Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans 2003 this is a work of fan fiction please support the official releases.
IMPORTANT: This chapter is not a story but instead an information page on the concept season. It will detail a number of things that I will list on the content page below. This is not required as you are free to move on to the first story of the series.
This is here as a means of answering and filling in any questions people might have without filling every story with long preambles. Here are the contents:
1 – Introduction
2 – Goals for the project
3 – Plans for the season (what to expect and not to expect)
4 – Required reading
5 – Character bios
6 – Story list and schedule
7 – Conclusion
Introduction
Welcome to my outline for my concept for a revival of the Teen Titans using my established continuity I've built up over the last few months.
Regulars know I've been planning this for a while and I've had a few blips but hey we are starting at least. This chapter will lay out as I've said all the information on the season. The first story will begin from chapter two. Ok here we go
Goals for the project.
So originally, I came onto this site and A03 with the intention of exploring the relationship between Raven and Beast Boy... and its problems. Having completed what, I wanted to with my previous stories I decided I wanted to try something bigger. I've enjoyed writing these stories and if it were up to me, I'd do this as a fan webcomic, obviously I don't have time for that. Frankly I'm lucky to have enough time for this which is why I've made the schedule the way it is.
For me I've always wanted to do something in a creative medium but life, my own mental health and just the way society is prevents me from that. Usually, I quit doing things after planning them, common thing I know I'm sure people can relate to it.
Writing these stories has made me feel... good and I want to keep at it for as long as I can before life or otherwise pulls me back to reality. I hope you all enjoy whatever I write on here and I appreciate all the support and regulars on here.
My strength is not as a writer so as I've made clear. This project is about trying to recreate the original show but update it to a more mature direction, yet I still want it to feel like the original show. I hope to write something original one day so hopefully this will be of some entertainment and help me improve my writing skills as I move forward. If I succeed that's great but even if I fail, please let me know after all is said and done. This is still a concept and an experiment but one I hope is enjoyed in some form. I am aware I am not the first to try this.
Plans for the Season.
Since Starfire did not receive her own season, I wanted to give her one mainly to explore the aspects of her culture that didn't get covered in the original show. They explored that so little. Therefore, I've had to invent a lot of things about Tamaran and its culture, unfortunately like I said the original show wasn't perfect.
I will be using the old format. A season of standalone episodes and a group of mainline stories that will cover Starfire's storyline through to the end.
Each story will be roughly 10,000 or more. I've chosen this layout for a few reasons as I know it's not everyone's preference but please understand.
This way each Story can feel like an episode and not overload the Season with chapters. Additionally, it also allows me proper story management since I've recently installed new better writing software.
It's much easier to keep a handle on 13 stories then on 13 stories split into 5 pieces each for example. I hope you all understand.
There are some elements that I need to make clear what will and won't be in the season just so no one is wondering.
What you won't see:
Terra - to me Terra's story is done. They gave her a fresh start in things change and at this stage she would just be a plot device to get Raven jealous. That's been done and I'm not really interested in that this time. I'm not against her coming back down the line but however right now, no.
Slade - Now first things first. Slade is one of the best villains of the 2000s in animation like top 5. That's precisely why I don't want him here this season frankly because I don't feel confident enough to write to him yet. Maybe down the line but yeah... Not right now.
Brotherhood of evil - If you rewatch the original show before this one they will be the last big villain seen and I don't wanna undo all that work. Also, they aren't as compelling or as interesting as Slade, sorry.
Justice league and any other big DC teams - I'm a firm believer that one of the original Titan's biggest problems is that it was about to succumb to what I call, unlimited syndrome. Where a show Introduces too many new characters and loses focus on the characters we grew attached to. There will be precisely one story focusing on a member from another part of the DC universe coming in but it won't be a crossover.
We fell in love with the original five and that's who should remain at the centre.
Big villains like Darkseid or Brainiac - I shouldn't need to explain this one. DC overuses these way too much particularly the latter.
Break ups, sex scenes and pregnancy - Sorry just not interested in writing stories about that. Sometimes being a superhero is a drama in itself. Also, there's plenty of it out there. I don't need to add more. Okay I reserve the right to talk about those things but you wont see long detailed scenes of them.
