WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for TITANS #16!The currentTitansroster has been rocked by a major shake-up, with a shift in leadership, and two key members stepping away to focus on other responsibilities. But the most impactful change isthe arrival of the team’s newest member: Roy Harper. A hero whose complicated past with the Titans' new leader is already sparking tension and disrupting the team dynamics.
The fan-favoriteTitansrun, now under the fresh direction of John Layman and Pete Woods, begins with issue #16—a game-changing installment that reshapes the team in profound ways. While the Titans remain an independent force,they’ve now officially joined the Justice League, expanding their influence and responsibilities.
Alongside this new dual membership, the team bids farewell to Wally West, who shifts his focus to his duties within the League, and Tempest, who steps away to aid in the reconstruction of Atlantis. They also welcome Roy"Arsenal"Harper as their newest member. But the most significant shake-up is the leadership change: Nightwing steps back, passing the mantle to Donna Troy.With Donna at the helm, Arsenal’s return to the team only complicates the already shifting dynamics even further.
“Roy? You’re a Titan Again?”: Arsenal Officially Rejoins the Titans
Roy Harper Confronts Donna Troy About Their Complicated Past
Fans who have been following theTitansrun throughout Tom Taylor’s tenure will remember thatArsenal was initially invited to rejoin the team but turned it down due to his commitments with the Arrow-Family.However, with those responsibilities now behind him andtheAbsolute Powercrisis resolved, Roy is clearly ready to reunite with the Titans. This becomes apparent when Nightwing, at the newly established Watchtower, suggests heading back to Titans Tower, prompting Roy’s enthusiastic response:“Sounds good to me!“The team is momentarily taken aback, as Roy isn’t officially part of the group.
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Donna, still having yet taken over as leader, expresses her surprise, asking,“Roy? You’re a Titan again?”Roy, a bit sheepish, confirms and asks if the open invitation he had received earlier still stands. Nightwing quickly reassures him, making Arsenal’s return official. While Roy is thrilled to be back,he later pulls Donna aside to ask if she’s truly okay with his rejoining the Titans.Donna reassures him that it is and that their previous romantic entanglements are something of the past. Yet, despite her words, the lingering complexity of their relationship is impossible to ignore.
Roy & Donna’s Past is Already Complicating Team Dynamics
Comic Panel FromThe Titans#9 (1999-) by Devin Grayson
Roy and Donna share a long, complicated history. From the early days of the Teen Titans, Roy’s Speedy was often seen flirting with Donna’s Wonder Girl.As they grew and took on their adult hero identities—Arsenal and Troia—their relationship became more seriousand physical. This was especially prominent in Devin Grayson’s 1999Titansseries, where both characters were recovering from major life-changing events.Roy had a child with the supervillain Cheshire, while Donna lost both her ex-husband and son in an accident. During these vulnerable times, they entered a relationship, further complicating their complex dynamic.
Although Roy and Donna both acknowledge that their on-again, off-again romance is a thing of the past, its lingering effects will undoubtedly impact their future interactions—especially with Donna now leading the Titans. In fact, it already has.When the team votes Donna in as their new leader, Roy hesitates to give his approval, immediately creating tension within the team. Cyborg angrily confronts Roy, defending Donna and pointing out how new Roy is to the team, stressing that he has no grasp of what they’ve been through together recently. Hence, Victor makes it clear that he believes Roy is out of line for withholding his support.
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Arsenal Doesn’t Approve of Donna Troy Leading the Titans
The Clock King Is Turning Back the Clock on Roy’s Memories
Shortly after Roy’s refusal to give Donna his approval as the new leader of the Titans, it is revealed that the villain Clock King has been tampering with his memories, turning back the clock in his mind. While this interference likely played a role in Roy’s hesitation to accept Donna as his new leader, the question remains: how much of his reluctance was due to Clock King’s manipulation, and how much was genuinely Roy’s own hesitation? It will be particularly interesting to see howArsenalreacts toDonna Troyleading theTitansonce he is no longer under Clock King’s influence.
