New Teen Titans and Beyond (reviews by shaxper)
Jun 23, 2020 13:35:20 GMT -5
Roquefort Raider and sabongero like this
Post by shaxper on Jun 23, 2020 13:35:20 GMT -5
New Teen Titans #20 (June 1982)
"Dear Mom and Dad"
Script: Marv Wolfman
Pencils: George Pérez (breakdowns); Romeo Tanghal (finished art)
Inks: Romeo Tanghal
Colors: Adrienne Roy
Letters: Ben Oda
Grade: C-
A story that likely had been sitting around for a few months before seeing publication, as Wally notes in the story that he doesn't recall ever seeing Gar being serious, while Wally was definitely present for New Teen Titans #15, in which Gar kills a villain in blind rage and then shares a meaningful moment being reunited with his adoptive father. Really, the entire focus of the story arc building up to that issue was on showing the serious side of Gar beneath the playful surface, so it's more than a mild oversight to have Wally saying this.
I'm wondering if this story had originally been intended for the Blue Ribbon The Best of DC #18, as it is attached to almost zero continuity (exceptionally rare for the Titans) and introduces each character as if we didn't already know them. I'd noted in my review of Best of DC #18 that the script was clearly altered at the last moment, as it does not match the cover at all, making the unusual choice to feature the Silver Age Titans lineup instead.
Anyway, the primary goal of this story seems to be finally fixing Wally. He's been an obnoxious whiner up to this point who Wolfman originally seemed resolved to kick off the team, but that never happened for whatever reason, and so now Wolfman is trying to get into Wally's head in order to find something likable about the guy. Maybe, after turning him into an almost intolerable prick and borderline villain two issues back, Wolfman and Perez felt they went too far and so dredged up this abandoned story in order to redeem the character, painting someone who listens, understands, and cares more than he lets on:
And whereas Wolfman almost seemed to characterize Wally with a touch of ADHD before (I guess it's fair to assume a speedster would struggle with slowing down his thoughts and emotions), this story opens with a laid-back, relaxed, and happy character, taking the time to get his thoughts down on a hand-written letter. It's an impressive effort to find a different side to this character:
...even if he writes said letter in red lipstick(??):
The plot itself is forgettable and painfully illogical. Some forgotten Batman villain has designed a costume for his son that effectively gives him the powers of Marvel's Scarlet Witch.
Let's start with the fact that the dad and his costumed son just parade around outside the upscale neighborhood in which they live, or maybe ask why the dad can't just put the costume on, himself, if his son is so useless?
Then maybe we can talk about how the kid is able to react to Wally on a moment's notice MULTIPLE TIMES in this issue. In one instance, we are outright told Wally crosses the East River and sets up a whirlwind to take this kid down in under three seconds, but the guy somehow sees this coming and reacts in time:
Super speed isn't one of his powers.
I know Marv mentioned in various interviews that he struggled with how to make a speedster struggle in a fight, but if you're designing an entire issue around Kid Flash, sell it better than this.
There are also moments like Kid Flash tailing their car, and running so fast that he is invisible:
Okay, let's assume he can do that. I'm willing to bet, however, that he can't do that while tailing a car that can't be doing more than 80 mps (and, considering that he's driving on local roads and the cops aren't following, he's probably doing more like 40).
Or how about the fact that the Disruptor can apparently prevent Wally from using any of his powers, and yet Wally can use his fingers to send a (secret) sonic boom to Titans Tower for help while he is imprisoned in this way? I have so many questions.
In the end, this is really a story about family, with the Disruptor being the product of a bad one, the rest of the Titans deriving all of their conflicts from troubled ones, and Wally coming to an understanding of how good he has it in contrast:
A decent message to send to teens reading the series.
And Wally and the evil dad even get these awkwardly touching panels at the end:
Seriously, what the hell is going on in those panels?
Important Details:
- When Gar shape-changes, he apparently takes on the abilities of the animal he becomes:
As if his power wasn't scientifically unbelievable enough as it was.
- Dick references working with Batman again, a shift that had just occurred in Batman #348 (released that same month), in which the Batman franchise returns to pre-#217 normal, with Bruce and Dick working together from Wayne Manor once again. It doesn't last long, but it does raise questions about Dick working independently with the Titans.
I'm curious if Marv will continue to explore the implications in this title.
