This week, “The Lazarus Contract” launched from DC Comics, the latest event centered on DC’s premiere legacy characters, the Teen Titans. We’ve been covering it all week, and will do so all month. But this got us thinking about the Teen Titans, and their place in DC. Aside from the Justice Society, I would argue that no team is more important to DC’s history, legacy, and universe than the Teen Titans. They represent hope and the future in an industry that, lately, has been short on both.
But the team hasn’t always looked the same, or had the same goals. We’ve picked out six different eras to spotlight, and we want to know which one you, our fair readers, enjoy the most.
1. The original “sidekicks” era
You know the team: Robin, Speedy, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Aqualad. The sidekicks of the Justice League band together for adventures that tended to be a little more lighthearted and comedic than that of their elder statesmen partners.
2. The New Teen Titans
Marv Wolfman and George Perez introduced new characters (Cyborg, Raven, Starfire), while jettisoning others (Speedy, Aqualad) and created what is considered, by many, to be the definitive run on the property. This era also featured ‘The Judas Contract,’ widely regarded as one of the best superhero comics of all time.
3. Young Justice
The next generation of teenager characters, built around Tim Drake’s Robin, Kon-El’s Superboy, and Bart Allen’s Impulse, were often referred to as “Young Justice” instead of the Teen Titans, though they really were just the next generation of DC’s teen heroes.
4. The Geoff Johns Era
After “Young Justice” wrapped up, current DC CCO Geoff Johns took over the team, and merged some of the New Teen Titans (Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy) with some of the “Young Justice” kids (Wonder Girl, Robin, Impulse, Superboy) to create the most popular Titans book since “New Teen Titans.”
5. The New 52/Scott Lobdell Era
Let’s call this the ‘wipe out the history’ era – this team is somehow the first ever Teen Titans, and features a time-traveling Bart Allen Kid Flash, the ‘never really Robin’ Red Robin Tim Drake, plus some new characters like Bunker and Skitter.
6. ‘Rebirth’
Another hybrid team, led by Damian Wayne’s Robin, featuring the New 52 Wally West, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, and the “Brightest Day” Aqualad, Jackson Hyde. This one is quite new, but has been gaining rave reviews for its fresh approach to the classic team.
So, vote in the poll below, and give us your reasoning in the comments!
