50 Greatest Super Heroes In Comic Book History

39. Raven

(Write-up by Nick Tylwalk, Bam Smack Pow Editor)

Was I a little surprised that Raven was the Teen Titan to make this list? A little bit, yeah. If anyone was going to make the cut, I figured it would be Cyborg (even though he’s a Justice Leaguer these days), Starfire or Beast Boy.

People do like females with a dark side, though, and it doesn’t get much darker than having a demon dad who wants to conquer Earth and remake it in his image. Some heroes have skeletons in their closets; Raven’s is practically overflowing with bones.

That she’s turned out to be a hero instead of a constant threat to the Earth says a lot about her, as well as her bond with the Titans. The Justice League gave her the Heisman pose when she approached that team for help, forcing her to turn to DC’s teen heroes when she had nowhere else to go. When she’s in her right mind, she certainly has a cool power set, one that sets her apart from almost every other super hero out there.

Those powers are part of her appeal, for sure, as is the goth chick persona fans of animation know from Tara Strong’s portrayal of Raven on Teen Titans Go! I’m still calling her inclusion on this list an upset, but I’ve talked myself into seeing how it could happen. There’s no one else quite like her.

Next: No. 38: Underestimate her at your own risk