Titans Together: 24 George Perez Splash Pages

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Curt Swan, DC Archive Edition New Teen Titans, DC Comics, George Perez, Marv Wolfman, New Teen Titans, New Teen Titans Omnibus, Romeo Tanghal, Teen Titans, Teen Titans reprints

Though thirty-four years have passed since Marv Wolfman and George Perez began their run on the Teen Titans for DC Comics, time has done nothing to diminish our affection for their work. Our gallery below presents a collection of splash pages and two-page spreads from the first twenty issues of The New Teen Titans, showcasing Perez’s knack for detail, action, and creative layouts. Romeo Tanghal’s ink work made him an integral part of the team. Nothing displays this better than the two pages (included in our gallery) penciled by legendary Superman artist Curt Swan in issue #5. Under Tanghal’s pen they seamlessly maintain the look and feel Perez established for the title.

The New Teen Titans embraced the absurdities of superhero comics while taking them to a higher level with rich characterizations and finely-crafted emotional lives for its adolescent stars. It managed to be a grown-up book without being an “adult” title, and it handled many serious stories without veering off into the “grim and gritty” deconstructionism of more famous works from the 1980s. The New Teen Titans deserved better than the cheap paper and printing processes of the average comic book of its time. It thus became one of the first mainstream superhero books to change to a higher-quality printing process, though unfortunately this came near the end of Perez’s stint on the title.

Readers would have to wait many years to see Perez’s outstanding art printed in a high-quality format it deserved. This began with The New Teen Titans DC Archive Edition in 1999, a four-volume hardcover reprinting #1-27, the first Annual, the first appearance in DC Comics Presents #26, and the Tales of the New Teen Titans limited series. Sadly, that printing only covered less than half of the incredible Wolfman/Perez run. Readers would have to wait even longer for a complete reprint of the masterpiece.

More recently, from 2011 to 2013, DC Comics unleashed The New Teen Titans Omnibus. This three-volume hardcover series spans 1,720 pages, at last giving this outstanding series the treatment it deserved.

As a result, the demand for original printings of all but the earliest issues has significantly declined. So, if you enjoy collecting classics on a budget, you will find the original issues of New Teen Titans incredibly affordable. The upside of having the original issues is that you can truly enjoy the two-page spreads in a format where they open up completely and don’t lose any artwork in the “gutter” between pages. We love omnibus formats, but sometimes a floppy old comic book that opens flat allows you to really take in the artwork as originally intended. The choice is yours!

The Secret Origin of Titans Tower!

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blueprints, Cyborg, Cyborg's Dad, DC Comics, first appearance, George Perez, Marv Wolfman, New Teen Titans, origin, Teen Titans, Teen Titans Tower, Titans Tower

New Teen Titans #7 gave us the origin of Titans Tower: the T-shaped building serving as their headquarters, home away from home, and high-tech clubhouse. We see that Cyborg’s father built the Tower, a fact hidden from the reader for the first six issues.

Cyborg blames his father for the research accident at S.T.A.R. Labs that killed his mother and disfigured Cyborg. This issue gives us more insight into those events, and takes an unexpected turn for Victor and his father.

Keep in mind that in New Teen Titans #6, the Teen Titans just got done preventing satan from taking over the universe — satan being Trigon, Raven’s demonic dad from an alien hell. They arrive home at Titans Tower to find something amiss. If only they could find what every superhero lair requires: a cool schematic!

About half of this issue concerns the battle with the team of supervillains that infiltrated Titans Tower. Although beautifully drawn by George Perez, it has little to do with our focus here: Titans Tower. Soon the bad guys get the upper hand and produce Cyborg’s dad. His unexpected appearance carries a big reveal: He built the Tower! Insert more epic super battles here.

After the Titans defeat the enemy team, Cyborg’s dad needs to get something off his chest. Victor reluctantly listens, but soon his resentment gives way to compassion. Although he blames his father for both his own fate and his mother’s, Victor learns the same mishap began slowly killing his dad, too.

The final two pages of this story could not be farther in tone from the somewhat typical good guy/bad guy showdown that led up to them. Wolfman and Perez condense the final days of a father and son into a montage, a cinematic effect enhanced by Wolfman’s narrative “voice over” in the captions.

