The New Teen Titans #32
Published and © by DC, June 1983
Title: “Thunder and Lightning!”
Synopsis: When Thunder and Lightning’s quest to find their father brings destruction to St. Louis the Teen Titans intervene.
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist (layouts): George Pérez
Embellisher: Romeo Tanghal
Review: DC’s mid-Bronze-Age flagship seems to have settled into a consistent groove just short of all-time classic. Writer Marv Wolfman’s scripts routinely deliver the goods on the action front, but his character-driven soap-opera elements often feel a bit forced. Several of the characters seem hellbent to lean into unnecessary drama. New antagonists Thunder and Lightning feel like throwaway characters but serve this story just fine. And, of course, everything is enhanced by superlative superhero art from the team of George Pérez and Romeo Tanghal.
Grade: A-
Cool factor: By this point in his career, George Pérez could probably draw the phonebook and it would be compelling.
Not-so-cool factor: The Titans need to chill. And some therapy.
Notable: First appearance of Thunder and Lightning.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 75¢ Canadian variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “Once the chain reaction begins – our powers can’t be stopped!! We’re as much victims as you are! RUN!” – Lightning, brother power
Editor’s note: This review was written July 18, 2024.
