Broken Frontier

While it may only be the 50^th issue of the latest Teen Titans series, the team has been around for over 43 years. The history of DC’s most famous teenage heroes has been filled with ups and downs. But the company is bringing back several of the creative teams who were responsible for the “ups” back for the new series’ anniversary.

The team first appeared in Brave and the Bold #54, cover dated July 1964. The title was beginning its transition from “try-out book” to “team-up book”, and for this issue, B&B writer Bob Haney decided to combine the two. With artist Bruno Premiani, he created a team out of Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad, the teen sidekicks of Batman, Flash and Aquaman, respectively.

The young heroes proved popular enough to garner another try out in B&B one year later. This time they were joined by Wonder Girl, who in the DC continuity at the time, was considered to be Wonder Woman as a girl (continuity was considered more a guideline than a rule to Haney. It took several tries for various creators to sort out the Wonder Girl mess).

That try-out also proved popular with the fans and seven months later, the Teen Titans received a series of their own. The series ran for 53 issues from 1966 to 1978 (with a 3 year hiatus between 1973 and 1976) and the cast increased to feature other sidekicks such as Green Arrow’s ward Speedy and completely new ones like the telepathic Lilith. The title tried to stay timely, tackling the issues of the day, but soon eventually it lost its appeal with its audience. By 1978, it appeared we had seen the last of the Teen Titans. Fans were looking for something new.

Did somebody say “new”? Just two years later, fans got something new in the pages of their DC Comics Presents #26. In a 16-page preview, the creative team of Marv Wolfman and George Perez gave us a sneak peek of their upcoming series, The New Teen Titans .  These weren’t your older brother’s Teen Titans. Sure, there were familiar faces there—Kid Flash, Robin, Wonder Girl and Beast Boy (now named Changeling). But there were also new additions: the female alien exile called Starfire, the half-man/half-machine Cyborg, and the tortured Empath called Raven.

Wolfman and Perez did more than just breathe life into an outdated concept, they created a sales sensation. By bringing a more Marvel style of characterization, they created a series that could rival what Chris Claremont and John Byrne were doing over at Marvel at the same time on the Uncanny X-Men title.

And the characters had Marvel style problems, too. Cyborg thought his partially robotic body made himself a hideous freak and outcast. Kid Flash discovered that his powers were slowly killing him. And Raven struggled with a dark side that if left unchecked, could possibly kill her new teammates and perhaps every living being. This added a complexity that resonated with fans.

Flash forward 23 odd years, the Teen Titans are in their sixth incarnation, now simply known as The Titans and DC’s youth movement is now represented by the cast of the Young Justice series—a brand new Robin, the Superman clone dubbed Superboy, the grandson of the original Flash who goes by the name of Impulse, and a brand new Wonder Girl. But DC decided it was time for a change.

Both teams entered into the Graduation Day series as their old series were cancelled. Most of the cast of The Titans went on to become the Outsiders. And the members of Young Justice were remade into a new version of the Teen Titans .

When DC had to choose a new creative team for the revamped title, they picked a solid superhero writer known for his respect for the past, much like Marv Wolfman and a veteran artist ready to break-out into all out superstardom, much like George Perez was 20 years prior. They picked Geoff Johns and Mike McKone.

Johns and McKone continued the Teen Titans traditions established by Wolfman and Perez—the complicated lives, the warm friendships, and the all-out action. The fire they instilled into the characters insured that the title would last long after both of them left.

Now, both teams of creators are back for this latest series’ 50^th issue, they are joined by the team of Todd Dezago and Todd Nauck, two men with individual experience with the Titans characters (Dezago had a lengthy term writing Teen Titans member Impulse and Nauck was the main artist on the Young Justice series), and the brand new creative team of Sean McKeever and Randy Green.

McKeever and Green need not look any further than the pages of their very first issue to realize the shoes they must fill. The people who helped shape the modern Teen Titans tradition are right there beside them.   

Also out this week:

The Last Fantastic Four Story:

Stan Lee brought them into the world, now, this week, he’s going to take them out of it.

You might have thought that Alan Davis’ Fantastic Four: The End series earlier this year was the official last story of the FF. Not if Stan Lee has anything to say about it. And it turns out he does have something to say about it.

The FF’s co-creator joins up with superstar artist John Romita Jr. to give us an alternate take on the final adventures of Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben. Will they live? Will they die? Will their final moments end in a blaze of glory, or a peaceful send-off? The answer lies in this one-shot.

