Pro tip; if you're hanging out in the DC Universe and you meet the Titans, you should never ask Rachel Roth: "Why so serious?" Since day one, she's fought against her inner darkness and demons both figuratively and literally. Sounds pretty rough, right? Add in her relationship with her father - the demonic overlord Trigon - and it ought to be clear why Raven's always brooding.
Perhaps the sole consolation out of all of this are the powers her heritage grants her. However, these abilities are very unconventional, puzzling millions of fans in regards to how they work. We'll do our best to shed some light on Raven's dark set of powers and abilities.
10 Does Raven Have Any Combat Powers?
Yes, but she admittedly doesn't have very many. If the Titans were a Dungeons and Dragons party, Rachel would fall into the category of a supporting character. Most of her abilities help bolster her teammates or disorient their enemies. Raven is also great at controlling large crowds of people by manipulating their emotions.
When push comes to shove, however, Rachel can tap into arcane forces to defend herself. Specifically, Rachel's abilities to manipulate darkness and magic are her two primary forms of self-defense. Via astral projection, Raven can also interact with matter and energy to create a slew of devastating effects.
9 Can She Still 'Eat' Peoples' Emotions?
Absolutely, based on what we've seen so far! Granted, it's not to the same extent as she could in the Post-Crisis days; after all, Rebirth Raven isn't as experienced as her prior self. However, she's still able to manipulate and nullify the emotions of others.
For those who don't know, Rachel had a penchant for tranquilizing people during times of crisis. If a bomb needed to be disarmed and somebody was freaking out, Raven would float over and 'eat' their fear. She'd rarely have to do this to any of her teammates, who are all battle-hardened heroes, but she could feed off of their other emotions like their sadness or joy.
8 Does Raven Possess A Demon Form?
Not in the same way that she did in the 2003 animated series. In Glen Murakami's show, Raven would sort of 'Hulk out' and become more demonic the angrier she got. Fans of the series might be able to recall that time she jacked up Dr. Light after briefly losing control of her emotions.
In the comics, Raven still struggles to maintain control but she doesn't gain an extra pair of demon eyes every time she's in a foul mood. The only times that Raven assumes a demonic form are instances when Trigon directly tries to manipulate her. Otherwise, she looks a normal - albeit extremely pale - goth girl.
7 Is Raven's Mind Its Own Dimension?
In the world of the DC Universe, everyone's mind is a unique dimension. At least, it is depicted as such anytime a character goes on a journey to the center of their mind. Referencing Murakami's show again (since tons of people first learned about the Teen Titans thanks to it,) Raven's mind isn't populated with creepy-cute birds that quote Edgar Allen Poe. However, it's still a unique realm with its own rules.
It's worth noting that Rachel's mind isn't inhabited by emoticlones either. Murakami and his team again created this concept specifically for the show. As far as the comics are concerned, only Rachel herself has explored her mind.
6 Does Rachel Have A Healing Factor?
Oh yeah, Raven's healing abilities are some of the most potent tools in her arsenal! By absorbing the pain of others, Rachel can heal wounds and mend injuries. This process isn't exactly a pleasant experience - she's not eradicating the pain, just transferring it from one person to another. If Rachel weren't strong, she'd probably lose consciousness from attempting this feat.
Thankfully, Raven's mind is like a fortress. Her mental fortitude is so great that she can enter a trance state - allowing her to repair damage to her body at a superhuman rate. Even characters like Wolverine and Deadpool would probably envy Rave's healing abilities.
5 Rachel Can't Shapeshift, Right?
Well, Rachel Roth can't typically change any part of her physical body on a whim. However, she can manipulate her Soul-Self into any form that she sees fit. In the comics, Raven uses her Soul-Self to perform most of her miraculous feats. It's pretty much the defining aspect of her powers - which makes its absence in the 2003 and 2018 shows even stranger.
Anyhow, Rachel isn't apt to transform parts of her body into tentacles or even assume a more monstrous appearance to scare people - at least not in the comics. But hey, Raven's powers are some of the weirdest in the DCU. Who's to say they won't add traditional shapeshifting to her arsenal in Rebirth?
4 Is Raven One Of The Seven Deadly Sins?
All of Trigon's children embody one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Rachel represents the Original Sin - Pride; her mastery over the arcane and her status as a living Doomsday Device occasionally gets to her head. Evil versions of Raven act callously towards others, treating them like maggots beneath her heels.
During the Sins of the Father storyline, Raven's brothers pay a visit to Earth on Trigon's behalf. The Sons of Sin tempt Rachel into giving into her pride, prompting her to leave the Titans and kickstart a potentially world-ending event! Since Rachel embodies the Original Sin, she holds sway over all of her younger siblings - allowing her to beat them all with the snap of her fingers.
3 How Does Her Magic Compare To Other Heroes?
Normally, Raven's magical prowess pales in comparison to the likes of Zatanna or Doctor Fate. Rachel is a very talented spellcaster, but Zatanna is a Homo Magi, and Doctor Fate is a Lord of Order! Even a hero like John Constantine could match Raven nine times out of ten.
However, Rachel's powers become amplified when she gives into the Dark Side. On several occasions, Raven's nearly ended the world after accepting Trigon's power. In those dire times of crisis, casters like Zatanna and Constantine could do little to intervene on their own. Indeed, Raven's one of those heroes who become insanely overpowered when they go rogue.
2 Does Rachel Need The Book Of Azar in the Comics?
Need it, she doesn't even have it in the comics! The Book of Azar is something created for Glenn Murakami's show. In the Post-Crisis comics, Rachel had a slew of tomes and scrolls at her disposal. However, she didn't specifically have a Book of Azar with similar functions to her animated counterpart.
Teen Titans fans will probably remember that the Book of Azar served the role of a plot device; a few episodes centered around the tome and the consequences of misusing it. So far, the book hasn't appeared in the comics. But who knows, maybe Rebirth Raven will find it and give it a new purpose.
1 What's The Deal With White Raven?
Well, we should start by saying that it's not like going Super Saiyan. White Raven represents a version of Rachel that's completely free from Trigon's influence. The first time we saw White Raven, it was the result of Rachel simply changing her outfit and wearing white clothes.
Fans of Murakami's show probably have the impression that it's a super form of some sort thanks to The End storyline. After all, Raven donned her white costume near the series finale - when she singlehandedly trounced Trigon! But as far as the comics are concerned, White Raven is just a palette swap. At least, that's the case for now.