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Fund It!: The New(er) Teen Titans

By | May 11th, 2011
Posted in Columns | % Comments


Teen Titans has had a bit of a tumultuous time. When the latest volume was started by Geoff Johns in the early 2000’s, it was easily one of DC’s best titles. Since then, it has somewhat stalled out, with plenty of terrible stories “gracing” the pages of the book that used to be one of DC’s most acclaimed. I gave Krul’s new run a chance, but it isn’t for me. Instead, I’ve thought up a team that could really get the book on track, and I think most Multiversity readers would agree with me. Unfortunately, there’s no way it would happen anytime soon, but if there’s a column for daydreaming, this one is it. Follow the cut for more.

I’m already hearing the protests. “If Teen Titans has been floundering so long, why even bother saving it? Let’s have something new, rather than a rehash of old ideas.” On the one hand, I agree with that mentality. On the other, Teen Titans has a place in the DC Universe’s history as the place for new, genre-defying advancements. I speak, of course, of Marv Wolfman and George Pérez’s legendary work on New Teen Titans. Along with Dennis O’Neil’s Green Lantern & Green Arrow, Wolfman and Pérez’s creation took DC Comics where they had never been before, pushing boundaries that had hitherto not been given the slightest bit of pressure. It’s such a shame, then, that the comic that defied expectations in the 80s is just stagnant and standard today.

While a variety of comics veterans could breathe new life into the Teen Titans franchise, I think it’s only appropriate that a more recent big name should helm this imaginary revamp. And who would be better than Multiversity-favorite Nick Spencer? Spencer has everything this title needs to become not just successful, but an excellent read once again. There are the obvious traits – a.k.a. he’s a brilliant writer who has been breaking ground on the various titles the big-name companies have thrown at him, all while writing some of the best creator-owned comics out there right now – there’s also something more subtle.

As I’m sure our readers know, Spencer has been writing the excellent Morning Glories. Okay, I’m sure you already see where I’m going with this, and what you’re thinking: “Subtle my ass. Just because he writes a book with teenagers in it, you want to slap him on another book with teenagers in it?” Well, yes, kind of, but there’s more to it than that. It’s not just because Spencer writes a book featuring teenagers, it’s because he does it damn well. I’m not just speaking about the quality of the title (though it’s awesome and you need to seriously consider what you’re doing with your life if you aren’t reading it): Spencer is able to write these kids that are so far from ordinary in a way that still keeps them believable as teenagers. They aren’t based on cliches, they aren’t just adults wrapped in a younger skin; they are young adults, struggling with all the problems that age presents… and then some. So why wouldn’t he be good for Teen Titans? Some of these characters are almost godlike in power, and Spencer could accurately capture that sort of effect on the character’s psyche. Like Wolfman and Pérez, he could (and should) introduce a few new characters, while keeping a couple of older ones. And, above all, he could give the book that Spencer touch, taking it places where it and over half of the DCU titles have never been before.

The artist of choice for this hypothetical relaunch has no sort of connection to Spencer, and I have no idea whether or not the two would work well together (I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t, either). Marcus To is an underrated gem of the comics industry, with some of the cleanest line work I have ever seen in print. I could go on and on about how much I love his work, but the particular reason that I chose him for this book is similar to the reason I chose Spencer: To draws age correctly. His teenagers look like teenagers. His adults look like adults. Hell, his children look like children (ask an artistic friend, that’s a difficult one to pull off). With a book where the majority of the cast is under twenty, you want them to actually look that way, rather than blend in as slightly shorter versions of their adult counterparts. Unlike many artists, To can do that. Not only that, but he needs something besides Red Robin – as much as I love his work on that book – to show the rest of the comic-reading community what he can do. Team him up with Spencer, and I can guarantee that you will be seeing To on a lot more big-name books.

Now, while most of these columns are complete flights of fancy, this one is even more imaginary than others. Spencer is currently, barring T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and his creator-owned work, Marvel-exclusive at the moment. As always, though, it’s fun to fantasize. One day…


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Walt Richardson

Walt is a former editor for Multiversity Comics and current podcaster/ne'er-do-well. Follow him on Twitter @goodbyetoashoe... if you dare!

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