Stan Lee (W), John Romita, Jr. (A), Marvel Comics, $4.99. One-Shot.

Brit #1:

It’s been four years since the first issue of the last Brit series hit store shelves. Since then, Brit creator Robert Kirkman’s Invincible has become a critical darling, his Walking Dead has become a cult classic, and his work on Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Zombies, and Ultimate X-Men has made him darn near a household name. Robert Kirkman has become a busy, busy man!

How full is Kirkman’s dance card? It is so full that he is forced to withdraw from writing the latest Brit series. The job of telling the tale of the active octogenarian superhero falls on Bruce Brown. Don’t worry, Brit fans! Kirkman hasn’t abandoned the character completely. He will be overseeing the new series as Editor.

Bruce Brown (W), Cliff Rathburn (A), Image Comics, $2.99. Ongoing Series.

Amazons Attack #6:

It all ends here. A freshly back-from-the-dead Queen Hippolyta has lead her Amazon forces on an all-out assault on the United States. And, for the most part, they have been winning. But there has been a shadowy conspiracy at work behind the Amazonian Queen. Is she just a pawn in a bigger game, or has she been in control all along? Either way, there will be consequences.

Critics have attacked this storyline, especially the part running in Jodi Picoult’s Wonder Woman series, but, I have to say, I have been enjoying Amazons Attack . Will Pfeifer is one of the best, if somewhat underrated, writers working in comics today. He has crafted a taught, action-packed thriller, aided and abetted by the great artwork of Pete Woods. Besides, how can you not love a scene where Superman tosses a big trash dumpster at an Amazon and then picks it back up to return it to where he found it! 

Will Pfeifer (W), Pete Woods (A), DC Comics, $2.99. Last Issue.

Miriam #1:

One of the best qualities of independent books is the way they open the medium up for diverse types of stories. They prove that you can have a great narrative without having people punch each other, wear capes or sport a spandex suit. Inventive storytelling and inspired concepts have the ability to develop and grow. That is exemplified by Miriam .

This series will trace the friendship of two friends—one Miriam Capaldi and one Peter Martinelli over twenty years of their lives. We will jump forward and back through time and see every twist and turn in their relationship from their time as kids to when they become adults. This is a truly intriguing idea. One that the major companies would shy away from, but one that feels right at home in the indies.

Rich Tommaso (W/A), Alternative Comics, $4.95. Ongoing Series.

Action Comics #855:

The second arc of the Geoff Johns/Richard Donner era of Action Comics has arrived. Their first arc was a bit choppy with a lot of fill in issues, due, so says rumor, to the late artwork of Adam Kubert.

Were you one of the people to give up on the series of said fill-ins? Well, I have three reasons for you to come back. 1. Adam Kubert is not doing the art for this arc. 2. This arc features everyone’s favorite Superman clone, Bizarro and his Bizarro World. 3. Who is going to be drawing this gnarly, distaff version of the Man of Steel? Eric Powell.

Yes, the Goon creator will be taking over the art chores for this three-issue arc. If you know Powell, you know he draws a pretty fine monster. If having him on board doesn’t make you excited enough to come back to Action Comics , nothing will!

Geoff Johns & Richard Donner (W), Eric Powell (A), DC Comics, $2.99. Ongoing Series.

The Mice Templar #1:

A legendary band of warrior mice, wandering around the forest, armed with tiny little sword and bows and arrow, in an anthropomorphic fantasy adventure? The Mice Templar is an obvious rip-off of David Peterson’s Mouse Guard, right?

Wrong! Michael Avon Oeming came up with the idea for The Mice Templar way back in 1998, way before Mouse Guard came out (even before Oeming’s involvement with the Powers series began). It has been a labor of love for the creator, gestating while Oeming worked on other, higher profile projects. Now, it will finally see the light of day.

So, while there are similarities between the two, The Mice Templar did not rip-off the Mouse Guard or vice versa. You can pick it up tomorrow with a clean conscience.

Bryan J.L. Glass & Michael Avon Oeming (W), Michael Avon Oeming (A), Image Comics, $3.99. Ongoing Series.

 

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William Gatevackes is a professional writer living in Mamaroneck, NY with his wife Jennifer. He also writes periodic comic reviews for PopMatters, is a weekly contributor to Film Buff Online  and writes title descriptions for Human Computing’s Comicbase collection management software. Links to his writing can be found at his website, www.williamgatevackes.com.