What you will see
Returning smaller villains - A lot of the Titans recurring foes are fun so you'll see them back and maybe doing a few new things.
Titans East and the establishment of a new Tower - Whilst I'm against how big the cast got in season 5 I do think it would be unwise of me not to try and continue trying to build what was set up. However it won't be all over the season and only when it fits the story.
Original Characters and Villains - I believe we shouldn't be afraid to write original characters, so long as they aren't obvious self inserts. The original show did this and basically reinvented most characters from scratch so yes, this season will have a completely original main villain however the obvious villain who should return will return I promise.
As long as the new characters feel like they could fit in the old show but again you'll have to let me know.
Character Death - I'm not above killing characters though I'm not turning this into game of thrones so don't expect gratuitous amounts.
Plenty of fluff - because I know you all love it.
Required reading.
This season will be built on established continuity and some required reading will be needed for you to understand where each of the stories are before you start here.
Obviously, I try to make each story stand on its own but obviously here I'll have to make an exception. The recommended stories are:
The Raven and Beast Boy arc:
Nobody's Fool
For The Better
Compliments Of The Tower
The most important prior story:
Catch My Drift
These are the only stories that are absolutely necessary, everything else is something that will inform you but isn't needed to understand the elements that will appear in the Season. Obviously rewatching the original show will help too but these four Stories would be worth a revisit if you have the time.
Particularly Catch My Drift as I've stated it's the most important... but I can't tell you why.
Character Bios
So here will do a breakdown of the main five and where they'll be at in this coming season and what to expect. All characters are now 18 so the rating for the season will be M
Starfire - obviously this is Starfire's season as she didn't receive one. There will be explorations of her family and her world in more detail and her relationship with Nightwing. I'll be honest I've been rather nervous about this as whilst I love Starfire as a character, I'm not a fan of how her dialogue is structured. It's annoying to write however I will try my best.
The mainline story will be her focus this season as she will not receive an individual spotlight like the others.
Starfire's story will address decisions made in the old show and explore what it means to make the wrong decision for the right reasons. I would go into more but I don't want to spoil what I have coming up.
Nightwing - What made the original Robin from the 2003 show work was that he was down to earth yet he was still the most impressive member of the Team. However, the original show did... overuse him. I'll also explore the various hypocrisies of the show as well as his relationship with Starfire.
Nightwing will be featured in the crossover story as the character appearing from another part of the DC universe will be from the bat family, though not the one you're thinking of.
Cyborg - Unfortunately Cyborg will be the least featured of the original five as if I do another concept season, he will be the featured Titan as his previous one was such a let-down. He will get one spotlight to himself however I will try and feature him in other stories as much as possible.
Changeling - So Garfield like Raven is one of my favourite characters to write, so naturally he will get more spotlight than Cyborg. This season I'll explore his new relationship with Raven in their first year and his advancing power set.
The original show really didn't appreciate what they had with this character so I hope I can do better.
Raven - So I've left Raven until last as she needs the most explanation. So, in case you haven't figured it out by now, Raven like many of my generation was one of my cartoon crushes. Like the big one, in fact I'm still coming to terms with how much she influenced the kind of partner I look for. (I'm still coming to terms with that)
Anyway it wasn't until my last rewatch that I noticed how... mean she is to Beast Boy. I've always liked there banter yet I noticed that he never bite back and it was just her putting him down all the time. Literally the last shot of the show is her slapping him ( You can defend it as comedy all you want but it's not a good thing to justify a potential ship)
That's what inspired me to write the stories before as I wanted to address the problems that only a few people on here have. I think we gave Raven a pass because she had a tragic backstory and you know is the daughter of pure evil but that shouldn't excuse her from doing the things she did to him. I cast her down a lot in my previous stories but I did it to try and fix what was nearly broken at least for me.
When I wrote these two together it was under the opinion that they would not have made a great pairing in the original. Raven would havd spent too much time molding Beast Boy into her ideal partner. A relationship needs to be built on mutual understanding and also compromise. Which Is why I had to change Raven into someone I could buy being attracted to Garfield. She clearly has a type in the old show and sorry I didn't see any evidence of that. All the famous moments are him just being a good friend. I had to mature them both metaphorically and literally.
