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Teen Titans
Teen Titans
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Teen Titans
The Titans walking together.
Cover for Titans #1 (May 2023), art by Nicola Scott
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceThe Brave and the Bold #54 (July 1964)
Created by
In-story information
Base(s)
  • Titans Tower:
  • New York City (1980–1991, 1999–present)
  • Other:
  • Solar Tower, Metropolis (1997–1998)
  • USS Argus, Earth orbit (1994–1995)
  • Titans Liberty Island Base, New Jersey (1991–1994)
  • Gabriel's Horn, Farmingdale, Long Island (1976)
  • Titans' Lair, Gotham City (1966–1976)
  • San Francisco (2016–present)
Leader(s)Nightwing
Member(s)
Roster
See: List of Teen Titans members

The Teen Titans are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, frequently in eponymous monthly series. As the group's name indicates, the members are teenage superheroes, many of whom have acted as sidekicks to DC's premier superheroes in the Justice League. The original team later becomes known as the Titans when the members age out of their teenage years, while the Teen Titans name is continued by subsequent generations of young heroes. Created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani and first appearing in 1964 in The Brave and the Bold #54, the team was formed by Kid Flash (Wally West), Robin (Dick Grayson), and Aqualad (Garth) before adopting the name Teen Titans in issue 60 with the addition of Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) to their ranks.[1]

Over the decades, DC has cancelled and relaunched Teen Titans many times, and a variety of characters have been featured heroes in its pages. Significant early additions to the initial quartet of Titans were Speedy (Roy Harper), Aquagirl (Tula), Bumblebee (Karen Beecher), Hawk (Hank Hall), Dove (Don Hall), Harlequin (Duela Dent), and three non-costumed heroes: boxer Mal Duncan, psychic Lilith, and caveman Gnarrk. The series would not become a genuine hit until its 1980s revival as The New Teen Titans under writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez.[2][3] This run depicted the original Titans now as young adults and introduced new characters Cyborg (Victor Stone), Starfire (Koriand'r), and Raven (Rachel Roth), as well as the former Doom Patrol member Beast Boy (Garfield Logan) under his new alias of Changeling, who would all become enduring fan favorites. A high point for the series both critically and commercially was its "The Judas Contract" storyline, in which the Teen Titans are betrayed by their teammate Terra (Tara Markov).

The 1990s featured a Teen Titans team composed entirely of new members before the previous members returned in the series Titans, which ran from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Subsequent stories in the 2000s introduced a radically different Teen Titans team made up of newer DC Comics sidekicks such as Robin III (Tim Drake), Wonder Girl II (Cassie Sandsmark), and Impulse / Kid Flash II (Bart Allen), as well as Superboy (Conner Kent), some of whom had previously featured in the similar title Young Justice. Later prominent additions from this era included Miss Martian (M'gann M'orzz), Ravager (Rose Wilson), Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Kid Devil, Blue Beetle III (Jaime Reyes), and Solstice (Kiran Singh). Concurrently, DC also published Titans, which featured some of the original and 1980s members now as adults, led by Dick Grayson in his adult persona of Nightwing. Important storylines for the 2000s era of Teen Titans included "Titans Tomorrow" and the company-wide crossover Infinite Crisis.

In the 2010s, The New 52 reboot in 2011 added new characters Bunker (Miguel Jose Barragan) and Skitter (Celine Patterson) to the 2000s roster, although the volume proved commercially and critically disappointing for DC, leading to the return of the original Titans in 2016's DC Rebirth era, alongside a new cast of Teen Titans led by Robin V (Damian Wayne) alongside Aqualad II (Jackson Hyde) and Kid Flash III (Wallace "Ace" West), later joined by Red Arrow (Emiko Queen). Later storylines saw the elder Titans establish a Teen Titans Academy for young heroes and serving as the DC Universe's main heroes during Dark Crisis when the Justice League were declared dead.

The Teen Titans have been adapted to other media numerous times, such as in the animated television series Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go!, and the live-action television series Titans. Within DC Comics, the Teen Titans have been an influential group of characters taking prominent roles in all of the publisher's major company-wide crossover stories. Many villains who face the Titans have since taken on a larger role within the publisher's fictional universe, such as the assassin Deathstroke, the demon Trigon, and the evil organization H.I.V.E..

Publication history

[edit]
Teen Titans
Cover for Teen Titans #1 (Jan.–Feb. 1966),
art by Nick Cardy
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
Publication date
List
  • (vol. 1)
    January 1966 – February 1978[4]
    (vol. 2)
    October 1996 – September 1998
    (vol. 3)
    September 2003 – October 2011
    (vol. 4)
    November 2011 – June 2014
    (vol. 5)
    September 2014 – September 2016
    (vol. 6)
    September 2016 – November 2020
No. of issues
List
  • (vol. 1): 53
    (vol. 2): 24
    (vol. 3): 100
    (vol. 4): 33 (#1–30, plus issues numbered #0, #23.1 and #23.2)
    (vol. 5): 24 (plus two Annuals and a Futures End one-shot issue)
    (vol. 6): 47 (plus two Annuals and a DC Rebirth one-shot issue)
Creative team
Created by
Written by
Penciller
List
Inker
List

Original incarnation

[edit]

Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West) and Aqualad (Garth) team 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.[5] 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).[Note 1][6] 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.[7]

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'. The attempt to reach the youth culture then embracing performers like The Beatles and Bob Dylan impressed some observers."[8] Green Arrow's sidekick Speedy makes guest appearances[9][10] before officially joining the team in Teen Titans #19.[11] Aqualad takes a leave of absence from the group in the same issue,[11] but makes several later guest appearances,[12][13] sometimes with girlfriend Aquagirl.[14] Neal Adams was called upon to rewrite and redraw a Teen Titans story which had been written by Len Wein and Marv Wolfman. The story, titled "Titans Fit the Battle of Jericho!", would have introduced DC's first African American superhero, but was rejected by publisher Carmine Infantino.[15] 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.[16] Psychic Lilith Clay[17] and Mal Duncan also join the group.[18] Beast Boy of the Doom Patrol makes a guest appearance seeking membership, but was rejected as too young at the time;[19] existing heroes Hawk and Dove, a duo of teenaged superpowered brothers, appear in issue #21;[20] and time-displaced caveman Gnarrk aids the team in two issues.[21][22]

The series explored events such as inner-city racial tension and protests against the Vietnam War. One storyline beginning in issue #25 (February 1970) saw the Titans deal with the accidental death of a peace activist, leading them to reconsider their methods.[23] As a result, the Teen Titans briefly abandoned their identities to work as ordinary civilians, but the effort was quickly abandoned. Along the way, Aqualad left the series and the character of Mr. Jupiter, who was Lilith's mentor and employer, was introduced. He financially backed the Titans for a brief period. The series was canceled with #43 (January–February 1973).[24]

1970s revival

[edit]
Teen Titans #44 (Nov. 1976), relaunching the original series, art by Ernie Chan and Vince Colletta

The series resumed with issue #44 (November 1976).[25] The stories included the introductions of African American superheroine Bumblebee and former supervillainess-turned-superheroine Harlequin in issue #48[26] and the introduction of the "Teen Titans West" team in issues #50–52 consisting of a number of other teen heroes, including Bat-Girl (Betty Kane) and Golden Eagle.[27] The revival was short-lived and the series was cancelled as of issue #53 (February 1978), which featured an origin story.[28] At the end, the heroes realized that, now that they were in their early 20s, they had outgrown the name the "Teen" Titans. In the last panel, without speaking, they all go their separate ways.

The title appeared again in 1999 for Giant Teen Titans Annual #1 (1967) (ISBN 1-56389-486-6), a one-shot special that reprinted selected Silver Age stories in the 1960s-style 80-Page Giant format.

The New Teen Titans (1980–1996)

[edit]
New Teen Titans
Cover to The New Teen Titans #1 (Nov. 1980),
art by George Pérez and Dick Giordano
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
Publication date
List
  • The New Teen Titans:
    November 1980 – March 1984
    Tales of the Teen Titans:
    April 1984 – July 1988
    The New Teen Titans vol. 2:
    August 1984 – November 1988
    The New Titans:
    December 1988 – February 1996
No. of issues
List
  • The New Teen Titans:
    #1–40
    Tales of the Teen Titans:
    #41–91
    The New Teen Titans vol. 2:
    #1–49
    The New Titans:
    #50–130 plus #0
Main character(s)Robin/Nightwing
Cyborg
Kid Flash
Wonder Girl
Raven
Starfire
Beast Boy
Creative team
Created byMarv Wolfman
George Pérez
Written byMarv Wolfman
Penciller
InkerRomeo Tanghal

DC Comics Presents #26 (October 1980) introduced a new team of Titans, anchored by Robin, Wonder Girl, and Kid Flash and soon followed by The New Teen Titans #1 (November 1980). The series, created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, re-introduced Beast Boy as Changeling and introduced the machine man Cyborg, the alien Starfire, and the dark empath Raven.[29] Raven, an expert manipulator, forms the group to fight her demonic father Trigon and the team remains together.

Wolfman and Pérez's working relationship quickly evolved to the point where they were plotting the series jointly. Wolfman recalled that "once George moved to the same town I lived in, only five blocks or so away, we usually got together for lunch and would work out a story over the next few hours. In many cases I would then go home and write up a plot based on it, or sometimes George would take the verbal plotting we did and take it from there."[30]

The team's adversaries included Deathstroke the Terminator,[31] a mercenary who takes a contract to kill the Titans to fulfill a job his son Grant Wilson had been unable to complete. This led to perhaps the most notable Titans storyline of the era. 1984's "The Judas Contract", in Tales of the Teen Titans #42–44 and Tales of the Teen Titans Annual #3,[32] featured a psychopathic girl named Terra with the power to manipulate Earth and all Earth-related materials. She infiltrates the Titans in order to destroy them. "The Judas Contract" won the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for "Favorite Comic Book Story" of 1984[32] and was later reprinted as a standalone trade paperback in 1988.[33] Robin adopts the identity of Nightwing,[34] while Wally West gives up his Kid Flash persona and quits the Titans. It also featured the introduction of a new member in Jericho, Deathstroke's other son.

Other notable New Teen Titans stories included "A Day in the Lives...",[35] presenting a day in the team members' personal lives; "Who is Donna Troy?",[36] depicting Robin investigating Wonder Girl's origins; and "We Are Gathered Here Today...", telling the story of Wonder Girl's wedding.[37] Tales of the New Teen Titans, a four-part limited series by Wolfman and Pérez, was published in 1982, detailing the back-stories of Cyborg, Raven, Changeling, and Starfire. Wolfman wrote a series of New Teen Titans drug awareness comic books which were published in cooperation with The President's Drug Awareness Campaign in 1983–1984. The first was pencilled by Pérez and sponsored by the Keebler Company,[38] the second was illustrated by Ross Andru and underwritten by the American Soft Drink Industry,[39] and the third was drawn by Adrian Gonzales and financed by IBM.[40][41]

The New Teen Titans (vol. 2)

[edit]

The New Teen Titans relaunched with a new #1 issue in August 1984[42] as part of a new initiative at DC informally referred to as "hardcover/softcover". The New Teen Titans along with Legion of Super-Heroes and Batman and the Outsiders were the first and only titles included in this program. The same stories were published twice, first in a more expensive edition with higher-quality printing and paper distributed exclusively to comic book specialty stores, then republished a year later in the original format, distributed to newsstands. The title was renamed Tales of the Teen Titans with issue #41, while a new concurrently published series named The New Teen Titans (vol. 2) launched with a new #1 following the release of Tales of the Teen Titans #44 and Annual #3, the conclusion of the "Judas Contract" storyline. After both titles ran new stories for one year, with Tales of the Teen Titans #45–58 taking place prior to the events of The New Teen Titans (vol. 2) #1, and a filler issue reprinting a digest-only story and the original preview story from DC Comics Presents #26, the series began reprinting the first 31 issues of the "hardcover" series (sans several back-up stories focusing on Tamaran that ran in New Teen Titans #14–18), the first Annual, and the lead story from the second Annual, before being cancelled with issue #91.

Issue #1 of The New Teen Titans (vol. 2) created controversy when Grayson and Starfire were depicted in bed together, although it had been established for some time that they were a couple. The initial storyline, "The Terror of Trigon",[43] featured Raven's demon father attempting to take over Earth and Raven's own struggle to remain good despite Trigon's demonic blood inside her. Pérez left the series after issue #5.[44] José Luis García-López followed Pérez as the title's artist and Eduardo Barreto followed García-López. Paul Levitz scripted or fully wrote issues #28–33 to give Wolfman time to catch up on his writing after he fell behind by taking on Crisis on Infinite Earths and History of the DC Universe.[45]

Name changed to The New Titans

[edit]

Pérez temporarily returned with issue #50, when the series took the name The New Titans without the "Teen" prefix, as the characters were no longer teenagers.

Issue #50 told a new origin story for Wonder Girl, her link to Wonder Woman having been severed due to retcons created in the aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths. Pérez sketched through issues #55, 57 and 60, while only providing layouts for issues #58–59 and 61, with artist Tom Grummett finishing pencils and Bob McLeod as inker. Pérez remained as cover inker to issues #62–67. He would return for the series finale #130 (Feb. 1996) providing cover art. Issues #60 and #61 were part of a five-part crossover with Batman, "A Lonely Place of Dying" and along with issue #65, featured the debut of Tim Drake as the third Robin.

The brief return of Pérez and the addition of Tom Grummett failed to move sales for the book, which were starting to decline. Furthermore, the addition of Danny Chase (a teenage psychic) drew negative fan response due to his abusive attitude towards the rest of the team. Believing Wolfman had grown stagnant, DC assigned Wolfman a new editor, Jonathan Peterson, and gave Peterson authority to override Wolfman over the direction of the book.