- For the first time, we are given some actual ages in this book. Vic is 19, and Terry is 29. I have to say that I don't buy either of these. Vic, Donna, Dick, and Raven all feel more like they are in their mid to late 20s at this point, and Terry feels closer to 40, especially being a divorced college professor. That would mean he has been teaching for three years at most by this point and somehow found the time to get married and divorced in the process. Not impossible, mind you, but it doesn't exactly "fit". This guy feels old, and I still maintain I think he serves as a sort of avatar for Marv himself, who is 36 at this point.
- Some new powers for Cyborg. He has a tracking computer and infr-ared sensors:
- We finally get a full explanation for who the H.I.V.E. are:
And yes, there really are only six of them.
Minor Details:
- The Justice System had no evidence that the Disruptor wasn't working for his father?
The entire Titans team testifying that they saw and fought him there wouldn't hold up in court??
- Speaking of which, why can't the father just build another suit now?
All in all, I applaud these efforts to cast Wally in a new light, but it was a stupid, stupid story.
"A Titanic Tale of Titans' Tomfoolery!"
Script: Marv Wolfman
Pencils: George Perez (breakdowns); Romeo Tanghal (finished art)
Inks: Romeo Tanghal
Colors: Adrienne Roy
Letters: John Costanza (uncredited)
Grade: C
Further supporting my theory that the lead story for this issue was originally intended for Best of DC #18, it comes in at a measly 20 pages instead of the usual 25, requiring a filler B story. Basically, it's a tongue and cheek Marv and George meet the Titans adventure:
and it gives them an opportunity to humanize the entire team behind the book:
Love the reference to Brother Power, the Geek, by the way!
Oh, these stories always feel a little self-serving (even while they are also self-effacing), but I always find them fun. The last instance I know of someone at DC trying this was Bob Rozakis three years earlier in Detective Comics #482:
(Detective Comics #482)
One detail that (perhaps) makes this the-creative-team-gets-sucked-into-an-adventure story different from the others is its use of the multi-verse to explain what is occuring.
Marv goes on to have the villain correctly label "Earth Prime". While that label certainly wasn't new to DC, this is Marv's first time writing about the DC Multiverse that he is now three years away from completely rebuilding with Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Beyond that tidbit, this is a relatively forgettable tale, enjoyable enough for what it was, and yet only one panel in a story that is all gags actually managed to make me laugh:
Minor Details:
- While Wolfman's looks haven't changed all that much, I don't even recognize Perez here.
Only now does it occur to me that I've never seen an actual image of him from this time period. I'm used to this guy:
"Dear Mom and Dad"
Script: Marv Wolfman
Pencils: George Pérez (breakdowns); Romeo Tanghal (finished art)
Inks: Romeo Tanghal
Colors: Adrienne Roy
Letters: Ben Oda
Grade: C-
A story that likely had been sitting around for a few months before seeing publication, as Wally notes in the story that he doesn't recall ever seeing Gar being serious, while Wally was definitely present for New Teen Titans #15, in which Gar kills a villain in blind rage and then shares a meaningful moment being reunited with his adoptive father. Really, the entire focus of the story arc building up to that issue was on showing the serious side of Gar beneath the playful surface, so it's more than a mild oversight to have Wally saying this.
I'm wondering if this story had originally been intended for the Blue Ribbon The Best of DC #18, as it is attached to almost zero continuity (exceptionally rare for the Titans) and introduces each character as if we didn't already know them. I'd noted in my review of Best of DC #18 that the script was clearly altered at the last moment, as it does not match the cover at all, making the unusual choice to feature the Silver Age Titans lineup instead.
Anyway, the primary goal of this story seems to be finally fixing Wally. He's been an obnoxious whiner up to this point who Wolfman originally seemed resolved to kick off the team, but that never happened for whatever reason, and so now Wolfman is trying to get into Wally's head in order to find something likable about the guy. Maybe, after turning him into an almost intolerable prick and borderline villain two issues back, Wolfman and Perez felt they went too far and so dredged up this abandoned story in order to redeem the character, painting someone who listens, understands, and cares more than he lets on:
And whereas Wolfman almost seemed to characterize Wally with a touch of ADHD before (I guess it's fair to assume a speedster would struggle with slowing down his thoughts and emotions), this story opens with a laid-back, relaxed, and happy character, taking the time to get his thoughts down on a hand-written letter. It's an impressive effort to find a different side to this character:
...even if he writes said letter in red lipstick(??):
The plot itself is forgettable and painfully illogical. Some forgotten Batman villain has designed a costume for his son that effectively gives him the powers of Marvel's Scarlet Witch.
