WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Justice League #56 by Joshua Williamson, Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, and Romulo Fajardo, Jr., on sale now.

While on a mission to both rescue the Legion of Doom and deal a major blow to the forces of Perpetua, Lex Luthor has found himself allied with the new Justice League in Dark Nights: Death Metal. This new team of Leaguers includes the likes of Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, Detective Chimp, as well the former Teen Titans: Nightwing, Starfire, and Cyborg. With this team gathered to help him, you'd think Luthor would be grateful for them. However, in typical Luthor fashion, Lex takes issue with the "caliber" of the help that he is receiving.

While regrouping in the middle of the action, Dick, Kory, and Victor are all having a heart-to-heart about moving forward together. But, in spite of this, Lex responds with a glib dismissal. Specifically, he says "I thought I was working with the Justice League. If I had known it was the Teen Titans I would have come alone."

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Despite his attitude, however, Lex's dismissal of these young heroes and their more emotionally nuanced approach to working together isn't entirely fair.

The Justice League has historically been looked at as the premier superhero team of the DC Universe, and deservedly so. However, that doesn't mean other teams like the Titas haven't also operated independently, out from under the League's shadow.

The first incarnation of the Titans came together as the Teen Titans in 1964's The Brave and the Bold #54 by Bob Haney, Bruno Premiani, and Sheldon Moldoff. The original roster was comprised of characters who were at the time, the sidekicks of the main Justice Leaguers: Robin (Dick Grayson), Wonder Girl (Donna Troy), Kid Flash (Wally West), Aqualad (Garth), and Speedy (Roy Harper). However, the team would eventually welcome new members like Beast Boy, Mal Duncan, Bumblebee, etc. One expansion of the roster, though, would prove to be particularly important.

This, of course, was the debut of the New Teen Titans team in The New Teen Titans #1 by Marv Wolfman, George Pérez, and Romeo Tanghal. This is the most famous Titans team and the one that saw the franchise reach its height of popularity. It brought on several new members in Starfire, Cyborg, and Raven, who actually brought the team together to defeat her father Trigon. However, it's worth noting that Raven actually first went to the Justice League for help, but that they turned her away because they didn't trust her. This led the League to cast aspersions on the Titans team. But, regardless of this, the New Teen Titans overcame this doubt and would go on to grow and learn how to be heroes together.

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The Titans, in their time together, truly came into their own. Cyborg, who had started out embittered at being a "freak" and resentful of his father, would eventually come to accept his role as a hero and forgive his dad. Starfire, who had escaped from slavery, would discover her own independence and power as a part of the Titans. Even those who had had adult mentors before joining the team would find newfound independence as Titans. Dick Grayson, for example, transitioned from Robin to Nightwing while he was the leader of the team. All through this, the Titans became more than just a team, but also a family.

The Titans have proven themselves as heroes time and again, and Lex isn't being entirely fair by dismissing them and their status as experienced heroes. And that is not in spite of them being Titans, but is in fact, because they are Titans. The fact that Dick, Kory, and Victor were Teen Titans didn't make the threats they faced any less real. The team fought not only reality-conquering demons like Trigon but also charismatic cult leaders like Brother Blood and world-class mercenaries like Deathstroke, a man who has bested Batman and taken out an entire squadron of Leaguers. On some occasions, the Titans not only opposed the League but came into direct confrontation with them.

The Titans are not pushovers. Lex, therefore, might be wise to reconsider his stance on what it means to be a Titan.

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