TEEN TITANS vol 4, #1 (2nd Print)

Teen Titans #1
Off the Presses, Scoop, Friday, July 25, 2003

Unless you've been hiding out for the past two weeks, you probably have heard that Teen Titans #1 sold out from DC nine days before it hit the stands. The newly revitalized title, written by Geoff Johns (Flash, JSA) and illustrated by the team of Mike McKone (pencils) and Marlo Alquiza (inks), was nearly impossible to find at cover price at Comic-Con International: San Diego, and the variant cover by Michael Turner (Fathom) was even harder to locate. Now the second printing is available, with a cover paying homage to the Marv Wolfman - George Perez era New Teen Titans #1. And other than a few team members, what does the latest Teen Titans have in common with its illustrious predecessor? Great story, great art and lots and lots of attention from collections. The Teen Titans cartoon is also up and running on Cartoon Network, so stay tuned.

TEEN TITANS #1 SOLD OUT AT DC 9 DAYS BEFORE GOING ON SALE
posted 07-07-2003 10:08 PM by MattBrady

TEEN TITANS vol 4, #1

Nine days before its on-sale date of July 16, TEEN TITANS #1 (MAY030201) has sold out at DC Comics. This makes four sold-out debut issues for DC in under three weeks.

"I couldn't be happier that the excitement for TEEN TITANS has grown so much, so fast," says writer Geoff Johns. "Mike McKone, Marlo Alquiza, Jeromy Cox, Eddie Berganza and everyone else involved have been pouring their passion into this book for months now and I can't wait for readers to see the results."

"The momentum that began with TEEN TITANS/YOUNG JUSTICE: GRADUATION DAY continues to build with this very early sell-out," says Bob Wayne, DC's VP - Sales & Marketing. "It's a strong indicator of reader enthusiasm for the series, so retailers should increase their orders on both TEEN TITANS and the TEEN TITANS/YOUNG JUSTICE: GRADUATION DAY COMPENDIUM."

DC has no plans to go back to press on TEEN TITANS #1 at this time.

Upcoming issues of TEEN TITANS are available as follows:

TEEN TITANS #2 (JUN030201) is solicited in the June Previews (Volume XIII #6) and is scheduled to be in stores on August 13.

TEEN TITANS # (JUL030211) is solicited in the July Previews (Volume XIII #7) and is scheduled to be in stores on September 10.

In addition, the TEEN TITANS/YOUNG JUSTICE: GRADUATION DAY COMPENDIUM (MAR035194) has been rush-solicited and is scheduled to be in stores on July 30. The COMPENDIUM collects TEEN TITANS/YOUNG JUSTICE: GRADUATION DAY #1-3 with eight story pages each from the sold-out TEEN TITANS #1 and OUTSIDERS #1.

Newsarama Note: The announcement by DC means that the publisher has sold out of its overprint volume, that is, it has no copies available for reorder, or in this case, advance reorder, from retailers. All stores that originally ordered copies of Teen Titans #1 will still receive them, and they will be on sale July 16th. If a store sells out of its copies however, DC will not be able to fill reorders.

Topic: EDITING TITANS: BEGRANZA TALKS DC'S TEEN HEROES
posted June 04, 2003 08:39 AM
by Alex Segura Jr.

(excerpt)

But getting back to the New Teen Titans, just how big a fan was Berganza of the Marv Wolfman/George Perez run? "Big time. Loved Beast Boy and Kori.. um, I mean Starfire," Berganza said. "It was just the coolest comic around. I couldn't wait for the next issue. I remember me and my best friend, Ron, being mad at each other, but because we had just gotten the latest issue we had to make up, so we could talk about it."

Compared to the other books Berganza was reading at the time, especially comics being published by DC, New Teen Titans had a bit more of a realistic touch, he says. "Praying this won't get me in trouble, this was a DC book that was being done like a Marvel book for the time," Berganza said. "I was a big fan of George's Avengers and Fantastic Four so to see him doing these guys was very cool. Also Marv was giving us real heroes with conflict, which wasn't always the case with other DC heroes at the time. Also let's not forget the diversity the book represented, not only in ethnicity but in the fact that Cyborg also represented the handicapped as well."

...