The closing scene begins a new era of peace for Cyborg. Changed forever by making peace with his father, he becomes less prone to lash out angrily at an unjust world. Soon, he will begin working with children who also have prosthetic limbs, playing baseball with them, and inspiring them to be strong. He will even learn to love again.

Collector’s Guide:
– From New Teen Titans #7; DC, 1981
– Reprinted in New Teen Titans Omnibus #1, hardcover; DC, 2011.
– Reprinted in DC Archive Edition New Teen Titans, hardcover; DC, 1999

1969 Origin of Wonder Girl by Marv Wolfman!

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Donna Troy, Gil Kane, Marv Wolfman, Nick Cardy, origin, origin of wonder girl, Teen Titans, Wonder Girl

The Teen Titans series from the late 1960s is a trip. Robin saying, “Peace, baby!” to a bunch of aliens? Aqualad and his girlfriend going to a rock concert? Whoa!

The series isn’t even close to the brilliance Marv Wolfman and George Perez would bring to the Teen Titans in the 1980s. However, we’d like to share with you this origin of Wonder Girl because it has none other than Marv Wolfman scripting it. Marv Wolfman describes the impetus for the origin of Wonder Girl on his site.

Some of these same scenes would be masterfully recreated and expanded by George Perez in one of our favorite super-hero comics of all time: New Teen Titans #38, Who is Donna Troy? In that story, Dick ‘Robin’ Grayson uncovers the mystery behind this strange scene where Donna is a helpless infant in a burning building.

Collector’s Guide: From Teen Titans #22; DC Comics, 1969. Script by Marv Wolfman; art by Gil Kane and Nick Cardy.

The Death of Barry Allen: Crisis on Infinite Earths 8

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Barry Allen, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Death of Flash, Flash, George Perez, Marv Wolfman

The death of Barry Allen, The Flash, in Crisis #8 marks the last time a mainstream superhero death meant anything – to us at least, and maybe you feel the same. Maybe you’re sick of everyone from Superman to Colossus coming back to life over and over again. (F@$& you, Jean Grey!!!) But here, in the ten-page scene we share with you today, Marv Wolfman and George Perez kill off the Flash like they mean it. For good. (Or at least for 23 years until the next Crisis thingie brought him back in 2008. Sigh.) And, they do it in a way that makes his death matter.

To say this scene affected us in 1985 would be putting it mildly. It burned an intense trajectory across our 12-year old brain. In fact, we used it to get into Drama Club in 7th grade. For the try-outs, we converted the scene into a monologue for Flash, giving it a ‘dramatic reading.’ We may not have been a great actor, but we could memorize lines like nobody’s business – and had no fear of the stage.

So, yeah, we got the lead in the first school play of 7th grade: a singing role as Rumplestiltskin. Not only did Barry Allen save the universe, he got us a part as a mad dwarf. This cemented our involvement in drama club throughout junior high. Thank you, Flash. Without your noble sacrifice, we would have never played Rumplestiltskin, Gandalf, a crazed serial killer, and a kid who dressed up as a maid to get the girl.

Come to think of it, Flash – if you could use your time powers and erase that last one for us, that’d be swell.

Collector’s Guide:
– From Crisis on Infinite Earths #8; DC Comics, 1985.
– Reprinted in Crisis on Infinite Earths Absolute Edition, 2005.
– Reprinted in Crisis on Infinite Earths Hardcover, 1998. Limited Edition, includes Poster and Slipcase.
– Reprinted in Crisis on Infinite Earths TPB, 2000.

Origin of Starfire!

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first issue, George Perez, Koriand'r, Marv Wolfman, New Teen Titans, origin, Starfire, Starfire tortured, Tales of the New Teen Titans, Teen Titans

Marv Wolfman and George Perez took a lackluster DC property called Teen Titans and gave it a shot in the arm back in 1980. The Titans have done well since then, although never attaining the cult status of their contemporaries, the X-Men.

