Issue 164 - Raven Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get Counseling

We take on the Titanous daughter of Trigon, RAVEN! How good is Anthony's Tara Strong impression? How do you handle an empath? All this and more in our season finale - listen now!
Intro Patrons get an extra episode We’ll also do a watch party of the Ryan Reynolds movie Unwittingly this is season finale January is Lantern month Background (5:09) Raven created by Marv Wolfman & George Perez in DC Comics Presents #26 (October 1980) Raven is the daughter of the demon Trigon and a human woman, Angela Roth - Raven was raised in Azarath to control her emotions by monks so she could control her demonic powers, which include astral projection, teleportation, and emotional manipulation When she learned Trigon was planning to invade Earth, she first approached the Justice League for assistance, but when they refused, she reformed the Titans as the New Teen Titans to battle Trigon, who they imprisoned in an alternate dimension When Trigon inevitably escaped, he corrupted Raven and took her over - the Titans killed her, allowing the souls of Azarath to possess her body and kill Trigon, after which she was resurrected, free of his control Became Dark Raven after she was possessed by her evil conscience, and implanted her good soul in Starfire (although she said she implanted a seed of Trigon) - the evil Raven then attempted to destroy Starfire, but was defeated by the Titans, and her good soul was placed in a new body She later enrolled in a high school under the name Rachel Roth, and dated Beast Boy for a while She broke up with Beast Boy and left the team, although the two were unrelated Discovered three half-brothers, children Trigon had with other mothers, who tried to use her to access their father’s realm - Raven used her powers to make her brothers so greedy they stole Trigon’s power New 52 - her origin is practically similar, but initially she was operating as a double agent for Trigon under his control During a battle with the Crime Syndicate, Raven was sent several thousand years into the past, where she used her powers to teleport herself and the Titans forward to the future, before returning to the present - all the chronal manipulation severed Trigon’s connection to her She and several other heroes were kidnapped by Damian Wayne, who was putting a team together to battle Ra’s al Ghul She and the other Titans create a school to train new students Issues - Her heart is not her own (9:15) Emotional repression Seemingly cannot escape her father’s manipulation & control Empath power leaves her vulnerable to emotions of those around her Break (36:39) Plugs for Scotch N Sports, Popcorn Psychology, and Meredith Finch Treatment (37:50) In-universe -  Out of universe -  Skit (47:44) Hello Raven, I’m Dr. Issues. -Hello. *longest pause that almost makes listener think there’s something wrong with the episode* Umm, what can I do for you? -Well, we can talk about…stuff. I guess. Ooooooookay, such as… -I don’t know. *another awkward pause, but not as long as the first* Feel free to talk about whatever you want. I’m not used to digging this hard to start a conversation when the person booked the first session themselves. -I got a recommendation. I’m flattered *pause* Is there something holding you back? -*sigh* I was trying to avoid using this *Azarath Metrion Zinthos* Aaaah, that’s better. You should be easier to talk to now.  What did you do? -I had to find a way to let a part of myself out. But I needed a willing vessel. You work just fine. I’m a good listener, not an empty vessel. -I didn’t say “empty,” just willing. You’re an empath. I can tell. Then what is it that I’m supposed to carry? -Oh I don’t know…the weight of soul crushing guilt that you can never do anything to make your problems go away, or stop those that created you from ruining your life, or trying to find someone that takes you seriously for more than a fling, or…grrr…even when I throw it awa