The New Teen Titans #2
Published and © by DC, December 1980
Title: “Today … the Terminator!”
Synopsis: At the behest of the H.I.V.E., the newly formed Titans are attacked by the Ravager – and Deathstroke, the Terminator!
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist (layouts): George Pérez
Artist (finishes): Romeo Tanghal
Review: Even by Bronze Age standards, Marv Wolfman’s stories are thick with subplots and development. This issue doesn’t drag, though, as both he and artist George Pérez have a wonderful feel for action and fight choreography. Pérez’s layouts are already quite dynamic, but the rendering is still a little rough as the penciler and finisher Romeo Tanghal grow into this series. This issue features the debut of the new Titans’ arch-nemesis, the Terminator; his dialogue is a little off here but the character already has a certain gravitas. Only two issues in and this series is already clearly a winner.
Grade: A-
Cool factor: Starfire has the best way of learning new languages.
Not-so-cool factor: The Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Eliminations? Really? H.I.V.E. is a fine group of foes, but the full name has got to go. (A runner-up mention to this issue’s generic robot henchmen, clad in all pink and magenta. Yeah, not so menacing.)
Notable: Includes a one-page essay by Marv Wolfman titled “Second Chances.” … First appearance of Deathstroke the Terminator.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 15p British variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Who do you want me to kill?”– The Terminator (pretty well sums it up, doesn’t it?)
A word from the writer/co-creator: “Rather than just have the Titans become a routine assignment, we want to be interested in creating each issue.” – Marv Wolfman, from the “Second Chances” essay in this issue
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Sequential Reaction (Vol. 1) on Jan. 12, 2016.
