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"Titans
Forever"
The New Teen Titans:
The Judas Contract
A DC Comics trade paperback review
By
Troy Brownfield
Writer:
Marv Wolfman
Pencils: George Perez
Inks: Perez, Dick Giordano, Mike DeCarlo, Romeo
Tanghal
More
Info: www.dccomics.com
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On
the eve of the Teen Titans getting their own animated series,
it's appropriate that we revisit what is probably the most
popular storyline in the team's history. Recently re-released
in trade paperback, "The Judas Contract" presents
a tale that absolutely floored fans in the early '80s with
several big twists. From this point forward, Spoiler Warnings
are on stun.
The
concept of having a new character join a team and become a
traitor was nothing new. The JLA had undergone it to an extent
with both Mark Shaw and the duping of Snapper Carr. The Legion
had Nemesis Kid. What made the "Judas" story so
compelling and unexpected was that Wolfman and Perez had worked
Tara Markov into the storyline months earlier. In fact, Wolfman
insists on calling Terra a "spy" as opposed to a
traitor; she was there to screw the Titans all along. Readers
were equally fished in.
The
stories included in the trade start before the actual concluding
arc, and that's great. It gives a build to the proceedings
and lets you see how the Titans have been deceived. Also,
they lay the underpinings for three big events: the departure
of Kid Flash, the first appearance of Jericho, and the assumption
of the Nightwing mantle by Dick Grayson. These were all huge
changes for the title, and were reflected elsewhere (the arrival
of Jason Todd, and Wally's eventual heroism and ascension
to The Flash in Crisis).
What
makes the trade so good is that the story is just as engrossing
now as it was almost 20 years ago. Perez's art is simply beautiful,
and Wolfman's characterizations have depth and intelligence.
In its prime, "The New Teen Titans" was one of the
best books on Earth; kids, this was its prime.
If
you've never read the New Teen Titans before, this is an outstanding
volume to begin with. It might lack a bit of the resonance
without the complete build-up, but I challenge you not to
feel for Changeling and his teammates when they see one of
their own come at them with murder on her mind. It's compelling
stuff, and it's a classic.
Troy Brownfield is the Editor-in-Chief of ShotgunReviews.com.
He would be really pleased with DC Direct figures of Nightwing,
Jericho, Terra and Deathstroke. Email him at psikotyk@aol.com
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