Tales of the New Teen Titans #1
Published and © by DC, June 1982
Title: “Cyborg”
Synopsis: Settling into their first camping trip as friends, the new Teen Titans learn the origin of Cyborg.
Writers (plot): Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
Writer: Wolfman
Penciler: Pérez
Inker: Brett Breeding
Review: The newest Teen Titans step into the spotlight for a four-issue miniseries showcasing their origin stories. Credit co-creators Marv Wolfman and George Pérez for developing this fine framing sequence: Instead of mixing these backstories into some convoluted plot, this series simply features friends sitting around the campfire getting to know one another. With these characters – and this creative team – readers are still assured of a fun ride. Cyborg’s origin is a kitbash of several tropes popular at the time but manages to keep from succumbing to stereotypes. And Perez’s art is amazing, of course.
Grade: A-
Second opinion: “Recommended.” – Frank Plowright, FantaCo’s Chronicle’s Series Annual #1, 1983 … Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: For fans of one of DC’s signature Bronze Age franchises, this miniseries is a chance to dig in deep.
Notable: Origin of Cyborg. … Includes a pinup of Cyborg by George Pérez.
Character quotable: “Piece by piece, I was rebuilt. A modern Prometheus, my father thought. A latter day Frankenstein was more like it.” – Cyborg, sharing a bit about his daddy issues
A word from the editor: “We realized that a miniseries would give us the opportunity to do something we had already been wanting to do, which was to focus attention on the new Titans characters so as to bring new readers up to speed and explore our heroes background in a greater depth than was previously possible.” – Len Wein, from the “Foreword” to “The New Teen Titans Archives: Volume 3,” May 2006
Editor’s note: This review was written Aug. 13, 2023.