With Peterson controlling the book's direction, the series was rapidly overhauled. The Wildebeest, a villain who used proxies and surrogates to hide his true identity while vexing the Titans, was expanded to a full army of villains called the Wildebeest Society and revealed to be a front for the remaining members of the supervillain group H.I.V.E. The group fell under the control of Titan Jericho, who in turn was being possessed by the corrupted souls of Azarath. During the "Titans Hunt" storyline that followed (#71–84), Cyborg was destroyed and rebuilt, along with being lobotomized; Danny Chase and Arella (Raven's mother) were killed and resurrected as the gestalt being Phantasm (an identity created by Chase early in the series); while Raven, Jericho, and Golden Eagle were killed. New character Pantha (based on plans for a female Wildcat character Wolfman conceived in the mid-'80s) joined the team, along with Deathstroke and Red Star. Deathstroke was also given his own solo book and the team received its first crossover tie-in since Millennium, with The New Titans #81 being part of the "War of the Gods" storyline.

Peterson also saw the launch of Team Titans, which featured a new genetically modified (and heroic) doppelganger of Terra and Donna Troy, who was depowered in the "Total Chaos" crossover. Peterson left the book before "Total Chaos" concluded, leaving Wolfman to deal with the fallout from Peterson's editorially mandated storylines, including the final break-up between Starfire and Nightwing as a couple, the return of Speedy as Arsenal, and the resurrection of Raven as a villain.

Following Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, the series saw a revamp: Nightwing was removed from the series by Batman editorial and a roster of new young heroes such as Damage and Impulse were inserted into the team to try and renew interest, along with Team Titan survivors Mirage and Terra II. New Green Lantern Kyle Rayner was also brought onto the title and given a prominent romance with Donna Troy, whose marriage with Terry Long had collapsed in the pages of Team Titans before the book's cancellation. Sales saw a collapse and despite several crossovers with other books (Damage, Green Lantern, Darkstars, and Deathstroke), the series was cancelled with issue #130. The series finale saw the return of Blackfire as an ally, as the Titans purged Raven of evil once again to prevent Raven and the revived Citadel Empire from reconquering the Vega star system.

The New Teen Titans and the Uncanny X-Men

[edit]

The New Teen Titans was widely thought of as DC's answer to the increasingly popular Uncanny X-Men from Marvel Comics, as both series featured all-new members and depicted young heroes from disparate backgrounds whose internal conflicts were as integral to the series as was their combat against villains. The two teams met in the 1982 crossover one-shot entitled "Apokolips... Now", which teamed Darkseid, Deathstroke, and Dark Phoenix against both teams. The story was written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Walt Simonson and Terry Austin.[46][47]

New Titans: Games

[edit]

In 1989, Marv Wolfman and George Pérez began planning a prestige format special, their first work together on the franchise since Pérez left after The New Teen Titans (vol. 2) #5. The project was put on hold when it was decided instead to have Pérez return to the main book as artist and for their first project back together to be "Who Is Wonder Girl?" instead.

Over the course of 1989 and 1990, Wolfman and Pérez continued to work on Games, with over half the project being completed. But the ascension of Jonathan Peterson as editor of the series, and Pérez moving off of New Titans to work on The Infinity Gauntlet for Marvel led to the book being shelved.

In the early 2000s, Wolfman and Pérez approached DC about completing the book as a stand-alone graphic novel. The book was completed in 2010 and published in 2011.

The plot had the New Titans be forced by King Faraday to go after a mysterious mastermind who forces his victims to play deadly "games" for his amusement. In the interim, Wolfman had rewritten the plot (most notably, changing the original ending where Nightwing personally executes the main villain of the series after his "games" result in the death of longtime Titan ally Sarah Simms and the maiming of Danny Chase) though retained several key details (the death of Simms and Chase losing his hands) and several additional twists (the introduction of a previously unknown sibling of Raven, the revelation that the main villain was a schizophrenic Faraday, and the destruction of Titans Tower) that make it impossible to fit into canon, resulting in the story being retconned to take place in an alternate universe.

Teen Titans Spotlight

[edit]

Due to fan backlash over the hardcover/softcover move to the direct market with the main title, a new newsstand Titans book was launched in August 1986 called Teen Titans Spotlight. The series was an anthology series and featured individual members of the Titans in solo stories, often spanning multiple issues. The series also focused on former members of the group (such as Hawk and Aqualad) and the Brotherhood of Evil, detailing the formation of the second version of the group. As the move to the direct market effectively limited The New Teen Titans ability to be part of company-wide crossovers, two issues of Spotlight tied into the Millennium crossover event, with the second issue being the coda for the event.

The series failed to catch on and was cancelled in 1988, along with Tales of the Teen Titans.

Team Titans

[edit]

The Team Titans were one of 100 groups sent back through time to prevent the birth of Lord Chaos, the son of Donna Troy and Terry Long. Their mission was to kill the pregnant Troy before she could give birth. Mirage, Killowat, Redwing, Terra, Nightrider, Prestor Jon, and Battalion made up the team.

Teen Titans (vol. 2) (1996–1998)

[edit]
Cover of Teen Titans (vol. 2) #5 (Feb. 1997), featuring the 1996–98 team, art by Dan Jurgens and George Pérez

Teen Titans was written and penciled by Dan Jurgens. It began in 1996 with a new #1 (October 1996), with Pérez as inker for the first 15 issues. Atom, who had become a teenager following the events of Zero Hour, leads the brand-new team (of Prysm, Joto, Risk, and Argent). Arsenal became a mentor about halfway through and Captain Marvel Jr. joins the team. The series ended in September 1998.

A contest was held in the letters pages to determine who would join the team. Robin (Tim Drake), won the vote, but editors on the Batman titles banned his appearance, forcing Jurgens to use Captain Marvel Jr. instead.[48] His inclusion failed to boost sales and the series was then cancelled.

Titans (1999–2003)

[edit]
Titans
Cover for Titans #1 (March 1999), art by Mark Buckingham and Wade Von Grawbadger
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
Publication date
List
  • (vol. 1)
    March 1999 – April 2003
    (vol. 2)
    June 2008 – October 2011
    (vol. 3)
    July 2016 – April 2019
    (vol. 4)
    May 2023 – present
No. of issues
List
  • (vol. 1): 50
    (vol. 2): 38
    (vol. 3): 36, 2 Annuals and a DC Rebirth one-shot
    (vol. 4): 20 (as of February 2025)
Creative team
Created byDevin Grayson
Mark Buckingham
Written by
Penciller
Inker
List

The team returned in a three-issue miniseries, JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative,[49] featuring nearly every Titan and showcasing the return of Cyborg. This led into Titans, written by Devin K. Grayson,[50] starting with Titans Secret Files and Origins #1 (March 1999).

This team consisted of Nightwing, Troia, Arsenal, Tempest, the Flash, Starfire, Cyborg, Changeling, Damage and Argent. One new member, Jesse Quick, joined. This team lasted until issue #50 (2002). The West Coast branch of the team, Titans L.A., appeared once, in the pages of Titans Secret Files and Origins #2.

Between Teen Titans and Titans, a new generation of young heroes formed a team in Young Justice, consisting of Superboy, Robin, Impulse, Wonder Girl, Secret, and Arrowette. The two series concluded with the three-issue miniseries Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day, which led to two new series: Teen Titans and Outsiders.

Teen Titans (vol. 3) (2003–2011) and Outsiders (vol. 3) (2003–2007)

[edit]
Cover to Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1 (July 2003), art by Mike McKone and Marlo Alquiza

Writer Geoff Johns' Teen Titans series began in 2003, after a three issue miniseries entitled Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day, which saw Lilith's death and Donna Troy sent to another world after seemingly dying, along with the disbanding of the 1998–2002 Titans roster and the Young Justice team. The relaunch came on the heels of the debut of the Teen Titans animated series on Cartoon Network and reflected DC Comics chief executive Dan DiDio's desire to rehabilitate the Titans as one of DC's top franchises. Launched at the same time was a companion series, a revived version of The Outsiders which featured Nightwing and Arsenal, along with several other Titans members (Captain Marvel Jr. and Starfire).

The series featured several of the main teenage heroes from the Young Justice roster (Robin, Superboy, Wonder Girl, Impulse) and Starfire, Cyborg and Changeling (now rebranded Beast Boy to reflect the cartoon). Raven later returned to the team, reborn in a new teenage body while Jericho was brought back, having escaped death by possessing and laying dormant inside his father Deathstroke's mind.

The series renewed interest in the Titans,[51] but drew sharp complaints due to shifts in the personalities of the various Young Justice characters. Most notably, the decision to have Impulse rebrand himself Kid Flash and the decision to Jettison his happy-go-lucky person in favor of a more serious personality. The series, under Geoff Johns, also dramatically retconned Superboy's origin with the revelation that he was a hybrid clone based on the combined DNA of Superman and Lex Luthor.

Under Geoff Johns, the Teen Titans were front and center during the build-up and events of the Infinite Crisis crossover. During the lead-in of the crossover, Donna Troy came back in a four-part crossover miniseries with The Outsiders called "The Return of Donna Troy" while Superboy and Cassie Sandsmark became a couple. During Infinite Crisis, Superboy was killed by Superboy-Prime, Cyborg was severely damaged by cosmic forces unleashed by Alexander Luthor Jr., Starfire was lost in space with several other heroes, while Kid Flash became lost in the Speed Force, re-emerging in the Flash uniform and having aged to adulthood after a failed attempt to stop Superboy-Prime.

One Year Later and the post-Geoff Johns Titans

[edit]

Following the events of Infinite Crisis, the Teen Titans fell into a state of chaos. Wonder Girl quit the group to join a cult she believed could resurrect Superboy, while Robin took a leave of absence to travel the globe with Batman and Nightwing. Beast Boy and Raven attempted to keep the Titans going, resulting in a massive open call membership drive that saw a large number of heroes come and join the roster, which was anchored by Beast Boy and Raven. New members include Miss Martian, Kid Devil, Zachary Zatara, Ravager, Bombshell (who like Terra I, was a traitor working for Deathstroke), Young Frankenstein, and Osiris.

During this period, Osiris was driven from the team due to a smear campaign launched by Amanda Waller after she manipulated him into killing a super-villain. The smear campaign against Osiris, along with the war between Black Adam and Intergang, led to Adam declaring war on the world. In the ensuing series of battles against the super-hero community, the Titans fought and lost a bloody battle with the villain, culminating in the deaths of Terra and Young Frankenstein. The deaths led to Beast Boy resigning from the team to join the Doom Patrol along with Herald and Bumblebee, while Raven took a leave of absence to purge Jericho of the dark forces that were corrupting him.

Robin and Wonder Girl eventually rejoined the Titans (now located in San Francisco, California) and helped foil Bombshell's plan to frame Miss Martian as Deathstroke's latest mole in the team and allowed Raven to cleanse Jericho of the corruption that had turned him evil. Geoff John's final arc on the series would introduce a new villainous "Titans East" team, led by Deathstroke and Batgirl Cassandra Cain.

Soon after, events related to the Countdown story arc impacted the Titans. Duela Dent and Bart Allen are killed; Cyborg leaves, and Supergirl joins and Blue Beetle is invited to train, but the two eventually leave, with the members joining the Justice League of America and Justice League International, respectively. The Titans fight the future, evil adult versions of the group (Titans Tomorrow) and Clock King and the Terror Titans, who are part of Darkseid's underground fight club for metahumans.

After the Batman R.I.P storyline, Robin leaves and Wonder Girl leads the team. Red Devil loses his powers after Brother Blood absorbs them. Miss Martian returns with several teen heroes liberated from the Dark Side Club. A new team is formed: Wonder Girl, Blue Beetle and the now-powerless Red Devil are joined by Kid Eternity and Static, with the new Aquagirl, Miss Martian and a reformed Bombshell signing up.[52][53]

In the Blackest Night crossover, several dead Titans are resurrected as members of the Black Lantern Corps. In the Titans: Blackest Night miniseries, an emergency team consisting of Donna Troy, Cyborg, Wonder Girl, Starfire, Beast Boy, Kid Flash and the new Hawk and Dove, is formed to defend the Tower. In the ensuing battle, Hawk is killed after her predecessor Hank Hall tears her heart out. At the end of the Blackest Knight crossover, Hank Hall is resurrected and resumes his partnership with Dove. In the main series, Ravager and Jericho fight their father Deathstroke and the dead members of the Wilson family, resurrected as Black Lanterns.

During this time, several back-up stories begin to run in the series: one called "The Coven", starring Black Alice, Zachary Zatara and Traci Thirteen and later, one starring Ravager.

Later storylines involve the corruption of Wonder Girl at the hands of various factors (designed to address complaints about the character's abusive attitudes towards her teammates post-Infinite Crisis), Kid Devil is killed in battle, while Kid Eternity is revealed to have been beaten to death by the Calculator after being kidnapped by him.

J. T. Krul became the writer with issue #88 and penciler Nicola Scott became the book's artist. The issue's teaser shows a line-up of Superboy, Wonder Girl, Raven, Beast Boy, Kid Flash and Ravager. The Titans undergo this roster change in issue #87, the final issue before Krul's run. Following a mission to an alternate dimension to rescue Raven, the team splits. Bombshell and Aquagirl are missing in action, Miss Martian is in a coma and she and a powerless Static leave with Cyborg to go to Project Cadmus to find a way to restore his powers.