Let's start with the fact that the dad and his costumed son just parade around outside the upscale neighborhood in which they live, or maybe ask why the dad can't just put the costume on, himself, if his son is so useless?
Then maybe we can talk about how the kid is able to react to Wally on a moment's notice MULTIPLE TIMES in this issue. In one instance, we are outright told Wally crosses the East River and sets up a whirlwind to take this kid down in under three seconds, but the guy somehow sees this coming and reacts in time:
Super speed isn't one of his powers.
I know Marv mentioned in various interviews that he struggled with how to make a speedster struggle in a fight, but if you're designing an entire issue around Kid Flash, sell it better than this.
There are also moments like Kid Flash tailing their car, and running so fast that he is invisible:
Okay, let's assume he can do that. I'm willing to bet, however, that he can't do that while tailing a car that can't be doing more than 80 mps (and, considering that he's driving on local roads and the cops aren't following, he's probably doing more like 40).
Or how about the fact that the Disruptor can apparently prevent Wally from using any of his powers, and yet Wally can use his fingers to send a (secret) sonic boom to Titans Tower for help while he is imprisoned in this way? I have so many questions.
In the end, this is really a story about family, with the Disruptor being the product of a bad one, the rest of the Titans deriving all of their conflicts from troubled ones, and Wally coming to an understanding of how good he has it in contrast:
A decent message to send to teens reading the series.
And Wally and the evil dad even get these awkwardly touching panels at the end:
Seriously, what the hell is going on in those panels?
Important Details:
- When Gar shape-changes, he apparently takes on the abilities of the animal he becomes:
As if his power wasn't scientifically unbelievable enough as it was.
- Dick references working with Batman again, a shift that had just occurred in Batman #348 (released that same month), in which the Batman franchise returns to pre-#217 normal, with Bruce and Dick working together from Wayne Manor once again. It doesn't last long, but it does raise questions about Dick working independently with the Titans.
I'm curious if Marv will continue to explore the implications in this title.
- For the first time, we are given some actual ages in this book. Vic is 19, and Terry is 29. I have to say that I don't buy either of these. Vic, Donna, Dick, and Raven all feel more like they are in their mid to late 20s at this point, and Terry feels closer to 40, especially being a divorced college professor. That would mean he has been teaching for three years at most by this point and somehow found the time to get married and divorced in the process. Not impossible, mind you, but it doesn't exactly "fit". This guy feels old, and I still maintain I think he serves as a sort of avatar for Marv himself, who is 36 at this point.
- Some new powers for Cyborg. He has a tracking computer and infr-ared sensors:
- We finally get a full explanation for who the H.I.V.E. are:
And yes, there really are only six of them.
Minor Details:
- The Justice System had no evidence that the Disruptor wasn't working for his father?
The entire Titans team testifying that they saw and fought him there wouldn't hold up in court??
- Speaking of which, why can't the father just build another suit now?
All in all, I applaud these efforts to cast Wally in a new light, but it was a stupid, stupid story.
"A Titanic Tale of Titans' Tomfoolery!"
Script: Marv Wolfman
Pencils: George Perez (breakdowns); Romeo Tanghal (finished art)
Inks: Romeo Tanghal
Colors: Adrienne Roy
Letters: John Costanza (uncredited)
Grade: C
Further supporting my theory that the lead story for this issue was originally intended for Best of DC #18, it comes in at a measly 20 pages instead of the usual 25, requiring a filler B story. Basically, it's a tongue and cheek Marv and George meet the Titans adventure:
and it gives them an opportunity to humanize the entire team behind the book:
Love the reference to Brother Power, the Geek, by the way!
Oh, these stories always feel a little self-serving (even while they are also self-effacing), but I always find them fun. The last instance I know of someone at DC trying this was Bob Rozakis three years earlier in Detective Comics #482:
(Detective Comics #482)
One detail that (perhaps) makes this the-creative-team-gets-sucked-into-an-adventure story different from the others is its use of the multi-verse to explain what is occuring.
Marv goes on to have the villain correctly label "Earth Prime". While that label certainly wasn't new to DC, this is Marv's first time writing about the DC Multiverse that he is now three years away from completely rebuilding with Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Beyond that tidbit, this is a relatively forgettable tale, enjoyable enough for what it was, and yet only one panel in a story that is all gags actually managed to make me laugh:
Minor Details:
- While Wolfman's looks haven't changed all that much, I don't even recognize Perez here.
Only now does it occur to me that I've never seen an actual image of him from this time period. I'm used to this guy:
