GEOFF JOHNS TO EXIT TEEN TITANS, NAMES SUCCESSOR

[MattBrady]

From the desk of Geoff Johns

"It had to happen sometime, it’s just happening a little sooner than we planned. The “Titans East” storyline beginning in today’s TEEN TITANS #43 will be our last.

So whenever you leave a book there are two questions: 1) Why are you leaving? And 2) Who’s taking over?

It’s never easy leaving a book, but after nearly 4 years on TEEN TITANS, I felt it was time to let someone else take the teens on.

Some of my friends have asked, “Why not stay on until Teen Titans #50?! You’re so close!” But it’s like when I left THE FLASH after “Rogue War” - even though I found out later there were only a few issues of the series left because of what they wanted to do, I felt it was the right time to go. That doesn’t mean I’ll never write TEEN TITANS or THE FLASH again if I have the opportunity. I hope I do.

I have to admit this decision has been much easier to live with knowing that Tony Daniel is also moving on to another project. Tony has been my partner in crime on this book for two years. I never thought Mike McKone could be replaced, but Tony took the Titans and made them his own. It’s absolutely amazing how his art has evolved. Every time I received a page from Tony he’d make me fall more in love with Wonder Girl, actually sympathize with Ravager and make me think the unthinkable, “Kid Devil is cool!”

I really think we made the most of our OYL run with the introduction of all the new characters like Kid Devil, Ravager, Miss Martian and Zatara to the Titans Universe. Though we both still miss Superboy and Kid Flash.

Tony wanted to say a few words too, "I'll look back at these last two years working with Geoff on Teen Titans like a child remembers Christmas, only it's like Christmas every day for two years straight. It was the experience of a lifetime that I never once took for granted. I love the Teen Titans and I just hope it came through in my work. These characters have been part of my daily life for so long it's sort of like saying goodbye to my family. I'll miss them but I look forward to the challenges ahead of me."

That says it better than I could.

So now…who’s taking over?

That would be current Robin scribe Adam Beechen beginning with TEEN TITANS #47.

Some people have already seen his name solicited on upcoming issues of “Titans East” – that’s because Adam’s come on early to co-write “Titans East” with me to get a sense of the team and to set the stage for his run as I close out mine. There are going to be some shake-ups and, more importantly, you will see the beginnings of a second Titans team forming…though not necessarily what you’re expecting. Adam’s especially nailed the characters of Kid Devil and Miss Martian and he’s delved head first into the vast Titans history to soak it all up.

I’ve been a fan of Adam’s work for a long time, starting with HENCH and his stories on the JLU book, and I’m anxious to see what he does with the TEEN TITANS. I’ve already heard a few ideas on where he wants to take the team and I’m really looking forward to them.

I’d think to thank everyone I’ve loved worked with -- Mike McKone, Tom Grummett, Tony Daniel, Eddie Berganza, Jeanine Schaefer and Adam Schlagman, And thanks to Dan Didio for giving me a shot at Teen Titans in the first place. It was the first project he offered me and he really let me do exactly what I wanted to do. Also, thanks to Marv Wolfman and George Perez who created the bar that every Titans creator should aspire to meet. I hope we’ve done a decent job in your eyes.

And finally a big thanks to all the readers out there who gave the book a shot and stuck with it.

Thanks,

Geoff"

Newsarama Note: Look for an interview with new Teen Titans writer Adam Beechen tomorrow on Newsarama.

[BubbaKanoosh]

yuh uh...

this aint gonna be pretty

[EarthX]

Change is never easy.

[Kid Xanadu]

Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!

[wretchedangel]

had to give up a book so he can help in the writing tasks on...


COUNTDOWN

DUN DUN DUNNNNN

[Snowspinner]

Oh, for God's sake.

They're taking one of their best books and giving it to a writer whose major claim to fame is totally ruining a good concept (Batgirl) for no reason?

If they're gonna screw a book up this badly, they could at least have the decency to make it an expensive one that saves me money when I drop it.

[Starlord]

Well this saddens the hell out of me. As for Adam... I try not to judge until I've read what he's written. His Robin is okay, but who knows, maybe this is the book he was ment to write.

[NatePetrelli]

boo!!!!!!!!!!

[brawl2099]

Sorry to see Geoff go, but welcome Adam! I've enjoyed his Robin (yes, I didn't like Cass as a villain though) and I think he's a great TItans fit!