Damian Wayne, the current Robin, is announced as a new team member,[54] officially joining in #89. A series for Static was announced.[55] In January 2011, new Titan Solstice debuted in the January 2011 Wonder Girl one-shot. She entered the main Teen Titans title following the crossover with the Red Robin series.[56] During the crossover, Tim asks the Titans for help in tracking down the Calculator after he tries to kill his friend, Tamara Fox. Tim rejoins the team as Red Robin (rather than Robin) but Cassie would remain the leader. Following this, Damian quits the team.[57]

The book concluded with a three-part storyline spanning issues #98–100, which saw Superboy-Prime return to destroy the team. A large group of former Titans arrived and the series ended with Prime trapped in the Source Wall. The remainder of the issue consisted of pieces of artwork showcasing the various Teen Titans who appeared in that incarnation of the title, contributed by various DC artists.

Titans (vol. 2) (2008–2011)

[edit]
Variant cover for Titans (vol. 2) #1 (June 2008),
art by Ethan Van Sciver

A second ongoing Teen Titans series, titled Titans, launched in April 2008 with a cover date of June 2008, written by Judd Winick.[58] The first issue was drawn by Ian Churchill and Norm Rapmund and the second was by Joe Benitez and Victor Llamas. The opening storyline follows the events of the Teen Titans East Special one-shot released in November 2007, revealing that Cyborg's team survived the attack, except Power Boy, dead after being impaled. The team's new line up consists of former New Teen Titans Nightwing, The Flash (Wally West), Donna Troy, Beast Boy, Raven, Cyborg, Red Arrow and Starfire.[59][60]

In the series' first story, Trigon makes a series of attacks on every member, former or current, of the Teen Titans and Trigon has "another child" that, unlike Raven, will assist him in his attack. After reclaiming Titans Island and establishing a headquarters on the East River, Cyborg sets out to create an East Coast Titans team. During a training session, the team was massacred by an unseen force. Though Cyborg survives, Titans' members past and present are attacked by demonic entities across the globe. Raven, sensing Trigon's presence once again, calls upon her former Titans allies to defeat her fiendish father.

After rescuing several Titans and questioning Trigon himself, the Titans learn that Trigon's three children have prepared his second invasion for him. Raven's three half-brothers – Jacob, Jared and Jesse – are responsible. Working as a team, the Titans thwart the Sons of Trigon and stop Trigon's invasion plan. Following this adventure, Raven chooses her adopted family over her biological family, Red Arrow decided to join his former teammates (although both he and Flash retain their JLA membership) and the Titans were back together as a team.

Following this, the team settles at Titans Tower (the New York base), to recover from the events. While Dick and Kory attempt to make a decision on where their relationship will lead, Raven and Beast Boy go out on a "not-a-date". During this, Raven reveals that since she faced her brothers, she has begun to feel as if she is losing control and slipping back under her father's influence. Although Beast Boy rejects the idea, he is unexpectedly blind-sided as Raven gives in to her darker side, under the influence of her half-brother's coaxing. Using her teleporting powers, she and the sons of Trigon vanish, leaving a distraught Beast Boy to warn the others. Using a gemstone that carries Raven's pure essence within it, the Titans free Raven of her father's evil. As a result, Raven leaves each Titan with an amulet that can be used to cleanse any evil influence from her body.

Following this, Jericho arrives, frantically asking for help to separate himself from Match's body. Jericho has turned renegade again and fights the Titans. He is under the control of the numerous people that he has taken command of over the years. Nightwing resigns from the Titans due to his new responsibilities in Gotham.

Brightest Day: Titans – Villains for Hire

[edit]
Promotional image for Titans: Villains for Hire Special featuring the team, art by Fabrizio Fiorentino

A Comic-Con announcement stated that Cyborg, Donna Troy and Starfire were leaving the team to pursue the JLA. Red Arrow, with his daughter Lian, has already relocated and is no longer involved with the Titans, but he got a spotlight in issue #23 after what happens to him in Justice League: Cry for Justice #5. After a series of spotlight issues,[61][62] Final Crisis Aftermath: INK writer-artist creative team Eric Wallace and Fabrizio Fiorentino took over. Deathstroke took over the team with the Tattooed Man and Cheshire.[63]

One of the new members included Carla Monetti a.k.a. Cinder, a young redheaded woman with the ability to manipulate fire. Osiris, a member during the One Year Later gap, who had been brought back to life after the events of Blackest Night, returned as a member. The final issue of the limited series, Justice League: The Rise of Arsenal ended with an advertisement stating that Arsenal's storyline would continue.

The team debuted in the one-shot issue Titans: Villains for Hire, where they are hired to assassinate Ryan Choi (the Atom) in his home in Ivy Town. The issue quickly became the subject of controversy due to Choi's violent death. Allegations of racial insensitivity dogged DC over the decision to kill off a relatively high-profile Asian character.[64]

Following the one-shot, in the team's inaugural storyline they were hired to assassinate Lex Luthor following the events of War of the Supermen. This is revealed to be a ruse set up by Luthor and Deathstroke to draw out the real assassin, a shape-shifter named "Facade", who had apparently killed and impersonated a woman on Luthor's security detail.

Following several adventures, the Titans are confronted by Ray Palmer and the Justice League for their hand in Ryan's murder. The Titans are nearly defeated, but manage to escape thanks to an intervention from the newly resurrected Isis.[65] Following the battle with the Justice League, Titans concluded with a two-part storyline which saw Jericho's return. The series ended with Arsenal battling Slade for control of the team and the Titans ultimately disbanding and Arsenal taking Jericho under his wing, leaving Slade alone once again.[66]

The New 52 (2011–2016)

[edit]

Cover for Teen Titans (vol. 4) #1 (November 2011),
art by Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund

DC Comics relaunched Teen Titans with issue #1 (cover dated November 2011) as part of DC's New 52 event, written by Scott Lobdell with former Justice League artist Brett Booth providing interiors. The relaunch was controversial, because it was originally designed as a direct continuation of the previous Teen Titans series before Dan DiDio declared that all previous incarnations of the Titans never existed; this in spite of the fact that early issues of the 2011 series (as well as "Red Hood and the Outlaws" and "Batwoman") made explicit mention of the previous Teen Titans teams.

The new team is formed by Tim Drake, now rebranded as "Red Robin" to protect teenage heroes from a villain known as Harvest and his organization N.O.W.H.E.R.E. A running theme for the 2011–2014 series was Harvest kidnapping young heroes for experimentation and enslavement as part of the villainous scheme for world domination.

The 2011–2014 series featured several crossovers, "The Culling", which had the team meet the Legion of Super-Heroes, as well as "Death of the Family", which focused upon a meeting of Batgirl, Red Hood and the Outlaws, and the Titans, as the Joker kidnapped Red Hood and Red Robin. The 2012 "Zero Month" issue provided the New 52 origin of Tim Drake, recasting him as a young computer hacker who was adopted by Batman to protect him from retaliation by the Penguin.

The 2011–2014 series and Scott Lobdell's writing drew negative reviews, though the Lobdell-created character Bunker was positively received by fans. Criticism included the meandering Harvest/N.O.W.H.E.R.E storyline; the introduction of Bar Torr, a futuristic fundamentalist Christian terrorist based on Bart Allen; and the elimination of the franchise's lore. The character of Raven and Trigon was originally embargoed by Lobdell, but the characters were brought back due to fan demand. The 2011 series also spawned a short-lived spin-off, The Ravagers, which ran for 10 issues and featured Beast Boy, Terra, and Caitlin Fairchild of Gen13 in major roles.

The series was relaunched in July with a new issue #1 with Will Pfeifer as writer. The series continued with the characteristics of the main characters, but ignored the events of the Ravagers spin-off, presenting Beast Boy both green and in line with his animated series characteristics. The series also added an African American version of the super-heroine Power Girl to the roster.

Due to the backlash against the removal of the previous incarnations of the Titans (and the ripple effect it had upon characters such as Nightwing and Donna Troy), DC launched a new miniseries called "Titans Hunt", which restored the original 1960s version of the Titans to canon. The series states that all memory of the original Titans was erased by Lilith to protect the team from Mister Twister. It also alludes to further reality alterations to the DC Universe; these are then picked up on in the DC Rebirth initiative, beginning a week after "Titans Hunt", which restores Wally West to canon, along with various aspects of the pre-Flashpoint continuity.

DC Rebirth (2016–2020)

[edit]
Cover of Teen Titans (vol. 6) #1 (Oct. 2016) by Jonboy Meyers

The June 2016 DC Rebirth relaunch established two Titans teams: the Titans, with Nightwing, The Flash (Wally West), Lilith, Arsenal, Donna Troy, the Bumblebee and Tempest; and the Teen Titans, consisting of Damian Wayne as Robin, Ace West as Kid Flash, Jackson Hyde as Aqualad, Beast Boy, Starfire and Raven. Titans writer Dan Abnett confirmed in an interview with Newsarama that Titans characters Hawk and Dove, Herald, Gnarrk, and others would be appearing in the new series as well.[67][68][69] After "The Lazarus Contract" event, Ace is fired from the Teen Titans and joins Defiance, Deathstroke's version of the Titans. However, Wallace returns to the Teen Titans in issue #14. In Super Sons #7, Superboy (Jon Kent) acts as a temporary member.

As part of the "New Justice" banner for DC Comics, both teams underwent changes in their roster, with Nightwing, Donna Troy, Raven, Steel (Natasha Irons), Beast Boy, Miss Martian and eventually Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner),[70] and Robin, Kid Flash, Red Arrow (Emiko Queen), Crush (Lobo's daughter), Djinn, and Roundhouse for the Teen Titans.[71] The Titans series ended its run at issue #36 (April 2019), while Teen Titans is ended its run in November 2020 at issue #47.[72]

Infinite Frontier (2021–2022)

[edit]

In the Teen Titans Academy series, the adult generation of Titans (Nightwing, Starfire, Donna Troy, Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Raven) serve as faculty of a new superhero academy designed to mentor the heroes of tomorrow. Its upperclassmen are the active Teen Titans squad (Bunker, Roundhouse, Crush, Kid Flash III, Red Arrow II, and Jakeem Thunder), while its new students include three bat-themed Gotham residents (the brawny Megabat, techy Bratgirl, and bat-like metahuman Chupacabra) collectively known as the Bat Pack; the established superhero Billy Batson / Shazam; paraplegic speedster Bolt; EMP-generating Brick Pettirosso; nonbinary ragdoll and apprentice to Doctor Fate, Stitch; Raven's star pupil, Dane; tubular shapeshifter Marvin "Tooby" Murakami; ice-wielder Summer Zahid; simian superhero Gorilla Gregg, nephew of Grodd; Hero dial wielder Miguel Montez; green-prehensile-haired Tress; and the amnesiac, super strong, Matt Price. As the new students and faculty of the academy attempt to establish their new school, they are plagued by appearances of someone assuming the costume of Red X, once worn by Dick Grayson and another mysterious copycat.

As time goes on, the team discover that Dane is the half-demon antichrist, and under the alias Nevermore (reflecting his similarities to Raven), is destined to bring about the apocalypse. In the first story arc's conclusion, the mysterious third Red X is revealed to be Brick, operating under the false belief that Dick Grayson is his father; he was manipulated by the second Red X, who bears a longstanding grudge against Grayson. Dane and Brick's attacks on the Academy cause the structure to collapse, but the students manage to prevent all but minimal casualties. Matt Price fires optic blasts in the final confrontation, indicating to onlookers that he may be a Kryptonian, but Grayson deduces he must be something else, as the blasts give off no heat. Teen Titans Academy is one of the series which leads directly into the events of the major company crossover "Dark Crisis", which sees Nightwing, the Titans, and the other younger heroes step up in the Justice League's absence to defeat a possessed Deathstroke's dark army and save the multiverse.

Dawn of DC (2023–present)

[edit]

Following the events of "Dark Crisis" and during the run of writer Tom Taylor on Nightwing, Superman approaches Nightwing with the proposition that he serves as the leader of the new superhero team who succeeds the Justice League following their disbanding. This leads to Nightwing unveiling a new Titans Tower in Blüdhaven with the team consisting of him, The Flash (Wally West), Donna Troy, Beast Boy, Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven. This will lead into a new Titans series written by Taylor and illustrated by Nicola Scott.[73][74] The Titans' first challenge brings them into conflict with Brother Eternity, a Tamaranean named Xand'r who used to work for the royal family of Tamaran before betraying them to the Citadel, whom has taken over the Church of Blood (now renamed the Church of Eternity) and infuses Tempest with a parasite to turn him against the team. This later leads to the events of Titans: Beast World where Amanda Waller and Doctor Hate (revealed to be Raven's demonic half having escaped her gem and taken on a new form styled after Doctor Fate) take advantage of Beast Boy becoming a Star Conqueror to defeat Brother Eternity's master, a Star Conqueror known as the Necrostar, and use him as part of a plot to transform the superheroes and supervillains into mind-controlled animals. Although the Titans do return everyone to normal, Waller frames the Titans as the culprits for the attack and confiscates the Hall of Justice. In addition, Hate defeats Raven during the incident, imprisons her in her own gem, and poses as her to infiltrate the Titans. Tempest, freed from the parasite, finally joins the team.

Titans Tower

[edit]

Titans Tower is the headquarters of the Teen Titans. The first tower was located in New York City, while later series depict it in California, usually the San Francisco Bay Area. Although the location and appearance of the tower has changed throughout the various series, there are a few defining characteristics, such as always being shaped to resemble the letter "T".

The latest Titans Tower is located in Blüdhaven, now being rebuilt over a destroyed prison. This acts as the headquarters for a new team of Titans, who now act as the world's protectors after the Justice League has gone into a hiatus.

