As part of their continued YA graphic novel initiative, DC Comics has revealed covers for two new graphic novels starring Constantine and Robin. With the success of its other graphic novels in the Teen Titans series, it’s no wonder that DC would want to continue this line of works. The author of the three other Teen Titans books is penning another, along with a separate title.
DC’s YA line has published numerous graphic novels for young readers. These have included Shadow of the Batgirl, The Oracle Code, Nubia: Real Ones, and You Brought Me the Ocean, amongst many others. One of the most popular series in this initiative has been the Teen Titans line. Those began with Teen Titans: Raven and Teen Titans: Beast Boy. These stories then continued into the recently released Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven. Now, a new installment will continue to add into this world of the Teen Titans and another new graphic novel will bring John Constantine to a YA crowd not long after being worked into a graphic novel for even younger readers (The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher).
The next YA graphic novels from DC will be Teen Titans: Robins by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo and Constantine: Distorted Illusions by Kami Garcia and Isaac Goodhart. Teen Titans: Robins features Damian Wayne, who is included in Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven, and Dick Grayson, the first Robin in the Teen Titans. Constantine: Distorted Illusions will naturally feature the titular antihero though the cover also suggests that his band – Mucous Membrane – will be making a comeback.
These are just the latest in DC’s long line of books that are geared towards younger readers. This publishing focus has brought DC’s classic characters to the next generation of fans. Considering the success of the previous books in the Teen Titans series, it is fantastic to see that even more Titans will get to share their stories in this new take on the team. Robin has been a popular hero since his introduction and Batman is never in short supply of a sidekick to help him. It isn’t overly surprising to see a new Robin focused book on its way. It IS surprising to see not just one, but TWO Constantine novels created for younger readers.
John Constantine is an occult detective with a couple of vices that generally aren’t marketed towards youth. As such, he has largely been among DC’s Vertigo titles, headlining Hellblazer. His stories have predominantly been darker, gothic stories, though he has crossed into DC Comics as part of Justice League Dark and with Swamp Thing or Batman. Recently, DC had published a middle grade novel starring him, titled The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher and now there will be a YA line. Constantine is starting to cross into new territory with these takes which are definitely bound to be something different than fans have seen before. Release dates have not been provided for either title yet, with this announcement being centered solely on title and cover reveals. Fans will have to wait to see when DC’s new graphic novels will hit the market to see Constantine and the Robins in brand new adventures.
