I am a child of the 1980s, for sure, but Bronze Age comics are my second love (Copper Age being my first).

I'm with Cody. I think the overall design of the Fiddler cover is very strong - Good use of semi-symmetry in how the "mirror images" relate to each other and it's cool how the design incorporates three separate contrasting figure groups that aren't even interacting with each other at various distances from the "camera" (As well as the Logo!) into parts of a whole image without being remotely confusing. Honestly I think realistic elements should be ignored if it makes the overall design stronger or more pleasing to the eye.

I actually like that cover....5 year old me would have been drawn right to it, haha! I love almost all of Rich Buckler's covers from that era and would have loved to see him as the interior artist on Teen Titans.
At the time, I am guessing DC was aiming comics still at children? Perhaps this is the reason for the more silly plots and simple covers? Sure, these stories don't quite pack the punch of modern comics, but they sure are fun to read and look at!

Well, I was born in 1969 (which I guess makes me a child of the 70's or early 80's) and I think the cover is pretty good.

I was aware of these and wasn't going to check them out, but the retiring from superheroing bit is compelling. I guess that truly didn't come out of nowhere when Wolfman brought it up in the pages of the New Teen Titans.

Thanks!



And it sure seems like everyone here but me really likes that cover. Okay, no problem. No offense taken. I can go with the flow and be a team player. In fact, I'm thinking of redesigning the CCF logo to reflect its brilliance. What do you guys think of the prototype?

Teen Titans #47 (April 1977)



"Trouble -- Which Rhymes with Double!"

Script: Bob Rozakis
Pencils: Bob Brown
Inks: Tex Blaisdell
Colors: ?
Letters: Ben Oda

grade: B

I don't care what you people say, I still hate these covers. This time around, the coloring is less gross and more washed out, but Mal's upper body moving forward at a different angle than his lower body really really bothers me every time I look at this thing. I really do think it's Buckler's poses/anatomy that bug me more than anything else. His depictions of extreme movements look totally unnatural to me.

Fortunately, I feel differently about the content within. I never expected to say it, but Rozakis is getting better. Instead of dredging up some forgotten D list villains this time, he creates his own, and they're actually pretty cool:


(as well as their counterparts, who never get named)

and they create some pretty decent action that's a lot less silly/illogical than before:



In fact, I was enjoying the uniqueness of these villains and their doubles/opposites so much that I totally missed where Rozakis was leading us with all of this until it was already too late:



Honestly...I didn't see it coming.


And he's still having a lot of fun with maintaining a running continuity on this title for once, with having The McCarthy's (from last issue) performing at the opening of the Titans' new club/HQ (still not sure I get the logic in that one), Aqualad dealing with a serious illness that will be addressed in future issues, and Karen Beecher back since last being seen in #44, enigmatically sewing something while making a promise she'll be keeping next issue:


Interesting that the colorist has her sewing one of Mal's shirts. I would have figured she'd be sewing her own costume. Both choices work in very different ways.


Of course, Rozakis is still flubbing his attempts to Marvel-ize the book in several respects. For one, his characterizations are still shoddy. Robin now cracks ill-timed bad jokes once per issue, Speedy just continues to get mad at absolutely everyone, and no one else seems to have any personality to speak of.

Mal is failing to grow into a worthwhile hero, still missing a costume and codename, but now also lacking a personality and failing to do anything interesting with his newfound horn.

codystarbuck pointed out that Wonder Girl's powers have been depicted very inconsistently, and while I don't feel that was a significant issue in the original run, it's apparent and concerning here:



If Donna has no personality, AND is now no stronger than Duella Dent, what the hell is she bringing to this title?


Another way in which Rozakis' efforts to Marvel-ize are feeling a tad desperate and lacking at this point happens on the first page:



C'mon, man. That's just plain theft.



But speaking of characterization, we are seeing the first fan letters about the relaunch in this issue's letters page, and while the feedback is generally favorable (do keep in mind Rozakis is the one picking which letters to include), we get two letters begging for the return of Lilith. While Rozakis answers every other letter he prints, he side-steps these, and then gives us a story in which Duella Dent can suddenly do this:



I can't decide whether he is f**king with us, or whether he was really going to have Duella Dent assume Lilith's powers and role on the team and then suddenly changed his mind (or got directed to abandon that route). After all, that final explanation that Two-Face was the one giving Duella those mental messages is never explained and seems like a last second cop-out.



Rozakis is never going to produce a perfect Titans script, but this was by far his best one yet, and I hope that indicates a continuing upward trend from here on out.


Important Details:

- First time the Teen Titans face a major villain (Two-Face)

- HQ is moved to Gabriel's Horn, a club in Farmingdale, Long Island NY (this issue confirms their previous city of operation was Gotham)

- 2nd cameo appearance of Karen Beecher

A lot of this does correlate with the book being absorbed by Julie Schwartz's office. Of course, the Titans have moved to Long Island, NY as of this issue, and they will be leaving Schwartz's office in four months.