Enemies

[edit]

Collected editions

[edit]

Silver Age Teen Titans

[edit]
Title Material collected Pages ISBN
Showcase Presents Teen Titans Vol. 1 The Brave and the Bold #54, 60
Showcase #59
Teen Titans #1–18
528 1-4012-0788-X
Showcase Presents Teen Titans Vol. 2 Teen Titans #19–36
The Brave and the Bold #83, 94
World's Finest Comics #205
512 1-4012-1252-2
The Silver Age Teen Titans Archives Vol. 1 The Brave and the Bold #54, 60
Showcase #59
Teen Titans #1–5
203 1-4012-0071-0
The Silver Age Teen Titans Archives Vol. 2 The Brave and the Bold #83
Teen Titans #6–20
400 978-1-4012-4105-6
Teen Titans: The Silver Age Omnibus The Brave and the Bold #54, 60, 83
Showcase #59, #75
Teen Titans #1–24
Hawk and Dove #1–6
880 1-4012-6756-4
Teen Titans: The Bronze Age Omnibus The Brave and the Bold #94, 102, 149
Batman Family #6, 8–9
Teen Titans #25–53
724 1-4012-7075-1
Teen Titans: The Silver Age Vol. 1 The Brave and the Bold #54, 60
Showcase #59
Teen Titans #1–11
360 1-4012-7508-7
Teen Titans: The Silver Age Vol. 2 The Brave and the Bold #83
Teen Titans #12–24
352 1-4012-8517-1
DC Universe Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 1 includes Teen Titans #20–22 192 1-4012-1917-9
Giant Teen Titans Annual #1 (1967 issue, published 1999) Showcase #59
Teen Titans #4
The Flash #164
Wonder Woman #144
80 1-56389-486-6

New Teen Titans

[edit]
Hardcovers Material collected Pages ISBN
DC Archives: The New Teen Titans Vol. 1 DC Comics Presents #26,
The New Teen Titans #1–8
230 1-56389-485-8
DC Archives: The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 The New Teen Titans #9–16,
The Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #18
240 1-56389-951-5
DC Archives: The New Teen Titans Vol. 3 The New Teen Titans #17–20,
Tales of the New Teen Titans #1–4
228 1-4012-1144-5
DC Archives: The New Teen Titans Vol. 4 The New Teen Titans #21–27, Annual #1 224 1-4012-1959-4
The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 1 DC Comics Presents #26,
The New Teen Titans #1–20,
The Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #18,
Tales of the New Teen Titans #1–4
684 1-4012-3108-X
The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 2 The New Teen Titans #21–37, 39–40, Annual #1–2,
Tales of the Teen Titans #41–44, Annual #3
736 1-4012-3429-1
The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 3 The New Teen Titans #38,
Tales of the Teen Titans #45–50,
The New Teen Titans vol. 2 #1–6,
The New Titans #50–61, 66–67,
Secret Origins Annual #3
792 1-4012-3845-9
The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 1 (New Edition) DC Comics Presents #26,
The New Teen Titans #1–20,
The Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #18,
Tales of the New Teen Titans #1–4
684 978-1-4012-7128-2
The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 2 (New Edition) The New Teen Titans #21–40, Annual #1–2,
Tales of the Teen Titans #41,
Batman and the Outsiders #5
656 1-4012-7762-4
The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 3 (New Edition) Tales of the Teen Titans #41–58, Annual #3,
The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #1–9
720 1-4012-8110-9
The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 4 The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #10–31, Annual #1–2,
Omega Men #34
768 1-4012-8930-4
The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 5 The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #32–49, Annual #3–4,
Infinity, Inc. #45,
Secret Origins #13, Annual #3,
Tales of the Teen Titans #91
744 1-77950-473-X
Trade paperbacks Material collected Pages ISBN
The New Teen Titans Volume 1 DC Comics Presents #26, The New Teen Titans #1–8 240 978-1-4012-5143-7
The New Teen Titans Volume 2 The New Teen Titans #9–16 232 978-1-4012-5532-9
The New Teen Titans Volume 3 The New Teen Titans #17–20, Tales of the New Teen Titans #1–4 224 978-1-4012-5854-2
The New Teen Titans Volume 4 The New Teen Titans #21–27, Annual #1 224 978-1-4012-6085-9
The New Teen Titans Volume 5 The New Teen Titans #28–34, Annual #2 224 978-1-4012-6358-4
The New Teen Titans Volume 6 The New Teen Titans #35–40, Tales of the Teen Titans #41, Batman and the Outsiders #5 200 978-1-4012-6576-2
The New Teen Titans Volume 7 Tales of the Teen Titans #42–48, Annual #3 224 978-1-4012-7162-6
The New Teen Titans Volume 8 Tales of the Teen Titans #49–58 264 978-1-4012-7496-2
The New Teen Titans Volume 9 The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #1–9 240 978-1-4012-8125-0
The New Teen Titans Volume 10 The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #10–15, Annual #1 216 978-1-4012-8824-2
The New Teen Titans Volume 11 The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #16–23, The Omega Men #34 272 978-1-4012-9520-2
The New Teen Titans Volume 12 The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #24–31, Annual #2 312 978-1-77950-471-5
The New Teen Titans Volume 13 The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #32–40, Annual #3, and Infinity, Inc. #45 336 978-1-77950-809-6
The New Teen Titans Volume 14 The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #41–49, Annual #4; Tales of the Teen Titans #91, and Secret Origins #13, Annual #3 416 978-1-77951-549-0
Terra Incognito The New Teen Titans #28–34, Annual #2 220 1-4012-7162-6
The Judas Contract The New Teen Titans #39–40, Tales of the Teen Titans #41–44, Annual #3 192 0-930289-34-X
The Terror of Trigon The New Teen Titans vol. 2, #1–5 134 1-56389-944-2
Who is Donna Troy? The New Teen Titans #38,
Tales of the Teen Titans #50,
The New Titans #50–54, select pages from #55,
the "Who Was Donna Troy?" back-up story from Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files and Origins 2003
224 1-4012-0724-3

New Titans

[edit]
Title Material collected Pages ISBN
Titans: Total Chaos New Titans #90–92; Deathstroke, The Terminator #14–16; Team Titans #1–3 360 978-1-4012-7864-9

The Titans

[edit]
Title Material collected Pages ISBN
JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative JLA/Titans #1–3
Titans Secret Files and Origins #1
192 1-4012-2776-7
Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1–3
(see also Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Death and Return of Donna Troy below)
55 1-4012-0176-8

Teen Titans (vol. 3) (2003–2011)

[edit]

Note: Issues #27–28, penciled by artist Rob Liefeld and written by Gail Simone, are not collected in any of the trade paperbacks and were reprinted in DC Comics Presents: Brightest Day #3 (Feb. 2011), which also included Legends of the DC Universe #26–27 (tying in with characters spotlighted in Brightest Day). Issues #48–49, which tie in with the "Amazons Attack" Wonder Woman story, are likewise not collected in any trade paperback.

Vol. # Title Material collected Pages ISBN
1 A Kid's Game Teen Titans vol. 3 #1–7
Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files and Origins 2003
192 978-1-4012-0308-5
2 Family Lost Teen Titans vol. 3 #8–12, ½ 136 978-1-4012-0238-5
3 Beast Boys and Girls Beast Boy #1–4 (1999 miniseries)
Teen Titans vol. 3 #13–15
168 978-1-4012-0459-4
4 The Future Is Now Teen Titans/Legion Special #1
Teen Titans vol. 3 #16–23
224 978-1-4012-0475-4
Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders Teen Titans vol. 3 #24–26
Outsiders vol. 3 #24–25, 28
144 978-1-4012-0926-1
Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Death and Return of Donna Troy Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1–3
Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files and Origins 2003
DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy #1–4
176 1-4012-0931-9
5 Life and Death Teen Titans vol. 3 #29–33, Annual vol. 3 #1
Robin vol. 4 #146–147
Infinite Crisis #5–6
208 978-1-4012-0978-0
6 Titans Around the World Teen Titans vol. 3 #34–41 192 978-1-4012-1217-9
7 Titans East Teen Titans vol. 3 #42–47 144 978-1-4012-1447-0
8 Titans of Tomorrow Teen Titans vol. 3 #50–54 144 978-1-4012-1807-2
9 On the Clock Teen Titans vol. 3 #55–61 160 978-1-4012-1971-0
10 Changing of the Guard Teen Titans vol. 3 #62–69 192 978-1-4012-2309-0
11 Deathtrap Teen Titans vol. 3 #70, Annual 2009
Titans vol. 2 #12–13
Vigilante vol. 3 #5–6
192 978-1-4012-2509-4
12 Child's Play Teen Titans vol. 3 #71–78 208 978-1-4012-2641-1
13 Hunt for Raven Teen Titans vol. 3 #79–87 978-1-4012-3038-8
14 Team Building Teen Titans vol. 3 #88–92,
Red Robin #20,
Wonder Girl vol. 2 #1
168 978-1-4012-3256-6
15 Prime of Life Teen Titans vol. 3 #93–100 200 978-1-4012-3424-9
Ravager – Fresh Hell Backup stories from Teen Titans vol. 3 #72–75, 78–82 144 978-1-4012-2919-1
Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Book One Teen Titans vol. 3 #1–12, ½, Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files and Origins 2003 368 978-1-4012-6598-4
Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Book Two Teen Titans vol. 3 #13–19, Legends of the DCU 80-Page Giant, Beast Boy #1–4, Teen Titans/Legion Special #1 320 978-1-4012-7752-9
Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Book Three Teen Titans vol. 3 #20–26 and #29–31 and Outsiders Vol. 3 #24–25 296 978-1-4012-8952-2
Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Omnibus Teen Titans vol. 3 #1/2-26, 29–46 and 50, Legends of the DC Universe #2 Titans Secret Files and Origins #2, Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files 2003, Beast Boy (1999) #1–4, Teen Titans/Legion of Super Heroes Special #1, Outsiders (vol. 3) #24–25, Robin (vol. 4) #146–147, Infinite Crisis #5–6 and Teen Titans Annual #1. 1426 978-1-4012-3693-9

Titans (vol. 2) (2008–2011)

[edit]
Vol. # Title Material collected Pages ISBN
1 Old Friends Titans East Special #1
Titans vol. 2 #1–6
200 978-1-4012-8428-2
2 Lockdown Titans vol. 2 #7–11 128 1-4012-2476-8
3 Fractured Titans vol. 2 #14, #16–22 192 1-4012-2776-7
4 Villains for Hire Titans: Villains for Hire Special #1
Titans vol. 2 #24–27
160 1-4012-3048-2
5 Family Reunion Titans vol. 2 #28–32, Shazam! #1 144 978-1-4012-3293-1
6 Broken Promises (cancelled) Titans vol. 2 #33–38, Annual vol. 2 #1 176 978-1-4012-3360-0
1 Titans Book One: Together Forever Titans East Special #1
Titans vol. 2 #1–11
320 978-1-4012-8428-2

The New 52 Teen Titans (vols. 4–5) (2011–2014)

[edit]
# Title Material collected Pages Publication date ISBN
2011–2014
1 It's Our Right to Fight Teen Titans vol. 4 #1–7 168 978-1-4012-3698-4
The Culling: Rise of the Ravagers Teen Titans vol. 4 #8–9, Annual vol. 3 #1, Legion Lost vol. 2 #8–9, Superboy vol. 6 #8–9 176 978-1-4012-3799-8
2 The Culling Teen Titans vol. 4 #8–14, DC Universe Presents #12: Kid Flash 192 978-1-4012-4103-2
3 Death of the Family Teen Titans vol. 4 #0, #15–17, Batman vol. 2 #17, Red Hood and the Outlaws #16 160 978-1-4012-4321-0
4 Light and Dark Teen Titans vol. 4 #18–23 144 978-1-4012-4624-2
5 The Trial of Kid Flash Teen Titans vol. 4 #24–30, Annual vol. 3 #2–3 256 978-1-4012-5053-9
2014–2016
1 Blinded by the Light Teen Titans vol. 5 #1–7 176 978-1-4012-5237-3
2 Rogue Targets Teen Titans vol. 5 #8–12, Annual vol. 4 #1 192 978-1-4012-6162-7
3 The Sum of Its Parts Teen Titans vol. 5 #14–19 144 978-1-4012-6520-5
4 When Titans Fall Teen Titans vol. 5 #20–24, Annual vol. 4 #2, Teen Titans: Rebirth #1 184 978-1-4012-6977-7

DC Rebirth Titans (vol. 3) (2016–2019), Teen Titans (vol. 6) (2016–2020)

