Titans news from Toronto Fan Expo

Newsarama has posted a DC Nation panel report from the Toronto Fan Expo, with some news:

Besides some feedback on the new Batman and Robin, it was noted that with some of the changes in store for the Titans, that Dick Grayson might not fit on that team anymore.

In addition “What we’re going to see in 2010 is how the Titans and Justice League books crossover a little more than they have in the past and probably in a way they never have before” explained DiDio.

Speaking of Titans, with James Robinson bringing Donna Troy onto his upcoming Justice League, will she be getting a codename?

“She’s one of those people a nickname doesn’t stick to, like Jean Grey,” reasoned DiDio. “Troia was tough. She’s not going to be Wonder Girl anymore. Do you want to call her Darkstar? Not really. For us, Donna Troy stands for something, means something, and the name is recognizable so we’re just leaving it as is.”

The discussion then turned to Donna’s ever revolving costume.

“You’ve seen she’s gone through several costume incarnations and we’re trying to find one that sticks out a little bit more,” says DiDio. “There was talk about moving her back to the red costume for a little while, but that was too far back. We want to look at a way to present her in a way that feels contemporary and new for now, but still harkens back to the old costumes.”

I always find it amusing how much Donna and Jean have in common. Both are fan-favorite female characters. Both are lone female founders of teen legacy teams. Both have accumulated convoluted back stories. Both have stories created specifically ABOUT their continuity. Both have died and returned. Both had periods where creators seem to have no idea what to do with them. And both seem to lack code names.

As far as Donna's name, I dont like calling her "Donna Troy" as a super-hero name, just as I find "Jean Grey" lame. It's funny, Jean has had that problem only since she returned from death in 1986. Initially in X-Factor, she was still Marvel Girl. But that's a silly name. In the 90s, they tried calling her Phoenix again, but it doesnt really apply unless she's a fiery bird. What sealed her fate was the FOX toon and the first X-MEN movie, both of which insisted on STILL labelling her "Jean Grey."

It's kinda lame to say "people just know her as Jean Grey." Because you could say the same about Kitty Pryde. EVERYONE (fan and pros) call her "Kitty Pryde"... yet her codename is Shadowcat. She has a codename, so why cant Jean (and Donna?)

To me, calling her "Donna Troy" further cements her as this directionless character, who creators cant figure out. They cant even decide a name for her. "Troia" was fine, if you're lacking a name. It's another way of saying "Troy"... and I dont care what it means in Italian. "Nova" means "no go" in another language, and Rich Rider isn't changing his name.

As far as Didio's comment, “You’ve seen she’s gone through several costume incarnations and we’re trying to find one that sticks out a little bit more,” ...

I'd argue the starfield costume DOES make her stick out. It's a tribute to her WG days by design, but the starfield uniquely speaks to her Titans of Myth heritage. I always feel Didio misses the point of the fab five's "graduation" personas.... the point isnt to keep them as sidekicks or in the shadow of their mentors... it's to give them their OWN unique personas that were influenced by their mentors, but is somehow uniquely theirs. So changing Arsenal to Red Arrow and putting back Donna in a red/yellow costume and demoting Wally..... it sorta invalidates all their "coming of age arcs."

UPDATE: More info:

Turning over to their team books, DiDio revealed Titans would have the most dramatic changes and while the books would be more aligned with Justice League, the two groups would probably be more at odds. As for Teen Titans, issue #75 will begin see the formulation of the key team.