The New Teen Titans (vol. 2) Issues #1 to #5
Writer: Marv Wolfman & George Pérez Penciler: George Pérez Cover Artist: George Pérez
Inkers: George Pérez& Romeo Tanghal Colourist: Adrienne Roy Letters: Todd Klein & Bob Lappan
Cover Dates: AUG-1984 to FEB-1985
Story Title: The Terror of Trigon
THE NEW TITANS ARE…
Nightwing Wonder Girl Starfire Cyborg Changeling Jericho
Demons, Occult, demonic possession, inter-dimensional temples and a cult of pacifists contradictorily committed to the death of a space demon that wants universal domination. The Titans get the band back together and fight for the life of their friend and former teammate and force the group to a new level of maturity. The Teen Titans begin a new chapter of their adventures.
Released in the ‘prestige’ format back in 1984, The New Teen Titans # 1 was re-birthed onto the DC Universe. (It was pre-Crisis, so that probably should be DC “Universes”).
I say ‘re-birthed’, as it was a reboot of sorts from The New Teen Titans comic that started in 1980. It wasn’t a long wait between the end of Volume 1 and Volume 2 with Vol 1 ending with issue 40 in March 1984 and Vol 2 kicking off with a fresh issue 1 in August 1984. I haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading any of those first 40 issues so it is slightly unsettling that it hits the ground running fresh off the events of the first Titans volume and its rebranded title ‘Tales of the Teen Titans’. Original stories continued up until issue #58 and became a reprint title from Issue #59 onwards. All adventures within those 58 issues all occurred prior to the New Teen Titans (Vol 2) run.
This first story arc often references past adventures and previous character interactions that you just need to roll with. It doesn’t make the story unreadable, but you do get a sense of not having all the pieces of the puzzle.
The story starts with character introductions, as you would expect with an issue # 1, with this incarnation in the form of a ‘war game’ training session. From here, things quickly escalate, as they do in comic book world, with the sudden return of Raven to the team with warning of an impending danger before she up and disappears. Previous teammate Lilith arrives, called back due to her precognitive and psychic powers, concerned of some impending doom. They collect Wally West from college (now retired from his ‘Kid Flash’ persona) convinced they will need him to help Raven due to their close past relationship. A séance (of all things. Very ‘teen’) is conducted in Titans Tower to reach out to the missing Raven and the team is transported to the Temple Azarath, a city that sits in a dimension between dimensions populated with pacifists so there would be no evil for the demon Trigon to feed off. This is where the story gets a little grey. There isn’t too much backstory provided bout Azarath and can all seem confusing to a new reader (as I was). But there are enough titbits to help push a new reader through.
When in Azarath the Titans find themselves in the middle of a slaughter. Raven is now completely in the thrall of her demon Father Trigon and the two of them along with a horde of winged demons utterly destroy the Temple City. But it’s ok, it’s all part of the plan. Apparently. Trigon, now with enough power to do some serious damage, heads off to Earth for more of the same. Raven arrives first with a warning to the human populace that Trigon comes and wants complete compliance. Trigon arrives on Earth with a vengeance by making Titans Tower his first attack point (he really doesn’t like those pesky Titans) and immediately the city area surrounding the island on which Titans Tower sits is decimated into rubble, the people merged into the stone and rock around them.
The Titans are transported back to Earth using spiffy rings connected to the high priest Azar from the Temple Azarath. These little MacGuffins are little referenced but apparently important. While Trigon is meditating on a throne on top of Titans Tower, Raven takes care of business with her empath powers, forcing the Teen Titans to fight their own inner demons. Now often this trick doesn’t work on whichever heroes are having it subjected to, but not this time. The Heroes are converted to evil incarnations of themselves and turn on Raven. With Raven taken down, the Titans return to their usual selves, unsure of what occurred. The don’t have much time to dwell on it though as there is still the main guy, Trigon, to take down. The Titans put in the hard work but Trigon, still quite easily and comfortably, stands. Meanwhile, Ravens Mother Arella with Lilith and those confounding Rings of Azar from Azareth, work together to bring forth the soul of High Priest Azar to destroy Trigon in an explosion of fire.
With Trigon down, the world resets back to normal and the populace, for the most part, none the wiser (for dwelling on the experience would surely drive them mad) although the Titans themselves seem to be fine. Clearly made of sterner stuff than the rest of humanity. We end with the Titans battered and bruised and Titans Tower in rubbles.
Writer Marv Wolfman is arguably at his best when writing the adventures of the Teen Titans and, although clunky at times, he is established enough a writer to recognise the plot points that would defy belief and give them rational explanation. Most superhero team comics don’t necessarily explore the motivations and inner conflicts of their members, but Marv Wolfman doesn’t lose the ‘teen’ aspect of the Titans, although they are (mostly) in their late teens / early twenties and are represented as more mature than teens of that age would normally be. Which you would expect for the amount of life these kids would have lived by then. We even see Dick Grayson and Starfire share a bed together (apparently controversial for a comic with the word ‘teen’ in the title back in ’84).
At the original point of reading, my knowledge of the Titans characters was pretty limited. I mostly knew of them as a bunch of sidekicks that joined forces and Robin was now Nightwing. I knew of Cyborg, Starfire and Raven, but very little of their powers and histories. With regard to what I’ve read already, Teen Titan stories have a lot to do with the child / parent relationship, be it blood relative or Father /Mother figures, which makes sense for a title named “Teen” Titans.
Marv Wolfman weaves together an engaging story, easy to read and enjoy. The stakes are high (the world is in danger) and it is very personal for one of their own. The 5 issues are spaced out well and it would seem to tie off some dangling story threads from past adventures. What it lacks is a sense of gravitas, an emotional depth or social conscious that would make it a ‘must read’. What we get is a fine comic story for fans. Artist George Perez is in some career best form here. The ‘prestige’ format must have been introduced with George Perez in mind because his work here leaps off the page. Recognition must also be given to colourist Adrenne Roy as well. Just flicking through the pages is enough to want to part with your money to give it a go. Marv Wolfman and George Perez makes an exciting team and those two names on the book alone is enough for a comic fan to want to see what a thrilling ride these two put together. These New Teen Titans issues were collected in a trade paperback called The New Teen Titans: The Terror of Trigon. Review links below:
Other Reviews:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/707904.The_New_Teen_Titans
https://www.comixasylum.com/comics/readers-lost-arc-terror-trigon/
Story Breakdown:
Evin Bryant, 20/10/2023