[edit]
# Title Material collected Pages Cover Publication date ISBN
Titans
Titans Hunt Titans Hunt #1–8; Justice League vol. 2 #51, Titans: Rebirth #1 264 SC September 20, 2016 978-1-4012-6555-7
1 The Return of Wally West Titans: Rebirth #1, #1–6 168 March 7, 2017 978-1-4012-6817-6
2 Made in Manhattan Titans vol. 3 #7–10, Titans Annual #1, stories from DC Rebirth Holiday Special #1 152 September 26, 2017 978-1-4012-7377-4
3 A Judas Among Us Titans vol. 3 #12–18 168 February 20, 2018 978-1-4012-7759-8
4 Titans Apart Titans vol. 3 #19–22, Titans Annual #2 136 September 25, 2018 978-1-4012-8448-0
5 The Spark Titans vol. 3 #23–27, Titans Special #1 184 February 19, 2019 978-1-4012-8774-0
6 Into the Bleed Titans vol. 3 #29–36 192 June 25, 2019 978-1-4012-9167-9
Teen Titans
1 Damian Knows Best Teen Titans: Rebirth #1, #1–5 144 SC June 20, 2017 978-1-4012-7077-3
2 The Rise of Aqualad Teen Titans vol. 6 #6–7, 9–11 128 March 6, 2018 978-1-4012-7504-4
3 The Return of Kid Flash Teen Titans vol. 6 #13–14, 16–19, a story from DC Rebirth Holiday Special 2017 #1 152 October 9, 2018 978-1-4012-8459-6
1 Full Throttle Teen Titans Special #1, Teen Titans vol. 6 #20–24 160 April 9, 2019 978-1-4012-8878-5
2 Turn it Up Teen Titans vol. 6 #25–27, Teen Titans Annual vol. 5 #1, a story from Mysteries of Love in Space #1 144 October 29, 2019 978-1-4012-9467-0
3 Seek and Destroy Teen Titans vol. 6 #31–38 190 March 31, 2020 978-1-77950-008-3
4 Robin No More[75] Teen Titans vol. 6 #39–47 and Teen Titans Annual vol. 5 #2 256 February 23, 2021 978-1-77950-668-9
Miscellaneous
The Lazarus Contract Titans vol. 3 #11, Teen Titans vol. 6 #8, Deathstroke vol. 4 #19–20, Teen Titans Annual vol. 5 #1 136 HC November 14, 2017 978-1-4012-7650-8
SC July 24, 2018 978-1-4012-8097-0
Super Sons of Tomorrow Super Sons #11–12, Superman #37–38, Teen Titans #15 July 3, 2018 978-1-4012-8239-4
Dark Nights: Metal – The Resistance Teen Titans #12, Nightwing #29, Suicide Squad #26, Green Arrow #32, The Flash #33, Justice League #32–33, Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #32, Batman: Lost #1, Hawkman: Found #1 248[76] 978-1-4012-8298-1
Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth Justice League #10–12, Aquaman 40–41, Titans #28, Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1, Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1 203 HC April 16, 2019 978-1-4012-9101-3
Teen Titans/Deathstroke: The Terminus Agenda Teen Titans #28–30, Deathstroke #41–43 168 HC December 10, 2019 978-1-4012-9965-1
SC November 3, 2020 978-1-77950-236-0

Teen Titans Academy (2021–2022), Titans United (2021)

[edit]
# Title Material collected Pages Cover Publication date ISBN
Teen Titans Academy (2021–2022)
1 X Marks the Spot Teen Titans Academy #1–5 208 HC March 8, 2022 978-1-77951-281-9
2 Exit Wounds Teen Titans Academy #6–15 240 HC October 11, 2022 978-1-77951-569-8
Titans United (2021)
1 Titans United Titans United #1–7 200 SC September 27, 2022 978-1-77951-674-9
Titans United: Bloodpact (2022)
1 Titans United: Bloodpact Titans United: Bloodpact #1–6 160 SC January 3, 2024 978-1-77951-831-6

Titans (vol. 4), Tales of the Titans (2023), World's Finest: Teen Titans (2023-2024), Knight Terrors: Titans (2023)

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# Title Material collected Pages Cover Publication date ISBN
Titans (2023-present)
1 Out of the Shadows Titans #1-5 120 SC June 4, 2024 978-1-77952-512-3
2 Beast World Titans #6-7, Titans: Beast World #1-6 232 SC August 20, 2024 978-1-77952-812-4
3 The Dark-Winged Queen Titans #8-15 184 SC February 25, 2025 978-1-7995-0053-7
4 Hard Feelings Titans #16-20 136 SC June 24, 2025 978-1-7995-0190-9
5 Terminated Titans #21-27 136 SC November 25, 2025 978-1-7995-0287-6
Tales of the Titans Tales of the Titans #1-4 136 SC April 9, 2024 978-1-77952-714-1
World's Finest: Teen Titans World's Finest: Teen Titans #1-6 160 SC May 21, 2024 978-1-77952-514-7
Knight Terrors: Terror Titans Knight Terrors: Titans #1-2, Knight Terrors: Shazam #1-2, Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #1-2, Knight Terrors: Black Adam #1-2, Knight Terrors: Ravager #1-2 288 SC March 5, 2024 978-1-77952-568-0
Titans: Beast World Tour Titans: Beast World Tour: Metropolis #1, Titans: Beast World Tour: Gotham #1, Titans: Beast World Tour: Atlantis #1, Titans: Beast World Tour: Star City #1, Titans: Beast World Tour: Central City #1 192 SC August 20, 2024 978-1-77952-813-1

In other media

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Television

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The Teen Titans as depicted in The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure
The Teen Titans as depicted in their self-titled TV series
The Titans as depicted in the first season of their self-titled TV series (L–R): Gar Logan (Ryan Potter), Rachel Roth (Teagan Croft), Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites), and Kory Anders (Anna Diop)

Film

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Video games

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Miscellaneous

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See also

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Notes

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Teen Titans are a fictional superhero team in DC Comics, initially comprising young sidekicks of established Justice League heroes such as Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West), and Aqualad (Garth), who first united to combat threats beyond their mentors' scope. The group expanded to include Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) and others, establishing a roster focused on adolescent protagonists navigating independence, teamwork, and personal growth amid superhuman challenges. While early iterations in the 1960s and 1970s achieved moderate success, the team's defining era arrived with The New Teen Titans (1980–1988), written by Marv Wolfman and illustrated by George Pérez, which introduced iconic members like Cyborg, Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy, revitalizing the franchise through mature storytelling, complex character arcs, and commercial triumphs that ranked among DC's top-selling titles. This run's emphasis on interpersonal dynamics, including romances and tragedies like the betrayal in "The Judas Contract," set benchmarks for ensemble superhero narratives. Subsequent comic volumes and reboots, such as those in the 1990s and post-2000s, sustained the legacy, though none matched the Pérez-Wolfman peak in critical and sales acclaim. Adaptations extended the Titans' reach, with the 2003–2006 animated series blending Western comics aesthetics with anime influences to cultivate a broad audience, particularly among youth, through episodic adventures highlighting humor, action, and team bonds. Later media, including the comedic Teen Titans Go! and live-action Titans series, further amplified cultural visibility, though they diverged in tone from the source material's dramatic roots. The Titans' enduring appeal lies in their exploration of coming-of-age themes within a superhero framework, influencing DC's youth-oriented properties without overshadowing core Justice League narratives.

Premise and Origins

Concept and Creation

The Teen Titans were conceived in 1964 as a team of teenage sidekicks, drawing from the Silver Age trend of pairing young protagonists with established mentors to appeal to adolescent readers seeking relatable adventures independent of adult heroes. DC Comics editor George Kashdan commissioned writer to develop a story uniting select sidekicks, resulting in their debut team-up in #54 (cover-dated July 1964), penciled and inked by . In the issue's lead story, "The Thousand and One Dooms of Mr. Twister," Robin (Dick Grayson), (Wally West), and (Garth) independently investigate a weather-manipulating villain named Mr. Twister (Brom Stikk), whose powers stem from a and Native American artifacts, forging an ad hoc alliance without yet adopting a formal team identity. The narrative emphasized youthful initiative and camaraderie, contrasting the sidekicks' impulsive decision-making with the more calculated strategies of their mentors, which Haney later attributed to exploring teen autonomy in a context. The positive reception prompted a follow-up in #60 (July 1965), where the trio officially named themselves the Teen Titans after thwarting the , solidifying the concept as a distinct junior counterpart to the . Wonder Girl (Donna Troy), originally introduced as a in 1965, joined as the fourth member shortly thereafter, expanding the roster to highlight gender diversity among young heroes while maintaining the core focus on mentorship-derived powers and peer-driven heroism. This formation reflected DC's broader strategy in the mid-1960s to serialize ensembles, capitalizing on the commercial success of titles like The Justice League of America, though the Titans' lighter tone and emphasis on school-life interruptions differentiated them from adult-oriented teams. The concept's longevity stemmed from its grounding in verifiable Silver Age dynamics, where s like Robin had outsold solo hero books, prompting publishers to nurture youth-targeted narratives amid rising comic sales to teenagers.

Initial Formation and Early Iterations

The Teen Titans formed in The Brave and the Bold #54 (July 1964), when Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West), Aqualad (Garth), and Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) allied to defeat Mister Twister (Bromwell Stikk), a villain using enchanted Native American flutes to control weather and terrorize Hatton Corners by kidnapping its youth. After their success, the sidekicks pledged to operate as a permanent team of adolescent heroes independent of their mentors. The story, written by Bob Haney and penciled by Bruno Premiani, marked the debut of this ensemble, though the "Teen Titans" moniker was not applied until The Brave and the Bold #60 (July 1965). The group transitioned to its own anthology with a preview in Showcase #59 (December 1965/January 1966), followed by Teen Titans #1 (February 1966), scripted by Haney and featuring art by Nick Cardy, pitting the team against the ancient Mesoamerican beast-god Xochatan in a South American adventure tied to efforts. The bi-monthly series, published by DC Comics under editor Murray Boltinoff, ran for 43 issues until February 1973, focusing on standalone tales of teen rebellion, mentorship conflicts, and battles with foes like the or Ding Dong Daddy, while maintaining the core quartet's dynamic of youthful autonomy. Early iterations preserved the founding lineup through the late , with occasional guest appearances by peers like Speedy (Roy Harper), but shifts emerged in the early amid declining sales and cultural changes. By Teen Titans #50 (1973), the concept expanded to a bi-coastal structure with Titans West—a West Coast auxiliary including (later Omen), , Dove, (Bette Kane), and —formed to counter telepath Mister Esper's disasters in , allowing parallel operations while the original East Coast team addressed separate threats. This brief diversification reflected attempts to refresh the formula before the series' cancellation after #53, signaling the end of the Silver Age phase.

Core Characters and Team Composition

Founding and Iconic Members

The Teen Titans originated as a team of young superheroes, primarily sidekicks to established members, first uniting in #54 (cover-dated July 1964), where Robin (Dick Grayson), (Wally West), and (Garth) combined forces against the villain Mister Twister, who targeted teenagers with weather-manipulating powers. This encounter marked the proto-formation of the group, emphasizing themes of youthful independence and camaraderie among proteges of Batman, the Flash, and , respectively. The team's official debut as the Teen Titans occurred in their self-titled series' premiere issue, Teen Titans #1 (cover-dated February 1966), scripted by and illustrated by Nick Cardy, incorporating (Donna Troy) as the fourth founding member alongside Robin, , and . These characters—Robin as the strategic leader, providing super-speed, wielding aquatic abilities, and drawing Amazonian strength—comprised the core lineup, reflecting DC Comics' strategy to appeal to younger readers by showcasing teen heroes navigating autonomy from their mentors. Speedy (Roy Harper), Green Arrow's ward, joined as a recurring early member in subsequent issues, expanding the initial roster to five during the Silver Age. Subsequent iterations elevated certain members to iconic status, particularly the 1980 relaunch in The New Teen Titans #1 (November 1980) by writer and artist , which revitalized the franchise with a darker, more mature tone and introduced enduring figures like Starfire (Koriand'r), an alien princess with energy projection powers; (Victor Stone), a half-human technopath; (Rachel Roth), a empathic demon hybrid; and (Garfield Logan), a shape-shifting green-skinned teen. Retaining Robin (transitioning to Nightwing by 1984) as leader, this lineup of five achieved commercial dominance, selling over 1 million copies of early issues and influencing adaptations, due to its focus on interpersonal drama, diverse origins, and ensemble dynamics. These characters, alongside the originals, remain synonymous with the Teen Titans' legacy, embodying evolution from sidekick ensemble to standalone heroes confronting personal traumas and global threats.

Recurring Members and Expansions

The Teen Titans roster expanded beyond its founding members of Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West), Aqualad (Garth), and Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) during the Silver Age with the addition of Speedy (Roy Harper), who joined the team in Teen Titans #19 in February 1968, bringing archery expertise and Green Arrow's legacy to the group. Subsequent Bronze Age stories introduced civilian allies who gained superhuman abilities, including Mal Duncan, who debuted as a member in Teen Titans #26 in March-April 1970 and later adopted identities like Guardian and Herald, providing tech support and drum-based sonic powers. Karen Beecher, Mal's girlfriend, joined as Bumblebee in Teen Titans #50 in December 1977-February 1978, becoming DC's first Black female superhero with size-shifting and flight capabilities derived from experimental serums. Lilith Clay, a precognitive teen, integrated in Teen Titans #25 in October-November 1969, later rebranded as Omen with expanded psychic talents. Hawk (Hank Hall) and Dove (Don Hall), the mystical warrior brothers, affiliated recurrently starting in Teen Titans #31 in April-May 1971, contributing aerial combat and pacifist duality to missions. These additions diversified the team's dynamics, shifting from pure sidekicks to a mix of powered civilians and siblings, though membership fluctuated amid low sales and cancellations by 1978. The most transformative expansion occurred with the 1980 relaunch of The New Teen Titans #1 in November 1980, where writer and artist retooled the team by retaining Robin, , and while introducing four new recurring staples: Starfire (Koriand'r), a Tamaranean alien princess with energy blasts and flight; , a half-demon empath wielding soul-self projections for and ; (Victor Stone), a cybernetically enhanced athlete with super strength, tech interfaces, and sonic cannons following a lab accident; and (Garfield Logan), a green-skinned shape-shifter from animal forms, previously of the . 's debut predated the series in DC Comics Presents #26 in October 1980, but the full quintet of newcomers solidified as core members, elevating the Titans to a bestselling franchise with interpersonal drama and cosmic threats. This lineup persisted through the 1980s, spawning further recurrents like (Joseph Wilson), a vocal-mimicry possessor debuting in Tales of the Teen Titans #43 in September 1984, and Danny Chase, a telekinetic added in The New Titans #37 in November 1987. Post-Crisis expansions included branch teams like , initially conceptualized in the 1970s but formalized in Titans East Special #1 in September 2007 under Cyborg's leadership, featuring recruits such as Anima (Courtney Mason) with animated tattoos, (Isaiah), and Risk (Cody Driscoll) for regional operations on the U.S. East Coast. The 1999 Titans series aged the New Teen Titans cohort into adults, adding (formerly Speedy), Nightwing (evolved Robin), and Tempest (evolved ) as recurring elders mentoring younger heroes. These evolutions maintained continuity for legacy characters while accommodating reboots, ensuring figures like Starfire, , , and recurred across eras as foundational to the Titans' identity despite periodic roster overhauls.

