The Sidekicks Grow Up
written by Robert Greenberger
transcribed by vu

Long before Young Justice, they were the original junior Justice League. In their debut appearance (THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #54 June-July 1964), the Teen Titans consisted of Robin, Aqualad and Kid Flash; before long it would include Wonder Girl and Speedy - sidekicks all. The Titans' original series ran from 1966 to 1973, but when a 1974 revival wasn't a hit, it looked like their time had come and gone.

The Titans have some very dedicated fans, though, including writers Len Wein and Marv Wolfman, who worked on THE NEW TITANS in the late 1960s. After spending most of the 1970s as writers and editors at Marvel Comics, Wein and Wolfman returned to DC.

Before long, Wolfman proposed another revival of the Titans, along with a new direction, one informed in part by what Wolfman learned while at Marvel. This new version of the team would include both familiar characters and intriguing new ones; with none of the already-established regulars elsewhere, Wolfman was able to emphasize character development - without sacrificing action.

Wolfman and Wein were both excited by the possibilities, but now they need an artist who could bring their ideas to life. They turned to George Pérez, a consummate storyteller with a remarkable ability for drawing books with large casts. Pérez proved every bit as enthusiastic as Wolfman and Wein, handling both the action sequences and quieter scenes with equal aplomb.

The fresh approach to characterization and subplots meant that while the Titans were meeting Deathstroke, they also had the coming of Trigon the Terrible to deal with. New supporting characters, heroes and villains came fast and furious and they Titans left Earth or journeyed to dimensions beyond imagination more often than some heroes changed their socks. As connections between the Titans and their opponents were revealed, it became clear that this was more than a team; it was a family.

The New Teen Titans made their debut in a sixteen-page preview in DC COMICS PRESENTS #26 (dated October 1980), with THE NEW TEEN TITANS #1 following a month later. Within six months, the title was near the top of sales charts. Today, THE NEW TEEN TITANS seem to have marked the beginning of an era of reinvention for DC Comics, one that included CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, not so coincidentally by Wolfman and Pérez, along with Pérez's relaunch of Wonder Woman and, John Byrne's relaunch of Superman, Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's BATMAN: YEAR ONE, and others.

The team's popularity remained steady through the 1980s and include several spinoff titles. Wolfman wrote the titles almost without interruption for sixteen years. Working with artist including Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Eduardo Barreto, and Tom Grummett. The lasting impact of that Titans revival is still felt through the DC line today, a tribute to the strength of both the concept and the creators who executed it.

Today's version of the team, as seen in THE TITANS, is a logical extension of Wolfman and Pérez's work; the better known heroes like Nightwing and the Flash, have grown up while the new kids on the block contiues to intrigue readers as their personalities are revealed. The theme of a team as surrogate family, introduced by Wolfman and Pérez, continues every issue.

-Robert Greenberger.