Whereas the Teen Titans have all the time been a reasonably in style DC Comics property, many individuals did not get into the sequence till the early 2000s when the animated sequence started to air on Cartoon Community. Since then, quite a few variations of the group have been put to display screen, with the grim Titans most notably getting into its fourth season.
With the discharge of recent Teen Titans materials on the small display screen comes a want to revisit the comics. For a lot of, they’re conscious of the shortcomings which have plagued the Teen Titans title given its intensive historical past, however others won’t be as well-prepared for the cruel realities that include rereading outdated Teen Titans comics.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
The Authentic Sequence Did not Deal with The Crew With Respect
The Teen Titans debuted within the pages of The Courageous and the Daring again in 1964 and made sporadic appearances on the title earlier than being given their very own sequence in 1966. Whereas this seemingly urged that DC’s most well-known sidekicks have been getting the popularity they deserved, this was removed from the case.
Whereas it is sensible that the Titans would not be combating the identical sort of villains the Justice League encountered, it is relatively patronizing to learn the group’s earliest points. DC’s editorial group set it up in order that the group would solely assist out fellow youngsters, and as such, the kinds of villains they confronted have been not often severe, nor threatening (Captain Rumble being probably the most notorious instance).
The New ’52 Sequence
Retcons have not often been in style in comics, and the New ’52 has garnered a repute as being one of many worst relaunches in DC Comics. Each sequence was rebooted following the occasions of Flashpoint, and it left many followers irate that 40+ years of Titans historical past had been erased.
Whereas time has been sort to among the relaunched titles that got here out of the New ’52, Scott Lobdell’s run on Teen Titans has sadly remained controversial. The sequence important arc, “Harvest/N.O.W.H.E.R.E” was a meandering mess, the sequence turned Child Flash right into a villain for no cause, and the modifications to the group’s lore largely appeared to return from a spot of spite.
Donna Troy’s Consistently Altering Backstory
Donna Troy joined the Teen Titans of their second look, and would not get an origin story till the comedian’s twenty second difficulty. Then, within the Nineteen Eighties, her story was barely reworked by Marv Wolfman as a result of individuals did not like that she was Wonder Woman’s youthful sister.
Ever since Wolfman altered Donna Troy’s origin, the character has had an entire barage of retcons reworked into the Titans comics. Past distracting from urgent story arcs, these retcons are irritating as a result of they do not permit Donna Troy to develop as a personality.
The Dialogue
Older comics have a repute of being unreadable as a result of corny dialogue the writers put into the mouths of characters, and Teen Titans is not any exception. The e-book was focused at youthful readers through the Nineteen Sixties, and as such the 40-year-old Bob Haney tried to applicable (then) trendy slang to cringe inducing outcomes.
Whereas the ’60s comedian has garnered a repute for its compelled dialogue, the best way the Titans communicate hasn’t aged properly underneath the pen of later writers. Marv Wolfman won’t have compelled youthful vernacular into the pages of the New Teen Titans through the Nineteen Eighties, however his comics nonetheless noticed the characters spit out awkward technobabble.
The Comedian Was Used As Half Of The Warfare On Medication
The Teen Titans was removed from the primary comedian e-book to deal with the problem of drug abuse in its pages, however in contrast to earlier tales equivalent to “Snowbirds Do not Fly” in Inexperienced Lantern/Inexperienced Arrow and “Inexperienced Goblin Reborn!” in The Superb Spider-Man, the anti-drug points in The New Teen Titans have been basically authorities propaganda.
Whereas it is commendable that Marv Wolfman would work with the federal government to assist guarantee children keep off medication, the New Teen Titans drug points are usually not tales a lot as they’re PSA’s. The matter of drug use is heavy-handed, and it did not assist that the comics changed fan-favorite Robin with an unique character named The Protector.
The Authentic Comedian Got here To An Abrupt Finish
Contemplating the stand-alone nature of the tales within the Teen Titans comedian from the Nineteen Sixties, most would not care that the sequence went out on a whimper with #43. What may be irritating for contemporary readers, nevertheless, is the truth that the comedian was introduced again for 9 points underneath the pen of Bob Rozakis, just for it to be canceled for good.
What makes Rozakis’ transient run so disappointing is that the author tried to inform extra severe tales in Teen Titans. It appeared just like the group was starting to go someplace as a result of arcs Rozakis’ started to stitch throughout his tenure, but the ultimate difficulty (#51) appears to undo the event the characters went by and see them name it quits as a result of they’ve outgrown the group.
The ’60s Comedian Tried To Sort out Complicated Social Points
From Superman taking over corrupt mining executives to Captain America punching Nazis, comics have all the time had political undertones. The ’60s specifically noticed the medium used as a platform for social change, most notably with the introduction of Black superheroes equivalent to Falcon and John Stewart.
Whereas it is noble that the Teen Titans e-book tried to deal with political points within the late ’60s, the title was relatively ill-equipped to handle issues such because the Vietnam Warfare. Author Bob Haney merely wasn’t adept to deal with severe points contemplating his comedic tone.
Donna Troy’s Therapy By The Titans In The ’60s
Due to the prevailing social attitudes on the time, Donna Troy was usually seen as lesser to her friends within the pages of Teen Titans. Her teammates spoke all the way down to her, and likewise gave her uncomfortable nicknames equivalent to “Wonder Doll” and “Wonder Chick.”
Past the dearth of respect Donna Troy acquired from her teammates, the likable Titan character was additionally uncomfortably sexualized by the artists. Like her teammates, she was a minor within the pages of the Titans comics, however that did not cease illustrators from placing her in skintight outfits that pronounced her determine.
Marv Wolfman Stayed On For Too Lengthy/The Comedian Bought Needlessly Dark In The ’90s
The Teen Titans would not be what they’re in the present day with out Marv Wolfman and George Perez. The 2 creatives have been those who revamped the group and wrote such iconic tales as “The Judas Contract” within the early Nineteen Eighties, but it is clear that they need to have ended issues shortly after their most acclaimed arc.
Whereas quite a lot of Titans points post-Crisis nonetheless resonated with audiences, by the top of the ’80s, it was obvious that Marv Wolfman had run out of concepts for the comedian. Not one of the new characters he launched had any weight or memorability, and the top of his run noticed him flip Raven right into a villain, to many followers’ disdain.
Terry Lengthy
Again when Terry Lengthy was launched to the pages of the New Teen Titans, readers did not bat a lot of an eye fixed on the younger faculty professor who was going regular with Wonder Girl. They noticed him as part of Titans’ prolonged household, maybe one which bought too concerned within the superhero plots, however an in any other case innocent determine.
Quick-forward to the twenty first century, and it is readily obvious that Terry Lengthy is a disgusting character. His habits could be thought of skeevy at finest contemplating he is relationship a youngster, and the truth that the comedian handled his relationship as Donna Troy makes his presence even more durable for readers to abdomen.