Teen Titans: Who is Soto?

Many villains in the 2003 Teen Titans series make at least one returning appearance, even if it is only a brief snippet of them having joined an evil army targeting the Titans. However, some adversaries are never seen again after causing the Teen Titans a day of zany, bizarre trouble. Characters like the darkly misguided Fixit and the deceptive Master of Games contribute to the somewhat mind-bending nature of the series. Teen Titans utilizes a range of art styles and the confirmed existence of multiple dimensions to depict an apparently limitless world where nothing is off the table. Fleeting characters and whimsical adventures- and the Titans’ lack of surprise at such events- sends the message that there is little the Titans haven’t seen, and they’re beyond feeling wonder and curiosity at things that are out of pocket to the viewer.

Also contributing to this vast and wacky world is Teen Titans’ treatment of outer space. A good deal is learned about Starfire’s home planet, Tamaran, but the rest of the large intergalactic world is mostly a mystery. Just enough information is given about this universe’s extra terrestrial life to prove that it is rich and expansive. The lack of detail in alien life only adds to the show’s intrigue as it leaves much to the viewers’ imagination. A prime example of Teen Titans at its weirdest comes in the form of Soto, an alien who only appears in one episode.

Who is Soto?

At the start of season two, episode two, “Every Dog Has His Day”, Beast Boy is starved for attention, particularly from girls. When he sees a group of girls fawning over a dog, the light bulb goes off in his head. He transforms into a dog, though he isn’t greeted with the same reaction as the fluffy dog that inspired his change. Then, even more confusing, Beast Boy encounters another green dog identical to him. Soon after, Beast Boy is kidnapped by the large and strong Soto who mistakes Beast Boy for his dog.

Beast Boy is promptly taken to Soto’s spaceship and put into a shock collar that confines him no matter what shape he takes. And he tried several, much to Soto’s delight. Soto quickly realized his mistake, but finds Beast Boy even more entertaining than his old dog. He declares that Beast Boy will be his new pet forever and prepares to take off, despite Beast Boy’s pleas for freedom. Soto is childlike and simple-minded, crudely demanding to be entertained by his pet, with apparently no other motives. He has the energy of a privileged child who rarely hears the word ‘no’, though his actual age is unclear.

The rest of the Titans manage to track down Soto’s old dog who, it turns out, can speak English. He explains that he escaped as he also resented being Soto’s captive, and helps the Titans locate Soto, his ship, and Beast Boy. The team drags Soto’s ship back to the ground just as it was starting to take off, but it is only with the help of the freed Beast Boy that they are able to subdue Soto. The talking dog declares that he will no longer be Soto’s pet, at which point Soto completely loses his aggressive, controlling demeanor. He drops to the ground, pretending to be a dog himself.

The energy shift between Soto and the alien dog is abrupt. The dog suddenly finds Soto amusing, and affectionately declares that they can go home together in this new arrangement. The Teen Titans are, for the first time in this episode, shocked and disturbed. But they also passively allow the pair to leave, no longer seeing a threat in Soto, with Raven simply saying, “better him than me”.

Where is Soto From?

The most detail we get about where Soto is from comes when Beast Boy asks him where his home is: “Soto’s planet. On far side of galaxy”. Beast Boy has no further questions. This is more than enough information for him to know that he doesn’t want to go there. However, it is clear from the Titans confusion when encountering both Soto and the green dog that they are not familiar with this planet. But it is indeed confusion, rather than surprise, as they encounter the unknown. The Teen Titans world is so full that while the Titans have seen plenty, they are by no means under the impression that they’ve seen it all.

Some things can be derived about Soto’s home planet from Soto’s demeanor and resources- but not much. While Soto acts very much like a child, he also independently piloted his own UFO all the way to a brand-new planet on the far side of the galaxy. Either children on his planet are extremely privileged and entitled, to the point of having their own spaceships and the ability to fly them where and whenever they please, or Soto is in fact not a child at all. In which case, the maturity of beings on this planet is called into question. On the flip side, the sophistication of the green dog seems to suggest the latter; intelligence and maturity may not be prominent in the typical species one might expect.