Publication History

Silver Age Origins (1964–1973)

The Teen Titans originated as a team of teenage superhero sidekicks in The Brave and the Bold #54, published by DC Comics in July 1964, written by Bob Haney and illustrated by Bruno Premiani. The story featured Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West), and Aqualad (Garth) uniting to combat a criminal gang preying on orphaned children, establishing them as a provisional group akin to a junior Justice League without an official team name at that point. Their popularity prompted a return in The Brave and the Bold #60 (July 1965), where Haney and Premiani formally named the quartet the Teen Titans upon the addition of Wonder Girl (Donna Troy). The team launched its self-titled ongoing series with Teen Titans #1 in February 1966, scripted by Haney with art by various artists including Irv Novick and covers by Nick Cardy. The bi-monthly title emphasized youthful adventures blending superhero action with teen-oriented subplots, such as school rivalries, dating dilemmas, and identity struggles, while battling foes like the or animal-themed villains revived from ancient myths. Core membership stabilized around Robin as field leader, providing speed-based reconnaissance, handling aquatic threats, and contributing Amazonian strength, with occasional guest appearances by Speedy (Roy Harper) starting in issue #4 (May–June 1966). Over 53 issues through early 1973, the series maintained a lighthearted Silver Age tone, prioritizing ensemble dynamics and moral lessons over deep continuity, though sales fluctuations reflected broader market trends favoring edgier content. Haney's scripts often incorporated fantastical elements, like time-travel encounters or battles against Mr. Twister, a recurring antagonist from the team's formative tales. The run concluded with issue #53 (January–February 1973), entering hiatus amid declining readership and DC's shifting focus, though reprints in anthology titles sustained visibility. This era cemented the Teen Titans as a distinct property appealing to younger audiences, distinct from adult mentor teams.

Bronze Age Revival (1976–1980)

Following a hiatus since Teen Titans #43 in February 1973, DC Comics revived the series with issue #44, cover-dated November 1976. The creative team for the relaunch issue consisted of writers and Bob Rozakis, penciler Pablo Marcos, inker Bob Smith, and cover artist Ernie Chan. The story reunited the core lineup of Robin (Dick Grayson), (), (), (Garth), and Speedy (Roy Harper), who had been operating independently, through a scheme orchestrated by the villain Doctor Light to capture them individually. Rozakis took over as sole writer from issue #45 onward, with Marcos providing pencils for much of the run and various inkers including Smith and Don Heck contributing. The narratives emphasized team dynamics and social issues typical of comics, including Mal Duncan's confrontation with the entity in #45 and dimension-hopping adventures. A pivotal arc in issues #48–50 centered on the assassination of the Titans' mentor, industrialist Mr. , which led the team to question their purpose, temporarily disband, and engage in time travel to alter events before reforming. The revival incorporated existing supporting characters like and Guardian (Mal Duncan) while adding (Karen Beecher) as a full member in #50 and (Bette Kane) in #52. Antagonists encountered included the , the Joker's Daughter, and the Children of the Dream. Despite these efforts to reinvigorate the title with fresh threats and member expansions, the series struggled with sales and concluded after issue #53 in February 1978. This short run of 10 issues bridged the gap to the more successful 1980 relaunch under and .

The New Teen Titans Era (1980–1996)

The New Teen Titans launched in September 1980 with issue #1, written by Marv Wolfman and penciled by George Pérez, inked by Romeo Tanghal. This relaunch followed the team's introduction in DC Comics Presents #26 (October 1980), which previewed the expanded roster of Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West), Wonder Girl (Donna Troy), and newcomers Cyborg (Victor Stone), Starfire (Koriand'r), Raven, and Changeling (Garfield Logan, formerly Beast Boy). The series emphasized mature themes of team dynamics, personal trauma, and interpersonal relationships, distinguishing it from prior Teen Titans iterations. The creative team's collaboration drove immediate commercial success, with The New Teen Titans becoming DC Comics' best-selling title of the 1980s. Sales reportedly outpaced competitors, contributing to the franchise's revitalization amid the direct market era's growth. Pérez's detailed artwork, often featuring double-page spreads, enhanced the storytelling, while Wolfman's scripts explored character backstories through miniseries like Tales of the New Teen Titans (1982), which detailed origins for , , , and others. Key story arcs defined the era's narrative depth. "The Terror of Trigon" (spanning early issues including #4-6) introduced Raven's demonic heritage and her father Trigon's invasion threat, establishing cosmic stakes. "The Judas Contract" (1984, New Teen Titans #39-44 and Annual #3) featured the betrayal by teenage infiltrator Terra and her alliance with , culminating in a team rescue operation and Dick Grayson's transition to Nightwing in #39 (February 1984). These arcs, praised for psychological complexity, influenced subsequent team books. In June 1984, with issue #41, the title shifted to Tales of the Teen Titans to accommodate a new Baxter-format series, New Teen Titans volume 2 (starting September 1984), while maintaining continuity. Pérez departed as regular artist in 1984 to work on , though he returned briefly for issue #50. Wolfman continued scripting, adding members like (Joseph Wilson, Deathstroke's son) and addressing evolving threats from organizations such as Annual issues (#1-4, 1982-1985) expanded lore with self-contained stories. By 1988, issue #50 relaunched the series as The New Titans, dropping "Teen" to reflect the aging roster's young adult status. Wolfman helmed the run through its conclusion as New Titans #130 in , incorporating events like "Titans Hunt" (1989) and "" crossovers, though sales declined later in the decade amid industry shifts. The era's innovations in character development and ensemble storytelling set benchmarks for DC's team books, yielding over 130 issues and influencing media adaptations.

Post-New Teen Titans Developments (1996–2003)

The New Titans series, the continuation of the New Teen Titans under writers Marv Wolfman and various artists following George Pérez's departure, concluded with issue #130 in February 1996. In this final storyline, titled "Where Nightmares End," the Titans defeat Trigon, rescue Changeling (Beast Boy) and Raven, and subsequently disband, with members dispersing to address personal matters or join other teams. DC Comics briefly attempted a relaunch with a new Teen Titans ongoing series in late 1996, introducing a roster of inexperienced heroes—, Argent, Prysm, and Joto—revealed as half-human, half-alien hybrids created through a program by the extraterrestrial H'San Natall race. This version emphasized youthful inexperience and alien heritage but struggled with sales and creative direction, effectively ending after issue #13 in September 1998 without resolving its core arcs; surviving characters like Argent later integrated into subsequent Titans publications. From 1996 to 1999, former Titans operated individually or in limited team-ups within broader DC events, such as Zero Hour (1994 carryover effects) and Final Night (1996), but lacked a dedicated title. A pivotal crossover occurred in the JLA/Titans three-issue miniseries (December 1998–February 1999), written by Devin Grayson and penciled by Phil Jimenez. The story, "The Technis Imperative," depicts an alien entity called Technis (revealed as Cyborg's father, Silas Stone, assimilated by technology) manipulating conflicts between the Justice League and Titans, forcing generational clashes—e.g., Batman versus Nightwing, Wonder Woman versus Troia—while highlighting evolving hero dynamics and reconciliation. In July 1999, DC launched Titans volume 1 (#1–50, ending December 2002), shifting focus to a veteran lineup comprising Nightwing (Dick Grayson), Troia (), Flash (), Tempest (Garth), and (Roy Harper) from the original and New Teen Titans eras, supplemented by younger members like Argent, , and . Primarily written by with rotating artists including Mark Pajarillo and Mike McKone, the series explored mature themes such as parenthood ( raising daughter Lian Harper), romantic tensions, and recovery from traumas like Donna Troy's identity crises and Garth's magical burdens. Key arcs included battles against villains like and the , internal team fractures, and crossovers with , emphasizing the Titans' transition from sidekicks to independent leaders; the title averaged 15,000–20,000 monthly sales but faced cancellation amid DC's 2003 lineup adjustments tied to the Teen Titans animated series launch.

Geoff Johns Run and Modern Reboots (2003–2011)

Teen Titans Volume 3 launched in September 2003, written by Geoff Johns with art by Mike McKone, reestablishing the team as a group of young legacy heroes following the events of the Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day miniseries, in which the adult Titans disbanded after the apparent death of Cyborg and other losses. The core lineup consisted of Robin (Tim Drake), Superboy (Kon-El), Impulse (Bart Allen), and Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark), who formed the team to operate independently from their mentors, establishing a new Titans Tower headquarters in San Francisco Bay. Raven joined covertly in the first arc, revealed in issue #6, while Beast Boy (Gar Logan) integrated later, restoring elements of the classic New Teen Titans roster while emphasizing interpersonal tensions and growth among the teenagers. Johns' run, spanning issues #1–26 and resuming for #29–46 and #50, explored themes of legacy, identity, and emerging threats, including the Brother Blood cult storyline in issues #1–5, where the team confronted genetic manipulation and cult indoctrination targeting Wonder Girl. Deathstroke served as a recurring antagonist, clashing with the Titans in arcs like "The Future is Now" (issues #17–19), which depicted a dystopian timeline influenced by villainous interventions. The series tied into broader DC events, such as Infinite Crisis in 2005–2006, where Titans members participated in multiversal conflicts and the resurrection of Jason Todd, impacting team dynamics. Johns' narrative revitalized the franchise by blending high-stakes action with character-driven drama, contributing to increased sales and cultural relevance for the property. Following Johns' departure around 2006, subsequent writers including and Adam Beechen continued the series through its 100-issue run until October 2011, incorporating expansions like the addition of members such as and static, while addressing arcs involving the Terror Titans and the event in issues #92–100. This era maintained the modern reboot's focus on a rotating roster of teen heroes facing global threats, including crossovers with Outsiders and , but faced criticism for inconsistent creative direction post-Johns. The volume concluded ahead of the relaunch, solidifying the 2003–2011 iteration as a bridge between pre-Crisis legacies and contemporary DC continuity.

New 52 and Rebirth Eras (2011–2020)

Following DC Comics' The New 52 relaunch in September 2011, the Teen Titans series (Volume 4) debuted with issue #1, written by Scott Lobdell and illustrated by Brett Booth with inks by Norm Rapmund. The storyline centered on Tim Drake as Red Robin assembling a covert team to combat threats targeting young metahumans, initially recruiting Superboy (Kon-El) and later expanding to include Wonder Girl (Cassandra Sandsmark), Bunker (Miguel Barragan), and Solstice (Kiran Singh). Key antagonists included the organization N.O.W.H.E.R.E., led by Harvest, which conducted experiments on superpowered youths, culminating in events like "The Culling" crossover where the Titans allied with other young heroes against Harvest's forces. The series explored themes of isolation and mentorship under Red Robin's leadership, running for 30 monthly issues through April 2014, with annuals and specials extending the narrative. Post-2014, the title saw transitions, including a brief continuation under writer Will Pfeifer, but faced cancellation amid DC's shifting lineup before the Rebirth era. In June 2016, DC's Rebirth initiative restored select pre-Flashpoint continuity elements, launching Titans: Rebirth #1 as a lead-in, followed by the new Teen Titans series (2016) starting with Teen Titans: Rebirth #1 in September 2016. Written by with art by Jonboy Meyers, the Rebirth run featured (Robin) forcibly recruiting a team comprising Starfire, , , and (Wallace West) to counter global threats, beginning with a confrontation against . This iteration emphasized Damian's authoritarian leadership style, internal team conflicts, and battles with entities like the Demon Etrigan, spanning issues #1–20 through 2018. Subsequent creative shifts included writers Adam Glass and Robbie Thompson from 2018 onward, incorporating arcs such as "The Lazarus Contract" crossover with Titans and Deathstroke, where the team navigated time manipulation and family legacies involving Deathstroke. By 2019–2020, the series evolved with additional members like Crush (Lobo's daughter) and Roundhouse, focusing on interstellar threats and personal growth amid Damian's evolving role, before transitioning into the Infinite Frontier era. These runs prioritized younger heroes' independence while tying into broader DC events, though sales fluctuations led to multiple relaunches within the decade.

Infinite Frontier and Recent Developments (2021–Present)

In June 2021, DC Comics' relaunch preserved multiversal continuity while introducing new titles, including Teen Titans Academy, which debuted on September 8, 2021. The series, written by Tim Sheridan and primarily illustrated by Rafa Sandoval, portrayed veteran Titans—Nightwing, Starfire, , , and —as mentors at a New York City-based academy for emerging superpowered youths, incorporating students like Shazam, the Gorilla, and Roundhouse amid threats from groups such as the . Running for 15 issues until its conclusion in January 2022, the title emphasized themes of legacy and training but faced cancellation amid broader DC line adjustments. Following the event, which dismantled the structure, DC launched a new Titans volume on May 16, 2023, written by with art by and others. This ongoing series reunites the core New Teen Titans roster—Dick Grayson (Nightwing), , , Starfire, , , and Flash (Wallace West)—as they relocate to Titans Tower in to defend Earth independently, confronting threats like the Chaos Lords and internal team tensions. By July 2025, the series had reached issue #25, incorporating crossover elements such as the Titans: Beast World storyline from November 2023 to January 2024, where 's powers unleash a global animal mutation crisis testing the team's cohesion. Parallel developments included the six-issue World's Finest: Teen Titans miniseries (August 2023–January 2024), which retroactively explored the original 1960s team's exploits in a modern context, pitting Robin, , , , and Speedy against the . Additionally, tie-in projects like the Titans 2025 Annual #1 (July 30, 2025), focusing on Donna Troy's backstory, and a forthcoming Teen Titans: Together by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Piccolo (November 4, 2025) have expanded the franchise's narrative scope. These efforts reflect DC's strategy to evolve the Titans from sidekicks to frontline defenders, prioritizing ensemble dynamics over solo heroics.

