SDCC DAY 2: TEEN TITANS 25TH ANNIVERSARY PANEL

[MattBrady]

Friday’s Teen Titans 25th Anniversary panel at Comic Con International: San Diego saw the room packed as Nick Cardy, Marv Wolfman, Geoff Johns, Glenn Murakami, and Barb Kesel talked Titans old and new, in print and animated.

Kesel, Wolfman’s former editor on New Teen Titans hosted the panel, and began by asking each panelist to introduce themselves and given a Titans anecdote.

After introducing himself, original Teen Titans artist Cardy said that if he had any regret about the Titans, it was not giving the characters distinctive silhouettes, saying that, if he had to do it again, he would have made the Flash a little skinnier, and Aqualad huskier, to reflect the muscular build a lifetime spent swimming would create.

While the bulk of the younger panel attendees knew Wolfman from his New Teen Titans days, he reminded everyone that he did in fact, begin with the original Teen Titans series, debuting with issue #18 of the first series, which saw the debut of the Russian teen hero, Starfire. Wolfman also wrote the original origin story fro Wonder Girl in 1971, but then shortly after, as he explained, left for Marvel, remained there for a number of years, and then left, and in 1980, pitched New Teen Titans at DC, along with George Perez who he, as Wolfman said, dragged out of the Marvel offices.

After introducing himself Geoff Johns praised Wolfman, saying that his writing has served as an inspiration and influence on him over the years.

Murakami said that he, like Johns, was a fan of the Wolfman/Perez comic series growing up, and lept at the chance to develop the group of heroes as an animated series when the opportunity was presented to him.

Favorite characters of the creators? Murakami: Robin; Johns: Cyborg; Wolfman – of the ones he didn’t create, Wonder Girl, of the ones he created, Raven; and Cardy – Wonder Girl. Cardy added that he receives so many requests to sketch Wonder Girl at conventions that this time, he came pre-loaded with sketches of Wonder Girl prepared – but with no hair. As Cardy explained it, fans are split fairly 50/50 on liking his Wonder Girl with a pony tail or with her hair down.

After the introductory comments, Kesel opened the floor to questions. From the starting blocks, Johns was asked why Omen was killed in Graduation Day, and whether the returned Donna Troy will serve with the Teen Titans or the Outsiders. While Johns said that Donna plays a prominent role in Crisis and the future of the DCU, he declined to say what team she’ll serve on. As for Omen, Johns said that sometimes characters just don’t stay dead, saying that Omen returns to the Titans in issue #26.

Asked what happened to the New Teen Titans as a franchise in the ‘80s when it was battling Marvel’s X-Men for dominance. As the questioner pointed out, the X-Men franchise expanded and took dominance, while the Titans petered out. Wolfman said that he felt the root of the problem began when the series switched from a newsstand/newsprint comic to a Direct Market Baxter paper series which would be reprinted in newsstand format roughly a year later. Wolfman said that the series lost a significant chunk of its audience when the move was made, and that he felt, even then, fans were being asked to pay a price for a comic that few were prepared to pay ($1.25, up from $0.75). Wolfman ended his analysis with a laugh and noting that such subjects perhaps weren’t appropriate talk for the celebratory nature of the anniversary panel.

Asked what he felt about the changes that the characters have undergone since he left the book, particularly with Donna Troy, Wolfman said that `his answer was a simple one – he doesn’t read any of the titles he was on after he leaves, so he wouldn’t know. Expanding a little, Wolfman said that he never wants to become the creator saying, “That’s not how I would’ve done it,” after leaving a book.

Speaking to the differences between the comic and the animated series, Murakami said that unlike the comic, they can’t dig too deeply into the backstory of the characters, noting that a series is 13 episodes, and the production team can never be sure if the episodes will be shown in order, given their heavy rotation on Cartoon Network. Partly for that reason, CN’s Teen Titans is not based directly on the current series or the Wolfman/Perez Titans.

When asked about the style of the animated series, and why it has anime-like influences, Murakami said that Warner Bros. wanted to see an animated project with a different style than that made popular by Bruce Timm. As Murakami explained the style with which Teen Titans is produced has its strengths – such as using visual shorthand for showing emotions. He admitted that sometimes the style works well, and sometimes not so much, but noted that the show was always meant to be an experiment – and more freewheeling in nature. Murakami also added that he sees the series as a hybrid of the original Titans and the Wolfman/Perez era – characters from the New Teen Titans, and stories that are reminiscent of the Silver Age in their spirit. In the end, Murakami said, they’re trying to make a good show and wanted to do something different.

Johns jumped in at that point, saying that the fact that young kids come up to him and ask him to sketch Beast Boy says a lot for whom Murakami is reaching, noting that getting kids into the Teen Titans isn’t a bad thing by any means.

Wolfman agreed, saying that, since his name comes up readily when “Teen Titans” is Googled, he regularly receives e-mails from parents of children who write (on behalf of their kids) to ask Wolfman to bring back Terra, or send other characters on cool missions. Wolfman said that, in seeing the response the animated series garners, it’s clear to him that the characters still resonate with viewers today. What he said about not looking back on projects he‘s left notwithstanding, Wolfman (who also writes for the animated series on occasion) said that he feels the animated characters are dead-on versions of the characters he wrote in New Teen Titans.

When a fan pointed out the similarity of the cast of New Teen Titans with classic anime/manga archetypes (alien princess, demon daughter, shape-changer, robot boy, adventurer, etc) and asked if Wolfman was influenced by anime when he was writing the Titans in the early ‘80s, Wolfman said no. Though he knew of manga and anime at the time, it was still untranslated in Flushing, where he lived, though he found it fascinating.

When asked Murakami declined to definitively state whether Robin on the animated series is Tim Drake or Dick Grayson. Wolfman, chuckling, offered that it can’t be Tim Drake, pointing out that there has been an episode that sees Robin grow up and become Nightwing.

Likewise, Murakami was asked if there were plans for Batman to appear in the series, perhaps, at the very least, to kick Slade’s butt. When Murakami said there were no plans for a Batman appearance, another fan pleaded, “Can’t someone kick Slade’s butt?” in regards to the villain who the Titans can never best in battle, to chuckles from the audience.

Asked what happened to the Elseworlds Teen Titans story Cardy was supposed to have illustrated a couple of years back, the artist said that he had no idea, but, as he remembered it, the story (which included aliens kidnapping President Kennedy) “looked a little far out.”

Asked about the progress of Games, the long-delayed in finishing original Teen Titans graphic novel by Wolfman and Perez, Wolfman said that it will happen when it happens, noting that Perez needs to finish it first, as it is something Wolfman said he doesn’t want to write in pieces. “It’s the best Titans George has ever drawn, though,” Wolfman said.

A man of few words when it comes to teases, Johns somewhat maintained his reputation when asked what would be coming up in the Teen Titans series, saying that there would be a membership changeup following Infinite Crisis. Prior to that though, Red Hood appears in issue #29, Nightwing in #31-#32, and new characters will come in after that. Johns added that the Doom Patrol will appear shortly as well. As a final tease, Johns said, “We’ll see Titans East eventually, too” though it was unclear if he was talking about an appearance of the offshoot team in the ongoing series, or the new team starring in their own series.

Also speaking about upcoming plans, Murakami said that the Doom Patrol will appear in the animated series as well, along with other new characters, including Kid Flash. Murakami said that there are no plans that involve an animated version of Wonder Girl for the series. Additionally, Nothing is set in stone yet in regards to a sixth season of the series.

[Check out Newsarama’s continually updated 2005 SDCC News Index for all the con coverage from Newsarama and CBR].

Newsarama.com's SDCC coverage is brought to you in
part by Tokyopop's Takuhai Online

[mike616]

Whoa! Im first! cool panel by the sound of it.

[Glen Cadigan]

It's too bad no one mentioned the Titans Companion, the only book this year which actually celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the New Teen Titans, especially since most of the panelists are involved with it in one way or another.



I figured that it'd come up at a Titans 25th Anniversary panel, but I guess not.

For those people who are interested, it'll be in Previews in September, or you can preorder it online now.

[rexmason]

will dc ever get off their asses and start collecting new teen titans in trade...

[COREMARK]

Teen Titans is one of the best comics being published today, I can't wait to see what Johns has in store for us.

[BillReed]

Hmm... Doom Patrol on the cartoon, eh?

[Jack Assen]

And we'll celebrate by... putting Rob Liefeld on the mag for 2 issues!

Woo hoo!

Do it again, and I'm gone, DC...

but I'll still buy the Wolfman/Perez collections that you MUST have planned... right?

[deathlok]

Titans east!

woohoo



this means Hawk & Dove!

and that bubblebee chick


woohooo

[Stratus]

will dc ever get off their asses and start collecting new teen titans in trade...

They are. There's been two so far, The Terror of Trigon and The Judas Contract. I would imagine any future trades would be dependant on the success of these titles; it doesn't look like DC is planning on a comprehensive reprint series (like they're doing with Perez's Wonder Woman), though. (Or if they are, I haven't heard of it.)

If you meant the "new" Teen Titans (current series), there are already three volumes, and the series is collected faster than anything else DC publishes save JLA.

Regards,
Stratus

[jedifish]

Originally posted by rexmason
will dc ever get off their asses and start collecting new teen titans in trade...