Obviously, given the team make-up, as well as the initial promotional art for the series (an homage to New Teen Titans #1, many people bring up the Wolfman/Perez Teen Titans run and compare it to the upcoming series. While Berganza understands the comparison, he notes the books will have their differences. "Marv and George's is a classic," Berganza said. "We can't hope to top what they did, but will be trying to recapture the excitement and the depth of character that they so masterfully produced. We're going to try to create a book that makes your jaw drop every time you get to page 22 and makes you want to come back for more. "That said, the big difference in tone of ours and theirs is that Geoff has set up that these Titans are younger, and for the most part weekend warriors. This goes back to the early days of the Teen Titans before Marv and George because by the time they got to them we were dealing with an older group. Our guys are kids and have a lot to learn. Cyborg, Starfire and even Beast Boy are there to help, but no one is perfect. It's going to be fun as everyone learns the ropes."

Topic: MIKE McKONE, ARTISTIC TITAN
posted 05-09-2003 01:26 PM
BY JENNIFER M. CONTINO

(excerpt)

Like a lot of other creators working in comics now, the third incarnation of the Teen Titans, Marv Wolfman and George Perez's New Teen Titans was a favorite of the artist. "I loved the Wolfman/Perez run and still look on in awe at the issues Garcia Lopez drew," admitted McKone, who also thinks his upcoming assignment on Teen Titans "will be better written than all the other comics out there!"

McKone doesn't plan on altering his artistic style for this series. "I'm not really altering it, but hopefully improving it a little here and there. The designs have to satisfy me, Geoff, and Eddie [Berganza], and the readers. I think so far we have three of the four and will find out in July if it's a full house."

TITANS AND JOHNS TOGETHER: GEOFF JOHNS TALKS TITANS
posted May 07, 2003 02:32 PM
by Alex Segura Jr.

(excerpt)

(Geoff) Johns' goal with the book is simple: Get people's attention. "Several members of the team have never been involved with the Teen Titans," Johns said. "They're being introduced to a group that, really, they aren't sure how it's going to work. My goal is to create a book that holds up as well as the Wolfman/Perez Titans hold up today.

"We're going to get people to sit up and take notice of the Teen Titans. It's not going to be a book laced with pop-culture references that will date it in three months, it's not going to be a book that just puts these heroes together and falsely creates friction or adventure. We're working hard on completely re-defining these characters and the whole concept of the Teen Titans and, quite frankly, the DC team book in general."

As for the first arc, remember who played a major role in the first adventure of the Wolfman/Perez team? "The first arc is called 'A Kid's Game,'" Johns said. "With Deathstroke. That's all I'll say."

[ Read more on Newsarama.com ]

TITANS TOGETHER PART ONE: GEOFF JOHNS EXCLUSIVELY TALKS 'TEEN TITANS'
by Arune Singh, Staff Writer
Posted: May 6, 2003

(excerpt)

Even though "Teen Titans #1" hasn't hit the shelves and fans haven't seen the majority of the first issue in preview pages, there's also some fans who seem to feel that this new series is following the Wolfman/Perez era too closely or that it's simply "Young Justice-Lite." Comments like these aren't new and Johns isn't at all unaccustomed to fans pre-judging his work, so he's not worried about a few unhappy fans affecting the good times that he feels readers will have once they begin reading the new "Teen Titans" series. "How do I respond to critcisms? I don't," says Johns firmly. "The book's not even out yet. We aren't going to re-tell Wolfman/Perez stories, but we are going to be more in line with that kind of progressive thinking with a modern day sensibility. They really pushed the envelope on what DC team books were all about back then, and that's what we want to do here. We're going to rope you in with the characters and keep you on the edge of your seat with every issue. This isn't 'New Teen Titans' and it isn't 'Young Justice.' It, of course, will keep the spirit of those two alive but it's going to be a book all it's own. Different outlook, pacing and dynamics."

TITANS TOGETHER PART DEUX: MIKE MCKONE EXCLUSIVELY TALKS 'TEEN TITANS' by Arune Singh, Staff Writer Posted: May 6, 2003 (excerpt) ...Like so many other professionals in the comic business today, Mike McKone was a fan of the Marv Wolfman and George Perez "Teen Titans" series when he was younger, something that definitely made this series more attractive to him. "Absolutely. It was the first DC book I read on a regular basis and having just re-read the majority of the run, it held up amazingly well. The characters were well developed with real emotional weight, the stories were focused and tight, and Mr Perez was making quantum leaps in his ability to convey this issue by issue."