[Rawkingbird]

I hate to see Geoff leave this book after he rebuilt it, but it could be in far worse hands. Beechen's Robin run has been pretty great.

[Spade]

Actually I look forward to a different writer. Just like Geoff said he felt the team was stall before OYL, I feel having Jericho, Raven, and even Cyborg on the team is taking some freshness from the book. I can't believe Tony McDaniel been on TT for 2 years. It doesn't feel like it. He greatly improved over time.

[BubbaKanoosh]

more importantly, you will see the beginnings of a second Titans team forming…

The Nightwing, Supergirl, Flash, Firestorm, Donna Troy one?

[Tobey Cook]

Originally Posted by Snowspinner

Oh, for God's sake.

They're taking one of their best books and giving it to a writer whose major claim to fame is totally ruining a good concept (Batgirl) for no reason?

If they're gonna screw a book up this badly, they could at least have the decency to make it an expensive one that saves me money when I drop it.

You're not even giving the title a chance before you drop it. Beechen's admitted he made a mistake with the Batgirl change, but the rest of his issues have been pretty good since then.

Robin #147 stands out in my mind as one of the best comics to come out last year. He really nailed Tim's character and set up a situation where he could be a mentor to someone.

Honestly, I'm excited to see what he'll do on Titans. Anyone who's seen his work on Justice League Unlimited knows he can write a team book.

[Darthphere]

Originally Posted by Snowspinner

Oh, for God's sake.

They're taking one of their best books and giving it to a writer whose major claim to fame is totally ruining a good concept (Batgirl) for no reason?

There was a reason, its called editorial.

[MazingMan728]

Well....damn. No offense to Adam Beecham but...well...damn...

[Bane122]

I'm sad to see Johns leave, but I love what Beechen has done on Robin so I'm still very confident in this book.

[yoshimi20]

Robin has been pretty good lately, the guest appearance of Klarion The Witch Boy while quite simple was one of the best written comics I've read recently.

[chap22]

let me go ahead and get this out of the way so kingofcities can come in and ridicule me:

i love Beechen's Robin. i think he has done a wonderful job with Tim Drake. it's just EVERY OTHER CHARACTER in that book that he has butchered. and his plots are...well, i'll try to be nice here...awfully pedestrian.

i'm not sure a team book is really gonna be his forte, especially one that has been this good lately. *sigh*


any word on the new artist?

[BubbaKanoosh]

Originally Posted by Snowspinner

Oh, for God's sake.

They're taking one of their best books and giving it to a writer whose major claim to fame is totally ruining a good concept (Batgirl) for no reason?

If they're gonna screw a book up this badly, they could at least have the decency to make it an expensive one that saves me money when I drop it.

the batgirl change was addressed in the current issue..
and it all makes sense now..

[MarkG72]

It was time. I loved this series up until the One Year Later arcs started. I think the team dynamic has just changed too much and the series wasn't as "fun" as it was when it first came out. Tremendous job all around -- thanks, Geoff for relaunching the Titans in such an awesome manner.

[SHIM'TAR]

Yeah, this was a huge shocker [dripping with sarcasm]

[chap22]

Originally Posted by BubbaKanoosh

The Nightwing, Supergirl, Flash, Firestorm, Donna Troy one?

oh, please please please please PLEASE....

[MazingMan728]

Originally Posted by Tobey Cook

You're not even giving the title a chance before you drop it. Beechen's admitted he made a mistake with the Batgirl change, but the rest of his issues have been pretty good since then.

Robin #147 stands out in my mind as one of the best comics to come out last year. He really nailed Tim's character and set up a situation where he could be a mentor to someone.

Honestly, I'm excited to see what he'll do on Titans. Anyone who's seen his work on Justice League Unlimited knows he can write a team book.

Well I hope Adam the best because the readers will be overly critical to him in the begining. I still have to say "well...damn" but that doesn't mean that I'm jumping ship and dropping the title but well...damn...

[UnknownEric]

Well, that certainly makes my decision to drop the Titans 100 times easier. Thank you, Geoff for thinking of us poor people.

[aukevin]

That stinks, but I like what Beecham is doing with Robin, so that's cool. I hope the artist coming on keeps up the good work. TT has been consistently good over its run both in writing and in the art department, I sure hope it stays that way.