Raven will still be her snarky self but shes now becoming more open and more willing to try new things. Like things Garfield likes.
This season will explore her new relationship with Garfield and her own insecurities with understanding being a girlfriend and her own guilt with her treatment of him. She will also get the most spotlights apart from Starfire as there are stories I wanted to explore as soon as possible. Plus I know most of you readers are here for her... don't worry you don't need to fool me.
Story list
So here is the Season layout. I'll put in brief descriptions to give you an idea however any story with a risk of spoilers will be left blank on the description. I'll also include what character will be featured in the story description if it is character focused. Some stories will feature character absences as I don't wish to make stories too crowded when they don't need to be.
1. Evolution
An accident causes Cinderblock to gain intelligence, meanwhile Beast Boy's powers begin changing.
2. Homesick (Mainline Story)
Starfire misses Tamaran and asks the Titans to pay a visit.
3. How Raven Learned to Love Christmas (Flashback Story)
Garfield recalls how he and Cyborg got Raven to love the holidays. (Raven Spotlight)
4. Bat Family Values
An old friend from Nightwing's past comes to Jump City seeking help with catching a notorious criminal from Gotham City. (Nightwing Spotlight)
5. Plan Z from out of Jump City
The Titans visit Steel City to attend the Titans East Halloween party.
6. Darkfire part 1 (Mainline Story)
Starfire's lost brother Darkfire, arrives on Earth. Unfortunately, he also been followed.
7. Darkfire part 2 (Mainline Story)
?
8. Divide and Conquer: ALTERnative (Multiverse Story)
Blackfire quits the Titans, leaving Chimera to question the strength of his team.
9. Cyborg Out West
Cyborg is tasked with setting up Titans West in the hostile desert surrounding Long City. (Cyborg Spotlight)
10. Idiot Box
Control Freak returns with Mad Mod as his new partner in crime. (Raven and Changeling Spotlight)
11. Reunions Part 1 (Mainline Story)
?
12. Reunions Part 2 (Mainline Story)
?
13. Reunions Part 3 (Mainline Story)
?
Schedule
Obviously, anything can happen so this is not set in stone. I hope I finish this all in the time frame I have planned as I've already pre written a lot. However, I make no promises. Life could get in the way or anything of that nature but I will do my best.
Each story will come out no less than a week after the previous to make it feel like how the show would do it
December publishing list
Evolution
Homesick
How Raven Learned to Love Christmas
January (I always take time off in January so stories won't come out until the second half of this month)
Bat Family Values
Plan Z from out of Jump City
February
Darkfire Parts 1 and 2
Divide and Conquer ALTERnative
March To April
Cyborg Out West
Idiot Box
Reunions Part 1, 2 and 3
So, there we go that's the schedule. There is no guarantee that this will stick it is just a rough outline. If you have the time let me know in the review section for this chapter what stories you're looking forward to or in any reviews of the actual stories themselves.
Conclusion
Ok so there we go the big layout is done. Obviously, I may not have explained everything and I reserve the right to update this and the other stories where possible. This is just so I don't have to put loads of rambling preamble before each story.
Hopefully you all enjoy what I do here. I'm not expecting to be perfect there are probably better revivals out there but I hope again someone gets some enjoyment out of this. I know this fandom isn't what it used to be but that's not why I'm doing this.
I'm doing this because I enjoy it and I want to keep the memory of a great if flawed show alive. Fanfiction gets a bad reputation sometimes but a certain someone on here told me we should encourage writers and they are right. So go on if you are inspired start typing! If being creative is what you love don't let anyone stop you.
Also, if I see any reviews on here appreciating this "Chapter" you're just proving your scammers hehehe ... but seriously go away. If you genuinely want to discuss my stories leave a proper review and I will try my best to respond.
I have updated all my stories with new placeholder covers which I may update down the line when I get time. Again, I'm an artist first. Frankly I'm astounded I did all those covers in one night. All the art is by myself.
Okay the next chapter will be the first story. Enjoy and please leave a review to let me know what you think. Here we go...