Wolfman and Perez created some new characters to spice up the dull routine Titans had become: Raven, Cyborg, and Starfire. The series kicked into high gear from the first panel, never slowing down for the usual hum-drum origin stories. Fans waited two whole years before Wolfman and Perez fully revealed the pasts of their new creations — and it was worth the wait!

Here is the complete origin of Koriand’r for you, the star-powered alien Princess who was sold into slavery, tortured, and ultimately empowered. It has been one of our favorite single issues ever since we first read it. If you like, check out our scans from New Teen Titans #1 later. The Titans’ first adventure centered around rescuing Koriand’r during her escape from the evil Gordanian Slavers. It’s a lot of fun!

Collector’s Guide:
– From Tales of the New Teen Titans (1982 Mini-Series) #1.
– Reprinted in DC Archive Edition New Teen Titans hardcover #3; 2006.
– Reprinted in the New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 1, 2011.

Alive and Ready to KILL!

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brachiosaurus, Changeling, dinosaur, George Perez, Marv Wolfman, New Teen Titans, Teen Titans

Sometimes you just have to transform into a massive dinosaur and tangle with Amazon babes! Changeling shows us how it’s done in this wild dino scene! Brachiosaurus drawn by George Perez, script by Marv Wolfman.

Collector’s Guide: From The New Teen Titans. DC Comics. Reprinted in the DC Archive Edition New Teen Titans hardcover, 1999.

New Teen Titans Far-Out First Issue!

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DC Comics Presents, George Perez, Marv Wolfman, New Teen Titans, Teen Titans

We present to you the first adventure of the 1980s revamp of the silver age team, Teen Titans. Okay — technically, it’s their second adventure. Their very first appearance was DC Comics Presents #26. That book might put a little ding in your wallet, but you can easily pick up the reprint in Tales of the New Teen Titans #59 for $1.

Collector’s Guide: From New Teen Titans #1; DC Comics. Reprinted in DC’s New Teen Titans Archive Edition #. By Marv Wolfman & George Perez.

We also have a Teen Titans paperback book by Tor Press that reprints the first few issues in black and white. It’s how we discovered the Titans way back in 1982 or so. But enough nostalgia! Let’s rock the totally hot alien warrior princess escaping from her slave masters!

We’re Talking about a Possible Utopia!

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Marv Wolfman, Recombatants, Steve Rude, Teen Titans

Unless you’ve been stranded on the planet Bospor, you know Steve Rude is taking commissions for one-of-a-kind drawings of the character of your choice. You buy a raffle ticket for $5 at SteveRudeArt.com — or buy as many tickets as you want to increase your chance of winning. It’s a good deal for a black and white original by The Dude! We’re in! Are you? Head on over to SteveRudeArt.com and show your love.

In the meantime, here’s one from The Rude Dude archives: an issue he crafted for DC. What? The Dude on Teen Titans? Betcha forgot about that one!

Dig the street punks, which foreshadow the gutter punks of Ylum and the infamous Teen Angel from Nexus #9. Next, rock out to the climactic fight scene with Steve’s sense of body language and design that made Nexus so classic.

Collector’s Guide: From New Teen Titans #48, DC Comics.

With Every Conceivable Weapon at Their Disposal!

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Gil Kane, John Carter, John Carter Warlord of Mars, Marv Wolfman, Ruby Nebres, White Apes

Dude, Marvel’s original John Carter Warlord of Mars series has huge four-armed apes – and dig those crazy Martian horses! We totally gotta have one.

– From John Carter Warlord of Mars#2 by Marvel Comics.

If you’re looking to read some John Carter comic books, allow us to be your guide: Dark Horse Comics recently collected all the original Marvel issues and three annuals in the John Carter Warlord of Mars TPB. Check it out! Marv Wolfman worked on a John Carter series at DC before he did it for Marvel. That’s collected in the John Carter of Mars Weird Worlds TPB. Dynamite Entertainment has been publishing Warlord of Mars since 2010, with a number of spin-offs. Disney collected all the original novels in a three-volume Collected John Carter of Mars paperback, for a total of 2656 pages of classic sci-fi adventure!

Now, enjoy these scenes from the original Marvel series!

Click for more stories from Marv Wolfman or art by Gil Kane.