Teen Titans

Did You Know?

• The original series was canceled with issue #43 (January–February 1973), then resumed with issue #44 (November 1976) before being canceled again with issue #53 (February 1978).
• The 1980s revival The New Teen Titans was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, who believed the series would only last six issues due to poor sales at DC Comics.

Publication history

The Teen Titans originated when Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West), and Aqualad (Garth) teamed up to defeat a weather-controlling villain known as Mister Twister in The Brave and the Bold #54 (July 1964) by writer Bob Haney and artist Bruno Premiani. They appeared under the name 'Teen Titans' in The Brave and the Bold #60 (July 1965), joined by Wonder Woman's younger sister Wonder Girl (Donna Troy). After being featured in Showcase #59 (December 1965), the Teen Titans were spun off into their own series with Teen Titans #1 by Haney and artist Nick Cardy. The series' original premise had the Teen Titans helping teenagers and answering calls. Comics historian Les Daniels noted that Haney 'took some ribbing for the writing style that described the Teen Titans as "the Cool Quartet" or "the Fab Foursome".' Green Arrow's sidekick Speedy makes guest appearances before officially joining the team in Teen Titans #19. Aqualad takes a leave of absence in the same issue. Neal Adams was called upon to rewrite and redraw a Teen Titans story which had been written by Len Wein and Marv Wolfman that would have introduced DC's first African American superhero, but was rejected by publisher Carmine Infantino; the revised story appeared in Teen Titans #20 (March–April 1969). Wolfman and Gil Kane created an origin for Wonder Girl in Teen Titans #22 (July–Aug. 1969) and introduced her new costume. Psychic Lilith Clay and Mal Duncan also join the group. Beast Boy of the Doom Patrol makes a guest appearance seeking membership, but was rejected as too young. The series explored events such as inner-city racial tension and protests against the Vietnam War. A storyline beginning in issue #25 (February 1970) saw the Titans deal with the accidental death of a peace activist, leading them to briefly abandon their identities to work as ordinary civilians. The series was canceled with #43 (January–February 1973). The series resumed with issue #44 (November 1976), introducing African American superheroine Bumblebee and former supervillainess-turned-superheroine Harlequin in issue #48, and the 'Teen Titans West' team in issues #50–52. The revival was short-lived and the series was cancelled as of issue #53 (February 1978), which featured an origin story where the heroes realized they had outgrown the name 'Teen' Titans and went their separate ways.

Titans Tower

Titans Tower is the headquarters of the Teen Titans, always shaped to resemble the letter T. The first tower, built by Silas Stone in New York City's East River, served as the base for The New Teen Titans and New Titans series until it was destroyed by the Wildebeest Society. A second tower was built in San Francisco, designed by Cyborg and constructed by the city council, and houses a memorial for deceased members. The latest tower is located in Blüdhaven, built over a destroyed prison, and serves as headquarters for a new team acting as world protectors after the Justice League's hiatus.

In other media

The Teen Titans appeared in a segment of The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure featuring Speedy, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, and Aqualad. Hanna-Barbera planned a TV series set in the Super Friends universe, but it was not produced. The New Teen Titans appeared in a 1984 Keebler PSA. A self-titled animated series featured Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy as founding members, with many honorary members. The team appeared in Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Sidekicks Assemble!" and partially inspired Young Justice. They were parodied in a Mad short and appeared in DC Nation Shorts. Teen Titans Go! (2013) featured the same five core members. A planned Teen Titans animated series set in the DC Animated Universe was abandoned. Two iterations of the Titans appeared in a live-action TV series, with members including Dick Grayson, Aqualad, Wonder Girl, Hawk and Dove, Jericho, Kory Anders, Rachel Roth, Gar Logan, Jason Todd, Rose Wilson, Superboy, and Krypto. The team appeared in the DC Super Hero Girls episode "#TweenTitans" and cosplayers resembling them appeared in My Adventures with Superman. The team also appeared in the film Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo.