Whether they're called the Teen Titans or simply the Titans, this iconic team of DC's younger heroes are staples of the DC Universe. Much as the Justice Society of America represents DC's legacy from a bygone era, the Titans showcase the beginning of the next generation of superheroes. Smallville may have acted as an extensive origin story for Superman, but its world also eventually showcased both of these legacy-based concepts.
Much like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern, the comic book continuation of Smallville finally ran headfirst into a team once derided as "Justice Little League." Though the heroes were mostly established beforehand, the comics-exclusive eleventh season of the CW's long-running series finally gave fans a look who the citizens of Smallville's earth would call when there's trouble.
The team makes their debut in the Bryan Q. Miller and Cat Staggs' Smallville Special: Titans, which coincided with the rest of Season Eleven's events. After metahuman criminal Doctor Phosphorus escapes his containment prison, the Titans, who are sent out by Jay Garrick, attempt to stop the villain before he causes too much destruction. Unfortunately, he succeeds at setting an amusement park ablaze, as well as causing tons of other property damage. The team -- made up of Superboy, Miss Martian, Speedy, Blue Beetle and the Wonder Twins -- is able to eventually subdue Phosphorus, but Jay Garrick is unimpressed. He chides the team for being unable to stop the destruction and feels that they will never be ready to operate publicly.
The team attempt to recoup after their verbal lashing from Garrick, who eventually consoles the wayward Zayna and Speedy. Guilty over allowing Bart Allen to sacrifice himself the way that he should have done himself, Garrick promises to not give up on the teens. Unfortunately, the team is suddenly wrecked by the arrival of Rose Wilson, the daughter of anti-vigilante activist Slade Wilson. Blaming them for her father's comatose condition and wishing to continue his vendetta against metahumans, Rose attacks each of the Titans, having already learned their weakness.
Rose disables most of the team, using a gravity device to immobilize Jay Garrick. After pulling out a kryptonite sword, she battles and gravely wounds Superboy. Pleading with her to not be like her father, Superboy is able to eventually strike her. By telepathically communicating with the rest of the team, he instructs them to help Jay Garrick, have Zan turn into ice to keep from bleeding out from his wound, and he telekinetically uses Mia's arrows to take Rose down. Refusing to kill her off, he and the team hand her over to the D.E.O., with Conner vowing to keep her from going down the same path as Slade. Superman congratulated the team, while also letting Conner know that his public revelation of his alien origins would have drastic effects on both of them.
The team would appear briefly throughout the rest of the series, such as when the Yellow Lantern rings began searching for hosts on Earth. They would return full force alongside the League during the series finale, participating in the Smallville equivalent of Crisis on Infinite Earths. They would also be joined by a newer member, Rachel Roth, a.k.a. Raven.
Though many of the classic members weren't present in this incarnation of the team, many others were. Blue Beetle, Superboy, Miss Martian, and the male version of Speedy all had a history with the Teen Titans in the mainstream continuity, as well as on the related team Young Justice. Likewise, Superboy and Miss Martian's relationship was a reference to the Young Justice cartoon, with Speedy being disabled by the drug Vertigo a reference to the just-airing Arrow. The shape-shifting Zan also effectively stood in for the stalwart Titan Beast Boy. After starting life as an idea from Justice Society member Carter Hall, the Titans went on to showcase that heroism in the Smallville universe had no age requirement.
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