THE NEW TEEN TITANS: THE JUDAS CONTRACT

THE NEW TEEN TITANS: THE TERROR OF TRIGON

NEW TEEN TITANS: WHO IS DONNA TROY?

THE NEW TEEN TITANS ARCHIVES VOL. 1

THE NEW TEEN TITANS ARCHIVES VOL. 2

[samnoir]

DOOM PATROL!

Great news. Changeling/Beast Boy has such a rich history involving the legacy of the Doom Patrol. There is so much potential for stories stemming off of that, from his relationship to his stepfather Mento to his issues with the deaths of parents and parent-figures.

One thing that has never been addressed (as far as I know) is Gar's reaction to the fact that The Chief was responsible for the accidents that created most of the members of the Doom Patrol. Wouldn't he wonder if the Cheif had anything to do with his transformation into Beast Boy? Also, given the fact that the Cheif was responsible for his step-mother Rita Farr Elastigirl's death (by neglecting to save her like he did with Cliff Steele and Negative Man), wouldn't Gar want some kind of answers?

________________________________________ _

BATMAN BEGINS POSTERS and MAGAZINES for sale on EBAY! 1 cent!


RARE FRANK CHO Magazine for SALE ON EBAY! SHANNA UNCENSORED ART!

[Jack Assen]

[quote]Originally posted by samnoir
[b]DOOM PATROL!

Great news. Changeling/Beast Boy has such a rich history involving the legacy of the Doom Patrol. There is so much potential for stories stemming off of that, from his relationship to his stepfather Mento to his issues with the deaths of parents and parent-figures.

One thing that has never been addressed (as far as I know) is Gar's reaction to the fact that The Chief was responsible for the accidents that created most of the members of the Doom Patrol. Wouldn't he wonder if the Cheif had anything to do with his transformation into Beast Boy? Also, given the fact that the Cheif was responsible for his step-mother Rita Farr Elastigirl's death (by neglecting to save her like he did with Cliff Steele and Negative Man), wouldn't Gar want some kind of answers?

________________________________________ _

Oh, but wait... the old DP continuity has been erased by good ol' John Byrne! Nothing is what it was! So... what now?

[AreJaye]

Originally posted by Jack Assen

Oh, but wait... the old DP continuity has been erased by good ol' John Byrne! Nothing is what it was! So... what now?

Don't be too sure of that. DOOM PATROL #13 makes it pretty clear that things may not be exactly what we were told in DOOM PATROL #1 . . .

[Chris1]

When asked Murakami declined to definitively state whether Robin on the animated series is Tim Drake or Dick Grayson. Wolfman, chuckling, offered that it can’t be Tim Drake, pointing out that there has been an episode that sees Robin grow up and become Nightwing.

Was there really a Titans episode where you see a Tim Drake Nightwing??? Or is this an error?

[Svendawg]

Nothing is what it was! So... what now?

Johns tweaked Gar's origin in #13, and that's all that's known so far. Odds are good that he never was a Doom Patrol member.

Of course, there's also the thought that the Titans / Outsiders universe-within-a-universe is just doing the smart thing and ignoring Byrne altogether, since Return of Donna Troy just featured a line about how Gar had lost his parents and teammates before turning 16.

I think the current Doom Patrol series is going to be quietly bumped to Elseworlds status when no one's looking, like what happened to Golden Age. It's the most expedient way of not screwing a lot of other things up.

[Kintoun]

Originally posted by Chris1
Was there really a Titans episode where you see a Tim Drake Nightwing??? Or is this an error?

You've misinterpreted the quote a bit. Starfire visited the future in a Teen Titans episode from season 2 titled "How Long is Forever?". Robin was now Nightwing and Starfire informed Robin of the identity change when she came back to the present day.

At that time, Robin was still basically whoever viewers wanted him to be. However, another episode called "Fractured" introduced a short alternate reality Robin officially known as Nosyarg Kicd. Since that name was too complex, they just called him Larry instead. Nosyarg Kicd is Dick Grayson spelt backwards which should end the Robin debate once and for all.

Kintoun

[tyopot]

wow, people weren't ready to pay $1.25 for the titans comic? i mean from $0.75 ? wow. i miss those old days were everything wuz cheap. now comics cost $2.95 up. man oh man.

and yes,i do prefer the titans over the x-men.

[Zechs]

Interesting that they chose to have Red Hood face Robin here and not his ongoing. More interesting is the fact Donna Troy is right with Tim as he slugs Jason. The two big ressurections so far thanks to the Crisis Donna and Jason are in a cover together.

Also to further on the which Robin is on the cartoon TT, in the episode Haunted, when Raven takes a peak in Robin's mind besides images of Slade there is a brief flash of a circus with perhaps Dick's parents falling.