Fictional Elements

Bases and Infrastructure

The Teen Titans' primary infrastructure revolves around Titans Tower, a multifunctional T-shaped headquarters featuring living quarters, laboratories, training arenas, hangars, and advanced computer systems designed for team operations and defense. The structure's design emphasizes self-sufficiency, with subterranean extensions in later iterations including medical bays and submarine access points. Titans Tower debuted in DC Comics Presents #26 (October 1980) within a prophetic experienced by Robin, but its first establishment occurred in The New Teen Titans #7 (February 1981), where a detailed cutaway illustrated its internal layout as a high-tech clubhouse funded through team resources and alliances. The original iteration was built by Dr. on Titans Island in New York City's East River following Cyborg's integration into the team during the early 1980s New Teen Titans run. Subsequent versions adapted to threats and relocations, with the first tower destroyed by Trigon in The New Teen Titans #5 (August 1981) and later seized after damage from the Wildebeest Society in the Titans Hunt crossover (1990). A second tower, rebuilt by as a holographic decoy atop a hidden underground facility on the same island, served from 1999 to 2002 before destruction by the villain during the Titans series. The third major iteration, constructed in with city council support post-[Infinite Crisis](/page/Infinite Crisis) (2005–2006), incorporated memorials to fallen members and , as depicted in Teen Titans #33 (2006).
Tower VersionLocationKey Events and Features
FirstTitans Island, , NYCBuilt by ; destroyed by Trigon (New Teen Titans #5) and Wildebeest Society (Titans Hunt); included apartments, labs, and hangars.
SecondTitans Island, , NYCHolographic surface over subterranean base; operational 1999–2002; destroyed by .
ThirdSan Francisco Bay, CAPost- rebuild; features founder statues and memorials (Teen Titans #33).
Prior to Titans Tower, Silver Age Teen Titans (1964–1973) lacked a dedicated base, relying on arrangements such as the Justice Cave or mentors' facilities like , reflecting the team's nascent, mobile structure without centralized infrastructure. Transportation assets include the T-Jet, a modular upgraded by for aerial and , reintroduced in modern runs as a high-performance rival to vehicles like the . In December 2024 storylines, the Titans shifted from Bludhaven's tower remnants to the Titans Tunnels, an underground network emphasizing stealth over overt structures.

Villains and Adversaries

, also known as Slade Wilson, serves as one of the Teen Titans' most persistent and formidable adversaries, debuting as a superhuman mercenary assassin in The New Teen Titans #2 (December 1980), where he was contracted by to eliminate the team. Enhanced by an experimental serum granting him enhanced strength, reflexes, and healing, employs tactical brilliance and advanced weaponry in repeated assaults on the Titans, often targeting Nightwing due to personal vendettas involving his children, such as the brainwashing of . His conflicts span decades, including alliances with the Titans' enemies and occasional uneasy truces, underscoring his role as a morally ambiguous operative driven by profit and revenge rather than ideology. Trigon, a multidimensional demon lord embodying pure evil, emerges as a cosmic threat and the archenemy of , whom he sired through her mother on the pacifist world of Azarath. First prominently featured in the "Terror of Trigon" storyline across The New Teen Titans issues #1–6 (1984), Trigon seeks interdimensional conquest, repeatedly attempting to possess Earth via as a gateway, forcing the Titans into apocalyptic battles involving soul-self manipulations and alliances with Azarathian forces. As ruler of over a hundred hellish realms, his invasions test the team's unity, with 's heritage providing both vulnerability and key defenses against his reality-warping powers. Brother Blood, the high priest and successive leader of the fanatical cult, antagonizes the Titans through ritualistic schemes and technological enhancements, debuting in The New Teen Titans #21 (July 1982) as a successor in a lineage of immortal villains who absorb knowledge and powers from predecessors. Often allying with or Trigon, Blood employs mind control, cybernetic upgrades, and blood-based mysticism to pursue domination, notably clashing with in arcs involving and cult expansions. His defeats highlight the Titans' resistance to organized , with each incarnation adapting tactics like to evade mortality. The H.I.V.E. (Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination), a covert terrorist organization masquerading as an elite academy, trains young supervillains and deploys them against the Titans, first encountering the team in DC Comics Presents #26 (October 1980) before major arcs in The New Teen Titans. Led by figures like the Queen Bee or Deathstroke, H.I.V.E. fields squads such as the Fearsome Five (including Psimon, Mammoth, and Shimmer) for espionage, assassinations, and global destabilization, emphasizing structured villainy over chaotic individualism. Their infrastructure, including underwater bases and indoctrination programs, poses systemic threats, culminating in repeated Titan infiltrations and dismantlings. Additional adversaries include the , a network led by the disembodied brain of and the Gorilla Grodd-like , who orchestrate animalistic and intellectual plots against teen heroes since the Silver Age; and Blackfire, Starfire's tyrannical alien sister from Tamaran, whose power grabs and betrayals exploit familial ties in interstellar conflicts. These foes collectively challenge the Titans' youth, loyalty, and heroism through personal, demonic, and institutional vectors.

Themes and Major Story Arcs

Recurring Themes in Team Dynamics

The Teen Titans' team dynamics frequently revolve around the concept of a surrogate family, where members provide emotional support amid personal traumas and superhero duties. Creator intentionally crafted the group to interact like real people, fostering relationships that mirror familial bonds rather than mere alliances. This approach, prominent in the 1980 New Teen Titans relaunch with artist , emphasized character backstories influencing group interactions, such as Raven's internal struggle with her demonic heritage straining team trust during the "Terror of Trigon" arc in issues #1-6 (1980-1981). Romantic entanglements often complicate operational cohesion, a recurring motif across eras. Dick Grayson's (Robin/Nightwing) relationship with Starfire, initiated in New Teen Titans #1 (1980), exemplifies how personal affections can both strengthen loyalty and provoke jealousy or division, as seen in tensions with other members like . Similarly, Garfield Logan (/Changeling) and Victor Stone ()'s bromance provides comic relief and mutual encouragement, counterbalancing heavier conflicts, evident in their banter during crises like the Judas Contract storyline (1984). Leadership transitions highlight themes of maturity and independence from mentors. Grayson's evolution to Nightwing in New Teen Titans #39 (1984) symbolizes the team's shift toward self-reliance, recurring in later runs where successors like or grapple with authority, often leading to power struggles resolved through collective growth. Betrayals, such as Tara Markov's (Terra) infiltration in New Teen Titans #26-28 and #37-44 (1982-1984), underscore recurring trust erosion, forcing the team to rebuild via forgiveness and redefined roles, a pattern echoed in post-Crisis and Rebirth eras. Interpersonal conflicts driven by diverse origins—alien (Starfire), mystical (), technological ()—foster themes of empathy and adaptation. Wolfman noted the Titans' "realistic" relatability stems from these dynamics, allowing young heroes to navigate identity crises collectively, distinct from the more hierarchical . This emphasis on emotional realism over pure action persists, influencing adaptations and reboots by prioritizing relational depth for character arcs.

Pivotal Storylines and Events

The "Terror of Trigon" storyline, spanning New Teen Titans #1-6 (1980-1981), established the revamped team's core dynamics under writers and artist , introducing Raven's demonic heritage and the invasion by her father, Trigon, which tested the heroes' unity and foreshadowed ongoing supernatural threats. This arc solidified the lineup of Robin, Starfire, , , and , emphasizing interpersonal conflicts alongside cosmic perils, and sold over 150,000 copies per issue, revitalizing the franchise commercially. "The Judas Contract," published across Tales of the Teen Titans #42-44 and Annual #3 (1984), depicted the infiltration and betrayal of the Titans by new recruit Terra, orchestrated by assassin (Slade Wilson), culminating in the team's near-destruction and Terra's sacrificial death to halt her rampage. This four-part saga, inking over 100 pages of Pérez's detailed artwork, explored themes of trust and redemption, introducing as a new member possessing body-control powers, and remains a benchmark for character-driven superhero narratives, influencing subsequent adaptations. In 2003, Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day miniseries (#1-3) by dissolved the veteran Titans roster following the apparent death of by a robot, paving the way for ' Teen Titans relaunch focused on younger members like Tim Drake's Robin, , and , with sales exceeding 100,000 for the debut issue. This event bridged eras, reintroducing Garfield Logan () and emphasizing legacy succession amid crossover chaos tied to larger events. Johns' "A Kid's Game" arc (Teen Titans vol. 3 #1-7, 2003-2004) chronicled the new team's formation post-Graduation Day, incorporating Raven's resurrection and battles against villains like , while "" (Teen Titans #17-19, 2005) flashed forward to a dystopian where the Titans evolve into authoritarian enforcers, critiquing unchecked heroism and impacting continuity through time-travel elements. These developments integrated the Titans into (2005-2006), where Cyborg's sacrifice and team fractures highlighted evolving threats from multiversal incursions.

Collected Editions

Early and Silver Age Collections

DC Comics has reprinted the Silver Age Teen Titans stories, spanning the team's debut in 1964 through the late , in multiple collected editions to preserve the original adventures of Robin, , , and . These collections capture the era's youthful team dynamics, written primarily by and illustrated by artists like and Nick Cardy, emphasizing teen independence from their mentors. The Showcase Presents: Teen Titans series offers affordable black-and-white trade paperbacks reprinting the full run's early issues. Volume 1, published in April 2006, collects The Brave and the Bold #54 and #60 (1964–1965), Showcase #59 (1965), and Teen Titans #1–18 (1966–1968), totaling over 500 pages of formative team formation and battles against villains like the Mad Mod. Volume 2, released in 2007, continues with Teen Titans #19–36 (1968–1971), The Brave and the Bold #83 and #94, and World's Finest Comics #205, introducing characters like Hawk and Dove while maintaining the Silver Age tone into the Bronze Age transition. For color reproductions, the and Silver Age Archives provide premium hardcover formats. The Silver Age Teen Titans Archives Volume 1 reprints early appearances, while subsequent volumes like the cover Teen Titans #6–20 alongside #68, highlighting Haney's scripts and Cardy's artwork from 1967–1969. These editions prioritize fidelity to original printings, appealing to collectors seeking high-quality scans of the issues. Modern compilations include the Teen Titans: The Silver Age trade paperbacks and omnibus. Teen Titans: The Silver Age Omnibus Volume 1, collecting #54 and #60, Showcase #59, and Teen Titans #1–11 (1964–1967), was released to consolidate debut-era tales in a single oversized edition. Volume 2 of the trade paperback series gathers later Silver Age stories, featuring foes like Captain Rumble, in a format accessible for new readers while preserving the period's campy, adventure-driven narratives.
Collection TitleFormatKey Issues CollectedPublication Year
Showcase Presents: Teen Titans Vol. 1Trade Paperback (B&W) #54, 60; Showcase #59; Teen Titans #1–182006
Showcase Presents: Teen Titans Vol. 2Trade Paperback (B&W)Teen Titans #19–36; #83, 94; #2052007
Teen Titans: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1Hardcover Omnibus #54, 60; Showcase #59; Teen Titans #1–11ca. 2016
Teen Titans: The Silver Age Vol. 2Trade PaperbackSelect later Silver Age Teen Titans issues2017

New Teen Titans and Subsequent Runs

The New Teen Titans (1980) series, written by Marv Wolfman and illustrated primarily by George Pérez, has been reprinted in a series of trade paperback editions by DC Comics, covering the run's 40 issues from November 1980 to March 1984. The first volume collects the team's debut in DC Comics Presents #26 (October 1980) and New Teen Titans #1–8 (November 1980–June 1981), introducing core members Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Starfire, Cyborg, and Raven amid threats like the Fearsome Five. Subsequent volumes include Vol. 2 (The New Teen Titans #9–20), Vol. 3 (#21–25 and Annual #1), and Vol. 4 (#26–33 and Annual #2), with later entries like Vol. 5 (Games and Who is Donna Troy?) and Vol. 6 incorporating Tales of the Teen Titans #41–50. Larger omnibus editions consolidate these materials for comprehensive reading. The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 1 (2011, revised 2017) gathers DC Comics Presents #26, New Teen Titans #1–20, Tales of the Teen Titans #1–4, and select anthology stories, spanning over 700 pages of early arcs including the origin of the team's Titans Tower headquarters. Vol. 2 extends to New Teen Titans #21–40, Annuals #1–2, and crossovers like Batman and the Outsiders #5, culminating in the "Terror of Trigon" storyline. These hardcovers, priced around $125–150, feature restored artwork and creator introductions, though some reprints note Pérez's detailed panels challenging modern digital coloring. Subsequent runs under the Tales of the Teen Titans (1984–1988, issues #41–91, renumbered from the original series) and The New Titans (1988–1996, #1–130) titles continued Wolfman's narrative, shifting focus to adult themes and lineup changes like Nightwing replacing Robin. Collections for these are fragmented; Vol. 7 of The New Teen Titans trades reprints Tales of the Teen Titans Annual #3 and #50–58 alongside The New Teen Titans (vol. 2) #1–9 (1984 miniseries). Key arcs like "The Judas Contract" appear in standalone trades such as New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, but much of The New Titans era—featuring events like the Titans Hunt (1988–1989, killing off members including Dove and )—remains uncollected in dedicated volumes, with select issues integrated into crossover titles like : The Terminator Vol. 1. DC has prioritized earlier Pérez-era material, leaving gaps in post-1988 runs due to lower commercial demand for issues.

