Tales of the New Teen Titans #2
Published and © by DC, July 1982
Title: “Raven”
Synopsis: Startled from their bedrolls by their teammate’s nightmare, the Titans soon learn the traumatic tale of Raven’s upbringing.
Writers (plot): Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
Writer: Wolfman
Penciler: Pérez
Inker: Pablo Marcos
Review: Much like this miniseries’ debut issue (see review), this deep dive into the back story of one of the newest Teen Titans is built around a mashup of tropes popular in the previous decade. But Raven’s origin – with its roots in the occult and demon rape – is harder to embrace today. Writer Marv Wolfman built this version of the Teen Titans around parent/child relationships and the expectations children carry into adulthood. This dynamic is an essential element to the series’ success, but Raven’s dark destiny – and undermined sense of agency – is its least successful iteration.
Grade: B+
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: This is still an enjoyable miniseries, and the George Pérez art is fantastic.
Notable: Origin of Raven. … Includes a pinup of Raven by George Pérez.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Perhaps I have erred in keeping so much of my past a secret.” – Raven, daughter of Azarath … and Trigon
Editor’s note: This review was written Sept. 23, 2023.