TEEN TITANS #1
Written by Geoff Johns; art by Mike McKone and Marlo Alquiza; covers by McKone and Alquiza and Michael Turner.

The debut issue of DC's hottest new super-team, featuring guest appearances by Superman, Batman, The Flash, and Jay Garrick. What do teenage super-heroes do on the weekends? They hang with the Teen Titans. The invitations go out to a handful of reluctant heroes: Superboy, Robin, Impulse and Wonder Girl. Walk into the new Titans Tower with Cyborg and Starfire as they gather together the next generation of Titans in this explosive extra-sized issue at the regular-issue price. All orders will be filled with covers by Mike McKone and Marlo Alquiza (50 percent) and Michael Turner (50 percent).
40 pages, $2.50, in stores on July 16.

MIRACLE MAN
Monday, April 14

5 Questions With…Geoff Johns

(excerpt)

Wizarduniverse.com had a chance to sit down with Johns to get his take on the Titans, keeping up with his almost endless list of monthly titles and how he could even make Batroc the Leaper cool.

1. What kind of research did you do before you took on Teen Titans? Did you have to become a Mallrat for a few months to study up on how kids act?
No, not really. All I did really was I basically went back and read the first couple of years of the Marv Wolfman and George Perez run on Titans. I’d already read every issue of Superboy, Impulse and Robin, so I had them pretty much nailed. And then I just went back and read the Titans sourcebook. Other than a lot of reading, I just thought a lot about what it was like in high school for me, and then I started writing. I was already really familiar with Titans, so really it was just a case of refreshing myself and seeing where the Titans came from originally and what the team should be about.

Topic: Eddie Berganza: DC's OTHER Superman, Editor Eddie Beranza speaks with CWN
Posted: April 07 2003,17:30
posted by Caleb Gerard Offline

Eddie Berganza: DC’s Other Superman

Eddie Berganza, from looking at his current resume, seems to be the busiest man behind the scenes at DC Comics today. With the whole Super-family of titles a couple of new regular monthlies and a handful of minis is it any wonder that this interview took weeks to complete (oh, and I should add that Eddie was also on jury duty recently, so he’s civic AND hard working).
Under Eddie’s watchful eye Superman and his “family” have gone through changes that have caught the attention of not only the comic press but also mainstream press as well.
Anyhow, the less said at this end of the interview the better, so let’s see what’s up with Eddie Berganza. Oh, and please feel free to comment on the piece, but you’ll have to register 1st.

(excerpt)

NEW TEEN TITANS #1

TEEN TITANS vol 4, #1

CWN: You seem to have a fondness for the Titans (Teen or otherwise) when did this start for you?
EB: I think like most everyone, it was with Marv Wolfman and George Perez on NEW TEEN TITANS #1. That stuff was amazing and so different from everything else at DC at the time. And I'm a sucker for team books. I love character interaction.

CWN: Wolfman & Perez rocked the industry, no doubt. What are we going to be getting from this latest version of the Titans?
EB: Some great characterization from writer Geoff Johns. He excels at that. Don't believe me, just check out JSA, HAWKMAN and FLASH, and add a healthy dosage of action plus the amazing art of Mike McKone and Marlo Alquiza, and you have some pretty cool stuff. I've worked with McKone on SUPERMAN in the past and it's been great, but what he's doing on TITANS surpasses anything I've seen him do before. He's really into it. Fans of Marv and George's run will be really happy with this. Of the past incarnations this comes the closest to that, and at the same time Geoff is being extremely careful that this very NEW reader friendly.

CWN: You seem to have a fondness for the Titans (Teen or otherwise) when did this start for you?
EB: I think like most everyone, it was with Marv Wolfman and George Perez on NEW TEEN TITANS #1. That stuff was amazing and so different from everything else at DC at the time. And I'm a sucker for team books. I love character interaction.