And of course in the episode Red X, when Beast Boy attempts to figure out who is X, Jason Todd's name is written on the blackboard as a suspect along with Larry.

Still, there are legal issues and TT hasn't once mentioned only hinted of Batman being Robin's mentor. It wouldn't be surprising that the creators couldn't use Tim Drake Batman say like the comics did. Since there's this whole legal problem that WB locked down with only one show can have certain Bat villains and Robin can't go on The Batman.

Still the Nightwing in that episode was operating in the Batcave. So take it with whatever grain of salt that the cartoon Robin could be Tim Drake.

[OcCaM]

Originally posted by tyopot
wow, people weren't ready to pay $1.25 for the titans comic? i mean from $0.75 ? wow. i miss those old days were everything wuz cheap. now comics cost $2.95 up. man oh man.

and yes,i do prefer the titans over the x-men.

Actually, imagine your $3 comics going to $5.

That's the equivalent of what we're talking about here.

But yeh, even $1.25 sounds nice with inflation doesn't it?

[SouthtownKid]

Originally posted by Glen Cadigan
It's too bad no one mentioned the Titans Companion, the only book this year which actually celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the New Teen Titans, especially since most of the panelists are involved with it in one way or another.



I figured that it'd come up at a Titans 25th Anniversary panel, but I guess not.

For those people who are interested, it'll be in Previews in September, or you can preorder it online now.

I'm not quite as big a Titans fan as I am a Legion fan, but if the Titans companion is as good as the Legion Companion and Best of Legion Outpost were, I'll definitely pick it up. Great stuff.

One thing I was really hoping they'd mention: at least 2 more Archive Editions... C'mon, DC...

[OcCaM]

Originally posted by Stratus
They are. There's been two so far, The Terror of Trigon and The Judas Contract. I would imagine any future trades would be dependant on the success of these titles; it doesn't look like DC is planning on a comprehensive reprint series (like they're doing with Perez's Wonder Woman), though. (Or if they are, I haven't heard of it.)

If you meant the "new" Teen Titans (current series), there are already three volumes, and the series is collected faster than anything else DC publishes save JLA.

Regards,
Stratus

Disagree with you. The 3rd Titans trade only had issues #11-13 of Teen Titans in it (yeh and that Changeling mini-series.)

Anyway, the current series was at #24 while this trade was coming out. So, even AFTER the new trade was released they were still 11 issues behind. That's pretty bad I think! ANyway, I love time travel stories so I'm just getting impatient with them having not collected that yet!

I don't know if they should only be two monthes behind a story like Marvel, but it would be nice if, when the trade comes out, they weren't more than a half year behind. 11 issues is almost a year behind!

Now you want a really good DC trade collection, there's Fables. Unless of course you don't consider Vertigo DC. (In which case I shouldn't even consider anything you have to say! )

Anyway, in March the latest Fables trade got us trade waiters caught up to issue #33 and the series was on #35! Just one of the many reasons I love that series so! It was still difficult to switch to trade though. Even waiting a couple extra monthes is tough on that book!

[OcCaM]

Originally posted by SouthtownKid
I'm not quite as big a Titans fan as I am a Legion fan, but if the Titans companion is as good as the Legion Companion and Best of Legion Outpost were, I'll definitely pick it up. Great stuff.

One thing I was really hoping they'd mention: at least 2 more Archive Editions... C'mon, DC...

Yeah what he said!

Two more Archives would get us to the Judas Contract trade. And with the Wonder Girl and Terror of Trigun books, that's pretty much all I HAVE to have in some book format!

[Chris1]

Originally posted by Kintoun
You've misinterpreted the quote a bit. Starfire visited the future in a Teen Titans episode from season 2 titled "How Long is Forever?". Robin was now Nightwing and Starfire informed Robin of the identity change when she came back to the present day.


Kintoun

Thanks for the info. I stopped watching the show because the manga-style format just isn't my cup of tea. I understand that I'm not the target audience but personally I think the show would be just as succesful if it was done in the Bruce Timm/Paul Dini way.

[RockLeefan]

[quote]Originally posted by MattBrady
While Johns said that Donna plays a prominent role in Crisis and the future of the DCU, he declined to say what team she’ll serve on. As for Omen, Johns said that sometimes characters just don’t stay dead, saying that Omen returns to the Titans in issue #26.


Is it just be or does EVERY DC character mentioned of late play a prominent role in CRISIS? It's probably true but the impact is wearing off as the number of characters being checked increases.

On another note is the younger audience of animated Teen Tiatans traslating into a younger audience of comic readers? It seems like a missed oppurtunity if not. How is the animated teen Titans comic doing?

[Marty4Magik]

Tony Daniels cover looks great.

He´s the reason I will try out this series...

My first DCU title....ever!!!

I hope the story is easy on a newbie...