neron look weak to the other Hell Lords, including Blaze who challenges him. Raven takes Nightwing, Beast Boy and Cyborg into Hell. The defeated Blaze takes the Titans to Neron’s computers and find the identity of Olivia’s mother, Jezebel Jet, as well as the contract. On Themyscira, Starfire, Donna Troy, Batgirl and Wonder Woman teach Olivia how to defend herself. But ‘Wonder Woman’ is really the Grinning Man, freed by Neron, and he’s brought Doctor Polaris and Gorilla Grodd with him. Returned to Earth, Nightwing counters Neron’s contract by fostering Olivia, so it lacks a second parental signature. So Neron grants Nightwing superpowers to try and win him over… Also see DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Nightwing #104 [1/2] Nightwing’s powers will only last two hours, so he uses them to fly to Themyscira. The Titans already have the situation in hand, so he uses them to solve other problems around the world. Superman takes Nightwing into space to show him the Earth and help his perspective. In Hell, Trigon demands Neron deal with Olivia, so he orders her death. Nightwing uses the last of his power to fight Neron’s demon horde in Themyscira and save Olivia. Neron takes the powers back, offering to return them if he hands over Olivia. Instead, he charges his Escrima Sticks (with the power Nite-Mite charged them, with during THE LEAP) and transforms Neron into his true form, then sends him back to Hell. The Themyscirans give Olivia a costume and take her in. She’s made an honorary Titan and chooses the name Nightbuster. Raven visits Neron in Hell and dethrones him, giving the place on his throne to Blaze. But Blaze warns Raven a part of her is missing… Also see DAWN OF DC New identity: Nightwing/Dick Grayson as Superwing [editorial name], Olivia Desmond as Nightbuster |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Tales of the Titans #2 (tie-in) After the events of LAZARUS PLANET, Raven and Starfire attend Pantha’s baby shower. Raven questions whether she’s mature enough to fit the Titans’ new role as Earth’s premiere super-team. Looking into her mother’s past, Raven meets Amadeus of the Azarathi (inhabitant of the interdimensional real of Azarath) who locks up her powers so she can save a woman named Eden from her father’s cult. She realises ‘Amadeus’ is really her brother Trilogy (whose powers emerged during LAZARUS PLANET). Raven defeats Trilogy and saves Eden. Now, she’s ready to be a Titan and to give Trilogy a second chance… | |
| ✔ | Dawn of DC Primer – Free Special Edition #1 Amanda Waller’s petition to the Council of Light was a success (during DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS). She sends Peacemaker, Peacewrecker and Gunsmith on a secret mission to Lazarus Island. Gunsmith dies, but Peacemaker retrieves the Helmet of Hate. Next, Waller offers full pardons and clean records to any members of the Secret Society of Super-Villains who successfully kill a superhero… Also see DAWN OF DC 1st appearance: Peacewrecker (full), Helmet of Hate |
| Tales of the Titans #4 (tie-in) Beast Boy is still struggling following his recent ordeal with Deathstroke, including the loss of his eye (during DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS). Raven tells him she knows his eye has grown back thanks to his powers. Beast Boy is kidnapped by werewolf Anthony Lupus who wants to use his DNA to cure his lycanthropy. But the ‘cure’ mutates Lupus further, just as his Werewolf side had planned. He bounds off to kill Raven, but Raven’s love for Beast Boy inspires him to break free and defeat Lupus in his own giant werewolf form. Also see BEAST WORLD 1st appearance: Nicholas Galtry (hallucination) | |
| ✔ | Titans #1 Despite Tempest’s refusal to rejoin, the Titans take their place as the world’s premiere super-team at the opening of the new Titans Tower in Blüdhaven. The team are called to stop Titano from destroying a nuclear power plant. Peacemaker shows up and threatens to kill the gigantic cyborg ape, but the Titans find a less aggressive way to detain Titano. When the Titans turn down the President’s offer to work for the U.S. Government, Peacemaker reports his concerns to Amanda Waller. The team return to Titans Tower to find the Flash (Wally West) dead from a gunshot wound… Also see DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Titans #2 The Flash arrives at Titans Tower and sees his own dead body – or rather that of his future self. The Titans head to Borneo to investigate a massive explosion and find signs evidence that it was of Tamaranean origin, causing concern