CWN: Wolfman & Perez rocked the industry, no doubt. What are we going to be getting from this latest version of the Titans?
EB: Some great characterization from writer Geoff Johns. He excels at that. Don't believe me, just check out JSA, HAWKMAN and FLASH, and add a healthy dosage of action plus the amazing art of Mike McKone and Marlo Alquiza, and you have some pretty cool stuff. I've worked with McKone on SUPERMAN in the past and it's been great, but what he's doing on TITANS surpasses anything I've seen him do before. He's really into it. Fans of Marv and George's run will be really happy with this. Of the past incarnations this comes the closest to that, and at the same time Geoff is being extremely careful that this very NEW reader friendly.

DRESSED TO KILL DC offers a sneak peek at the new 'Teen Titans' (excerpt) CYBORG (Mike) McKone, who admits that the Marv Woflman/George Pérez run of the 1980s was one of the only comics he read as a kid, adopted his predecessor's initial design with a few tweaks. "Cyborg will be pretty close to the Pérez design, with a couple of modifications," hinted McKone. "We're giving him little LED battery indicators all over his body. And we decided to get rid of the garter belt."

ON THE RISE
MIKE MCKONE
written by Casey Seuas

QUOTABLE: It looks as though McKone's livin' his dream. "I was a big fan of the Marv Wolfman/George Pérez [New Teen] Titans," says the artist. "It was one of the only books I read as a kid. This is a great project to be on."

GEOFF JOHNS INTERVIEW
02-14-2003

The following is an interview with Geoff Johns. This interview was done via e-mail.

(excerpt)

Is the image released a promo image or the cover to issue #1?
Promo image. There will be a different cover on #1.

A light(ning) touch
by George Nelson
published in COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1525 (7 Feb 03)

Catching up with Geoff Johns

(excerpt)

Johns also expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming relaunch of Titans which will feature several of the characters introduced by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez in their own 1980 revival of the title.

"You could tell they really put a lot of energy and love in that book," he said. "They made them real and they gave them problems. For the first time, the characters felt like people instead of icons. I don't remember the last time a team that introduced so many new characters was so successful."

YOUTH QUAKE: Big Changes to DC's Youngsters
posted November 10, 2002 12:11 PM
written by michaelDORAN

(excerpt)

Teen Titans will feature the creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Mike (Exiles) McKone.

“This is like a dream project for Geoff,” said (editor Eddie) Berganza. “He’s told me the first year’s storyline, and it’s amazing. You won’t believe what he has planned.”

One thing the publisher does ask you to believe it the new team’s line-up, because they’ve already revealed it. The new series will star former YJ'ers Robin, Wonder Girl, Superboy and Impulse, along with former Titans Beast Boy, Cyborg, Starfire and Raven, though Johns tells Newsarama that won’t be the teams’s complete final line-up.

“I chose these characters specifically because, most of them are DC's new generation of teens (Superboy, Robin, etc.) and the others are favorite characters of mine, ones I gravitate toward,” Johns said, adding the line-up’s sort-of ‘resemblance-with-a-twist’ to Wolfman & Perez’ classic New Teen Titans line-up was both intentional and coincidence.

“Why Starfire and Cyborg (not teens) are present will all be explained in the book. And you'll be seeing a different kind of Raven. Plus we have some big plans for Superboy. “

[ Read more YOUTH QUAKE: Big Changes to DC's Youngsters ]

NEW TEEN TITANS #1

TITANS TOGETHER! GEOFF JOHNS TALKS ABOUT 'TEEN TITANS!'
by Arune Singh, Staff Writer
Posted: November 10, 2002

(excerpt)

Some fans might be skeptical, with all the different incarnations of the Titans, teen or not, in recent years and Johns says that he does have a unique perspective to bring to the book, but he can't go into too much detail yet. "I'm really focusing on the kids being kids, teenagers being teenagers and why they have to be together, but I can't really talk [New Teen Titans #1]specifics at this point," says Johns. "It's just too early and I don't want to spoil Judd's mini-series or our first arc. But I can tell you that I chose the characters for this book because those are the characters I gravitate towards and the reason they mirror the Wolfman/Perez era is because that's my favorite era, of course. No one said I had to take the characters - I chose them. And yes, before anyone points it out, I realize that Cyborg and Starfire are not teenagers. However, you'll be seeing a very different kind of Raven…"

[ Read more TITANS TOGETHER! GEOFF JOHNS TALKS ABOUT 'TEEN TITANS!' ]