Modern Era Collections

The New 52 relaunch of Teen Titans (2011–2014), written primarily by Scott Lobdell, was collected into five trade paperbacks covering the full run. Teen Titans Vol. 1: It's Our Right to Fight compiles issues #1–7, published September 5, 2012. Vol. 2: The Culling gathers #8–14, released February 5, 2013. Vol. 3: Death of the Family includes #15–17 and #0, issued November 20, 2013. Vol. 4: Light and Dark collects #18–23, dated July 17, 2014. Vol. 5: The Trial of Kid Flash assembles #24–30 plus Annuals #2–3, published February 18, 2015. DC Rebirth-era Teen Titans (2016–2020), featuring as leader and contributions from writers like and , appeared in at least four trade paperbacks. Teen Titans Vol. 1: Damian Knows Best covers #1–5 and the Rebirth one-shot, released March 14, 2018. Vol. 2: Turn It Up includes #6–7, #9–11, and Annual #1, published November 7, 2018. Vol. 3: The Return of compiles #13–14 and #16–19, dated May 29, 2019. Vol. 4: Robin No More collects #39–44 and Annual #2, issued April 27, 2021. Post-Rebirth developments under (2021–present) introduced spin-offs like Teen Titans Academy, written by Tim Sheridan, collected in and trade paperback editions. Teen Titans Academy Vol. 1: X Marks the Spot gathers #1–5 and the 2021 Yearbook, published January 4, 2022. Vol. 2: includes #6–15, released September 6, 2022. These formats prioritize accessibility for readers, with no omnibus editions announced for these runs as of 2022.

Adaptations in Other Media

Television Series

The Teen Titans' first television adaptation consisted of three seven-minute animated segments produced by Filmation as part of The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, which premiered on CBS on September 9, 1967. These shorts featured core members Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Wonder Girl combating villains in standalone stories, marking the team's initial foray into broadcast animation tied to DC's broader superhero lineup. The flagship animated series, Teen Titans, developed by , debuted on on July 19, 2003, and ran for five seasons until January 27, 2006. Drawing loosely from the comic books, the show followed Robin, Starfire, , , and defending Jump City from threats like while exploring teen interpersonal dynamics and personal growth. Its blend of action, humor, and emotional depth contributed to strong viewership, prompting the extension beyond initial four-season plans. However, Cartoon Network did not renew the series for a sixth season, with season 5 produced knowing it would likely be the last. A proposed rebranded "New Teen Titans" season was rejected by Warner Bros. Feature Animation executives. Cited reasons include declining ratings after season 4, toy licensing issues (Bandai held rights, but Mattel became CN's partner in 2006), and network/executive decisions. The series concluded with the episode "Things Change" (2006) and the film Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo as a finale. Teen Titans Go!, a comedic spin-off emphasizing the characters' off-duty antics and roommate squabbles over serious heroics, premiered on on April 23, 2013, and remains in production as of , making it DC's longest-running . The series retains the core five-member team but adopts a , parody-driven format targeting younger audiences with episodic, self-contained narratives. In live-action, Titans, created by , , and , launched on on October 12, 2018, before transferring to Max, concluding after four seasons in 2023. This darker, R-rated interpretation centers on Dick Grayson assembling a team including Starfire, , and to confront mature threats, diverging from youthful comics origins with gritty realism and adult themes. The series emphasized character backstories and psychological depth, earning praise for its tone amid mixed reception for visual effects and plotting consistency.

Films and Direct-to-Video

Teen Titans adaptations include a limited number of animated films, primarily releases produced by as part of the line, alongside one theatrical feature derived from the comedic Teen Titans Go! series. These productions draw from the team's origins, emphasizing team dynamics, villain confrontations, and character development, often integrating elements from broader DC lore.
TitleRelease DateFormatDirector(s)Key Plot Elements
Teen Titans: Trouble in TokyoSeptember 15, 2006 (TV premiere); February 6, 2007 (DVD) (TV movie), Heather A. Maxwell, Matt YoungbergThe Titans travel to to stop Brushogun and local criminals, uncovering a conspiracy involving the villain Daizo and his associate . The film serves as the series finale to the 2003–2006 animated series.
Justice League vs. Teen TitansMarch 29, 2016 joins the Titans after clashing with the ; the team battles Trigon, who possesses the League members, forcing an alliance to avert demonic invasion.
Teen Titans: The Judas ContractApril 4, 2017The Titans recruit Terra, who secretly betrays them to and in a plot for power enhancement, leading to internal conflict and a confrontation over loyalty.
Teen Titans Go! To the MoviesJuly 27, 2018Theatrical, The Go! Titans seek Hollywood fame but face Slade's scheme to divide heroes using mind-control; the film parodies tropes with meta-humor and celebrity cameos.
Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen TitansSeptember 17, 2019A anomaly pits the Go! Titans against the original animated series Titans, resolving through cooperation against shared threats in a style-blending crossover.
These films vary in tone: earlier entries like Trouble in Tokyo (the finale to the 2003–2006 series) align with the action-oriented 2003-2006 series, while DCAMU titles ( and The Judas Contract) adopt mature themes including betrayal and possession, rated PG-13 for violence and peril. The Go! films prioritize and self-referential , grossing $29.6 million domestically for the 2018 release despite a $10 million budget. No live-action theatrical films featuring the team have been produced as of 2025.

Video Games and Miscellaneous

The Teen Titans franchise has spawned multiple video games, largely as licensed tie-ins to its animated adaptations, with gameplay emphasizing action, beat 'em up mechanics, and character-specific abilities drawn from the source material. The inaugural console title, Teen Titans (2005), developed by Midway Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, was released on September 13, 2005, for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube, alongside a Game Boy Advance port on November 15, 2005; it features playable segments controlled by Robin, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy, recreating scenarios from the 2003 animated series such as battles against Slade and the Brotherhood of Evil. A sequel, Teen Titans 2 (subtitled Crisis on Teenage Earth for some platforms), launched on September 12, 2006, exclusively for Game Boy Advance, expanding on multiversal threats with side-scrolling action and team-switching mechanics. Subsequent games shifted toward the comedic Teen Titans Go! iteration, including Teen Titans Go! Figure! (2005) for Nintendo DS, a rhythm-based runner tying into the series' stylized animation, and mobile titles like Teeny Titans (2016) and Teeny Titans 2 (2018), developed by Pixel Vault, which blend match-3 puzzles with RPG elements featuring chibi-style Titans collecting over 100 characters. Teen Titans characters also appear in broader DC crossovers, such as Lego Dimensions (2015), where Raven and Beast Boy serve as playable DLC packs with gadget-based puzzles, and fighting games like Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013) and its 2017 sequel, integrating team members into roster battles with story modes involving multiversal conflicts. In miscellaneous media, the franchise includes novels published under DC's imprint, focusing on character backstories in prose format. Kami Garcia's Teen Titans: (July 2, 2019) depicts Rachel Roth's demonic heritage and psychic struggles prior to team formation, followed by Teen Titans: (September 3, 2019), exploring Logan's animal-shifting origins amid Hollywood fame. The series continued with Loves (July 7, 2020), Teen Titans: Robin (March 2, 2021), and Teen Titans: Starfire (November 1, 2022), each emphasizing interpersonal dynamics and pre-team adventures, illustrated by Picolo and aimed at YA audiences with themes of identity and isolation. Board and card games represent another adaptation avenue, such as the DC Deck-Building Game: Teen Titans expansion (2016) by , where players assemble decks using Titans like and to combat villains in a strategic card-battling format expandable from core DC sets. Tie-in junior novels, like Teen Titans Go! to the Movies: The Junior Novel (2018) by , retell the theatrical film's plot of the team's quest for Hollywood stardom, supplementing visual media with chapter-book narration for younger readers. The property has also inspired extensive merchandise lines, including action figures from and apparel, though these primarily serve consumer products rather than narrative extensions.

Reception and Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

The New Teen Titans series, launched in 1980 by writer and artist , achieved significant commercial success, ranking among DC Comics' top-selling titles and rivaling Marvel's in popularity during the early 1980s. This run revitalized the franchise, which had struggled post its original 1960s iteration, by introducing deeper character arcs and intricate storytelling that appealed to a broader audience beyond young readers. Critics lauded its narrative sophistication and Pérez's detailed artwork, crediting it with elevating the Teen Titans to a cornerstone of DC's lineup and influencing subsequent team dynamics. Later comic relaunches, such as the 2003 volume by and Mike McKone, garnered positive reviews for recapturing team camaraderie amid the post- era, though they did not replicate the 1980s commercial peaks. Subsequent runs in the and beyond received mixed feedback, with praise for modern character explorations but criticism for inconsistent plotting and deviations from foundational lore. The 2003–2006 animated series earned strong audience approval, holding an user rating of 7.9/10 from over 41,000 votes and a 92% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, for its blend of action, anime-inspired visuals, and character-driven episodes. However, some contemporary critics, like IGN's review of Season 1 scoring it 4/10, faulted it for underdeveloped plots and failure to match the comics' depth, despite its appeal to younger viewers through dynamic fight scenes and humor. Commercially, it boosted Cartoon Network's programming, paving the way for spin-offs. Teen Titans Go!, debuting in 2013, proved a massive commercial hit, with its pilot drawing over 3 million viewers and sustaining high ratings that led to renewals and over 400 episodes by 2024; its low-cost Flash animation enabled profitability, while the 2018 film grossed $52.1 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. Audience demand metrics showed it outperforming the U.S. TV series average by 36.5 times in recent years, driven by repetitive humor targeting preschool-to-tween demographics. Critically, it faced backlash for juvenile gags and perceived mockery of the source material, though showrunners highlighted its intentional parody and longevity as markers of success. The live-action Titans series (2018–2023) on Max achieved solid viewership, ranking fifth among originals with demand 38.8 times the platform average in 2021, and an rating of 7.5/10 from over 117,000 users. Reviews were divided, with aggregating a 55/100 from critics citing uneven writing and excessive tone, contrasted by fan appreciation for and fidelity to darker comic elements like Dick Grayson's Nightwing transition. noted its graphic violence and language as limiting appeal to older teens, underscoring its departure from family-oriented adaptations.

Fan Controversies and Criticisms

Fans of the 2003 Teen Titans animated series expressed widespread dissatisfaction with the 2013 spin-off Teen Titans Go!, criticizing its shift to comedic, low-stakes storytelling that lacked the action, character depth, and dramatic arcs of the original. Many fans viewed the new series as a of the source material, with episodes frequently parodying serious elements from prior iterations and directly addressing viewer complaints in a dismissive manner. This led to accusations that creators and disrespected the legacy, exacerbating tensions as the show replaced the more narrative-driven in production slots, which fans attributed to network decisions prioritizing cheaper animation. Despite commercial success, with over 300 episodes produced by 2025, the backlash persisted, including online campaigns and petitions decrying the "childish humor" and perceived degradation of characters like Robin and Starfire into one-note gag vehicles. The 2018 HBO Max live-action series Titans faced significant pre-release controversy over casting choices, particularly Anna Diop as Starfire, prompting racist online harassment from some comic fans who objected to the deviation from the character's traditional orange-skinned, alien depiction in source material. Supporters countered that the backlash reflected unrealistic expectations tied to animated adaptations rather than comics, where Starfire's appearance varies, but the incident highlighted divisions between purists and those open to reinterpretations. Further criticisms included the show's grim tone, —such as Dick Grayson's stabbing of —and deviations like early kills of comic staples, which alienated fans expecting lighter team dynamics akin to the 2003 series. The 2023 cancellation after four seasons drew threats from viewers to unsubscribe from HBO Max, underscoring frustration with abrupt endings amid DC's streaming shifts. Comic reboots have also sparked fan ire, notably the 2011 Teen Titans run, derided for unlikable character portrayals—such as diminishing Tim Drake's intellect—and convoluted plots that failed to recapture the ensemble chemistry of and George Pérez's 1980s series. Recent iterations, including post-2011 volumes, have been lambasted for inconsistent writing and lack of innovation, with fans arguing the team has languished without compelling narratives for two decades. These disputes often center on fidelity to established lore versus modernization, with older runs praised for but critiqued for dated in dialogue.

Cultural Impact and Influence

The Teen Titans franchise has profoundly shaped superhero storytelling by transitioning characters from Justice League sidekicks to autonomous young heroes grappling with identity, trauma, and interpersonal conflicts, a model that paralleled Marvel's X-Men in appealing to adolescent readers through relatable teen melodramas. This evolution, evident from the team's debut in The Brave and the Bold #54 on July 19, 1964, influenced DC's broader narrative strategies, emphasizing ensemble dynamics over solo exploits and paving the way for youth-focused team books. The 1980s New Teen Titans run by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, launching with issue #1 in September 1980, marked a commercial turning point, overcoming initial sluggish sales to become a blockbuster that expanded the team's fanbase across ages and boosted DC's market position. In animation, the 2003 Teen Titans series, premiering on on July 19, 2003, bridged Western and Japanese styles by incorporating -inspired action sequences, character designs, and pacing, which contributed to the network's early-2000s adaptation surge and garnered enough viewership to extend from four planned seasons to five, ending January 7, 2006. Its stylistic innovations influenced subsequent DC animated projects and helped mainstream hybrid animation for younger demographics, fostering nostalgia-driven revivals like Teen Titans Go! in 2013, which achieved commercial longevity through low production costs and high episode output despite polarizing humor. Culturally, the Titans' emphasis on flawed, evolving protagonists has permeated merchandise, conventions, and fan communities, with the franchise sustaining DC's teen superhero archetype amid fluctuating comic sales—such as Teen Titans titles ranking among top sellers in periods like July 2023—while inspiring parodies and discussions on youth autonomy in media. The live-action Titans series, debuting October 12, 2018, on DC Universe, extended this by exploring grittier tones, reinforcing the team's role in diversifying superhero representations beyond adult mentors. Overall, these elements have cemented the Teen Titans as a benchmark for generational superhero narratives, with sustained engagement evident in ongoing adaptations and collector markets.

References

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