for Starfire. Brother Blood gives a TV interview, revealing his new name – Brother Eternity – and the name of his new religion, the Church of Eternity. He’s looking to relocate the people of Earth to another planet, and he has the support of Tempest… Also see DAWN OF DC 1st appearance: Brother Eternity New identity: Church of Blood as Church of Eternity |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Titans #3 Following the events of KNIGHT TERRORS, Nightwing and Beast Boy break into the Church of Eternity and prevent a woman from being sacrificed in Trigon’s name. The other Titans arrive and find Brother Eternity tied up, claiming he was about to be sacrificed. Flash steals a strange meteor from the Church. Later, a plant creature leaves Brother Eternity’s mouth and enters Tempest’s… Also see DAWN OF DC 1st appearance: Necrostar spore |
| ✔ | Titans #4 The Flash is ordered to stay behind with his wife while the Titans return to Borneo to help restore the damage to the forests. But they find the mercenary Demolition Team making the situation worse. Tempest enters Titans Tower and spreads the alien plant creature to the visiting Linda West. Nightwing takes Flash and Iris to the Titans’ Trophy Room on Mars to keep Wally safe for the next 24 hours. Concerned about the Titans’ involvement in international matters, Amanda Waller demands to see the ‘Doctor’… Also see DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Titans #5 On Mars, Linda tries to detonate a Qwardian Doomsday Machine to kill the Flash and Nightwing, but it’s inactive. The mind-controlling alien parasite launches from Linda, only to be fried by Nightwing. On Earth, Beast Boy’s squad defeat the Demolition Team. The Titans turn to the new Swamp Thing (Levi Kamei) to help restore Borneo. He agrees to join the Titans. Brother Eternity finds out the Flash is still alive and make preparations for Earth’s new ruler… Also see DAWN OF DC |
| Tales of the Titans #1 (tie-in) While the Titans investigate the disappearance of thousands of bees, Starfire helps two Tamaranean sisters return to their colony on New Palamar. She stays awhile, destroying Gordanian Tentacle Mines threatening the Tamaraneans’ way of life. Now comfortable being called ‘Princess’ again, Starfire returns to Earth and helps the Titans defeat Queen Bee. 1st appearance: New Palamar | |
| Tales of the Titans #3 (tie-in) Donna Troy is wanted by the Amazon Extradition Entity, but that won’t stop her from freeing Markovia from the new Baron Bedlam’s control. She defeats Bedlam and shares her photos as evidence of his inhumane rule. Days later, Donna receives a letter from a man who believes he’s her father… Also see OUTLAW 1st appearance: Baron Bedlam/ Aster DeLamb, Fury/Helena Kosmatos (full) |
See how this story fits into the wider DC Universe with these reading orders:
- PEACEMAKER, 2019-Present – Giving Peace a Bad Name
| Must Reads | Issue & Fallout | Event/ Crossover |
| Shazam! #4-5 (2023-2024) Queen Bee resurfaces in the Rock of Eternity. | DAWN OF DC | |
| ✔ | Beast World #1-3 (2024) Brother Eternity puts his plan into motion to free his god, the Necrostar, forcing the Titans to risk a member of the team in order to defeat it; Amanda Waller and her ally, Doctor Hate, turn a Titan’s sacrifice to her advantage. | BEAST WORLD DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Titans #6-7 (2024) Brother Eternity and Tempest attack Titans Tower; the true identity of ‘Brother Eternity’ is revealed as someone with close connections to Starfire. | BEAST WORLD DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Titans: Beast Word #4-6 (2024) Amanda Waller uses the events of ‘Beast World’ to turn the tide of public opinion against the Titans. | BEAST WORLD DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Titans #8-10 (2024) Tempest officially rejoins the Titans; Amanda Waller continues her campaign against the team; Doctor Hate continues to work against the Titans in secret; Trilogy betrays Raven to their father, Trigon. | DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Superman: House of Brainiac Special #1 (2024) The Council of Light is revealed to be a made up of a number of incarnations of Brainiac from across the multiverse. | DAWN OF DC HOUSE OF BRAINIAC |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Nightwing vol.5: Time of the Titans | Nightwing #101-105 |
| Titans vol.1: Out of the Shadows | Titans #1-5 |
| Tales of the Titans | Tales of the Titans #1-4 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2024
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