Written by Marv Wolfman
Lead Feature Art by George Perez; Dick Giordano; Ben Oda; & Adrienne Roy
“Reunion” Art by Carmine Infantino; Romeo Tanghal; Adrienne Roy; & Ben Oda
Cover Art by Chuck Patton & Dick Giordano
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for November 1985, this one-shot filler reprints the first appearance of the New Teen Titans and a rare early tale guest-starring Aqualad and Speedy.
In the untitled lead reprint, Robin succumbs to a fainting spell, as he is about to tackle a hostage situation at S.T.A.R. Labs. Leaping into his future self, an addled Robin is at Titans Tower, where he meets Changeling (ex-Beast Boy); Cyborg; Raven; Starfire; and his old friends, Wonder Girl and Kid Flash.
Jumping back and forth in time, a confused Robin aids these new Titans rescue a S.T.A.R. Labs scientist (Cyborg’s father) from a monstrous protoplasm. Starfire’s efforts finally expel the protoplasm back into its own dimension. Returning to the present-day, a hiding Raven quietly notes that Robin’s bizarre dream is really a premonition.
In “Reunion!” Aqualad rescues an unconscious Speedy from a watery grave in the Dominican Republic. Seeking help at Titans Tower, the two former Titans are introduced to Starfire & Cyborg. Joining Aqualad and Speedy, the Teen Titans (Robin; Wonder Girl; Kid Flash; Cyborg; and Starfire) launch a two-pronged attack against the drug smugglers who nearly killed Speedy. In the Dominican Republic and in Miami, the Titans mete out justice.
Note: DC inexplicably doesn’t identify the original sources for either of these tales. However, the lead story was a back-up feature for 1980’s DC Comics Presents # 26 while “Reunion!” is from 1981’s DC Blue Ribbon Digest # 18.
REVIEW:
For fans of the New Teen Titans, both of these hard-to-find reprints are fairly solid entertainment. At times, the lead feature is muddled by not explaining how Robin is moving through time, but the well-illustrated story makes up for this deliberate omission with vintage team banter. Though the artwork for “Reunion!” is primitive in comparison, its anti-drugs plot is simplistic enough for young readers.
Even if these two stories are hardly the New Teen Titans at their best, they are at least intriguing to peruse for nostalgia’s sake.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The standard “Tower” letters-and-answers column is a single-page letter to fans from writer Marv Wolfman. The single-page “Meanwhile …” column touts DC Comics’ Bullets softball team and a letter from a fan who describes practical benefits from reading comic books.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
